Best Wireless Earbuds 2018 – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide
Wireless earbuds may be nice to have if you listen to music while you work out.
Cables are annoying and your headphone wire may get in the way while you exercise.
Prices for wireless earbuds range from inexpensive to costly. We hope this list helps you pick out a pair of wireless earbuds.
Best Wireless Earbuds 2018
When it comes to buying wireless earbuds, the experience is a little different than purchasing wired headphones.
When buying decent wired headphones you don’t need to have a bunch of specifics in your head. You need to remember technical details like impedance and size of drivers, but that’s about it.
However, when you are buying wireless earbuds, you need to keep some things in mind.
Look at the comparison table. I will provide you with more information that will help you in our Buyer’s Guide later.
1. Jaybird x3 Sport – Best Sports Headphones
Jaybird is a company that has perfected the art of wireless earphones. Their earphones have been around for years, and the X series is known for being one of the best. Although Jaybirds can be pricier than other competitors, they justify prices by delivering some great features.
We are looking at their latest creation, the Jaybird X3. The X3s are the third iteration in the series which has enjoyed much success. For starters, you are getting the same incredible sweat-proof design with some decent upgrades.
In case you are wondering what the main differences are between the X2 and X3, the X3 is smaller than the X2s. The inline microphone has gotten a change in design, and the device has a new battery aimed at providing a better battery life.
Since Logitech owns Jaybird now, some tweaks have occurred in the 6mm drivers. Expect better sound in the X3’s. As far as their performance goes, the Jaybirds X3 may be one of the best sounding wireless earphones we’ve tested. However, if you’re used to a fuller sound signature, you may not find it here since these are just wireless earphones.
The earphones also provide adequate noise cancellation. However, this may be a safety concern for runners because they manage to block out a fair amount of noise from the outside world. These wireless earphones come with a nice carrying pouch too.
Overall, the Jaybird X3 are a pair of wonderful wireless earphones. They sound fantastic and are easy to carry. However, there is one downside, we would like them to be more comfortable.
If you are a runner that wants to listen to music without the hassle of wires, the Jaybird X3’s are great.
Pros
- Great sound for the small size.
- Impressive battery life.
- Earphones come with a compact carrying case.
- Great noise isolation.
- Compact design.
Cons
- The earphones aren’t as comfortable as you may like.
2. SENSO Bluetooth Headphones – Extremely budget Friendly (Under $40)
Next up, we are looking at something unconventional. On our website, people have complained that we always look at high-end stuff and end up missing out on some oriented high-value products.
So, we decided to listen and look at the budget-friendly SENSO Bluetooth Headphones.
The good thing about these earphones is that they don’t cost a lot. You’d be surprised on how well the design fits for the earphones. It’s not outspoken, and the whole design follows a simple black/red color scheme. Senso did a great job at keeping everything as minimal as possible.
The headphones come with a nice carrying case, and you get three different size ear tips. If you are worried about the fit, the earphones do have soft textured flexible ear clips on both sides to make the fit easier to control.
Senso was kind enough to provide a small car charger for the wireless earphones. Although this is unusual, we hope more companies adopt this trend.
Onto the sound quality and overall performance, these were the places that concerned us the most. The case with every budget-friendly earphones is that they are often missing out on having enough performance to them.
As for Senso earphones, the good thing is that they can deliver actual high-fidelity sound quality. Sure, you’re not going to get the same performance you get from high-end earphones, but what you’re getting is more than enough.
Another good thing about this product is that these earphones come with an IPX7 rating. The rating means that you shouldn’t have to worry about wearing them in high-intensity workouts.
We don’t have any major issues with this product. The device is Hi-Fi capable, IPx7 certified, has excellent noise cancellation, the sound quality is on top, and they are comfortable. Senso has done a great job. The only complaint we have is that the earpieces are kind of big, but not obnoxious.
Pros
- Sound perfect for the price you pay.
- Earphones come packed with a lot of accessories.
- They have an IPX7 rating and can play Hi-Fi audio files.
- Comfortable for long periods of usage.
- The noise cancellation works well.
Cons
- The earpieces are a bit too big for our liking.
3. Bose SoundSport Wireless – Expensive yet Premium Quality
We are taking a look at something from Bose, and this company is one of few that is known for revolutionizing sound. Now, this may seem like an exaggeration, but they are recognized in the audio industry for creating some of the finest wireless earphones. Bose is seen as perfecting active noise cancellation.
Bose SoundSport Wireless is the name of the earphones we are looking at today. As the name suggests, these earphones are for people who prefer working out and listening to music. Keep in mind, these earphones are expensive, but the price is understandable because they’re from Bose.
The SoundSport Wireless is available in 2 colors. You can get them in a black or aqua color. There’s no difference in performance or either variation.
Speaking of performance, the SoundSport performs as expected and the sound is good. Given, you shouldn’t be expecting the noise level that you get from really high-end headphones but what Bose has done with the sound of SoundSport is commendable.
