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Whether you find over-ear or on-ear headphones uncomfortable or perhaps you simply don’t like the look of them, you may want to consider a pair of in-ear headphones instead. In-ear headphones are audio earbuds that fit snugly into the ear canal, creating a noise-cancelling effect.
All in-ear headphones, whether wired or wireless, will have different features and audio technology, so it’s worth assessing your needs beforehand to decide what type of headphones would work best for you.
If you’ll use your headphones when out running errands or on your commute then a wireless pair will offer more convenience as you’ll be free from the dreaded scenario of tangled cables.
Otherwise, wired headphones generally offer better sound quality because they transmit uncompressed audio data without any Bluetooth interference. Wired headphones also don’t require charging, so you won’t ever be caught short on battery life (always handy for any long-haul flights).
Extra features can include active noise cancellation (ANC), which detects and reduces any background noise happening around you, as well as built-in microphones so you can make and receive calls without needing to reach for your phone.
To make your decision easier, we’ve rigorously tested and reviewed numerous in-ear headphones and put the best of them in this handy list. As we have years of experience testing and reviewing all types of earbuds, you can be assured you’re in good hands.
We’ve made sure to include everything from budget earbuds to more pricier models, and given our honest opinions on their pros and cons.
If you’re after more options, be sure to check out our best wireless earbuds list which offers the best options for convenience, our best noise cancelling earbuds which are perfect for commuters or frequent fliers, or if you’re looking for a dedicated gym companion then you should visit our best running headphones list.
Best in-ear headphones at a glance
How we test
How we test headphones Not just anybody can review a pair of headphones. You don’t need superhuman hearing to tell what’s good, but you do need to know what to listen out for.Our headphone tests are done by some of the best and most prolific reviewers in the industry, with years of experience listening to everything from the plasticky freebie earbuds that come with your smartphone, to five-figure beasts of glass and marble. We love music and we want your tunes to sound good, too.So we listen every pair of headphones we can get on or in our ears. We use a variety of sources, from basic MP3s playing on a laptop to high-quality tracks on dedicated hi-res audio players.Our test tracks are wide-ranging to give headphones a thorough challenge. They’re also familiar, so we know every track backwards, and we know which bits might trouble the lesser performers.We listen again and again, and we do that for weeks in case the sound changes – because it usually does. Then we’ll listen to similarly priced rivals and come up with a verdict that reflects the performance and features for the money.
Sony WF-1000XM5
Best overall in-earphones
Pros
Smaller, lighter designPowerful noise-cancellationMore detailed, balanced audio performancePlenty of smart, convenient features
Cons
Bose a smidge better for ANCSlightly odd call performance
The king is dead, long live the king. The WF-1000XM4 used to be our favourite wireless earbuds with their blend of terrific sound, wide feature set and excellent noise cancellation, but they have since been usurped by Sony’s latest true wireless offering in the WF-1000XM5.
So good as the WF-1000XM5 that we awarded them our best true wireless and best headphone award for 2023. They build on what the XM4 delivered but with further tweaks and refinements. The design is smaller and lighter, taking inspiration from Sony’s more lifestyle orientated LinkBuds series. They come with an extra ear-tip size to accommodate different sized ears.
The noise-cancelling performance is an improvement on the WF-1000XM4, suppressing voices and ambient noise better and more naturally than its predecessor. We would say that the QuietComfort Earbuds II edge it out with a more conclusive noise-cancelling performance, but the difference between them is small. The transparency mode is clear and detailed, although we find the WF-1000XM4 is slightly clearer to our ears than the previous WF model
Battery life hasn’t change with this latest model, offering eight hours per charge and 24 in total with ANC enabled. Wireless performance is solid in both AAC and LDAC playback modes, and the WF-1000XM5 is bundled with an array features such as Speak-to-Chat (that pauses music when you’re talking to someone else), as well as improvements to Ambient Smart Control (which personalises your audio experience automatically), that make these earphones one of the most smartest and most convenient wireless earbuds around.
