The best wireless earbuds for every situation

Without going down the specialist audiophile route, the Sony WF-1000XM5 are the best earbuds around right now. They’re not cheap but they're worth the cash for hi-def sound, cool features, and best-in-class noise cancellation. 

There’s lots of Sony technology inside these little buds, including a new amplifier and processor chip, plus audio tech — DSEE Extreme, Edge-AI, and Sony’s LDAC codec. They also added multipoint pairing (missing on the last iteration). Adaptive Sound allows you to control the ambient sounds you let in, while Speak-to-Chat pauses the music whenever you start a conversation.

These are smaller than the previous-gen Sony buds, and some listeners might find them a tricky fit. But we're nit-picking, really. Overall though, they're magnificent. Not to mention easy to use. Just tap the outer surface of the buds for volume and playback controls. The sound comes via mini 8.4mm dynamic drivers, creating a listening experience that’s both big and nuanced. This is a sound rarely matched by other tech-heavy earbuds.

No earbuds are perfect of course. More battery life would always be nice. And they're not exactly cheap. But these are the buds to beat.

If you’re an Apple user, it’s time to upgrade with the brand’s best earbud tech — the AirPods Pro. They're the latest evolution in the Apple listening experience, with a punchy sound and impressive noise cancellation. 

The secret to this good noise cancellation is their soft, removable silicone tips, which come in three sizes. These tips are more comfortable than most in-ear buds, but also create a tight seal. In fact, they’re so smart that they scan your ears to make sure they fit just right.

Granted, it's virtually impossible to achieve total silence with a little pair of in-ear buds (for that, you need a nice, hefty pair of headphones that cover your entire ear). But for the size, they're great at eliminating the racket around you. There’s also a transparency mode for letting in some external noise.

To activate noise cancellation and playback features, just give the stems a little squeeze. Annoyingly, you have to control the volume on your phone or by asking Siri. For Apple users, earbuds don’t get much better.

The Apple and Samsung rivalry runs deep. There's no doubt that Galaxy users will get the most from these Galaxy Buds Live but iPhone users will also enjoy them. Especially if you enjoy personalising the user experience.

For starters, Samsung's Galaxy Wearables app is a must-download. It allows you to tweak your Buds' touchpad controls, adjust their notifications, and customise their sound via an equalizer for a personalised listening experience. There are also options to switch your Buds to an Ambient sound mode, which lets you hear some of your surroundings, and enable a "Find My Earbuds" tool that'll pinpoint a lost bud's hiding place.

Even the charging options are flexible. Pop the buds inside their charging case for up to seven extra hours of battery life on the go, or use the Wireless PowerShare feature to steal juice from your Galaxy S10 series smartphone. As for controlling playback and volume, just give the outer surface a quick tap.

The biggest issue reviewers have is that the noise cancellation isn't quite up to scratch. Of course, that's not an issue for everyone. Otherwise, they come highly recommended — a great Apple alternative and among Samsung's best.

When it comes to shopping for a pair of wireless earbuds, sheer comfort is probably one of the most important (yet overlooked) features. If you're going to be wearing these things all day, they have to become one with your ears.

Enter the Beats Powerbeats Pro, true wireless earbuds and one of the few that are actually comfortable enough for all-day use. Granted, their somewhat bulky design isn't for everyone, but the ear hooks are there to keep them securely positioned — stick these on and you’ll find them a solid pair of ultra-wearable buds that just won't budge. 

Coming from the Apple-owned Beats brand, the Powerbeats Pros are actually pretty similar to the AirPods as far as their tech specs go. They come equipped with Siri and the Apple-made H1 chip for quick and easy pairing. 

If you’re the sporty type, there’s another reason to buy them — these are Beats’ first foray into buds made specifically for running. Hours upon hours of battery life also helps. But if you're an Apple user who really hates the look of these, the AirPods might be a better bet.

The Copenhagen-based Jabra will already be familiar to exercise enthusiasts — the brand makes excellent true wireless buds for running and fitness. The Jabra Elite 85t are pretty much the full package — durable and well-constructed, with great sound and in-ear stability. In terms of comfort, they also have a partially open design, which is good for airflow and stops that bunged up feeling you can sometimes get with earbuds.

They also come highly recommended thanks to something called HearThrough, a mode which uses the buds' built-in microphones to pick up and filter some ambient sounds in through your music. Ultimately, it's a souped-up version of active noise cancellation, which you can adjust via the Jabra's Sound+ app. In fact, you'll find plenty of other features on the Sound+ app, including tools to customise a music profile, monitor your earbuds' charging status, and connect them to your preferred voice assistant (Alexa, Siri, or the Google Assistant). 

There’s another bonus that will suit all users: The Elite Active 85ts boast excellent calling capabilities. The only thing they're missing is a bigger battery life. Five hours is fine but not quite up there with the best batteries on this list.

JBL are known for excelling with mid-level, no-nonsense headphones. The JBL Reflect Aero deliver on both performance and price. Designed for fitness in the great outdoors — particularly running — the JBL Reflect Aero are a step ahead of the competition.

The buds hold as firm as their sturdy Bluetooth connection. They have adaptive ANC but also offer Ambient Aware and TalkThru modes that you can activate by tapping the buds. JBL calls these modes "bionic hearing". They tinker with the volume to let in external noise. You can even stop mid-run for a chat. 

It's not the best sound that money can buy. It's never going to be at this mid-level range. But you'd have to be pretty fussy, or some kind of expert-level audiophile to find much fault. JBL does mid-level exceptionally well. Bass fans will be especially impressed with the power in these little buds.

If you are out running, there’s plenty of juice — a full 8 hours plus another 8 hours in the charging case. Also included are three sets of tips to make sure you get the fit just right, plus powerfins for extra in-ear security.

If you want Apple-style tech and function but you’re in the decidedly non-Apple camp — or just want to spend significantly less — the Google Pixel Buds A-Series could be the ones for you. These are aimed largely at Android and Google phone users (though they work perfectly well with the iPhone) and cost less than the AirPods Pro. 

You’ll instantly see the benefits of being an Android user. They connect to Android devices using Fast Pair. You don’t even need to press anything — they hook up automatically. There’s also optional Google Assistant. Other Google features include Google Translate.

There’s a lack of active noise cancelling though an Adaptive Sound feature makes up for it. This adjusts the volume based on the outside noise. And the sound is very good, which combines with clear call quality. 

Various playback and call functions are operated by tapping the buds' outer surface. But these don’t extend to volume controls. Instead, you’ll have to adjust volume via Google Assistant or your device. The battery life is a negative point, at a below par five hours, but you’ll get an extra four charges from the charging case — and three hours of charge from just 15 minutes. 

Cambridge Audio might not be the first brand you think of when shopping for new earbuds, but it’s well-regarded for delivering tiptop sound quality. And in the case of the Cambridge Audio Melomania, at a very reasonable price too.

The audio comes via custom-designed 7mm Graphene-enhanced drivers. The sound is both bold and nuanced — and totally immersive. There’s no active noise cancellation, though. Instead, they’re built to passively block noise, which they do by sealing in the ear. A transparency mode allows you to keep in touch with the outside world.

It's not only about the sound. There’s another good reason to buy the Cambridge Audio Melomania. Namely, their excellent battery life. Nine solid hours plus up to 50 hours with the charging case. That’s the best you’ll find with any earbuds.

In terms of the music, there’s a selection of EQ pre-sets on the Melomania app — perfect for finding a sound that perfectly suits you. The fit of the buds themselves is also customisable. They’re designed based on samples of 300 pairs of ears, with a selection of tips included to ensure the perfect fit for you.