We buy our own products and put them under the same testing methodology so that you can easily compare them. Unlike most websites, we don’t get our products directly from the manufacturers, which means our units aren’t handpicked and actually represent what you would buy yourself. We spend a lot of time comparing the products side-by-side to validate our results and we keep them until they are discontinued so we can continually go back and make sure our reviews are always accurate.
We’ve all been there: you want to listen to your favorite album on the bus to work or while out and about downtown, but you don’t want to have to carry a bag to stash your huge over-ear headphones in when you’re ready to put them away. This is where earbuds and in-ear headphones come in. They’re more lightweight, compact, and portable than over-ear headphones and are easier to carry around. Bluetooth options provide added convenience by eliminating pesky wires that get in the way. Most people find in-ears less comfortable than over-ear headphones, but earbuds offer a good balance between comfort and portability.
We’ve tested 98 earbuds and in-ear headphones so far and here are our top 5 recommendations for the 5 best earbuds and in-ears to purchase in 2019.
Bose QuietControl 30: Comfortable noise cancelling earbuds
Type: Earbuds
Enclosure: Closed-back
Wireless: Yes
Noise Cancelling: Yes
The Bose QuietControl 30 are well-rounded noise cancelling earbuds. They have a neckband design and a comfortable earbud fit that makes them good travel headphones. They also have very good noise cancellation that makes them a great choice for commuting, and they barely leak, so you won’t distract anyone around you at the office.
They have a well-balanced sound that packs a satisfying amount of bass without being overpowering or dark. They have a decent battery that provides 11.4 hours of continuous playback and have a companion app that allows you control the level of noise isolation from your smartphone.
Unfortunately, The Bose QC 30 are a bit pricey, and their neckband is covered in a plastic sleeve that tends to peel off with time. Their power button is also frustratingly stiff and can be difficult to use, but the rest of the controls are efficient and well laid out on the in-line remote. All things considered, though, the Bose QuietControl 30 provide an overall satisfactory listening experience.
Jaybird Tarah Pro: Customizable sports in-ears with an earbud-like fit
Type: In-ear
Enclosure: Closed-back
Wireless: Yes
Noise Cancelling: No
If you like to listen to music while you work out and are looking for something more lightweight and portable than the Bose QuietControl 30, get the Jaybird Tarah Pro. They’re in-ear headphones that have a more comfortable earbud-like fit. They’re well-built and are great for sports, thanks to their IPX7 rating for advanced water and sweat resistance.
Straight out of the box, the Jaybird Tarah Pro have a versatile sound profile that should lend itself well to most music genres. What makes these headphones really shine, though, is their great compatibility with the Jaybird MySound app. You can use the parametric equalizer in the app to fine-tune their sound to your liking. The Jaybird Tarah Pro also have a good battery that lasts for just over 13 hours, and have magnetic earbuds that snap together to trigger the auto-off timer.
On the downside, the Tarah Pro use a proprietary charging cradle. This means that if the headphones run out of battery and you don’t have the charger on you, you won’t be able to borrow a micro-USB or USB-C cable from a friend or colleague to charge them. Otherwise, the Jaybird Tarah Pro are versatile, customizable in-ears that are great for athletes and fitness enthusiasts.
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Jabra Elite Active 65t: Well-built, truly wireless in-ears
Type: In-ear
Enclosure: Closed-back
Wireless: Truly Wireless
Noise Cancelling: No
If you’re ready to move away from wires entirely, get the Jabra Elite Active 65t They’re very well-built, truly wireless in-ears with a durable design and a premium matte finish. They’re rated IP56 for dust and water resistance, which makes them a good choice if you like to listen to music while hiking. They have a stable, breathable fit that’s great for sports and isolate well enough to be a good choice for commuters.
The Jabra Elite Active 65t sound alright and should be satisfactory for most. You can also use their companion app, Jabra Sound+, to EQ their sound to better match what you’re listening to. Their battery provides slightly over 5 hours of continuous playback which is reasonable, especially for truly wireless headphones, and they have an auto-off timer to help save power as well.
Unfortunately, the Elite Active 65t aren’t very comfortable, especially compared to the earbud fit of the Bose QuietControl 30. The Jabra Elite Active 65t are alright for shorter periods of time, though, and shouldn’t be a problem if you wear them to work out for a couple of hours. They’re a solid choice for anyone looking for well-built, truly wireless earbuds.
Bose SoundSport Wireless: Good-sounding earbuds with a comfortable fit
Type: Earbuds
Enclosure: Semi-Open
Wireless: Yes
Noise Cancelling: No
If you like the comfortable earbud fit of the Bose QuietControl 30 but aren’t a big fan of the neckband design, then get the Bose SoundSport Wireless instead. They’re one of the best-sounding wireless earbuds we’ve tested, and are comfortable enough to wear all day, even while working out. They have a sturdy and stable design for running and feel like durable headphones.
The Bose SoundSport Wireless have a well-balanced sound that delivers in the bass range without losing clarity and detail on instruments and vocals. They support multi-device pairing and are NFC-enabled for easy pairing with mobile phones. Their battery life is a bit short at 6 hours, but they charge quickly and have an auto-off timer to help save power.
The SoundSport Wireless aren’t noise cancelling like the QC 30 and they don’t block much noise, so they’re not the best option to use in loud, noisy environments, like on a plane or in the bus. However, their semi-open design makes them a good choice for runners who want to be able to remain aware of their surroundings while still enjoying their favorite tunes.
Anker SoundCore Liberty Air: Entry-level truly wireless in-ears that sound decent
Type: In-ear
Enclosure: Closed-back
Wireless: Truly Wireless
Noise Cancelling: No
If you’re looking for versatile truly wireless in-ears at a reasonable price, get the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air. They’re lightweight, ultra-portable in-ear headphones that have a stable, low-profile design. They’re a great choice for sports, thanks to their IPX5 rating for sweat and water resistance, and they isolate well enough to be a good travel headphones.
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air have great audio reproduction and a balanced sound. They’re suitable for a wide range of music genres and are a good choice for audiobooks or podcasts. They also do a good job at blocking out ambient noise and they hardly leak, so you can raise your listening volume without disturbing others to mask out more noise. Although they only provide 4 hours of continuous playback, their charging case holds about 3 extra charges, so they’ll last you all day if you take breaks to charge them now and then.
Unfortunately, the Liberty Air have very high latency, which makes them a poor choice for streaming video or playing mobile games. They also don’t support multi-device pairing, so you’ll have to manually connect to each device you want to pair to. That said, they provide good value for their price and are likely to please those looking for well-rounded, entry-level truly wireless in-ears.
This guide may have been updated. To see all our measurements and our current recommendations for earbuds and in-ears, please go here.
This guide may have been updated. To see all measurements and the current recommendations for the best earbuds, please go here .
