The best wireless earbuds of 2026

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As NBC Select’s tech reporter, I test earbuds on a monthly basis and have tried more than 50 options for this story. I use wireless earbuds constantly to tune out noise on the subway, to listen to a podcast , take calls at work, listen to music while I work out — I always have a pair in my backpack or my pocket.

With so many options on the market, it can be hard to know which model is best for you and your needs. Below, I rounded up the best wireless earbuds for various activities and budgets so you can find a pair that most suits your lifestyle.

Selected. Our top picks

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The best wireless earbuds

After testing dozens of earbuds, my top picks came from brands like Apple, Google, Beats, Bose and Shokz. Every option on this list were samples I requested from brands for testing purposes for this story. You can find key specifications like battery life and IP rating inside the "What to know" dropdown.

In May, I updated this list after testing the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro .

Best for iPhone

Apple AirPods Pro 3

If you own an iPhone, these are the earbuds to get. They are comfortable, have excellent sound quality and noise cancellation features. They’re also good for basically any activity you throw at them including outdoor runs and workouts.

With noise cancellation turned on, chatter and music at the gym fade instantly, in my experience. With transparency mode on, I can hear my surroundings very clearly, perfect for running outdoors.

The buds have great on-ear controls, including a swipe on the ear stem to control volume. They also have built-in heart rate sensors, meaning you can start a workout from your iPhone and track your heart rate and calories burned with just your AirPods Pro 3 — no fitness tracker required.

They come with five ear tip sizes, more than most brands, which can help you get a more comfortable fit for your ears.

If all of this sounds good to you, but you can’t stand rubber eartips clogging your ears, consider Apple AirPods 4 ANC instead. They have similarly great sound and call quality, but leave your ears more open because they don’t have rubber eartips. However, the noise cancellation is less effective than AirPods Pro 3, in my experience.

Best for Android

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2

Anyone with an Android phone looking for one pair of do-it-all earbuds should consider these latest Google Pixel buds. The new design has a mini wing-tip stabilizer in each ear that fits snugly and makes them stable and secure for workouts. “They are comfortable and don’t hurt the inside of my ear within an hour of wearing them,” says NBC Select commerce editor Cory Fernandez .

Best budget

Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC

You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to get fully featured earbuds — these have active noise cancelling, transparency mode, Bluetooth multipoint and wireless charging, all for under $100. They are comfortable, sound surprisingly good and can compete with earbuds that are much pricier. The only downside is noise cancellation — it’s okay, but isn’t very useful against plane, train and car noise.

The Liberty 4 NC is not the brand’s latest model, and while I would love to recommend the newer Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 , which are excellent, they are $130, which I don’t consider “budget.”

Best affordable earbuds

JLab Go Pop+

These are some of the most affordable wireless earbuds that still deliver a steady Bluetooth connection, surprisingly good sound quality and a convenient charging case. The earbuds and case have a combined battery life of around 32 hours, and the case has a cable built-in for convenient recharging. If you purchase the earbuds from the brand’s website , you can choose from 13 bright and earth-tone colorways.

They don’t have active noise cancelling or transparency modes, and the app is a little lackluster, but these are fair trade-offs for such a low price.

Best noise cancellation

Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)

If your top priority is blocking out background noise like the hum of a plane cabin, rattling train cars and water cooler talk, these earbuds are for you. They have the best noise cancellation of any earbud I’ve tried, full stop. Plus they sound amazing, with detailed instrumentation in music and clear audio in TV shows and movies.

They are big earbuds, though — I don’t find them particularly comfortable for fitness and exercise. They are also pricey at $300. If you’re willing to sacrifice a little noise cancelling power, consider the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds as a more affordable runner-up.

Best for fitness

Beats Powerbeats Fit

The previous Beats Fit Pro were my go-to workout headphones for years, and the updated version, these Beats Powerbeats Fit, make a few subtle improvements but keep everything I loved about the originals in-tacts.

The buds have a wing-tip design that creates a secure fit in your ear — mine stay secure during runs, bike rides and gym time. They are small and relatively lightweight compared to other earbuds on this list, but are especially compact compared to sportier, full ear-hook earbuds like the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 .

Both earbuds have physical button controls that are easy to use, even when I am wearing thick gloves during a winter run. You can press either button to stop, start and skip songs, and holding the button changes between noise cancellation and transparency mode. They pair easily with iPhones and Android phones (through the Beats app).

Best open ear

Shokz OpenFit 2

Open earbuds rest on the outside of your ear instead of going inside of your ear canal. I use them on bike rides while NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson uses them for runs and races like the New York City Marathon — it makes it easier to hear nearby cars, bikes and pedestrians.

While I’m partial to the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 , I admit that the more versatile option for everyday use is the Shokz OpenFit 2. They are small and comfortable, have great sound quality (for open earbuds) and fit in a relatively pocketable charging case. But, like with any pair of open earbuds, don’t expect them to block any noisy neighbors while working out at the gym.

The Shokz OpenFit 2 don’t have wireless charging. If that’s a crucial feature for you, get the Shokz OpenFit 2+ instead.

Best clip on

Bose Ultra Open Bluetooth Earbuds