Battery life is the same as the WF-1000XM4, with 8 hours per earbuds and 24 in total with the charging case. Call quality is decent but we found the performance a little odd at times. It has a tendency to leak background noise in whenever we spoke but silent when we weren’t. If you’re an iOS use, you’d be better served by the AirPods Pro 2 for call performance.
The sound quality is a big improvement, offering more fidelity in terms of detail, clarity, and sharpness. The midrange offers a finer sense of detail, the bass isn’t as big as the WF-1000XM4 but we prefer the balance on this model. Higher frequencies get a boost too, with more sharpness and clarity.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 aren’t necessarily the best in every area, rivals have reduced the gap if not surpassed them in some cases, but they are the best in most areas, earning top position on this list.
Reviewer: Kob MonneyFull Review: Sony WF-1000XM5
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
Best noise-cancelling in-ears
Pros
Top-tier noise cancelling and ambient modesImproved sound over the originalSlimline designAptX support on the wayImproved battery capacity
Cons
More expensive than beforeAverage call qualityStill susceptible to wind noise
While the Sony WF-1000XM4 are still our favourite true wireless earbuds overall, when it comes to the best noise-cancelling earbuds, we recommend that you choose Bose. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds were already an excellent pair, and arguably better than the Sony in terms of noise-cancellation, but with the sequel in QuietComfort Earbuds II, the competition is left behind in Bose’s wake.
The noise-cancellation performance here is as good as you’ll find from any brand. Whatever sounds try to disrupt the flow of these earphones, the QuietComfort II simply lays wasted to them. Not every sound is removed but we’re really not far from off from total silence. Improvements over the original have been made in reducing the noise of people’s voices, and walking in and around London, there was a wonderful sense of calm and isolation from the outside world around us.
The only somewhat disappointing issue we noticed is that there is some minor wind noise to contend with, which we had hoped had been fully eradicated with the new design. The Aware mode is just as good as the noise-cancellation, piping in a clear, detailed, and natural sound that’s almost as if you’re not even wearing a pair of earphones. And Bose’s ActiveSense technology works in a similar manner to the AirPods Pro 2‘s transparency mode, automatically reducing background noises when the buds are in Aware mode to stop the wearer from being startled by sudden, loud sounds. We found this worked very well when used on the London Underground.
When it comes to features, the QuietComfort Earbuds II aren’t stacked with many, but we are pleased that there’s a three-band EQ to change the sound profile of the buds. The wireless connection is excellent with barely a hint of a drop noted when walking around London, and battery has been improved to be competitive with the Sony with 24 hours in total if you include the charging case.
Sound quality has been improved from the original too, maintaining its neutrality in terms of the tone it takes, with the top end of the frequency range brighter on this model and bass is bigger and punchier than before. Vocals carries slightly more weight too, and there’s a better sense of depth with this one than we can recall with the original. The QuietComfort II are the best noise-cancelling buds you can buy at this moment in time.
Reviewer: Kob MonneyFull Review: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
Audeze Euclid
Best hybrid in-earphone
Pros
Balanced, natural, confident soundAll-business specificationComfortable despite hefty dimensions
Cons
Expensive and then someNot the punchiest listenWireless connectivity is rather inelegant
There aren’t too many in-ears we’ve come across that can perform both wired and wireless duties, but that’s exactly what you get from Audeze’s Euclid. It is first and foremost a wired pair of in-earphones, but with an adapter it can transform into them into a wireless earphone.
In terms of the design we found they offered good levels of comfort with their lightweight, well-constructed (if chunky) housing and the provided ear-tips; with Audeze providing plenty more options with Comply foam and SpinFit silicone ear-tips in case the default options aren’t to your liking.
