Headphone buying guide
The Best Wireless Earbuds of 2026
Our 2026 earbud picks: Sony's WF-1000XM6 overall, AirPods Pro 3 for iPhone, Galaxy Buds4 Pro for Samsung phones, and Soundcore's Liberty 5 on a budget.
Your phone matters more when you buy earbuds than with any other headphones. Samsung saves the Galaxy Buds4 Pro's best features for Galaxy phones, and reviewers steer AirPods toward iPhone owners, so the best pair for one person can be the wrong pair for the next. Sony's WF-1000XM6 is the best overall pick, and the one we'd suggest for most people who aren't tied to Apple or Samsung.
These picks and fit scores are an editorial synthesis of published reviews and manufacturer specs, not our own testing. Prices are approximate Amazon prices seen on October 5, 2026, not live quotes; they change often, so check the current price before you buy.
The short list
| # | Best for | Model | Approx. price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Best overall |  | Earbuds ANC | ~$258 |
| 02 | Best for iPhone |  | Earbuds ANC | ~$179 |
| 03 | Best for Samsung Galaxy |  | Earbuds ANC | ~$244.50 |
| 04 | Best for noise cancelling |  | Earbuds ANC | ~$299 |
| 05 | Best for workouts |  | Earhook earbuds ANC | ~$179.95 |
| 06 | Best budget |  | Earbuds ANC (budget) | ~$79.99 |
Approximate Amazon prices seen October 5, 2026, not live quotes.
Ranked
Our picks
- 01
Best overall
Sony WF-1000XM6
- Earbuds ANC
- ~$258
- Feb 2026
- Android
SoundGuys' best earbuds overall, and MacRumors' pick over AirPods Pro 3 for Android users or anyone who wants LDAC and EQ. It's rated for 8 hours with ANC (24 with the case), supports multipoint and Qi charging, and gets 5 of 5 fit scores for travel and calls. At ~$258 it isn't cheap, it's only IPX4, and it has no aptX.
Pros
- Pro: SoundGuys' best earbuds overall
- Pro: SBC, AAC, LDAC, and LC3 support
- Pro: Multipoint plus 4 mics per bud for calls
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Highest list price of the earbuds we cover
- Trade-off: No aptX
- Travel
- 5 out of 5
- Calls
- 5 out of 5
- Music
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
- 02
Best for iPhone
Apple AirPods Pro 3
- Earbuds ANC
- ~$179
- Sep 2025
- iPhone
SoundGuys' iPhone pick, and SoundGuys measured its ANC as among the best of any earbud. IP57 on both buds and case, heart-rate sensing, Live Translation, and Apple's Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, and Hearing Protection features make it more than a music accessory. At ~$179 (list $249) it gets a 5 of 5 value score; the main gap is no user EQ.
Pros
- Pro: SoundGuys' best earbuds for iPhone
- Pro: ANC that SoundGuys measured among the best of any earbud
- Pro: Heart-rate sensing plus Hearing Test, Hearing Aid, and Hearing Protection
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: No user EQ
- Trade-off: Built around the iPhone; MacRumors steers Android owners to the Sony
- Travel
- 5 out of 5
- Value
- 5 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the review: Apple AirPods Pro 3 - 03
Best for Samsung Galaxy
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro
- Earbuds ANC
- ~$244.50
- Mar 2026
- Samsung Galaxy
The consensus choice for Galaxy owners at The Verge, WIRED, Trusted Reviews, Android Authority, and GSMArena, and SoundGuys' Samsung pick. Its 24-bit/96 kHz Samsung Seamless Codec and full app features need a Galaxy phone, and support on iPhone is limited, so everyone else should skip it. Reviewers rate the ANC excellent on low rumble but weaker than Sony and Bose on voices; it's ~$244.50.
Pros
- Pro: Top choice for Galaxy owners, per reviewers and SoundGuys
- Pro: 24-bit/96 kHz Samsung Seamless Codec on Galaxy devices
- Pro: IP57 and a light 5.1 g per bud
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: ANC is weaker than Sony and Bose on voices
- Trade-off: Average battery: 6 h with ANC
- Travel
- 4 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
- Workouts
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the review: Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro - 04
Best for noise cancelling
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
- Earbuds ANC
- ~$299
- 2025
- Any phone
PCMag and SoundGuys call its noise cancelling class-leading among earbuds, and both praise the comfortable fit. The catches: ~$299 makes it the most expensive pick here, it's only IPX4, and battery drops from 6 hours to 4 with Immersive Audio on. Android owners with Snapdragon Sound phones also get aptX Adaptive.
Pros
- Pro: Top-of-class earbud ANC, per PCMag and SoundGuys
- Pro: Comfortable fit, with stability bands
- Pro: Multipoint and aptX Adaptive with Snapdragon Sound
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Pricey, and holding at list
- Trade-off: IPX4 only
- Travel
- 5 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
- Workouts
- 3 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) - 05
Best for workouts
Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
- Earhook earbuds ANC
- ~$179.95
- Feb 2025
- Any phone
MKBHD and Tom's Guide rate these the best workout earbuds for their secure earhook fit, heart-rate sensor, and big battery: 45 hours total, or 36 with ANC. They're the only model we cover with a 5 of 5 workout score. The case is large, but at ~$179.95 (list $249.99), that's easy to forgive.
