Best Wireless Earbuds 2023: Budget and Premium

Looking to pick up a pair of wireless earbuds but not sure which to get? You’re not alone. Since Apple launched its first-generation AirPods many moons ago, the true wireless form factor has become an increasingly popular choice for music listeners. Here’s a list of the best wireless earbuds for 2023.

These days there are more sets than can easily be counted covering pretty much every price and type of user you can think of. In fact, if you jump onto any retailer now you’ll find everything from cheap true wireless that costs less than a takeout pizza to top-of-the-line units for audio enthusiasts, movie aficionados, runners, and gamers.

While this choice is in many ways great, it’s also a two-edged sword as it can make picking the right pair for your specific needs and budget fairly tricky.

Here to help make sure you don’t invest in a poor set of wireless earbuds, we’ve created this guide detailing all the best sets we’ve personally tested. Every set here has been personally checked and used by the team of audio experts at What Hi-Fi? so you can trust our buying advice.

1. Sony WF-1000XM4

The WF-1000XM4 produces one of the most dynamic, detailed, and balanced performances we’ve heard from a pair of Bluetooth buds. Bass notes sound tight and textured, while vocals ooze refinement and sophistication. Their musical delivery keeps you coming back for more, and also makes you thankful for the eight hours of battery life, which is class-leading in this field.

The Sonys are comfortable to wear too. The new-look earpieces include touch-sensitive controls and a new ear tip design which helps with noise isolation. Combine this with the excellent noise canceling provided by Sony’s Integrated Processor V1 and you’ve got a pair of headphones that effectively block out the hustle and bustle.

IPX4 water resistance comes as part of the WF-1000XM4 package, as does Sony’s clever Headphones Connect app for iOS and Android and clever features such as Quick Attention and Speak-To-Chat which both allow you to have a conversation without removing the earbuds. If you want the best in-ear wireless headphones on the market right now, look no further.

2. Sony WF-C500

Think of Sony’s WF-C500 wireless earbuds as a no-frills version of the WF-1000XM4 found further up this page. They deliver a lot of what makes those wireless earbuds a success without cutting too many corners.

They’re good for running and sports, thanks to their IPX4 rating, while you also get ‘fast pair’ connectivity with Android devices and ‘swift pair’ with Windows 10 PCs.

The sound is nicely balanced, there’s loads of mid-range detail on show and it’s presented in a cohesive and musical package.

Battery life is 10 hours from the buds themselves, which should be plenty for most, and the case provides another 10 hours. If you’re looking for the best Bluetooth earbuds and don’t want to spend a fortune, the Sony WF-C500 should be on your shortlist.

3. Panasonic RZ-S500W

Panasonic isn’t a brand that immediately springs to mind when you think of the best earbuds. But perhaps it should be. The RZ-S500W is the company’s first foray into the market and they’re sensational performers for the money.

Specs are thorough, with noise-canceling tech, an Ambient Mode, twin mics for voice calls, and a battery life that totals 19.5 hours (6.5 hours from the buds and 13hrs from the charging case). A 15-minute USB-C quick-charge can deliver 70 minutes of playback. The touch controls on each bud are responsive and intuitive, allowing you to control your music and switch between noise-canceling modes with zero fuss. 

You also get five sizes of ear tips to help with fit. We found this a little hit-and-miss, so we’d definitely experiment and consider mixing the sizes if it means getting a more secure fit.

Both noise-canceling and sound quality are excellent. There’s plenty of agility through the low end and loads of texture across the frequencies. The music sounds clear and there’s a great deal of refinement on show, which is to be welcomed at this price level. To sum up, these Panasonic wireless earbuds are superb for the money.

4. Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus

These affordable wireless earbuds hit the spot. They boast app support, customizable EQ settings, and the British audio firm’s innovative High-Performance Audio Mode. Your color options are white and black.

The real selling point here (besides sound quality) is battery life. The 1 Plus provides a whopping nine hours from one charge, and you get an additional four charges from the carry case. That makes 45 hours of total run time. The fact there’s no noise-canceling onboard helps to explain the marathon battery life, as the tech can be a real drain.

The Melomanias deliver an impactful and expansive musical performance. They sound clear and more dynamic than their predecessors and there’s a smidgen more detail too. If you want an affordable and accomplished pair that’s up there with the best Bluetooth earphones, Cambridge definitely warrants a closer look.

5. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

Say hello to the ‘Best wireless earbuds over £200’ at the What Hi-Fi? Awards 2022. As the title of the award suggests, these premium Bluetooth in-ears sound amazing and set a new benchmark for wireless earbuds at this level.

Smaller and lighter than the original QC Earbuds (which you can find a few places below), the Earbuds II provides a comfortable fit and lots of features. Bluetooth 5.3 is a big bonus, and the Bose app allows you to alter the amount of noise-canceling on offer via a number of customizable presets.

Speaking of noise-canceling, Bose is at the top of their game. They can automatically adjust the amount of ANC on offer so your music isn’t drowned out by particularly loud noises and the effect is deeply impressive. As for sound, it’s balanced and neutral and overflowing with fine detail. 

It’s a shame there’s no support for high-quality wireless audio codecs such as LDAC or aptX HD, nor is there wireless charging or Bluetooth multipoint. But we don’t think this is the end of the world when you consider that these classy buds ooze such sophistication.

