Every month seems to bring out new headphones with better battery life and more compact designs. Therefore, we can’t list everything we like. But if you’re still looking, here are some other suggestions.
Montblanc MTB 03 sells for $395: The price of these earbuds is out of reach for most buyers, but if you have the cash, you’ll get a luxurious experience worthy of the brand. Montblanc hired some of the audio industry’s heavyweights to design and voice these headphones. The result is a pair of small, comfortable, and rather gorgeous-looking wireless headphones that actually sound impressive.
Samsung Galaxy Buds2 on sale for $100: Even after a few years, Samsung’s Buds 2 (9/10, recommended by Wired) are still a great value. For less than a pair of AirPods, you get noise cancellation, transparency mode, and some of the lightest, most comfortable headphones out there. Frustratingly, the companion app is only available on Android, so iPhone users will miss out on most of the functionality. Some people have also experienced problems with these earplugs causing ear inflammation. We haven’t experienced this, but if you have, be sure to return the buds immediately.
Apple/Beats Powerbeats Pro for $180: Apple’s rugged Powerbeats Pro (8/10, recommended by WIRED) offer a super-secure wearing experience, sound far better than Apple’s previous standard AirPods or Beats, and last an impressive 9 hours on a single charge. They’ve long held out and dropped now-standard extras like transparency mode and ANC, but are still worth considering for those looking for serious stability.
OnePlus Buds Pro for $140: These AirPods-like earbuds sound great, look great, and work pretty much the same as Apple products, even though they’re designed for Android. If that’s what you want, then go ahead. I just happen to think some of the designs above are more stylish.
JBL Tour Pro 2 on sale for $250: When I first saw photos of these headphones at CES 2023, I believed a screen on a pair of wireless headphones (where you could see how much battery was left, play and pause music, etc.) would be great. It turns out that while the earbuds are perfectly fine and sound pretty good, I don’t need a screen on the box. Absolutely not. I don’t think I looked at it once while using the headset, other than testing. That’s all.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 on sale for $179: Sennheiser’s outdated Momentum True Wireless 2 are still available, and at a much lower price. In addition to the great sound, Sennheiser also fixed a bug in the first pair of Momentums that would drain the battery after a week or so even if you weren’t using them.
Raycon Everyday Earbuds for $80: These YouTuber-favorite earbuds are actually a decent pair of budget headphones (7/10, Wired review ). They’re small, lightweight, and have an IPX6 rating, making them perfect for workouts.
Master & Dynamic MW08 Sport on sale for $299: The Sport version is a good choice, with active noise cancellation and an eye-catching design, but the high price puts them beyond the reach of most people.