The best earbuds from all the top brands

If you’re serious about earbuds that deliver the best sound, features, and style — and you don’t mind spending some cash — there’s really only one choice for all-round, best-in-class performance: the Sony WF-1000XM5.

The Sony WF-1000XM5 fit securely and help you immerse fully into the sound. The outer surface of each bud works as a touch panel to control volume and playback. In fact, these have even better, more versatile control options than past models.

Sony has packed lots of tech inside the buds, with the new V2 processor chip, plus DSEE Extreme and Sony’s LDAC codec for improved, hi-definition sound — even from low bitrate files. The sound blasts in via souped-up 8.4mm drivers, which ensure a listening experience that’s big, nuanced, and layered.

Other features include Speak to Chat — which stops the music whenever you start a conversation — and automatic pause when you remove the buds from your ears. The best feature of all is the Sony Headphones app, which allows you to customise almost every feature. It even tells you if your buds are in properly.

There's no such thing as perfection, of course. True audiophiles might prefer something more specialist. But generally these are as good as earbuds get. 

If you’re already an AirPods fan, it’s likely time to upgrade to AirPods Pro. They're the latest evolution in the Apple listening experience, with a more refined sound and impressive noise cancellation. 

The AirPods Pro use smart microphones that scan your ears to ensure the AirPods fit properly. You can switch between small, medium, and large tips, which are all included. Not only do they fit well, but they live up to the ‘Air’ moniker too. They're so lightweight that you’ll barely notice they’re in.

To activate noise cancellation and playback features, just give the stems a little squeeze. There’s a mildly frustrating design quirk — you have to control the volume on your phone or by asking Siri. 

The sound itself has punchy bass and vocals, which are especially good for contemporary pop tunes. It's fair to say that no one buys Apple products expecting the most nuanced, audiophile-quality sound. 

Other features include IPX4 water resistance (though these are not the best option for working out), plus ANC transparency mode and a charging case that will give your AirPods around 24 hours’ worth of juice. That just about makes up for the otherwise below-par battery life.

Ever since Apple bought the Beats brand, their earbuds have that combo of Beats’ signature sound and Apple tech. The Beats PowerBeats Pro add another dynamic: This is Beats’ first foray into purpose-built earbuds for running. 

They’re powered by Apple’s H1 chip, with further Apple staples that include hands-free Siri and intuitive controls. You can control the volume from either earbud, so you can pump up or down when you’re swigging from water, checking your time, or however feels most comfortable mid-run.

They fit perfectly and stay put thanks to a slimline silicone nozzle (with different size options) and over-ear hooks that hold on tight — run as fast and hard as you like. The comfort doesn’t end there. The buds have barometric venting holes to relieve in-ear pressure. 

They have an impressive battery life — nine hours is around the best you get from most earbuds— plus a charging case for two full charges.

Unfortunately, they’re only splash proof, not fully waterproof, but how many of us go running in the pouring rain? They’re also lacking noise cancellation and EQ adjusting, which you might expect from an audio-focused brand. But the Beats PowerBeats Pro have one goal in mind: running.

OK, we admit it, the Cambridge Audio Melomania seem bang average. That's mostly based on the price point, which is mid-level. But looks (and prices) can be deceiving. Or in this case, a clue to the true power of the tech. 

The Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 are brilliantly simple to use, with intuitive controls — an efficiency of design that’s combined with some of the best, most detailed sounds available in earbuds (indeed, these earbuds give far more expensive pairs a run for their money when it comes to sound). 

While there's no active noise cancellation, the buds are designed to block sound passively. And it works. There's also a transparency mode for letting ambient sounds in. You also have to appreciate the sheer heft of the battery power. Nine hours is impressive for a pair of earbuds around the £100 mark. But 50 hours with the charging case is class-leading.

There’s a Melomania app too for adjusting levels — it even helps you find a lost bud. The brand prides itself on good quality sound — Cambridge Audio is apparently "obsessed with music" — and even takes the trouble to use impressive mini microphones so you get crystal clear voice calls.

The British-made Bower & Wilkins are continuously breaking ground and upping the quality of high-end, crystal-clear headphones. Even if you’re used to the very best names in audio tech, you’ll find the specs of the Bower & Wilkins PI7 S2 to be very competitive. 

The sound is excellent. They have Dual Hybrid Drive units with individual amplifiers. They’re also packed with six microphones for perfect sound and call quality — plus, adaptive noise cancelling, which uses these tiny microphones to react in real time to stop external noise from ever reaching your ears. Be warned, however: If top-of-the-range noise cancellation is a deal breaker, there is better performing noise cancellation out there.

The Bower & Wilkins PI7 S2 get the nod here because they're especially good watching Netflix and other streaming apps on your phone. They support aptX Adaptive, one of the best, most up-to-date codecs around. The aptX Adaptive codec has an always-adjusting bitrate, which means the best possible sound at an impressively low latency. It stays in sync and ensures glitch-free streaming. 

The charging case also acts as a unique retransmission system, which can be plugged directly into an audio source and will retransmit the sound to your earbuds. For instance, if you’re on a flight, the case plugs straight into the in-flight system so you can watch movies with these buds.

When you buy budget you expect to compromise with a lower quality product. But with the EarFun Air Pro you get the unexpected — a set of budget earbuds with advanced features, including active noise cancellation, that perform beyond the budget price tag. 

Though not the best performing ANC available, you’d have to be extremely picky to not appreciate how effective the ANC is at this level. The noise cancellation even includes a transparency mode for letting in ambient sounds. 

Another advanced feature is a single earbud mode which allows you to listen through the left or right bud only — surprisingly handy if you’re in work or need to stay alert — plus a pause function that uses an infrared sensor to detect when you’ve removed the buds, which immediately stops the tunes. 

More than just nifty features, the EarFun Air Pro remain sound-focused, thanks to a partnership with speaker brand Edifier. Together they’ve re-tuned the EarFun sound, which is upbeat and punchy and great for contemporary tunes. Obviously, if you’re looking for serious, layered, class-leading sound this price point isn’t for you. 

They also include a six-microphone system which ensures your calls are clear and unmuffled. Some reviewers have complained that despite the long battery life — and 9-hour battery life (a little less with the ANC switched on) is certainly impressive — they can get uncomfortable after long periods. 

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 significantly less than Apple's 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. That's a whole lot of Google goodness.

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 outer surface of the buds. Unfortunately, these don’t extend to volume controls. Instead, you’ll have to adjust the volume via the Google Assistant or on your device. 

The battery life is a negative point, at a middling five hours, but you’ll get an extra four charges from the charging case — and a respectable three hours of battery life from just 15 minutes of charging. 

Not everything needs to cost a bomb. And sometimes, if you shop around, you get more for your money than you bargained for. Take the Soundmagic E11C, for instance. These budget earphones have racked up five-star reviews for their price-performance ratio and crisp, lively sound with plenty of bass. And some people just prefer wired sound.

OK, at this price you have to manage your expectations. Yes, they sound good — very good, in fact, for the money — but there are zero features other than noise isolation, which combinines ergonomic angled sound tubes with an in-ear fit that seals the ear canal. That’s more about the build than actual tech.

They also have a handy three-button remote control. It’s basic but actually much simpler than having to control everything via a phone app, which does happen with some expensive earbuds. And you’ll find they’re pretty robust. Aluminium housing keeps them well protected — they’re more durable that you’d expect at this price.

The real downside, of course, is that some up-to-date phones and devices have long since abandoned the headphone jack. That means you’ll have to get one of those little adapters to use them with the latest iPhones. If that’s not a problem for you, the Soundmagic E11C are an absolute steal.