Which earbuds

And the result is that rarest of Apple products: a genuinely good pair of headphones. The earbuds form factor means they stay secure in your ears while on running machines and during other vigorous activity. Then there is the star feature of the new Pros: noise cancelling. The AirPods Pros use two mics to remove background noise.

An outward-facing mic detects external sound, while a second inward-facing mic listens toward the ear while the noise-cancellation software adapts the sound times per second.

It all works, and without any extraneous audible effects, either. Transparency mode, where you dial out the noise-cancellation to filter in sounds from the outside world, is less successful but still pretty serviceable.

Music fans will be pleased. Podcasts and spoken-word devotees, equally so. Pros: Good sound and noise-cancelling; gym-friendly design Cons: No manual noise-cancellation adjustment. The good? These new Samsung earbuds match the non-Pro AirPods — both the original and the similar second iteration — for their convenience.

Popping the Galaxy Buds 2 in your ear, getting connected and getting listening is seamless. They even top Apple for under-the-radar looks and simplicity — sitting comfortably and stealthily in your ear with nary a stem in sight.

The pleasing design extends to the delightful marble-like colour options on offer — from muted Graphite and Olive options to eye-catching Lavender and White. The bread and butter of these earbuds — the sound — is decent, if uninspiring. The sound is vibrant and punchy in all the right places — and across genres. The ANC is good, blocking out most sound in all but the busiest environments but it does fail to achieve the immersive effect afforded by some more expensive rivals.

Good sound, stylish looks and bags of convenience are the key here — at this price, it's hard to recommend anything else for Galaxy users. Pros: Decent ANC; pleasant sound; easy to pair and switch; great colour options; comfortable fit Cons: Minimal water resistance; over-sensitive touch controls; inauthentic bass; no voice assistant. Weight: 4. A slightly more expensive rival to its semi-transparent rival, the Buds Pro do a strong job of taming some higher-end features to keep the price reasonable.

The twist being a chrome stem and a Black colour option. They are stylish and eye-catching without feeling like they are yelling for your attention. The buds themselves are extremely lightweight, making for a comfortable wear. A choice of tips lets you customise the buds to your ears, helping to ensure a tight fit.

And a secure fit is essential for making the most out of the strong active noise cancellation ANC on offer here. At lower volumes, or if you are just using the buds' ANC without sound to shut the world out, they are far less effective. Instead, it avoids a flat sound altogether with plenty of heft. OnePlus has, true to type, packed these headphones with lots of features too.

The battery life is great, with between hours depending on your use of ANC, alongside an additional up to hours of playback provided by the case. The only area lacking in convenience is touch controls. The OnePlus Buds Pro are a well-rounded pair of earbuds that justify their price despite some tough competition at the cheaper end — while also working well alongside OnePlus phones, other Androids and iPhones.

Each bud weighs just 5. The case is also smooth, oval and pocket friendly. Battery life is solid, with 7. Apologies if that comes across as rather condescending, but with the combination of good fit, battery life, and ANC, we expected performance to be a much weaker link in the chain.

Very, very bassy. Pros: Exceptional value; impressive active noise cancellation; great fit; good audio Cons: Look like Air Pod knockoffs; sound quality lacks finesse; minimal controls. But where it really matters, the TWSs are all business. Bluetooth 5. IPX7 certification means half an hour in the water is no problem. Touch controls on the light, comfortable earbuds mean the basics of playback control and telephony can be dealt with easily.

Battery life is more than enough to keep you in business all day and all of the night. But where poise, articulacy, detail retrieval and low-end punch are concerned, the SoundMAGICs are able to give plenty of more expensive rivals a lot to think about. Pros: Light, comfortable design; eloquent, balanced sound Cons: Neither all that loud or all that dynamic.

For some people, that information - coupled with the far-from-insignificant asking price - will be enough to put them off. But while understandable, that would be a shame - because in many ways, that vertiginous price is absolutely fair enough. Most important of all is the way they sound, of course - and thanks to a hybrid system of balanced armature in conjunction with a 9. The soundstage they create is sizeable and well defined, the tonality from the top of the frequency range to the bottom is balanced and believable, and they retrieve as much detail as a scene-of-crime investigator.

