true wireless
Latest
The best true wireless earbuds you can buy this holiday season
True wireless earbuds have become a staple when it comes to audio accessories. Over-ear noise-cancelling headphones are still a thing, but many companies have turned their attention to the tiny speakers you nestle in your ears. The advantage for consumers is that there are more options than ever to choose from. New models are popping up all the time with refined designs, new features, improved battery life and other advancements. With no shortage of choices though, it can be difficult to cut through the clutter to determine which ones are worth your money. We've compiled a list of the best true wireless earbuds available, along with some tips on what to look for as you shop during the holidays.
Apple’s AirPods Pro are on sale just weeks after their release
Less than a month after Apple released its AirPods Pro, they're on sale for $235 on Amazon. That $14 savings is a little surprising. It's unusual to see these things go on sale so soon, and it might irk some of the folks who bought them at full price a couple weeks ago.
AirPods Pro review: Apple’s latest earbuds can hang with the best
As true wireless earbuds continue to evolve, companies are making them smaller and adding powerful features like active noise cancellation (ANC). They're more reliable and offer better battery life than when they first burst on to the scene, and they're becoming increasingly popular. Apple clearly knows all of this. The company's AirPods have been the most popular true wireless earbuds for a while now, despite their polarizing design. And even though the company just debuted version 2.0 back in the spring, it held something back for the holidays. The AirPods Pro were hardly a surprise. We'd heard rumors about a refined design and ANC for months. Perhaps the only real surprise is that they weren't announced at the big iPhone event in September, but instead, they quietly revealed in a press release on a Monday afternoon. The Pro model introduces a host of new features, but that comes at a cost. And the question is: Are the AirPods Pro ($249) worth the extra $50?
Save $80 on Sony’s sporty WF-SP700N true wireless earbuds
At their original list price of $180, Sony's sporty WF-SP700N true wireless, noise cancelling earbuds were already a solid deal. Today, Amazon has an even better offer. The WF-SP700N in black are on sale for $99.95 -- that's an $80 savings.
Razer's first true wireless earbuds include a low-lag gaming mode
Razer couldn't resist hopping on the true wireless earbud bandwagon, and it's unsurprisingly putting a gaming spin on its offering. The company's newly unveiled Hammerhead True Wireless earbuds will look very familiar between the stem-equipped buds and battery charging case, but they promise to kill much of the lag you sometimes see with Bluetooth audio -- important when you're playing games or watching videos. The Hammerhead uses a "customized" Bluetooth 5.0 link that even includes a gaming mode with latency as low as 60ms. That's not "lag-free," as Razer claimed, but it shouldn't be jarring.
An AirPods Pro replacement costs $89 per earbud
Perhaps unsurprisingly, given their higher price than the standard AirPods, it'll cost more for you to repair or replace the new AirPods Pro through Apple Support. Out of warranty, the price this time around is $89 per earbud, and it costs the same to have the wireless charging case repaired or replaced. If you lose an AirPods Pro earbud, Apple charges $89 for a new one or $99 to replace a misplaced case.
Echo Buds review: Alexa smarts packed into a mediocre AirPods rival
By the time Amazon got around to announcing its Alexa-powered earbuds in September, the rumors had already been swirling for months. They were hardly a surprise. The online retail giant has a solid track record of keeping upcoming products under lock and key, but word of these voice-controlled true wireless earbuds first surfaced way back in April. Now that they're here, the Echo Buds ($129.99) are poised to take on Apple's AirPods with hands-free Alexa, touch controls, Bose's active noise reduction and more.
Apple's $249 AirPods Pro pack noise cancellation and hands-free Siri
After months of rumors, Apple didn't wait until its next event to reveal the new version of its AirPods. Officially called AirPods Pro, the new model offers active noise cancellation and hands-free access to Siri for $249. The biggest change in terms of design is the addition of silicone ear tips that offer a better seal. This is essential for noise-cancelling earbuds, and it's also a tweak that was tipped in an iOS 13 beta.
Master & Dynamic's MW07 Go is a $199 AirPod alternative
Apple wasn't first to produce true wireless earbuds, but the company's AirPods sit atop the sales charts. In order to compete in terms of cost, companies have introduced more affordable options at $200 or less. At $199 and $159, AirPods are cheaper than the best Sony, Sennheiser and many others offer. Today, Master & Dynamic takes aim at Apple with a $199 set of earbuds that offer its trademark sound quality for $100 less than its first true wireless model.
Master & Dynamic's MW07 Plus are much-improved true wireless earbuds
Master & Dynamic has a stellar reputation for great-sounding headphones, and its set of first true wireless earbuds, the MW07, was no exception. Despite that audio quality and several more handy features, the MW07 suffered from a couple key issues. First, they only lasted 3.5 hours on a charge. Even a year ago, that figure was quite low. Second, the Bluetooth range was noticeably worse than much of the competition. For 2019, M&D went back to the drawing board and developed two new models, but the MW07 Plus ($299) is the direct successor to the MW07. And most importantly, it fixed both of those issues that plagued the first version.
Apple's excellent Powerbeats Pro are $50 off
Apple's Powerbeats Pro are one of our favorite true-wireless earbuds, and for a limited time, they're on sale for $50 off ($199). That's a great deal considering that they're the best-sounding Beats headphones yet, and they're near the top end of the true wireless spectrum price-wise.
