Wireless earbuds are a dime a dozen these days. Some sound awesome, while others sound downright terrible. Some have terrific battery life, while others die in less than four hours. Then there’s comfort: one of the most important criteria for in-ear and over-ear drivers.
When you’re wearing earbuds, it’s important that they fit comfortably and also nice and secure. After all, you don’t want to lose them walking to work or jogging through suburbia. The wireless earbuds on this list were selected specifically for their fit and comfort. So, you’ll find a pair that provides quality sound and are wearable for extended periods.
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Source Sony
Sony WF-1000XM5
Best overall
Top comfortable wireless earbuds
Sony WF-1000XM5
Best overall
The earbuds to beat
The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds are among the best on the market. They offer excellent music and call quality, along with top-tier active noise cancellation. Their soft and flexible eartips make for comfortable wear, while four included sets accommodate different size ear canals. IPX4 water and sweat resistance puts the WF-1000XM5 equally at home on the trail and in the office. Even with ANC on, you get eight hours of battery life (24 with the case), excellent for travel and long days away from home.
- Great audio quality
- Effective ANC
- Great battery life
- Expensive
- Slippery gloss exterior surface
- Headphones Connect app inelegant
In terms of fit and finish, the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds are impressive. For starters, they have pleasing rounded edges, are stemless, and are about 25% smaller than their predecessor. Along with four sets of ear tips to help get the right fit, their slimmed-down form factor contributes to overall comfort. The exterior surface of the buds is a little slick, but keeping a grip on them isn’t really a problem.
Audiophiles know that Sony makes some of the best-sounding headphones on the market, and the WF-1000XM5 earbuds stay true to that performance point. The 8.4mm drivers provide a rich sonic signature with exceptional detail, ample bass, and notable clarity. Moreover, Sony has included excellent active noise cancellation that does a good job of lessening external noises, along with multiple transparency modes for when you want to let in external sound.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
Premium pick
Latest and greatest from Bose
The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds live up to their name, delivering superb comfort in a refined package. You will not find another set of earbuds with better ANC, an area where Bose has been a leader since the beginning. The Ultras include Bose’s new Immersive Audio feature to help create a livelier soundstage, though it isn’t a game changer. Oddly enough, they don’t include multipoint pairing, which could be a bummer if you want to keep your cell and computer connected simultaneously, for example. What’s more, you’ll need to spring for a special case to get wireless charging.
- Includes Bose’s new Immersive Audio tech
- Top-notch ANC
- aptX lossless support
- Expensive
- No multipoint pairing
- Wireless charging costs extra
Bose recently revamped its headphone lineup to include two premium models — these and the circumaural QuietComfort Ultra headphones. The first thing to note is that the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds sustain Bose’s winning formula for comfort. Their design is largely similar to their predecessor, the Quiet Comfort Earbuds II. The Ultra Earbuds include Fit Kit eartips and stabilizer fins that enable getting a just-right fit that stays comfortable for long sessions.
Both of the new Ultra models include Bose’s widely touted Immersive Audio feature. Immersive Audio seeks to create a deeper and livelier soundstage through processing magic. It generally delivers what it promises, but you’re likely to find that some tracks sound better with Immersive Audio switched off.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review: Sounds familiar
Last year’s earbuds learn some new tricks, but the experience is largely the same
On the whole, the Quiet Comfort Ultra buds sound like premium headphones, offering a balanced and well-mannered tonal presentation. It’s annoying that Bose didn’t include wireless multipoint pairing or wireless charging at this price, but the Ultra Earbuds are a winner if you want the very best ANC in a comfortable set of buds.
EarFun Air Pro 3
Best value
Comfy and competitive for less
EarFun’s latest affordable earbuds, the Air Pro 3, deliver exceptional value while providing a comfortable fit in a lightweight design. Although their extended stems might make the Air Pro 3 less than ideal for side sleepers, they’re great for the morning commute, office work, and even fitness, with an IPX5 water and sweat resistance rating. Notably, the Air Pro 3 have decent ANC, wireless charging capability, multipoint Bluetooth pairing, and nine hours of battery life (36 with the case) — all more typically found in buds costing 2–3x more.