Pros
- Pro: Earhooks keep them locked in during workouts
- Pro: Built-in heart-rate monitoring
- Pro: 10 h per charge (8 h with ANC); 45 h total
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: The case is large
- Trade-off: IPX4, below the IP57 on AirPods Pro 3
- Workouts
- 5 out of 5
- Calls
- 4 out of 5
- Value
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the review: Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 - 06
Best budget
Soundcore Liberty 5
- Earbuds ANC (budget)
- ~$79.99
- 2025
- Any phone
~$79.99 (list $129.99) buys ANC that Tom's Guide, TechRadar, and Cult of Mac call strong for the money, plus LDAC, multipoint, six mics, and IP55. The trade-offs are bass-heavy tuning that needs EQ, fiddly stem controls, and real battery life that falls short of the claim. For the price, those are fair compromises.
Pros
- Pro: Strong ANC for the money, per reviewers
- Pro: LDAC, multipoint, and Bluetooth 5.4
- Pro: IP55 and a light 4.6 g per bud
Trade-offs
- Trade-off: Bass-heavy tuning needs EQ
- Trade-off: Fiddly stem controls
- Value
- 5 out of 5
- Travel
- 4 out of 5
- Workouts
- 4 out of 5
Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published reviews and specs — not lab measurements.
Check priceAffiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.
Read the review: Soundcore Liberty 5
Disclosure: “Check price” buttons are Amazon affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes the ranking.
How we chose
For earbuds we weighted travel and calls first, since commutes and meetings are where most people wear them, then workouts, where fit security and water resistance matter far more than they do for over-ears. Value mattered because prices here run from ~$79.99 to ~$299. Gaming barely counted: every earbud in this guide scores 2 for it, so look at over-ears or a wired set for that.
SoundGuys' earbud rankings set the top three, and MacRumors' April 21, 2026 comparison of the WF-1000XM6 and AirPods Pro 3 shaped the platform advice. We relied on PCMag and SoundGuys for the Bose, MKBHD and Tom's Guide for the Powerbeats, and Tom's Guide, TechRadar, and Cult of Mac for the Liberty 5. Wirecutter's top earbud pick is the Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro, which we note below but don't cover with a review page yet.
Pick by phone first
The platform question settles most earbud purchases before sound or ANC comes into it:
- iPhone: AirPods Pro 3, or Powerbeats Pro 2 if you work out a lot. Both use Apple's H2 chip.
- Samsung Galaxy: Galaxy Buds4 Pro. The Samsung Seamless Codec and full app features only work with a Galaxy phone.
- Other Android phones: Sony WF-1000XM6, or the Soundcore Liberty 5 on a budget. Both support LDAC.
- Android with Snapdragon Sound: the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) support aptX Adaptive. The Sony doesn't support aptX.
Water resistance, decoded
IP ratings use two digits: the first is dust protection, the second is water. An X means that category wasn't rated. IPX4 covers splashes and sweat, a 5 adds protection against water jets, and a 7 means the product is rated for temporary immersion.
Among our picks, AirPods Pro 3 and Galaxy Buds4 Pro are IP57, the Liberty 5 is IP55, and the Sony, Bose, and Powerbeats Pro 2 are IPX4. Reviewers still call the Powerbeats the best workout earbuds because the earhooks keep them in place; IPX4 is fine for sweat, less so for a rinse under the tap.
Where are Jabra's Elite earbuds?
Jabra left the consumer earbud business in 2024, so there are no Elite models in this guide. If you're replacing an old pair, start with the pick for your phone above. For calls specifically, the Sony WF-1000XM6 is the only earbud we cover with a 5 of 5 calls score.
Also consider
- Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro ($169.99): Wirecutter's top earbud pick. We don't have a review page for it yet, but if you like the Liberty 5's value and can spend about twice as much, it's the one to look at.
- Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 ($299.95): Sennheiser's Momentum earbuds, priced alongside the Bose. We don't cover them in depth yet.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Sony WF-1000XM6 better than AirPods Pro 3?
It depends on your phone. MacRumors' April 2026 comparison calls both excellent and says AirPods suit iPhone while the Sonys suit Android or anyone who wants LDAC and EQ. The AirPods cost less (~$179 vs ~$258) and carry a higher water rating (IP57 vs IPX4).
Do Galaxy Buds4 Pro work with iPhone?
Not well. Support on iPhone is limited, and the Samsung Seamless Codec and full app features need a Galaxy phone. Reviewers say iPhone and non-Samsung Android owners should look elsewhere; AirPods Pro 3 are the better iPhone pick.
Which earbuds have the best noise cancelling?
PCMag and SoundGuys call the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) class-leading, and SoundGuys measured the AirPods Pro 3's ANC as among the best of any earbud. The Sony WF-1000XM6 is the best all-rounder. All three get a 5 of 5 travel fit score.
What happened to Jabra Elite earbuds?
Jabra left the consumer earbud market in 2024, so there are no Elite picks here. For a replacement, match the earbuds to your phone: AirPods Pro 3 for iPhone, Galaxy Buds4 Pro for Galaxy phones, or the Sony WF-1000XM6 for other Android phones.
What are the best cheap wireless earbuds?
The Soundcore Liberty 5 at ~$79.99. Reviewers call its ANC strong for the money, and it has LDAC, multipoint, and IP55; expect to tame the bass-heavy tuning with EQ. Wirecutter's top earbud pick, the Liberty 5 Pro, costs $169.99.
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Disclosure: Our picks are independent and editorial — a synthesis of published reviews and manufacturer specs, not our own lab measurements. Prices are approximate Amazon prices seen October 5, 2026. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.