Macworld
Wireless headphones or earbuds (whatever you call them) are essentially the standard now, with Bluetooth earbuds being convenient and the sound quality difference to wired not being that noticeable to typical people (we realize audiophiles ‘know’).
The market is huge, but here are the best wireless earbuds we’ve tested for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Macs. If you do want a wired connection some of these do offer it in addition to Bluetooth, but we also have a round-up of the best wired headphones and a comparison of over-ear headphones read our comparison of AirPods Max vs other over-ear headphones. We also have a comparison of all the AirPods.
When testing these best earbuds we considered some of the important factors to consider when choosing headphones. Such as whether they support ANC, which is Apple’s codec, or the aptX codec that is now used with many Bluetooth headphones and earbuds, but isn’t supported by Apple (although there are some earbuds, such as the B&W Pi8 below that include a transmitter for aptX support. We explain what to look for when choosing earbuds below.
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Unlock the Lowest Price 1. Apple AirPods Pro 3rd-generation (2025) – Best earbuds for iPhonePros
- Excellent comfort and secure fit
- Improved sound and bass
- Outstanding active noise cancellation
- Accurate workout heart-rate tracking
Cons
- Few major new features
- Charging case stores less
- Limited upgrade over Pro 2
Apple AirPods Pro 3 are premium true wireless earbuds from Apple. Released in September 2025, they add heart-rate monitoring, foam-infused eartips, stronger ANC, improved sound, longer battery life and IP57 water resistance.
Why we like them
The AirPods Pro 3 refine an already excellent formula with noticeably better comfort, stronger noise cancellation, richer sound and longer battery life while keeping the same launch price. Heart-rate tracking is a useful bonus, making them an easy recommendation for most Apple users.
Who are they best for
They’re ideal for iPhone users wanting premium wireless earbuds with excellent noise cancellation, secure all-day comfort and seamless Apple ecosystem integration. They’re especially appealing for fitness enthusiasts who can benefit from the new built-in heart-rate monitoring.
What are the biggest strengths
- More comfortable foam-infused eartips with five sizes
- Excellent fit that stays secure during exercise
- Improved sound with deeper bass and wider soundstage
- Significantly stronger ANC and better Transparency mode
- Accurate heart-rate monitoring during supported workouts
- Longer battery life without a price increase
What are the compromises
- Few genuinely new audio innovations
- Uses the same H2 chip as before
- Charging case stores less reserve power
- Existing AirPods Pro 2 owners gain limited benefits
- New eartips aren’t compatible with older models
- Heart-rate tracking only works during workouts
What is battery life like
Battery life increases to around eight hours with ANC enabled, while the case provides roughly 16 additional hours. A five-minute charge delivers about one hour of listening time.
How good is the ANC
Active Noise Cancellation is substantially improved, thanks to new microphones, redesigned eartips and computational enhancements. Apple claims twice the ANC of the previous generation, with noticeably better Transparency mode too.
Verdict
The AirPods Pro 3 aren’t a revolutionary upgrade, but they successfully improve almost every aspect of Apple’s best earbuds. Better fit, stronger noise cancellation, richer sound, longer battery life and useful heart-rate tracking make them easy to recommend. AirPods Pro 2 owners may not need to upgrade immediately, but everyone else gets one of the best premium wireless earbuds available.
Read our full Apple AirPods Pro 3 review
2. Apple AirPods 5 – Best AirPods for most peoplePros
- Excellent sound quality with richer bass
- Impressive ANC for an open-ear design
- Convenient wireless charging and volume controls
- Lower price than AirPods 4 with ANC
Cons
- Fit varies by user
- Battery life remains average
- ANC cannot match AirPods Pro
The Apple AirPods 5 (with Wireless Charging Case) are open-fit wireless earbuds featuring the H2 chip, improved Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive Audio, Transparency mode, Conversation Awareness, and Personalized Spatial Audio. The $149/£139 version adds wireless charging, touch-sensitive volume controls, and a Find My speaker in the case.
