True wireless earbuds or TWS are among the most sought-after accessories for smartphones. And these are among the most advanced gadgets you’d carry with you throughout the day. The best true wireless earbuds are the ones that offer the most advanced audio tech available in the market. The fact that most wireless earpieces can almost match the audio quality provided by wired earbuds is a commendable feat.
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Apart from being wireless, these are extremely compact and can be easily carried around, and offer a long battery life. And in case you need to charge them up, almost all the best true wireless earbuds offer features like fast charging and wireless charging – making it extremely easy to juice them up.
Moreover, when you’re talking of the best in the lot, factors like audio quality, wireless connectivity, design, etc. are some of the key features at which these buds are ranked. These also include hands-free voice control, and active noise cancellation, along with support for Hi-Res Audio codecs. Hence, the below list of the best true wireless earbuds is among the ones that rank high on all these parameters.
Top 10 Best True Wireless Earbuds in 2021 – Complete Buying Guide
List of the top 10 best true wireless earbuds in 2021 below;
- Bose QuietComfort Buds
- Jabra Elite 85t Buds
- Sony WF-1000XM4 Buds
- OnePlus Buds Pro
- Samsung Galaxy Buds Live
- Apple Beats Powerbeats Pro
- Apple AirPods Pro Buds
- Samsung Galaxy Buds-2
- Apple Beats Studio Buds
- Sennheiser Momentum True Buds
01. Bose QuietComfort Buds
It took Bose quite a while to get them into stores, but the new $279 noise-canceling QuietComfort Earbuds are finally here. In many ways, they’re excellent true wireless earbuds, particularly when it comes to their great sound and noise canceling, which is arguably the best out there right now in a set of earbuds.
Performance-wise, they have a leg up on Apple’s best-selling AirPods Pro true wireless noise-canceling earbuds. However, the AirPods Pro’s smaller design, somewhat more comfortable fit, and superior voice-calling capabilities make it hard to declare the Bose the straight-up champ. Ultimately, it depends on your priorities.
Also this: Top 15 Best Wireless Earbuds 2022
02. Jabra Elite 85T Buds
The Jabra Elite 85t delivers impressive performance thanks to some great audio quality, effective noise cancellation, and decent battery life. However, they’re let down a little by the fit, which is just not on par with their more compact predecessor.
Thanks to a new pair of 12mm drivers, the audio quality has been vastly improved to offer a wider and more well-balanced soundstage. This, alongside even deeper bass, adds more depth to your favorite tunes. These buds are still able to offer over five hours of playback per charge, with its charging case able to extend this to an impressive 25 hours. The noise cancellation feature works well, but it’s not as good as the Sony or Sennheiser earbuds.
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03. Sony WF-1000XM4 Buds
The Sony WF-1000XM4 Buds is an expensive set of earbuds, but don’t let that scare you away: this is well worth it for the right buyer. Sony vastly improved its active noise canceling, thanks in part to Bluetooth 5.2 and a new V1 processor. While the ANC can’t compare to its big brother, the Sony WH-1000XM4, it handily outperforms any other noise-canceling true wireless earphones to date.
Sony provides a trio of memory foam ear tips, which effectively mold to your ear canal and block out background noise. You can even use the Headphones Connect app to check that you selected the properly fitting ear tips. This is absolutely necessary for a pair of ANC earbuds, as good isolation begets optimal noise cancellation.
The sound quality is quite good too, though you’ll notice some treble frequencies sound odd since the drivers are tuned to de-emphasize them by default. Again, this can quickly be fixed within the mobile app by lowering the bass and midrange response. The earbuds support the SBC, AAC, and LDAC Bluetooth codecs, meaning anyone can enjoy high-quality audio.
Related: How to Choose the Best Wireless Earbuds for Android 2022
04. OnePlus Buds Pro Best True Wireless Earbuds
The OnePlus Buds Pro is a big leap forward from the original OnePlus Buds. The new OnePlus Buds Pro offers an excellent audio experience, effective active noise cancellation, good battery life, and a comfortable fit. while they might not beat the Apple AirPods Pro, the OnePlus Buds Pro represents good value for money and are a great alternative to the Oppo Enco X and the Galaxy Buds 2.
The OnePlus Buds Pro does an excellent job at blocking out external noise by up to 40dB and you get to choose from three ANC modes – noise cancellation, max ANC, and smart. In terms of battery life, the OnePlus Buds Pro lasts up to 24 hours with the case and ANC turned off.
With ANC turned on, it drops to 20 hours. A quick 10-minute charge offers up to 10 hours of playback which is quite handy, and there’s also support for Qi wireless charging.
