We’ve tested the best true wireless earbuds you can buy today.
The best true wireless earbuds you can buy right now have the most advanced audio technology around today baked-in. This means they’re just as good as almost any pair of wired earbuds on the market. Some of the earbuds in this list could possibly even rival our selection of the best over-ear headphones – and that’s saying something. Let’s not forget that true wireless earbuds used to be a risky bet until only recently. But today there’s never been a better time to cut the cord. In the guide below we’ve selected the best pairs of true wireless buds to help you choose the right pair for your budget and your needs. Let’s briefly recap what true wireless earbuds are all about. As you’ve guessed, they have no cable at all to connect to your phone or any other device. However, what sets them apart from wireless earbuds is there’s no cable to connect each bud to the other either. What this does is makes true wireless earbuds extremely convenient, as well as flexible for a whole range of environments and uses. But be warned: it also means you need to be extra careful not to lose one. The best true wireless earbuds of 2021 are all high-end – and most have a price tag to match. Each pair on this list comes with a whole bunch of impressive features built-in, including active noise cancellation as well as artificial intelligence for voice control – in the case of the Google Pixel Buds, there’s real-time language translation too. Of course, if you’re just after stellar sound quality, we recommend you check out models like the Grado GT220 and the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1, which are there to cater to your inner audiophile. One of the first super popular pairs of true wireless earbuds that went truly mainstream were the Apple AirPods. However, things have moved on. These days there are far better options out there, including the latest release from Apple, the AirPods Pro. Before you buy a pair of old-school ‘Pods, check out our selection of the best true wireless earbuds and AirPods-alternatives you can buy in 2021. The Sony WF-1000XM3 are the best true wireless earbuds you can buy in 2021, hands down. Considering it’s still rare to get noise-cancellation in wired earbuds at all, the fact that Sony has managed to pack it into a pair that are not only wireless, but true wireless is very impressive indeed. While models like the AirPods Pro have tried to replicate this, Sony is still top of the true wireless table. That’s because the Sony WF-1000XM3 manage to offer a level of noise-cancellation that’s exceedingly good for a pair of earbuds – they won’t offer the same isolation as a pair of over-ear headphones, but its a worthy trade off for that sleeker form. Sony has really knocked the ball out of the park with the WF-1000XM3, with fist-pumping musicality and a sleek design. Battery life is above average, and that compact charging case is pretty slick too. Constantly improving, a recent update has brought volume control to the buds themselves, as well as support for Amazon Alexa. These earbuds might be getting even better in the near future, too; on March 5, the earbuds briefly appeared on the Qualcomm website, suggesting that the Sony WF-1000XM3 could be about to get aptX HD support – and therefore, support for Hi-Res Audio. Read more: Sony WF-1000XM3 review The sound quality, battery life, and design of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 are truly brilliant – and they’re a really good alternative to the Sony WF-1000XM3, particularly if you prefer a more flashy design when it comes to true wireless earbuds. We did find that those with smaller ears sometimes find them a little uncomfortable, however, and their high price just stops them from taking the top spot of this round up. Otherwise? Sennheiser has pretty much knocked it out of the park with these earbuds, offering great noise cancellation alongside smart looks and stunning sound. Read more: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 review Cambridge Audio is known for its high-end audio equipment, but until last year, hadn’t ventured into the world of true wireless earbuds. Enter the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1s: with an outstanding 45 hours of battery life, they combine the brand’s award-winning engineering with the convenience of true wireless listening. For a pair of true wireless earbuds, the sound quality offered by the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1s is sensational. In fact, it rivals that of some of the best over-ear headphones. They may not have the noise cancellation technology offered by the Sony WF-1000XM3 Wireless Earbuds, but they are $100 / £100 cheaper – and they have a superior battery life. They certainly outperform the Apple AirPods (2019), in all respects apart from the lack of wireless charging case. This is a small price to pay for that exceptional audio quality, though, and we think they represent much better value for money, making them the best true wireless earbuds for audiophiles. Read more: Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 review [Update: We’ve spent some time getting to know the latest Cambridge Audio wireless earbuds. The Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch come with a 50-hour battery life, upgraded audio, and a new app to boot – and so far, we’re impressed. Stay tuned for our full review in the next week.] You may not have heard of up-and-coming audio brand Lypertek yet, but expect to hear a lot from it soon – its Lypertek Tevi are among the best true wireless earbuds we’ve tried, especially given their low price tag ($130 / £99 / AU$185). With USB-C charging, a well-balanced sound, lengthy battery life, and waterproofing, they tick every box you could ask for, from what are basically a pair of budget buds. The Lypertek Tevi, surprisingly, might just blow you away, punching well above their weight and rivaling buds from some of the biggest audio brands on the planet. Consider us pleasantly surprised. Read more: Lypertek Tevi true wireless earbuds review [Update: Lypertek has just announced its latest true wireless earbuds. While they’re not as highly-specced as their slightly pricier siblings, the new Lypertek Levi don’t skimp on things like battery life, design, and connectivity – of course, we’ll need to test them for ourselves before we can say for sure, but they look pretty promising, and could be the best value true wireless earbuds of 2021.