Why we like them
The AirPods 5 bring better sound and stronger noise cancellation to Apple’s familiar open-ear design, while costing less than the AirPods 4 with ANC they replace. In the review from our sister website, Macwelt, the AirPods 5 were found to deliver a slightly richer, warmer sound than their predecessors and surprisingly effective noise cancellation, making them an excellent alternative to the more expensive AirPods Pro.
Who are they best for
They’re ideal for iPhone users who dislike silicone ear tips but still want effective ANC and premium features. They’re particularly well suited to everyday listening, commuting, and anyone who wants many of the AirPods Pro’s features without paying $249. The Wireless Charging Case version is the better choice for most buyers.
What are the biggest strengths
- Rich, detailed sound with slightly warmer bass than AirPods 4
- Excellent ANC for an open-ear design, particularly against steady background noise
- Adaptive Audio and improved Transparency mode
- Convenient swipe controls for adjusting volume
- Wireless charging via Qi or an Apple Watch charger
- Find My speaker built into the charging case
What are the compromises
- Open design limits noise isolation compared with AirPods Pro
- Fit remains unchanged from AirPods 4 and depends on ear shape
- Higher-frequency sounds, including keyboard clicks, remain noticeable
- Battery life trails many competing earbuds
- No heart-rate monitoring or AirPods Pro hearing-health features
- Discounted AirPods Pro 3 can narrow the price gap
What is battery life like
Apple rates the Wireless Charging Case model for up to five hours with ANC enabled, or seven hours with noise control off. The case extends ANC listening time to 22 hours. Macwelt’s testing achieved approximately four hours and 45 minutes indoors, dropping to four hours and 15 minutes when traveling with higher volume settings and Spatial Audio enabled.
How good is the ANC
Noise cancellation is particularly impressive for earbuds that don’t seal the ear canal. Macwelt’s testing found that the AirPods 5 effectively reduced steady background sounds, including road noise and computer fans. Apple claims up to 50 percent better noise cancellation than AirPods 4 with ANC. However, sharper sounds still get through, and the AirPods Pro 3 provide significantly stronger isolation.
What about the cheaper AirPods 5?
Apple also sells the standard AirPods 5 for $129/£119. These include the same H2 chip, sound improvements, and ANC, but have a USB-C-only charging case without wireless charging or a Find My speaker. They also lack the stem-based volume controls and have slightly shorter battery life, offering four hours with ANC and 20 hours with the case. For just $20/£20 more, the Wireless Charging Case model is worth the upgrade, although the cheaper version remains excellent value.
Verdict
The AirPods 5 (with Wireless Charging Case) are among the best open-ear wireless earbuds available. They combine richer sound, impressively effective noise cancellation, useful smart features, and convenient wireless charging at a lower price than their predecessors. Battery life is still fairly modest, and the unchanged fit won’t suit everyone, but they’re an excellent everyday choice for iPhone users who prefer an open design. With the added convenience of volume controls and wireless charging for just $20 more than the standard model, they’re the AirPods 5 we’d recommend.
Read our full
AirPods 5 review
Pros
- Class-leading noise cancellation
- Detailed, lively sound
- Secure, comfortable fit
- Excellent companion app
Cons
- Wireless charging costs extra
- Spatial audio drains battery
- Premium price
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are premium true wireless earbuds from Bose, featuring class-leading active noise cancellation, immersive spatial audio, customisable ear tips and stability bands, plus app-based fit testing.
Why we like them
The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds combine outstanding active noise cancellation with detailed, engaging sound that reveals subtle musical details. They’re comfortable thanks to multiple ear tip and stability band options, while the Bose app helps achieve the best possible fit for consistently excellent listening.
Who are they best for
They’re ideal for frequent travellers, commuters and anyone who wants exceptional noise cancellation without sacrificing sound quality. They also suit listeners who value a secure fit and don’t mind paying a premium for top-tier performance.
What are the biggest strengths
- Industry-leading active noise cancellation dramatically reduces aircraft engines and other low-frequency sounds.