Thanks to large 11mm drivers, you get an extremely enjoyable listening experience from these earbuds, with thumping bass that drives your music without overwhelming the other frequencies or overpowering the vocals. Their clean and energetic sound lends the OnePlus Buds Pro to most genres, with a spacious soundstage. Like the AirPods Pro, the OnePlus Buds Pro can be controlled by squeezing their ear stems.
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05. Samsung Galaxy Buds Live True Wireless Earbuds
Say what you will about the Samsung Galaxy Buds Live’s bean-shaped design, but they might just be the most innovative new true wireless earbuds of the year. Like the standard AirPods, they have an open design – you don’t jam an ear tip into your ear and they’re quite comfortable to wear and fit my ears more securely than the AirPods.
That said, they won’t fit everybody’s ears equally well. These wireless buds are discreet and basically sit flush with your ear without a little white pipe extending out from them. They deliver good sound and work well as a headset for making calls, with good background noise reduction so callers can hear you clearly even when you’re in noisier environments.
While they feature active noise canceling, it’s mild compared to the noise-canceling in earbuds that have a noise isolation design. In other words, buy them for their design and sound, not their noise-canceling features.
Also this: Top 8 Best Loudest Wireless Earbuds – You Should Definitely Consider
06. Apple Beats Powerbeats Pro
The true wireless Powerbeats Pro is a big step up for the Apple-owned headphone brand. They have their limitations as you are not getting noise cancellation and limited noise isolation, but they are Apple’s most premium workout buds.
They’re supremely comfortable, sound decent, and seem to never, ever fall out. In terms of battery life, we did manage to get eight or so hours with the buds and close to 24 hours with the included case.
It has a sporty look and you also get fins which will ensure you get a perfect fit. These buds sound good both during a workout and during your time away from the gym. Where we found. The Powerbeats Pro perform their best in a near-quiet environment, like your office, your home, or your gym – because you can use hands-free Siri, they’re great for setting timers in between sets and placing calls to friends and clients.
See this: Top 7 Best Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds – You Can Buy Now
07. Apple AirPods Pro Best True Wireless Earbuds
The AirPods have always been convenient, but it hasn’t been good. That changes with the AirPods Pro, as it has ear tips for a better fit, active noise canceling tech inside, and playback controls built into the smaller stem.
Transparency, a new listening mode, uses microphones to amplify the sounds around you so you can hear your surroundings better. It’s great when you don’t want to miss any important announcements, and you can toggle ANC back on by squeezing the stem again.
The stem is also where you’ll find the playback controls, though unfortunately there are no volume controls. The charging case is also slightly bigger than the original but not by much, and it’s still super easy to toss in your pocket.
We recorded around five hours of constant playback in our full review, but you can get another few charges just by tossing it back in the case between uses. If the AirPods Pro is a bit too rich for your blood, there are a handful of solid AirPods Pro alternatives out there for iPhone and Android users alike.
This is the best microphone you can get when it comes to truly wireless earbuds, as demonstrated in the audio clip above. Whether you’re chatting from the quiet of your apartment or from your corner cafe, the AirPods Pro will relay your voice clearly to the person you’re speaking with.
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08. Samsung Galaxy Buds-2
Available in four color options, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 hew more closely to the newer Galaxy Buds Pro and Galaxy Buds Live, both of which have eye-catching glossy curved designs and the same compact charging case as this new model. In fact, it’s the Buds 2’s design and fit – they’re 15% smaller and 20% lighter than the Buds Plus – that make them a potentially more likable alternative to the slightly better-sounding Buds Pro.
Like the Buds Pro, the Buds 2 is equipped with active noise canceling. That means all the latest Galaxy Buds models now feature some form of active noise canceling, though it’s slight with the Buds Live, which has an open design sans ear tips.
While the Buds 2 look more like shrunken versions of the Buds Pro, I found them more akin to the Buds Live in that they barely stick out of your ears and are fairly discreet. Because they sit more flush with your ears – and have that curved design – they also pick up less wind noise.
09. Apple Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Earbuds
The Beats Studio Buds look a lot like the rumored stemless AirPods we’ve been waiting for. Geared toward both iOS and Android users, they are missing a few key features on the Apple side of things (there’s no H1 or W1 chip), but they’re small, lightweight buds that are comfortable to wear and offer really good sound.
While their noise canceling isn’t as good as the AirPods Pro’s they do have a transparency mode and they’re decent for making calls. Ultimately, their fit and sound quality are their strongest selling points – and they are about $50 cheaper than the AirPods Pro.
Also this: Best Wireless Earbuds for Android
10. Sennheiser Momentum Buds
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 boasts excellent sound quality, design, and battery life, and is an easy recommendation for those looking for a premium product. They are amongst the best true wireless earbuds currently available, especially if the price and subjective discomfort are not deal-breakers for you.