- Excellent features for the price
- Long battery life
- Wireless charging
- Case doesn’t secure the buds well
- Long stems may not suit everyone
- ANC good, but not superb
What could be more fun than scoring excellent and comfortable earbuds for a song? The Earfun Air Pro 3 earbuds deliver true value with a compelling combination of comfort, performance, and features at a budget price point. Four sets of in-ear tips enable a snug fit, and the Pro 3s have an appealingly light feel. The long stems might not be for everyone, and while they don’t have a particularly high-end look, neither the buds nor the case are unobtrusive.
EarFun Air Pro 3 review: Budget buds that punch above their class
Feature-packed and rich audio — two keys that make for killer budget buds
Music sounds lively and clear, but it lacks some of the nuance offered by the best premium models. And although the ANC isn’t the best in the business, it generally works well. It’s very unusual to find wireless charging, multipoint connectivity, and excellent battery specs on budget buds. The fact that you get all that in a comfortable design earns a big thumbs up for the Air Pro 3.
Sony Linkbuds S
Best for small ears
Comfy with good performance
The Sony Linksbuds S earn our pick as the most comfortable earbuds for people with small ear canals. If you are in that category, you probably know how difficult it can be to find a set of buds that isn’t too snug.
- Compact with lightweight comfort
- Very good sound
- Multipoint Bluetooth connection
- Average battery life
- Bland design
- No wireless charging
With four ear tip sizes and a lightweight design, the LinkBuds S pass the test for sedentary and workout applications. They have an even and warm sound, good call quality, and middling active noise reduction. You can rely on them to keep your conference calls clear, thanks to their good mic performance and noise rejection.
Sony LinkBuds S review: Do something nice for your ears
Sony’s latest earbuds balance sound quality with comfort
Their battery life is nothing special, however, coming in at six hours away from the case, but the case provides an extra 14 hours. Also, while this is not a huge gripe at a mid-level price point, it’s worth noting that the Linkbuds S don’t support wireless charging.
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C)
Apple’s coziest earbuds
Four pairs of ear tips for an ideal fit
$189 $249 Save $60
Apple’s AirPods Pro 2nd Gen were upgraded from Lightning to USB-C for faster charging, but the real prizes are the four comfortable ear tip sets, closed architecture, and IP54 rating. We’re also big fans of the Ear Tip Fit Test, an iOS exclusive.
- IP54 rated
- Four silicone ear tip sizes
- Closed architecture for optimized noise cancelling
The Apple AirPods have long been a fan favorite for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS users, but they’re also terrific when paired to non-Apple devices. As far as comfort goes, the AirPods Pro uses silicone ear tips, and they come in four sizes (extra-small, small, medium, and large) to choose from. Not only does this ensure an optimal fit, but the silicone creates a nice seal in the ear canal — a solid, natural aid to the buds’ ANC capabilities. iOS users can also take advantage of the iPhone’s Ear Tip Fit Test, which helps you choose the perfect tip size based on several criteria.
The AirPods Pro 2nd Gen received a revamp over a year ago, where the biggest change was swapping Lightning for USB-C on the case. So, the AirPods Pro are compatible with more charging accessories, and the upgraded connection charges faster than Lightning. They are also IP54-rated, making them resistant to moisture, dust, and dirt. This means you’ll be able to go for a jog — even on a rainy day — without worrying about the earbuds being damaged.
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds
Great open-ear style
Bose decided to give our ears a break
Open-ear buds are a relatively new addition to the consumer tech space, and the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds are a solid alternative to the company’s traditional QuietComfort models. We just wish they weren’t so expensive, and that features like Bluetooth multipoint could be used.
- Can be worn for long periods without discomfort
- Ear clips are very secure
- Great sound quality
- Overpriced
- No ANC
- Missing several other Bose earbud features
We were a bit skeptical when we tested the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. They’re pretty dang expensive for what they are (open-ear earbuds), but after clipping these bad boys on, our minds were quickly changed. Instead of lodging inside your ear canals, like most earbuds, the Ultra Open buds attach to your outer ear. Appearance-wise, they’re something like a cross between earbuds and earrings. Bose truly nailed long-term comfort with these buds. And though we found them comfortable, there was still enough grip tension to make them a great choice for gym-going and daily jogs.