- Rich, detailed audio with impressive clarity across bass, vocals and instruments.
- Comfortable, secure fit with multiple ear tip and stability band combinations.
- Helpful Bose app includes a Seal Test for optimal fit.
What are the compromises
- Premium pricing compared with many rivals, even with regular discounts.
- Wireless charging requires purchasing a separate optional charging case.
- Immersive Audio mode is only moderately convincing for spatial sound.
- Battery life falls noticeably when using spatial audio features.
What is battery life like
Battery life reaches around six hours with active noise cancellation enabled, dropping to roughly four hours when using Immersive Audio. The charging case supplies approximately three additional full charges.
How good is the ANC
The active noise cancellation is among the very best available, suppressing deep aircraft engine noise so effectively it can seem almost silent, making travel and commuting significantly more comfortable.
Verdict
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds remain one of the strongest premium true wireless options thanks to exceptional active noise cancellation, detailed sound quality and a secure, comfortable fit. They’re expensive and the optional wireless charging case feels unnecessary at this price, but frequent discounts make them easier to recommend, especially for travellers and regular commuters seeking best-in-class ANC.
Read our full Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review
4. Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 – Best earbuds for serious fitnessPros
- Secure, comfortable earhook fit
- Excellent workout stability
- Heart rate monitoring
- Strong battery endurance
Cons
- Missing AirPods Pro features
- Heart rate limitations
The Beats’ Powerbeats Pro 2 are premium fitness-focused true wireless earbuds made by Beats, an Apple-owned company. They feature Apple’s H2 chip, secure earhooks, built-in heart rate monitoring, and USB-C charging.
Why we like them
The Powerbeats Pro 2 combine an exceptionally secure fit with improved sound, effective noise cancellation and class-leading workout comfort. Heart rate monitoring adds genuine fitness appeal, while Apple’s H2 chip delivers fast pairing, excellent transparency mode and seamless integration across Apple devices, making them superb exercise companions.
Who are they best for
They’re best for runners, gym-goers and anyone wanting earbuds that stay securely in place during intense exercise. Apple users will benefit most, though Android owners also receive a stronger feature set than they would with AirPods.
What are the biggest strengths
- Secure earhooks stay firmly in place during workouts.
- Smaller, lighter design improves comfort over long sessions.
- H2 chip enables excellent transparency mode and strong ANC.
- Built-in heart rate monitoring works with supported fitness apps.
- Long battery life and fast charging reduce downtime.
- Improved Android support with dedicated Beats features.
What are the compromises
- Lacks several AirPods Pro software features, including Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness.
- Heart rate monitoring is limited to supported apps.
- Apple Watch overrides earbud heart rate readings.
- Sound has a brighter presentation than Apple’s AirPods Pro, which offer a more balanced listening experience.
- Wireless charging supports Qi only, not MagSafe or Qi2.
What is battery life like
Battery life is excellent, with up to 10 hours of listening per charge, or around 8 hours using ANC or transparency mode. The charging case provides approximately 3.5 additional charges.
How good is the ANC
Active noise cancellation is a major improvement over the original model, delivering strong everyday performance. Transparency mode is particularly impressive, sounding natural and approaching the excellent standard set by Apple’s AirPods Pro. However, the newer AirPods Pro 3 offer stronger noise cancellation, making them a better choice for listeners who prioritize blocking out background noise.
Verdict
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 are among the best fitness earbuds available, combining a secure earhook fit, long battery life, heart rate monitoring and excellent Apple ecosystem integration. While they lack several AirPods Pro software features, including Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness, they’re an outstanding choice for workouts and active lifestyles. The AirPods Pro 3 offer stronger noise cancellation and more advanced everyday features, but the Powerbeats Pro 2 are the better choice for serious exercise, thanks to their secure earhooks and longer total battery life.
Read our full Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 review
5. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 – Best for audiophiles (who like jogging)Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Compact, comfortable design
- Bluetooth 6.0
- Dolby Atmos
Cons
- Expensive
- Only average battery life
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