There’s not much of note for features, at least compared to true wireless earbuds like the WF-1000XM4 on this list. What do you get is the integrated Bluetooth receiver that has eight hours of battery life and with its 24-bit resolution DAC can support audio transmission up to aptX-HD for some higher fidelity playback. Powering the sound is an 18mm planar magnetic transducer, implementing miniaturised version of technology seen in Audeze’s bigger headphones to reduce distortion, improve sensitivity and keep the frequency response as even as possible.
Our reviewer found that the Euclid’s audio performance lived up the billing when paired with a DAC and appropriately high quality source. There is plenty of scale of the sound and impressive dynamism, the low frequencies are deep, detailed and martially controlled, and though some may prefer a bit more punch to the bass, it does impress with the tracks we listen to.
The top end of the frequency is equally well-controlled, crisp in tone but not hard, with detail levels high and plenty of attack to the presentation. And then the midrange is fettered with ample amounts of space to reveal the most minor details, neutral enough in terms of tone to describe instruments and voices with naturalism.
If you’re after the best of both wireless and wired worlds then the Euclid delivers that promise. They’re short on features and won’t transform the sound of your smartphone without a DAC to assist, and they’re expensive at above £1000 / $1000. But if you’re more interested in a high calibre performance, the Audeze Euclid are a delightful pair of in-earphones.
Reviewer: Simon LucasFull Review: Audeze Euclid
Apple AirPods Pro 2
Best Apple in-earphones
Pros
Excellent ANCRich, warm soundCharging case gets some neat features
Cons
Many of the best features are iPhone and Mac only
There aren’t many Apple in-earphones to choose from, and we’ve never been fond of the cheap wired Earphones options that use to come with iPhones. The AirPods line-up are the only show in town, and out of the current range the AirPods Pro 2 are the best there is..
Compared to the AirPods 3, there are improvements all-round in terms of the design, sound and feature set. The most obvious distinction between the two is the addition of active noise cancellation, where the AirPods feature an open-design which means they let surrounding sounds in, which can lead to your music sessions being disrupted.
The AirPods Pro 2 have had a major upgrade in ANC over the original, as our reviewer commented that they cleared away slightly more noise when used on the underground than even the Sony WF-1000XM4 were able to do. We still find it annoying that there’s no way to manually adjust the noise cancelling or transparency mode, as both automatically adapt their performance to what’s around the listener.
There is a welcome boost to battery life, with 6 hours in the earbuds and 30 in the case. The charging case also comes with some handy new features, including a lanyard loop for a wrist strap or to attach the AirPods to a bag, as well as a speaker for Find My and charging alerts.
As with the Pros, the Pro 2 come with silicone ear tips instead of the hard plastic tips found on the AirPods 3, offering a more secure fit. This time there’s also an extra small size tip for smaller ears. The audio quality we found to be impressive, too. The Pro 2 have a full and rich sound, with the H2 powering a performance that offers more clarity and detail with the vocals.
As with every pair of AirPods we’ve tested, iOS integration is excellent. Multi-device switching means that pairing with one Apple device will allow you to connect to your other Apple phones, laptops and tablets. If you’re already invested in the Apple ecosystem, these are the in-earphones to get if you want the best experience.
Reviewer: Max ParkerFull Review: Apple AirPods Pro 2
Edifier NeoBuds Pro
Best cheap ANC wireless earbuds
Pros
Engaging and vibrant soundVery powerful sub-bassGreat active noise cancellation
Cons
The battery will run down in standby if you’re not carefulOne mode spoils the sound
If noise cancellation, a decent feature set and good sound quality at an affordable price is what you seek from a true wireless, then the Edifier NeoBuds Pro are one of the best options around the $100 / £100 price point.
At the time of review we felt they were a great value proposition, even more so with the more expensive NeoBuds S available, which adds a few features but doesn’t necessarily improve on the sound. The Pro model offered a good fit during runs, staying in without gradually nudging out, and their IP54 rating is good enough to protect against water, sweat and ingress of dust, though you can get earphones around this price with much stronger protection such as the Lypertek Z3 2.0, but you’ll have to do without noise cancellation.