LG’s first true wireless earbuds come with a germ-killing case
Most people don't clean their earbuds anywhere near as much as they should to keep them free of germs, bacteria and unsightly earwax. And while they won't do all the cleaning themselves, LG's latest pair of headphones do have a nifty trick up their sleeve that will appeal to germaphobes. For the company's first pair of true wireless pair of earphones, the Tone+ Free, LG has built a UV light into the charging case that comes with the headphones. LG claims the light will disinfect the Bluetooth headphones anytime you store them to charge.
Amazon's Echo Buds are an Alexa-powered answer to Apple's Airpods
Apple has proven that combining true wireless earbuds with always-on access to a virtual assistant can be a reliable recipe for success. Its Airpods continue to be the best selling option, even as the true wireless scene really starts to take off. So, it's no surprise then that Amazon is looking to cash in. Its Echo Buds don't look terribly different from the competition. (They've got a bit of a Bragi vibe going on.) But they do allow you to talk to Alexa without touching a button -- basically it's an Echo you shove in your ears. One thing the Echo Buds definitely have over their Apple competitors though, is noise cancellation. Airpods have none, whereas Amazon has partnered with Bose to borrow its active noise reduction tech. And while Bose isn't king of the hill anymore when it comes to noise cancellation it's still pretty dang good (not to mention a pioneer in the field). It doesn't seem like Amazon sacrificed too much on sound quality either... at least on paper. (Again, the final judgement will have to wait for when we get to test them on our own terms.) Inside each bud is a pair of balanced armature drivers, which should deliver pretty solid bass. The five hours of battery life isn't exactly earth-shattering, but the charging case brings the total runtime up to 20 hours before you need to plug in again. Echo Buds are available to preorder today for $130. Update 9/25/2019 3:10PM ET: This article originally used the term "active noise cancellation" (ANC). It has been updated to reflect the terminology used by Amazon, "active noise reduction." It's unclear currently if this is purely for marketing reasons, or if there is a functional difference between Bose's ANC and what is found in the Echo Buds. Follow all the latest news from Amazon's 2019 hardware event here!
Now is the time to buy true wireless earbuds
Almost four years ago, Bragi burst on the scene with what seemed a crazy idea: true wireless earbuds that also had on-board storage, activity tracking, heart rate monitoring and more. It was an ambitious effort, and it wasn't without flaws. Bragi and many other companies took a while to work out the issues, like reception, that made the early versions unreliable. Within months, though, tech giants began introducing their own take on the emerging tech with options like Samsung's Gear IconX.
Audio-Technica's $99 true wireless earbuds sound amazing
Audio-Technica is no stranger to the true wireless game, and at IFA this week, the company debuted two new models. For me, the $99 ATH-CK3TW is the more compelling of the two, mostly because it's great to see one of the audio giants introduce a set that won't break the bank. Audio-Technica's other new model, the ATH-CKS5TW, is also affordable at $149. However, I was most curious to see what the company could accomplish for under $100. As it turns out, the ATH-CK3TW is a really great-sounding pair that I can't wait to spend more time with.
Jabra's Elite 75t true wireless earbuds are smaller and last longer
I haven't been shy about my affinity for Jabra's Elite 65t. They're solid all-around true wireless earbuds and they cost significantly less than a lot of the competition. Do they sound as good as some of those $300 units from the likes of Sony and Sennheiser? No, but they're reliable and the audio is good enough when you consider the $170 price tag. Over a year and a half after the Elite 65t debuted at CES, Jabra's follow-up is ready: the Elite 75t.
Plantronics' new headphone lineup includes three true wireless options
Plantronics may not be a name that immediately comes to mind when you're shopping for new headphones, but it should be one you consider. Even though the company rebranded as Poly after acquiring Polycom, products still bear the Plantronics name. And like it did last year, the company is debuting a full slate of new headphones in early September. That lineup includes true wireless and sport models that are all under $200.
Klipsch T5 True Wireless review: Great-sounding, but flawed earbuds
Klipsch has been making high quality audio gear since 1946, mostly catering to the audiophile and HiFi crowd. It makes plenty of speakers, soundbars and headphones for casual listeners too, and back at CES, the company debuted its first true wireless earbuds. At $199, the T5 True Wireless offer most of what you need in a pair of true wireless earbuds -- including a pretty cool Zippo-like charging case. But,they're far from perfect, and a few of their flaws could be deal breakers for you, even if they do cost $100 less than much of the competition.
Sony WF-1000XM3 review: Simply the best true wireless earbuds
Sony is no stranger to the true wireless-earbud craze. The company introduced the WF-1000X almost two years ago and followed with the WF-SP700N in 2018. However, even with that experience, Sony hasn't really seemed to hit its stride. There are always issues holding the products back from making the leap. Sony has perfected its over-ear noise-canceling headphones, the WH-1000XM3, and now it's leveraging some of that technology to improve its true wireless buds. Enter the $230 WF-1000XM3, Sony's best true-wireless product and a new contender for the top spot overall.
Powerbeats Pro review: The best-sounding Beats headphones yet
Despite being a hugely popular headphone brand, Beats has had one glaring hole in its wireless headphone lineup: true wireless earbuds. Thanks to a hint in iOS code, the Powerbeats Pro weren't exactly a well-kept secret, and as expected, they carry the latest Apple tech that's also found inside version 2.0 of the AirPods. At $249.95, the Powerbeats Pro is near the top end of the true wireless spectrum price-wise, and its over-the-ear hook design isn't for everyone. However, the combination of features and sound quality makes quite the impression.