A great thing about these earphones is they are comfortable. You shouldn’t have any issues wearing them for extended periods of time. Another good thing about this product is the earphones manage to work as a headset for making calls.
Bose SoundSport Wireless comes with decent battery life too. By decent, we mean you get 6 hours. However, your mileage may vary depending on the loudness of the music.
We should let you know that no earphones are perfect. The only issue we are facing here is the ear-tips end up protruding out of the ears. While that shouldn’t cause any problems, it just looks odd.
If you are okay with this small inconvenience, these earphones are amazing.
Pros
- Sound pretty good for the price.
- Great design.
- Comfortable, even for extended time periods.
- They can turn off on their own to save battery life.
- Decent battery life.
Cons
- The eartips protrude from the ear, and look weird.
4. HearFuse – True Wireless Earbuds
The world of wireless audio is wonderful, and while we are still taking slow steps towards going true wireless, the future isn’t far off. True wireless is already here, and after Apple did it, more companies are attempting to further perfect it.
What we are looking at today is called the HearFuse True Wireless earbuds, and they may be the smallest wireless earbuds we’ve seen thus far.
The earbuds ship with Bluetooth 4.2. Also, they offer a sweat-proof design which means that your workout sessions won’t be able to do much damage to the earphones.
Given the latest Bluetooth tech, the battery life can reach up to 5 hours of music playback and 120 hours of standby. The earphones offer innovative controls where you can take calls and play or pause music by tapping on the earbuds. You also get noise cancellation too.
Overall, the HearFuse True Wireless Earbuds are decent. The device sounds perfect and fulfilling while keeping size in mind. There is one thing that we don’t like, and that is they don’t charge with a charging cradle which is unlike some other wireless earphones.
The earbuds charge using a proprietary connector to a standard USB connector and this is odd. If you’re okay with that, then the HearFuse True Wireless earbuds are worth checking out.
Pros
- Decent sounding for the small size.
- Sweat-proof design.
- True wireless design.
- 2 people can use these wireless earphones at the same time.
Cons
- Proprietary charging port is bugging.
- Battery life is not enough.
5. SoundPEATS Bluetooth Headphones – Extremely Small in Size
For those who are curious, SoundPEATS is a relatively new company in the market that is aimed at providing quality audio at a lower price point.
The company prides itself on being great because they want to deliver a wireless experience to general consumers without them breaking the bank.
Now the thing with SoundPEATS Q29 is they are small. Believe it or not, they are smaller than the AirPods. They come neatly packaged in a small compact box and are enclosed in a carrying case that doubles up as a charging cradle. However, the important thing you should know is that you can lose them pretty easily.
The box contains some booklets and ear tips for adequate size. As far as performance, they sound decent for the size. While there’s no way you can compare them to full sized headphones, what you’re getting is more than enough.
Considering how they are pretty small, the battery life also happens to be low. However, keeping size in mind, we won’t deduct points here. The 2.5 to 3-hour battery life is rather impressive.
Comfort is another thing that these earphones didn’t mess up. Their lightweight design and comfort makes them easy to use.
With that said, the SoundPEATS Bluetooth headphones are cheap, they sound good, and have decent battery life to them. However, their small size may make them easy to lose.
Pros
- Impressive sound quality for small size.
- Nicely packaged.
- The carrying case doubles up as a charging cradle.
- Decent battery life.
Cons
- Small size allows them to get lost easily.
6. Anker SoundBuds NB10 – Who doesn’t knows Anker?
Now, we are going to look at something surprising. For those who don’t know, Anker happens to be one of the best companies when it comes to creating power banks and chargers.
However, when Anker decided to release a pair of wireless earphones, we were genuinely excited because the company is known for producing some products we know about already.
We quickly got our hands on the SoundBuds NB10.
Keep in mind the SoundBuds NB10 is not a true wireless earphone. For those curious, true wireless doesn’t have any wires whatsoever to them.
The SoundBuds NB10 sounds surprisingly good when compared to some of the other earbuds in the same price range. While the sound is nothing spectacular, when you look at the cost you’re paying it’s a lot more justified.
Another good thing is that these earphones have a decent fit. They are comfortable and stable. The fit creates a nice seal around your ears that blocks all possible outside noise. Keep in mind the active noise cancellation is still passive so it won’t be creating any artificial effect.
The battery life is 3.5 hours on moderate volumes. While this may seem small, this is something prevalent in earphones. True wireless earphones have shorter battery life than 3.5, typically.
Overall, the Anker SoundBuds NB10 is good product for the price. While they don’t provide the best experience in the market, how cheap they are, and their performance makes this device an easy decision for buying.
Pros
- Good sound.
- Creates excellent passive noise cancellation.
- Good amount of content in the box.
- Priced well.
- Comfortable to wear.
Cons
- Battery life may not be enough for everyone.
7. LG Tone Pro – Neckband Design Earphones
It’s always nice to see OEMs working hard to reach out to their customers in different ways. LG presented us with their version of wireless earphones named the LG Tone Pro. Now, this isn’t the first time an OEM has released earphones, so we were excited to see how they work.