We found the noise cancellation to be highly effective, nullifying low frequency sounds and a good chunk of noises in the mid-range frequency area too. The fit of the earphones provided added protection against other noises, although the Edifier can react to high-frequency sounds in a distorted manner. The performance is not up to the level of AirPods Pro or Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, but the ANC is strong for the asking price.
There are LDAC and LHDC Bluetooth codecs that help open the wireless pipe for higher quality tracks. The sound quality offers plenty of power to bass, putting in a fun, dynamic performance that’s as good as earphones that cost a fair bit more. The soundstage is wide and spacious, and the stereo image is a vibrant one. However, out qualm about the audio is that on the High ANC setting bass can proved to be too much, throwing off the overall balance.
That said, we’d recommend the NeoBuds Pro over the newer NeoBuds S, even with the latter boasting updated features such as Snapdragon Sound compatibility, as we feel the original NeoBuds earbud offers better performance per pound.
Reviewer: Andrew WilliamsFull Review: Edifier NeoBuds Pro
Campfire Andromeda Emerald Sea
Best premium wired earbuds
Pros
Exciting, fluid, dynamic soundExcellent craftmanshipGood noise-isolating performance Easy to drive
Cons
ExpensiveCan sound fatiguing at higher volumes
The Andromeda earphones are one of Campfire Audio’s most popular models. Since we reviewed the 2019 Classic version, there’s been 2020 version, and now there’s a new model to consider in the Andromeda Emerald Sea.
We’ll admit that when we first reviewing the original model, we weren’t bowled over by its sound, but we gradually come to like what it did. The Emerald Sea gets off to a better footing. It’s not as brash as its predecessor, offering a better balanced across the frequency range in terms of highs, midrange, and lows.
It’s still an energetic, dynamic, and propulsive listen across a range of genres, the warmth it treats music to gives it an enjoyable performance. These aren’t in-earphones that need much encouragement to go loud, but broad, wide soundstage and the way it places and positions voices and instruments within it, makes for an immersive sound.
It can sound fatiguing at higher volume levels, and it’s worth considering which sources this in-ear monitor is paired with as it can affect the performance. We found it sounded clearer and sharper when matched with the Astell & Kern SR35 than the FiiO M15s portable music player.
The build quality is excellent, the housing is derived from a 3D printed shape that fits snugly in the ear. They’re comfortable to wear although we’d suggest not wearing for hours upon hours. They can start to make the wearer aware of their presence after about an hour, so it’s worth breaking up listening sessions every now and then.
They also come in an attractive packaging with various cases, a certificate or purchase and a wooden box to keep them safe (or adorn on your mantelpiece). They also come with a selection of ‘Time Stream’ cables that terminate in 3.5mm unbalanced and 2.5mm and 4.4mm balanced options, giving you the option of how you want connect to a player/hi-fi equipment.
While they’ve gone up slightly in price (£1499 / $1499), if you can afford them we’ve found them to be nothing but enjoyable over the course of listening to them.
Reviewer: Kob MonneyFull Review: Campfire Andromeda Emerald Sea
Final E500
Best cheap wired earbuds
Pros
Comfortable, light Spacious, punchy and quite balanced sound
Cons
Need greater bottom-end control and more dynamism to their sound
From the Campfire Andromeda to the Final E500, we go from one end of the price spectrum to the another. At $25 / £19.99, the E500 in-ears are as inexpensive as you can get for a pair of wired in-ears.
At that price we’re not expecting much flash in the design, and that’s confirmed upon looking at the E500. These aren’t of the calibre of Final’s more expensive Sonorous headphone range, though our reviewer felt the in-ears carried a more robust build quality than the freebie earphones that come packaged with smartphones, with the attached 1.2m cable felt heftier and more robust. At 15g they’re lightweight, good enough to wear for hours at a time without causing any consternation.
