Best wireless earbuds for 2024: lab tested reviews - Which? (2024)

Wireless earbuds (also known as wireless in-ear headphones) are the most portable type of headphones you can buy, but our lab tests reveal that it's important to choose carefully.

Whether you opt for a pair of truly wireless earbuds, such as the Apple AirPods, or prefer a more traditional wired pair, their small size makes them ideal for taking out and about.

Read on to discover our top picks.

Go straight to our in-ear headphone reviews to see all the models we've tested.

Best wireless earbuds for 2024

The table below shows our pick of the very best wireless earbuds. These are the models that aced our in-depth lab tests, so you can be sure they'll provide excellent sound quality, be comfortable and come with some of the best features.

Recently reviewed wireless earbuds

Headphone reviews by type

• Wireless earbuds
• On-ear headphones
• Over-ear headphones
• Noise-cancelling headphones

Wireless earbuds by price

• Wireless earbuds under £50
• Wireless earbuds under £100
• Wireless earbuds under £300

Why you should trust our wireless earbud reviews

When testing wireless earbuds, we put them trough a range of independent lab tests. We also test each model with our expert listening panel, who listen to a variety of music to accurately rate audio quality, noise-cancelling performance and more. Read more on our how we test headphones.

Popular wireless earbuds to consider

Looking for some inspiration? The wireless earbuds below all scored reasonably well in our tests, but each set has its own pros and cons, so be sure to click through to the full reviews.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

• Truly wireless, in-ear headphones
• Noise cancelling
• Available in black, white and blue (exclusive to Amazon)

We like:Stability bands

We don't like: Cheap feeling charging case

The QuietComfort Earbuds II come with stability bands that help prevent them falling out (a common problem with in-ear headphones) along with a range of other features. They're also rated rated IPX4 water and sweat resistant. Our expert tests did reveal a few concerns, though.

Read our full Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II review

Apple AirPods Pro (2022)

• Truly wireless, in-ear headphones
• Active noise cancelling
• IPX4 rating for water resistance

We like: Very comfortable

We didn’t like: More limited when used on Android devices

The AirPods Pro are Apple's flagship wireless earbuds and come loaded with features. Naturally, they're best suited to iPhone/iPad owners, but are they worth the extra money over the original (and much cheaper) AirPods?

Read our full Apple AirPods Pro (2022) review

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2

• Truly wireless, in-ear headphones
• Active noise cancelling
• Additional features with the Galaxy Wearables app

We like: Good build quality

We don’t like: Sound leakage

These stylish wireless earbuds are light and comfortable to wear, and benefit from a range of noise-cancelling modes. However, our in-depth testing did identify some issues that will concern iPhone owners in particular.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 review

What type of earbuds should I buy?

There are three main types of earbuds to choose from:

• Truly wireless earbuds, like the Apple AirPods (2021). These come with hard charging cases for the earbuds, allowing you to recharge them on the go.
• Corded wireless earbuds, like the Skullcandy Jib+ Wireless, which have a wire attaching the two earpieces together.
• Wired earbuds, like the Sennheiser CX 100. These are the more traditional in-ear headphones.

Soft-tipped earpieces

Most wireless earbuds and in-ear headphones, such as the Sony WF-1000XM5, come with different sizes of detachable, flexible eartips that you can swap around to fit your ear size. This gives the headphones an acoustic seal, reducing sound leakage and the amount of background noise you hear. Typically you receive three different sizes, but some models offer as many as four or five.

Other models, such as as Bose's QuietComfort Earbuds II, also supply detachable stability bands that are designed to provide a more secure fit, which may make them better for use while exercising or playing sports.

Hard plastic earpieces

Some headphones simply have hard plastic earpieces, including the Apple AirPods (2019) or the quirky Huawei FreeBuds Lipstick. This one-size-fits-all approach is simpler, but without an acoustic seal, so there's more chance those around you will hear your music if you play it at higher volumes.

Running and gym headphones

Some wireless earbudsheadphones are designed for sport, with features to keep them more secure in your ears compared with normal earbuds. This is often in the form of a rubberised 'wings', 'fins', 'hooks' or changeable stability bands that are shaped to fit in and or over your ear to provide extra grip.

Some sports models are also water resistant, meaning you can take them for a run in the rain and not worry about damage. Certain models can even survive submersion in water for a limited time and can be washed under the tap, such as the LG TONE Free Fit UTF8.

Manufacturers have also started selling headphones that have fitness-tracking features too.

Read our guide to the best running and gym headphones for the perfect sports companion.

Whether you're after in-ear, over-ear or on-ear, check out our guide to thebest headphones for 2024