The 10 Best Earbuds

The Sony WF-1000XM6 suits anyone who wants one pair that does everything, whatever phone they carry. Eight microphones keep outside noise down and your voice clear on calls, and a charge lasts close to 10 hours with noise canceling on. Many Android phones get higher-quality wireless sound, and the buds can stay linked to a phone and a laptop at once. Sweat and rain are fine, but a dunk isn't, and the price is steep.

iPhone owners get the most from the Apple AirPods Pro 3, which block outside noise very well and run close to 9 hours on a charge. The buds survive a short dunk. A sensor tracks heart rate during workouts, and an FDA-authorized hearing-aid feature can help adults with mild to moderate hearing loss. Those extras need an iPhone or iPad. There's no full equalizer, and the sound can seem bassy at first.

Android owners, especially Pixel users, should look at the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2. The small buds have a twist-to-adjust fin that holds them in the ear. Noise canceling is solid, a charge lasts close to 8 hours with it on, and the case charges on a wireless pad. Splashes are fine, and they pair with two devices at once. Several features work only with Pixel phones, and they lack the higher-quality wireless sound some Android phones offer.

Budget-minded listeners get noise canceling and long battery life from the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC, which SoundGuys named an Editor's Choice. A charge lasts close to 10 hours with noise canceling on, and the wireless-charging case holds several more full charges. Compatible Android phones get higher-quality wireless sound, and the buds pair with two devices at once. Splashes are fine. Noise canceling is good rather than top tier, the case is chunky, and the bass-heavy tuning needs the app's equalizer.

Headphones Addict calls the Truthear Zero:RED the best wired set in its budget roundup, praising its smooth, neutral sound and comfortable fit. Truthear built it with the reviewer Crinacle, using two drivers per side, and it plays loud from a phone jack or a simple USB-C adapter. The cable detaches, so a broken one doesn't mean new earphones. There's no microphone or remote, and the warranty lasts one year.

After more than a decade on sale, the Shure SE215 Pro is still an affordable stage monitor for musicians. A single driver sits in a compact shell that seals the ear canal, and Shure says it blocks up to 37 decibels of outside noise. The clear cable loops over the ear, which keeps the buds in place, and it detaches for replacement. Bass is strong and treble crisp, but the soundstage is narrow, and there's no microphone.

Runners and gym regulars get a secure fit from the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, whose flexible ear hooks wrap behind each ear so the buds stay put through sprints and jumps. Each bud has a heart-rate sensor that works with iPhone and Android, and Beats rates up to 8 hours per charge with noise canceling on. The buds handle sweat, but the case doesn't. They cost a lot and connect to one device at a time.

The Sennheiser IE 200 brings the German brand's balanced, natural tuning to a wired set at a midrange price. You can seat the tips in two positions for a little more or less bass. The braided cable detaches and has ear hooks, and it gets plenty loud from a phone or a small adapter. Sennheiser covers it for two years. The single driver is less versatile than multi-driver sets, the design is plain, and there's no microphone.

On flights, on trains or anywhere you want accurate sound with outside noise shut out, the Etymotic ER3XR earns its place. Triple-flange tips seal deep in the ear canal, which can let you keep the volume lower in loud places. The XR version adds a bit of bass to Etymotic's neutral tuning, and the cable detaches. The deep fit takes getting used to, the highest treble is rolled off, and there's no microphone or remote.

For a basic wired pair with a microphone, the Apple EarPods (USB-C) plug straight into a USB-C phone, tablet or laptop, so there's no adapter to lose. An inline remote handles calls. The open, one-size shape rests in the outer ear instead of sealing it, so you hear traffic, but there's no noise isolation and little deep bass. The cable doesn't detach, and the plug won't work with phones that have only a headphone jack or a Lightning port.