Whether you want Bluetooth or wired earbuds, Consumer Reports' lab testing reveals great options for every budget

When you’re on the go, lightweight earbuds can make more sense than over-ear headphones—and you don’t have to give up on sound quality to choose a comfortable set. These days, the best earbuds deliver much better audio than the tangled pair that came with your cell phone a few years ago.

How to choose? Price can be a big factor. You also need to pick between Bluetooth earbuds and wired models. Bluetooth can be more convenient, but wired models can be cheaper, and you often get better sound quality for the money. You can also find earbuds with very effective noise cancellation.

At Consumer Reports, we buy each pair of headphones at retail, just like you might, and put them through a rigorous testing process.

Here are our picks for the best earbuds of the year. Consumer Reports members can go to our ratings for a detailed breakdown of around 200 headphones, including exclusive information on owner satisfaction and reliability.

If you’re in the market for exceptional audio quality in a pair of true wireless headphones, look no further than the Samsung Galaxy Buds. These are some of the best Bluetooth headphones in any style that Consumer Reports has ever tested. Samsung has released a few updated models (including the Galaxy Buds+), but the original buds still get our nod for top-notch sound quality.

The Galaxy Buds produce exemplary audio quality packed into a pair of unobtrusive earpieces, complete with easy-to-use touch controls for playback, volume, and skipping tracks. They have an advertised 6-hour battery life and a powered carrying case that will recharge the earphones for up to 7 additional hours of playback on the go. The case can be charged with a wireless charging mat, and it’s particularly compact compared with the cases that come with many other true wireless models.

If you don’t mind wires with your headphones or even prefer them, this pair of earbuds is hard to beat. The 1More E1001 Triple Driver has audio quality that would be impressive at three times the price. They usually sell for less than $100, and we’ve seen them for as little as $50.

These headphones have a sleek design and come with extras, including a removable shirt clip, a carrying case, and nine sets of earpieces of varying shapes and sizes to help you find a good fit. We also recommend the 1More Quad Driver. They cost a little bit more and get the same score in our ratings, but the audio quality is just a little bit better, especially for higher-pitched sounds like the shimmer of a drum cymbal or vocalists who sing in the upper ranges.

The WF-1000XM4 is the latest in Sony’s line of noise-canceling earbuds, and our tests show it has outstanding sound quality and sound-blocking performance. Apple’s AirPods Pro may be more popular, but we think Sony has a better product—though it’s a bit more expensive. (If you’re looking for a bargain, the previous model, the XM3, is cheaper than the AirPods and still outperforms them.)

Sony’s latest comes packed with additional features, including variable noise cancellation, which you can adjust to let in more or less sound, a “monitor” mode to actively pipe in audio from your surroundings, and Speak-to-Chat, which can automatically pause the music when you start talking.

According to Sony, the XM4 has a 5.5-hour battery life and comes with a portable charging case that holds 16 hours’ worth of power before it needs to be plugged in again. But our testers note that some users, particularly people with larger ears, may feel this model doesn’t fit securely.

Some people like their Bluetooth earbuds to have a cable connecting the two earpieces. This can make them easier to find (and you can hang them around your neck when you aren’t listening). If you’re looking for that style of earbud, the Bose SoundSport Wireless is a great option. These don’t have active noise cancellation like the Bose’s best-known models, but they’re one of CR’s higher-rated Bluetooth earbuds. The Bose SoundSport Wireless also features a hybrid-style ear tip design that seals your ears without intruding deep inside them, which may be more comfortable for some people.

The SoundSport is a bit pricey, though. Another great pick is the Sennheiser CX 150BT. You can sometimes find this model for less than half what you’ll pay for the Bose earbuds, and the Sennheiser CX 150BT sounds almost as good.

Skullcandy Dime True Wireless earphones are an absolute steal at $25. Their sound quality isn’t outstanding, but it’s above average—and very impressive considering the price. They have an advertised 3.5-hour battery life and a carrying/charging case good for an additional 8.5 hours of power.

One caveat: Skullcandy received a dismal rating for owner satisfaction in our latest member survey on headphones. That doesn’t necessarily mean every Skullcandy product is a dud, though, and the Dime True Wireless may be worth a gamble for 25 bucks. The carrying case will power the earphones almost five times before it needs to be plugged in again.

If you want outstanding sound quality, there are better headphones for less money than Apple’s AirPods, and that has been true since the original model launched back in 2016. But there’s a reason for their enduring popularity. Used with an iPhone and other Apple products, the AirPods will give you a more seamless experience. Pairing the headphones is simple, you can switch from listening on your phone to a MacBook without much thought, and newer AirPods models are built for effortless compatibility with Siri.

Thanks to some updates that significantly improve sound quality, we’re recommending a pair of Apple’s basic earbuds—the third-generation AirPods—for the first time. Apple’s noise-canceling model, the AirPods Pro, also earn a recommendation from CR, but they cost a lot more.

Just keep in mind that using the AirPods with an Android phone can be cumbersome, and some features, such as customizable controls and automatic pausing, aren’t available. If you don’t have an iPhone, there are better options.

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Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2022, Consumer Reports, Inc.

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