Headphones & Earbuds

Fit determines sound quality more than drivers do.

1 guide
2 head-to-heads

Every Headphones & Earbuds guide

Headphones & Earbuds

Wireless Earbuds, Compared From $60 to $300Compared from $60 to $300No. 1 Apple AirPods Pro 3~$190–2506 picks
Head-to-headSony WF-1000XM6 vs. Bose QC Ultra EarbudsSound or silence?Open the head-to-head
Head-to-headAirPods Pro 3 vs. Sony WF-1000XM5 for Noise CancellingFor noise cancellingOpen the head-to-head

About this subject

An imperfect seal costs you most of the bass and much of the noise cancellation, which is why the same earbuds are a revelation for one person and a disappointment for the next.

Work out what actually stays in your ears before you start comparing frequency response.

Where you will wear them decides the rest. Commuting and open offices reward active noise cancellation. Running rewards a secure, sweat-resistant fit plus enough awareness of traffic to stay safe. Desk listening rewards comfort over hours, and if you are on calls all day it rewards microphone quality, the specification manufacturers are quietest about.

Our headphone guides are built from measurements and expert testing published elsewhere, manufacturer specifications, and verified buyer reviews. We have not worn any of these ourselves, which is why long-term owner reports matter here: battery degradation, hinge and cable failures, and how well a case survives a bag.

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