As you’d expect for a pair of wired earphones there’s not much on the feature front. However, the E500 does come with a supply of various silicone and/or foam ear tips to find the right fit, and boast the same 6.4mm small aperture dynamic driver that can be found in all of Final’s E-series in-ears, which cost much more than the E500.
On the sound front we found the E500 lacked a degree of bass control, though the low end is nicely textured and is provided with good detail. Another area where they are lacking was in creating the sense of three-dimensionality in its stereo image, along with a sense of dynamism to its performance.
But these are a £19.99 pair of in-earphones after all, and for that price they are streets ahead of other similarly priced alternatives, pitching a confident, musical listen with an even-handed approach to the frequency range that doesn’t over- or understate highs, mids and lows. We found them to be a spacious performer, displaying a good sense of timing across the frequency range to elicits a coherent and satisfying sound. If you want better, you’ll need to spend more to get an in-ear from SoundMagic.
Reviewer: Simon LucasFull Review: Final E500
We also considered…
Back Bay Tempo 30
A truly terrific pair of wireless earbuds for casual use or the gym
FAQs
What’s the difference between earbuds and earphones? Technically speaking, earbuds present a one-size fits all body that sits on your ear canal, while earphones come with ear-tips to burrow further into the ear for a better fit. Do all in-ears support noise cancellation? No, that’s dependent on the headphones. Wired in-ears won’t feature any noise cancellation, instead relying on creating a passive noise isolating seal to fend of noises. Not all wireless earphones support noise cancellation, so you will need to check to specs to see if it is supported.
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UK RRP
USA RRP
EU RRP
CA RRP
AUD RRP
Manufacturer
IP rating
Battery Hours
Wireless charging
Fast Charging
Size (Dimensions)
Weight
ASIN
Release Date
Model Number
Audio Resolution
Driver (s)
Noise Cancellation?
Connectivity
Colours
Frequency Range
Headphone Type
Sensitivity
Voice Assistant
Sony WF-1000XM5
£259
$299.99
€320
–
–
Sony
IPX4
24
Yes
Yes
–
–
B0C4TLFZSZ
2023
WF-1000XM5
SBC, AAC, LDAC
Dynamic Driver X
Yes
Bluetooth 5.3
Black, White
20 40000 – Hz
True Wireless
–
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
£279
$299
€299
CA$379
AU$429
Bose
IPX4
24
–
Yes
–
–
B0B4PSQHD5
2022
870730-0010
SBC, AAC
9.3mm dynamic
Yes
Bluetooth 5.2
Triple black, Soapstone
– Hz
True Wireless
–
–
Audeze Euclid
£1099
–
–
–
–
Audeze
Not Disclosed
–
–
–
–
15 G
B08W4T32FX
2021
819343013482
–
18mm planar magnetic
–
Wired, Bluetooth receiver
–
10 50000 – Hz
True Wireless
105 dB
–
Apple AirPods Pro 2
£249
$249
€199
CA$329
AU$399
Apple
IPX4
30 0
Yes
Yes
21.8 x 24 x 30.9 MM
5.3 G
B0BDJ37NF5
2022
–
AAC
Custom high-excursion Apple driver
Yes
Bluetooth 5.3
White
– Hz
True Wireless
–
Siri
Edifier NeoBuds Pro
£99.99
$129.99
–
–
–
Edifier
IP54
24
–
Yes
–
–
B0999DRY2T
2021
Neobuds Pro UK
–
Balanced armature, dynamic
Yes
Bluetooth 5.0
–
20 40000 – Hz
True Wireless
92 dB
–
Campfire Andromeda Emerald Sea
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
B0BW4S5V39
2021
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Final E500
£20
$25
–
–
–
Final Audio
No
–
–
–
–
15 G
B07YKM3875
2020
FI-E05PLBL
–
6.4mm dynamic
–
–
Black
– Hz
In-ear
96 dB
–
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