Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test. You really want app support: Audio-Technica's earbuds do excellently well without a companion app, but if you want a visual cue of the features, you won't get it here. We’ve included both wired and wireless earbuds on this list, but you don't have to compromise on audio quality by going wire-free. Our current favorite true wireless earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM4 combine class-leading sound with high quality noise cancellation tech.

Secure, compact and comfortable with an IP57 rating that makes them sweat resistant, these buds are perfect for working out. You'll also get good call quality, great ANC and solid audio.We did enjoy the audio on offer from these buds, but you may want to do some tweaking when it comes to the audio profile. Out of the box, the sound is heavily scooped – at once overwhelming and sometimes boomy in the bass frequencies while being boosted and occasionally brittle in the upper treble range: all of this reduces the clarity of the mids. However, the five-band equalizer in the app means you can adjust the sound to your liking. Noise cancellation really matters to you: If there’s one thing the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II do really well, it’s noise cancellation.

There's less protrusion than with Sony's more affordable buds ( Sony WF-C500, all eyes on you), because they're 37% lighter and 38% smaller than the top-tier WF-1000XM4 . It should come as no surprise then that we found these to be some of the most easy to wear, comfortable earbuds we've ever had the pleasure of wearing and they stay put for hours on end. Design-wise, the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds 2 are 30% smaller than previous generations with a more compact and lighter charging case. However, we did find the fit took some getting used to and is unlikely to suit everyone at first. Any sound comparison between these cheap in-ears and class-leading products. But these JLab buds beat everything in their price range for sound. Our testing proved that vocals are relatively well handled through the mids, the bass is sensibly handled, and the soundstage is relatively expansive. Two important things to consider when you’re choosing new earbuds is what you want to listen to and where you want to listen to it. The Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW are a budget pair of buds that look very cool indeed. They offer exclusive 5.8mm drivers, plus an "IPX4-equivalent" splashproof design and user-friendly features. There’s dual connectivity onboard, so you can connect to your laptop and phone at the same time. Touch controls work well and you can use them to cancel low-latency mode or use the hear-through function. Battery gives you 6.5 hours of use with the headphones fully charged, plus an additional 13 hours of juice from the charging case, for a total of 19.5 hours. There’s no active noise cancellation or a companion app, but at this level (and thanks to the impressive levels of passive isolation provided by the buds), we don't miss these perks.

Noise Reduction

The WF-1000XM4 can be beaten for sound quality, noise-cancelling and comfort – but only by a combination of rivals. These earbuds are some of the most secure and comfortable I've worn – think Sony LinkBuds S, but that little bit more secure. The price of the Technics EAH-AZ80 is that of a premium product, for sure – but happily, so is the specification. There are some disappointments here, but overall these are a pair of buds that deliver excellent sound quality and a fantastic fit. You want wireless: It goes without saying that if you've become accustomed to wireless earbuds, you're not going to be happy with these. Playing Kanye West’s extensive catalogue made me appreciate both the genius of his production and also the Blukar in-ear earphones. The 3-D audio experience does things to you, once you cancel out any and all sounds outside of the song.

After spending a few weeks with both the 1MORE Triple Driver in-ear headphones and the 1MORE Quad Driver in-ear headphones, we were blown away at just how much value each one gave in their prospective price ranges.Although you might find more detailed and better-sounding in-ear headphones out there, you'll have to pay much more to notice a significant boost in performance. If you want earbuds that come with a cable to keep them secure so you can avoid losing them, the 1More Triple Driver in-ear headphones are the best wired earbuds you can buy today. For example, if you like fairly quiet music and want to listen on the bus or train, you'll need effective noise cancellation. There’s nothing artificial about the way the Technics EAH-AZ80 sound, they offer convincingly realistic and coherent listening in all circumstances.You intend to wear your earbuds all day: Even at its best, the battery life available here is nothing special – long-haul flights are a non-starter. You prioritize on-ear volume control: No dice here, sadly – although Sony says that following a firmware update, it willbe possible, by pressing either earbuds multiple times. You own an iPhone: For a seamless experience within Apple's ecosystem, you need to be looking to earbuds that offer a dedicated app for iOS.