And they have a party-piece too, a genuine Point of Difference when it comes to specification. The charging case, which can hold 16 hours or four full charges of power as a contribution to the all-in and entirely ordinary battery life of 20 hours, is also an audio retransmitter.

But no, the PI7 are not perfect. You get 10 hours of battery in the buds plus an extra 20 hours from the case, and JBL promises a quick minute charge will provide an hour's playback. With the right tip and fin combination, they produce a stable fit that holds them securely in place when tackling all manner athletic pursuits, while that extra helping of deep but accurate bass should see you over the finish line.

One notable feature is the ambient mode: press the left bud and the volume decreases, allowing you to hold a conversation without removing the buds.

It's worth comparing these to the sporty five-star Jaybird Vistas below , but for fit and sound, we think the JBL Reflect Flows have the edge. There is now a 10mm driver and three mics per earpiece, too. But, considering the claims on the spec sheet, the price remains jaw-droppingly low. They're a solid proposition for the money: they fit securely, connect easily, have reliable controls and feature basic but effective noise-cancelling profiles — for just a small premium on the Air model.

We haven't come across anything at this level that does everything these Earfuns do, as well as they do it. Read the full review: Earfun Air Pro. The CX BT are a great option for anyone in the market for an affordable, yet extremely musical pair of wireless earbuds. They're neither water- nor sweat-resistant but the Sennheisers do boast Bluetooth 5. This means you're guaranteed solid Bluetooth connectivity, while the latter gives you EQ adjustment and the ability to customise their touch controls.

Battery life is seven hours, which is decent for the money but not class-leading. But it's the sound quality where these Sennheisers excel. They produce an insightful and entertaining sound with bags of enthusiasm. For the money, they're difficult to fault. These wireless buds aren't from what you'd consider one of the larger, heavy-hitting brands, but they are ridiculously affordable and they sound great for the money too! The Earfun Air Pro are also packed with features.

Noise-cancelling is out of the picture at this price, but there's excellent noise isolation and these well-fitting wireless earphones feel comfy too.

They're also waterproof to IPX7 standards submersible in one metre of water for up to 30 mins , support virtual assistants and include Qi wireless charging if you've got a suitable charger to hand.

Calls sound clear, and the battery life is seven hours from the buds and a further 28 hours from the charging case. Amazingly it all feels fairly premium too. The Bluetooth 5. Read the full review: Earfun Air review. They want to please those who need accompaniment to their workout and also those who have a commute to endure. And in a nutshell, they succeed.

These Sonys may have average battery life 18 hours total and an arguably daft look they aren't exactly discreet and do fill your lugholes , but their dynamic sound, decent noise-cancelling, and indisputable build combine to ensure they're front-runners in their field.

It would be nice to get a few extra ear tips to sort the fit, so just give them a thorough audition out of the box. Battery life is a very respectable eight hours and a minute quick-charge gets you two hours of playback. There is a bit of cable noise to contend with, but that's not uncommon for products of this type and shouldn't be a deal-breaker. If you're after entertaining sound, for the gym or your daily commute, the PI3s deliver.

They're pricier, but you do get better sound quality, an improved level of comfort and the addition of Apple's own noise-cancelling technology. Unlike the standard AirPods, the Pros come with a choice of silicone tips. Once you've achieved a good seal, you'll enjoy some of most effective noise-cancelling we've ever experienced. Each bud has a force sensor on the stem — squeeze it to activate Siri, answer calls, skip a track, etc.

The only disappointment is that Siri is the only method for adjusting volume without reaching into your pocket for your phone. Battery life is a claimed five hours for the earphones with another 19 hours from the charging case. In a hurry? A five-minute charge will give you another hour of listening. The AirPods Pro earbuds are sweat- and water-resistant, albeit to a lesser degree than sporty rivals, and they don't sound as good as other wireless earbuds around the same price.

But if you're an iPhone user, you're going to want to give these superb wireless earbuds an audition. They're a joy to use. Read the full review: Apple AirPods Pro. Whether you consider yourself a serious athlete or just enjoy a weekend jog in the park, the Jaybird Vista wireless earbuds should be on your shortlist. The fit is extremely secure it's aided by tips with integrated fins , while they're also IPX7 water- and sweat-proof which should help them survive intense training sessions and the odd downpour, too.