6. Apple AirPods Pro 2

Apple’s in-ear AirPods have always been decent wireless earbuds, but unremarkable. They’ve picked up quite a number of four-star reviews over the years. But with the AirPods Pro 2, Apple has made a pair of wireless buds that delivers the goods.

How? Noise-canceling is better, battery life is longer, and you get new features and, more importantly, much improved sound quality. They also cost the same as the original AirPods Pro, which helps.

Fit is very good, and the tweaked design feels a lot less intrusive than some in-ears. Apple has finally added on-bud volume controls, which takes the user experience up a level too.

The noise-canceling works like a treat, while Adaptive Transparency muffles loud noises when letting in ambient sounds. And the sound quality? With weight, detail, and a good dose of dynamic subtlety, they really are accomplished performers.

7. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3

Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless earbuds have performed consistently well in recent years and this third generation is its finest offering yet. The wireless noise-canceling earbuds boast an improved performance that’s right up there with the likes of the Sony WF-1000XM4 that also feature on this list. The spec sheet is competitive and includes great battery life (28 hours) and Bluetooth codec support (aptX Adaptive), and includes the bonus of extra in-app personalization. They’re even priced cheaper than the old model.

The Sennheisers are nice and comfortable, deliver one of the most mature, spacious, and refined performances in the market, and have the bonus of noise cancellation too.

Building on an already winning recipe with an improved feature set, a decent step up in performance, and a sensible price tag, the Momentum True Wireless 3 are as competitive as ever. A brilliant pair of earbuds.

8. Google Pixel Buds A-Series

Google’s latest wireless earbuds are packed with features and come at a very low price which is an attractive package in itself. But how do they sound?

They’re light and comfortable, and while they don’t offer noise canceling, they do a good job of isolating you and are aided by rubber fins that keep them secure. They are vented, though, so some background noise inevitably creeps in, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Your color choices are either white or ‘Dark Olive’.

Battery life is okay at around five hours, plus another 20 or so from the carry case in four charges. The Pixel Buds A-Series pair with your device very easily indeed, too, especially if you’re using an Android smartphone or tablet that boasts the Fast Pair feature. IPX4 water resistance means they should be ok for exercise too.

These wireless earbuds put in an admirable performance come music time, with a clean, balanced sound that doesn’t lean too far into any part of the sonic spectrum. This is a great pair of wireless earbuds at a great price.

9. JBL Reflect Flow Pro

Yes, you can get wireless earbuds not geared towards sport that, for a similar price, deliver more detail and dynamic subtlety (look further up this list for inspiration). But, unlike these JBLs, they won’t have the finely-honed ergonomics or rugged design that’s required to be hailed as ideal fitness buddies.

Within the context of wireless earbuds for exercise, the Reflect Flow Pro performs well across the board. They’re waterproof, lightweight, and comfortable and come with multiple ear tip fin options. Battery life is a very decent 10 hours (or eight with ANC on) while the wireless charging case stores an extra 20 hours. They also produce a lively, detailed sound that makes them easy to recommend.

10. Earfun Air Pro

Earfun builds on the success of its Earfun Air by cramming even more features into a new ‘Pro’ variant, the main addition being active noise cancellation. 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-canceling profiles – for just a small premium on the Air model.

There’s also USB-C charging and wearer detection, plus the sound is pretty decent for the money – well-balanced, relatively transparent, taut and full through the bass, and musically pleasing overall. We haven’t come across anything at this level that does everything these Earfuns do, as well as they do it.

11. Sennheiser CX 400BT

The CX 400BT is 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 5.1 support and a companion app. This means you’re guaranteed solid Bluetooth connectivity, while the latter gives you EQ adjustment and the ability to customize its touch controls.

Tap the right earbud once to activate your phone’s voice assistant or accept incoming calls, twice to jump forward a track or rejects calls, or hold it down to increase volume. 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.

12. Earfun Air

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 is also packed with features. Noise-canceling 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 meter 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 5.0 connection is solid and stable and for the money, the wireless earbuds offer an energetic and spacious sound.

If you’re after something fun-sounding and affordable, the Earfun Air wireless earbuds could be just the ticket.

13. Sony WF-SP800N

The Sony WF-SP800N earbuds certainly try to please everyone. They want to please those who need accompaniment to their workout and also those who have a commute to endure. They aim to please those who don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on some well-specified, wireless earbuds with active noise-cancellation, but also those who have spent enough on a Deezer or Tidal subscription to have access to 360 Reality Audio, Sony’s spatial audio format. 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-canceling, and indisputable build combine to ensure they’re front-runners in their field.

14. Apple AirPods 3

The third-generation AirPods (2021) are a joy to use and offer some nice upgrades over their predecessors, the second-generation AirPods (2019). 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.

If you’re an Apple Music subscriber, you’ll be excited to hear that the AirPods 3 now join the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max in exclusively offering the full spatial audio experience.

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). A five-minute ‘quick charge’ should give the AirPods 3 enough juice for an hour’s playback. 

The AirPods Pro still justify their existence with superior sound, ANC, and fit-friendly ear tips. But the AirPods 3 are a great buy for Apple users who aren’t bothered about noise-canceling.