Wireless Earbuds

Every pair here is wireless and has a built-in mic for hands-free calls. What separates them is fit, sweat protection, noise control and how you carry and charge them.

Start with fit. True-wireless earbuds sit in each ear with no cord between them. The Compact True-Wireless pair and the Wireless Stereo Earbuds are light everyday picks, and you can wear either Wireless Stereo bud on its own. If you worry about a bud working loose on a run, the Sport Wireless In-Ear Headphones have a stay-put sport fit, and the Wireless Sports Neckband Headphones rest on a band around your neck, so the buds hang on your chest instead of going in a pocket when you take them out.

For workouts, check the water rating. IPX4 means the earbuds resist splashes and sweat from any direction; it does not mean you can swim or shower in them. The TWS 5.0, the IPX4 Sweatproof and the Touch-Control Noise-Cancelling earbuds all carry IPX4. The Sport and Neckband listings say sweat-resistant without stating an IPX number.

Noise cancelling comes in two kinds. Active noise cancelling (ANC) uses microphones to cancel steady sound like engine hum, while passive isolation simply seals the ear with the tip. The Touch-Control Noise-Cancelling Earbuds are the noise-cancelling pair here, and their listing does not say whether that cancelling is active, so contact us before you order if ANC is a must for flights.

Last, battery. The five true-wireless pairs each come with a charging case that tops up the buds between sessions, and the TWS 5.0 and Noise-Cancelling pairs add touch controls for music and calls. None of the listings state battery hours, so drop the buds in the case whenever you take them out. Want a speaker or over-ear headphones instead? Browse all Bluetooth speakers and headphones.