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds review: Niche appeal
These ‘open’ buds are great, but not for every situation
The Ultra Open aren’t for everyone though. The non-in-ear design means zero seal between the driver and your canal, so ANC is totally out of the question. They’re also pretty pricey. That being said, the Ultra Open still deliver impressive sound quality. They even support Bose’s Immersive Audio feature, an awesome three-dimensional head tracking system.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4
Secure fit, great sound
Stability bands may not even be needed
Sennheiser has a long track record of producing terrific audio products, so we weren’t surprised to hear how great the Momentum True Wireless 4 sounded. We were also floored by how good the in-ear fit was, without even needing to equip the included ear fin stabilizers.
- Multiple ear tip sizes and three sets of ear fins
- Impressive sound quality
- Intuitive companion app
Right off the bat, the Sennheiser MTW4 lead with comfort and stability. Out of the box, you’ll get four silicone ear tip sizes to choose from, on top of three sets of ear fin stability bands. Even though the buds look a bit bulky to wear, somehow, Sennheiser managed to leverage the driver housing to add even more protection against the MTW4 popping out of your ears. When you insert them, a simple twist toward the back of your ear essentially locks them into place. You’ll forget the MTW4 are even in your ears at times. Plus, they sound absolutely incredible.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 review: Premium and practically future-proof
Sennheiser’s flagship earbuds get even better, but they’re still pricy
Sennheiser’s headphones are renowned for their performance, and the MTW4 certainly don’t disappoint. Incredible stereo soundstaging brings crystal-clear mids and highs to the table, and the default bass settings are bold, but not overbearing. You can also download the Sennheiser Smart Control app to customize your listening with several audio presets and a five-band EQ.
Baseus Eli Sport 1 Open-Ear Wireless Earbuds
Also consider
Surprisingly good for the price
$56 $80 Save $24
Sometimes cheap earbuds are extremely surprising. Such is the case with the Baseus Eli Sport 1, an inexpensive set of open-ear earbuds with cozy ear hooks, impressive audio capabilities, and a brilliant companion app.
- Comfortable silicone ear hooks
- Great sound quality
- Solid companion app
- No noise-cancelling features
- Big charging case
Who doesn’t love a great-sounding pair of wireless earbuds that fit super well and cost less than $100? Enter the Baseus Eli Sport 1, a phenomenal budget buy that will shock you with how well they perform. Utilizing a traditional open-ear design, silicone ear hooks grip your outer ear, so the 16.2mm drivers hang right in front of your canals. Not only does this free the inner ear, but it also allows you to hear what’s going on around you, making these buds perfect for workplace settings.
Baseus Eli Sport 1 Open-Ear earbuds review: Budget never sounded so good
Listen to your favorite tunes and keep your head on a swivel for under $100
Music and podcasts sound sharp and detailed, and there’s a decent amount of bass in the mix, too. Plus, you can download the Baseus app to further customize the audio with up to 12 presets. At 7.5 hours per bud, and a total of 30 hours with the charging case, the battery life isn’t too shabby either.
Find the most comfortable earbuds
Most wireless earbuds are pretty comfortable, but “pretty comfy” isn’t what we’re after. Buds should fit like a charm and be worn for long periods — to the point where you may forget you even popped them in. The eight models in this roundup prioritize these features, and the Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds are the best example of comfort meets performance.
The XM5s can be worn for long stretches without causing discomfort, and they sound fantastic. Sony certainly didn’t miss a beat with these premium buds, but if you’re willing to spend a few more dollars, you can upgrade to our premium pick: the amazing Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds.
The QC Ultra come with multiple ear tip sizes and ear fins, ensuring they’ll never get knocked out of your ears. They also deliver some of the best ANC performance we’ve ever heard, and the sound quality is rich and powerful, too. These buds also have Bose’s Immersive Audio feature — the company’s stab at three-dimensional spatial sound. But if you’re saving your pennies, you should consider our best value pick: the EarFun Air Pro 3.
These earbuds are inexpensive, sound great for the price, and the lightweight drivers make it feel like you’ve got tiny little feathers in your ears. Hyperbole aside, they are quite the comfortable set of earbuds.
Sony WF-1000XM5
Best overall
The earbuds to beat
It’s hard to top the Sony WF-1000XM5. They’re extremely comfortable, sound terrific, and deliver impressive ANC performance.
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