These buds also look stunning as it comes with a shiny metallic touch-sensitive outer housing with a Sennheiser logo around the body, making them look really sleek and classy. The charging case looks sophisticated with a woven finish that will match the color of your bud.
With over six hours of battery life in the buds and more than two full charges in the case. The Momentum True Wireless 2 are packing 7mm dynamic drivers, which are rated to deliver “outstanding stereo sound, with deep bass, natural mids, and clear, detailed treble.” The noise cancellation is also on par with the Sony WF-1000XM3.
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Some more important features
Sound Stage
If someone whispers in your left ear You’ll know to look over your left shoulder to sense that s what sound stage is it’s the ability of a pair of headphones to reproduce spatial cues in a room in other words how good a pair of headphones is at tricking your brain into thinking that there are sounds coming from a certain direction.
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This varies with headphones but in general, the larger over-ears are better at achieving this than smaller in-ears because the sound has a chance to bounce around your ear before reaching your eardrum. Earbuds pump out sound directly into your ear so there isn’t much room for the sound to move around and create the illusion of space.
Audio Quality
I don’t think that anyone would settle for buying a Bluetooth headset even a super affordable one if it didn’t deliver a good sound quality for that reason I suggest everyone that can’t test sound.
Devices in-person read extensive reviews from trusted sources and watch demonstration videos however some specifications can give you some hints about the sound quality of a certain device for example the output power measured in Watts is a great indicator of whether a speaker can deliver enough sound.
Ear Comfort
Comfort just like standard Earbuds noise-canceling Earbuds greatly benefits from a proper seal. No matter how good the ANC tech Inside the Earbuds is if the nozzles aren’t physically blocking noise out auditory masking will occur.
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It’s worth the effort to take a moment and test out the included ear tips to shake your head around a bit and take note of your comfort level. Usually one of the sizes works but on the off chance that doesn’t, you may want to invest in third-party ear tips.
Build Quality
What good are your amazingly sounding earbuds if they break in a few months? The overall durability and longevity are crucial for any investment you make. Especially for those who need earbuds for commuting, it’s important they’re able to withstand vigorous traveling conditions consistently.
Frequency Response
Frequency response is the spec that tells you the range of sound that the product is capable of producing and it’s measured in hertz. If you look at the box of any audio product this number is usually around 20 hertz to 20000 hertz with the first number representing the lowest frequency and the second representing the highest.
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This number varies depending on the product but reference humans can only hear between 20 hertz and 20000 hertz. This is why that’s the range most products aim for.
Battery Life
Battery life is an overlooked subject when speaking about over-ear earbuds. Obviously, the only earbuds that have a battery life are those which are wireless. Many earbuds on the market do not have wireless capabilities. But for those who do more extended battery life becomes a convenient factor.
Conclusion:
The year 2021 saw the emergence of some impressive true wireless earbuds, with various manufacturers pushing the boundaries in terms of sound quality, comfort, durability, and convenience. After thorough research and testing, the top 10 best true wireless earbuds were identified based on their features, user feedback, and value for money.
The chosen earbuds include models from popular brands such as Apple, Sony, Jabra, and Samsung, among others. Overall, each earbud on the list offers unique features and benefits, making it crucial for consumers to choose a model that best fits their needs and preferences. With the rapid advancements in wireless technology, the future looks bright for truly wireless earbuds, and we can expect to see even more innovative designs and features in the years to come.
FAQs
What are truly wireless earbuds?
True wireless earbuds are a type of wireless headphones that do not have any cords or cables connecting the earbuds to each other or to the audio source. They offer a convenient and wire-free listening experience.
What makes a pair of true wireless earbuds the best?
The best true wireless earbuds are usually determined by a combination of factors such as sound quality, comfort, battery life, connectivity, and additional features like noise cancellation or water resistance. The overall user experience and value for money are also important considerations.
How is the sound quality of true wireless earbuds?
The sound quality of true wireless earbuds can vary depending on the brand and model. However, many high-quality true wireless earbuds offer impressive sound with a good balance of bass, mids, and highs, providing an immersive audio experience.
What is battery life like for true wireless earbuds?
Battery life can vary significantly among different true wireless earbuds. It is typically measured in hours of playback time on a single charge. The best true wireless earbuds can offer anywhere from 4 to 10 hours or more of battery life, with the charging case providing additional charges for extended use.
Are true wireless earbuds comfortable to wear?
True wireless earbuds come in various shapes and sizes, so comfort can vary from person to person. However, many brands offer earbuds with ergonomic designs and multiple ear tip options to ensure a comfortable and secure fit for most users.
Can I use true wireless earbuds for making phone calls?
Yes, most true wireless earbuds have built-in microphones that allow you to make phone calls. However, the call quality can vary depending on the specific model and the environment you are in.