Power up the clever Jaybird app and besides pairing you can also customise their sound for your ears and also customise the controls on each earbud. There's USB-C charging - a five minute 'super-charge' will give you one hour, while a full charge gives you six hours plus an additional 10 thanks to their charging case. All this is topped off with an exciting, entertaining sound and a big dollop of bass. What they lack in detail, they make up for in sheer enthusiasm.

Read the full review: Jaybird Vista. The third generation AirPods are a joy to use and offer some nice upgrades over their predecessors, the second generation AirPods The smaller stems are reminiscent of the AirPods Pro, the new "low distortion" driver brings improved sound and the IPX4 rating makes them water and sweat resistant.

Battery life has been boosted from 24 hours to 30 hours six hours from the buds themselves plus four full charges from the charging case. But the AirPods 3 are a great buy Apple users who aren't bothered about noise-cancelling. Read the full Apple AirPods 3 review. The first-gen, AirPods now discontinued were a tech marvel let down by distinctly average sound quality. Thankfully the secon-gen buds sound better and pack in the features, meaning pairing and switching connections is now effortless.

They're powered by Apple's new H1 chip, which has helped to push the AirPods into hi-fi territory. They produce a louder and more sophisticated sound that benefits from a natural, fairly neutral sonic balance. The third-gen, AirPods above sound better still, but they're also pricier. Battery life is decent: five hours of listening and another 19 hours available via the supplied non-wireless charging case.

The launch of iOS13 added Audio Sharing, a nifty feature that allows a second pair of AirPods to connect, and listen, to a single iPhone. And thanks to Siri, you can now reply to incoming messages using your voice. There are no interchangeable ear tips so you'll just have to hope that 'one-size-fits-all'. But if you're an Apple fan, the second-gen AirPods are still a great buy, especially if you can pick them up at a hefty discount.

Read the full review: Apple AirPods What Hi-Fi? Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London and Bath.

Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence. Read more about how we test. Included in this guide: 1. Sony WFXM4. Bluetooth: Yes. Noise-cancelling: Yes. Battery life: 8 hours 24 hours with charging case. Finishes: 2. Panasonic RZ-SW. Specifications Bluetooth version: 5. Battery life: 6. Charging: USB-C. Built-in mic and controls: Yes.

Reasons to avoid - Fit could be an issue for some. Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus. Noise-cancelling: No. Battery life: 45 hours low power mode. Drivers: Dynamic. Reasons to avoid - Plastic remote feels cheap. Weight: 7. Frequency response: ,Hz. Drivers: 6mm. Battery life : 8 hours earbuds 16 hours charging case.

Reasons to avoid - Unremarkable battery life - No aptX support. NuraLoop headphones. Weight: 25g. Frequency response: 20Hz - 20 kHz. Drivers: 8. Battery life: 16 hours. Reasons to avoid - Stiff neckband can get in the way.

Weight : 7. Battery life onboard : 6 hours. Sennheiser IE Weight: 24g. Frequency response: 5Hz - 48,kHz. Drivers: 7mm dynamic. Reasons to avoid - Very expensive compared to rivals. Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus. Weight: 9. Drivers: 5. Battery life on-board : 9 hours earbuds 41 hours charging case. Reasons to avoid - No ANC. Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2. Drivers: 6mm graphene. Battery life on-board : 10 hours earbuds 70 hours charging case.

Reasons to avoid - Design is a bit plain. Grado GT Drivers: 8mm polyethylene terephthalate full-range. Battery life on-board : 6 hours earbuds 36 hours charging case. Reasons to avoid - No active noise-cancelling. Weight: 31g. Frequency response: 10Hz - 30kHz. Drivers: 9. Battery life: 8 hours. Reasons to avoid - No waterproofing - Average battery life. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2. Frequency response: 5 - 21,Hz. Battery life: 7 hours earbuds 28 hours charging case.

Reasons to avoid - More expensive than rivals. OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2. Weight: 13g. Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20 kHz.