The Tone Pro is based on the neckband design where a unit comfortably sits on your neck, and earphones come out of it. While it isn’t the true wireless design and may look a bit ridiculous to some, the neckband hosts all the controls for your earphones.
Apart from just hosting the controls, the neckband is also equipped with a vibrator that goes off everytime there’s a notification.
LG has made these earphones for people who like to be active. These earphones support Bluetooth 4.1 and technologies such as aptX, and that makes sure your listening experience is smooth.
As far as the sound quality is concerned, the LG Tone Pro sounds good. If you have used the LG QuadBeats, the sound is a lot similar to them. However, the real advantage here is that the Tone Pro are wireless and they look cooler than the QuadBeats.
The LG Tone Pro is a good wireless earphone which is comfortable to wear without overdoing it. Sure, they may look weird because of the neck band but you still have a good product.
Pros
- Decent sound quality.
- Great battery life
- Comfortable to wear.
- The neck band vibrates whenever there’s a notification.
Cons
- The neck band kind of looks out of place and obnoxious.
8. Samsung Level U Pro – Extremely Budget friendly Neckband Design
LG wasn’t the only company that wanted to create their breed of wireless earphones. Soon after they did, Samsung followed suit and released their pair of wireless earphones called the Samsung Level U Pro.
There are a lot of good things about this pair of wireless earphones, and downsides too. For starters, they are following the neck band style of design that we don’t approve of because it looks a little out of place.
However, some good things make the Samsung Level U Pro a pretty decent pair of wireless earphones. For starters, the design is a lot more futuristic on the neckband and allows it to blend in easily.
The whole neck band is very lightweight and follows a sweat proof design which makes it so that if you’re working out, it won’t’ have any issues. The neck band manages to give you a decent amount of vibration whenever there’s a notification coming too.
As for performance, the Samsung Level U Pro is one of the better sounding wireless earphones in the market. The device may not be top of the line sounding but you’re getting a decent deal with the money you’re spending. Plus, the earphones happen to be comfortable, so you won’t have any issues if you wear them for a long period.
In all, the Samsung Level U Pro is a decent pair of wireless earphones for the price you’re paying. You’re not getting high-end level sound quality, but considering their value and cost, the deal is just too hard to pass on.
Pros
- Decent sound quality.
- The neck band is lightweight, comfortable, and has a sweat proof design.
- The earbuds themselves are pretty comfortable with a decent enough deal.
- The neck band manages to vibrate whenever there’s a notification.
Cons
- Despite a slightly minimal approach, the neck band design doesn’t look as pleasing.
9. Sony Wireless – Stylish, Cheap and Sturdy
We are almost done with the list, with only one more product after the Sony MDRXB50BS. The good thing about Sony’s MDR series is this series is known for creating good wireless earphones that many people are inclined to purchasing.
The MDR series may be one of the most diverse series when it comes to the number of products in a series. The device we are looking at is an in-ear wireless earphones which are good when it comes to providing a decent amount of bass performance, and they work well.
A good thing about these earphones is they are NFC capable and have one of the best battery endurances we’ve seen on this list thus far. You can get about 8.5 hours of battery life at moderate volume, and a slightly lower amount if you crank up the volume to maximum.
Another quality about this pair of earphones is they have a sizeable amount of bass to them. While this is certainly surprising, some users may prefer a balanced sound signature.
The earphones are comfortable to wear for a long period of time.The device is comfortable, lightweight sounds amazing, and has one of the best battery lives we’ve seen.
One real downside is the earphones don’t ship with a carrying case. If you’re okay with this inconvenience, the Sony MDRXBS0BS is amazing in almost all other aspects.
Pros
- Awesome sound with a decent amount of bass.
- Great battery life.
- Lightweight, and comfortable to wear.
- NFC connectivity is a bonus.
- You get a nice seal.
Cons
- Earphones don’t come with a carrying case.
10. Plantronics Back Beat Go 2 – Sweet looking Earphones which sound Average
Finally, the last product we are looking at is the Plantronics BackBeat Go 2. Plantronics is one of the best companies when it comes to audio products. Also, the Plantronics Back Beat Go 2 is one of best wireless earphones you can get.
Plantronics has decided to follow a simple suit instead of being fancy with the BackBeat Go 2. Your earphones look simple, but they perform well.
The sound from the earphones is fantastic, and the sound signature is balanced. While people are more inclined towards performance with more bass, the fact the sound is balanced is a bonus.
Another great thing is that considering how these earphones are for people who work out a lot, the earphones remain active with a sweat-proof design and are comfortable to wear for long periods because of their lightweight design.
To be honest, apart from some significant, noticeable improvements over the BackBeat Go 1, there are some disappointing downsides too. For starters, the earphones only offer 4.5 hours of battery life. Also, there’s not a carrying case included. However, Plantronics does sell a case separately that doubles up as a portable charger.
Overall, the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 is amazing. They sound pretty good, and are really comfortable to wear. If you’re okay with minor inconveniences, they’re a must buy.
Pros
- Comfortable, sweat proof design.
- Decent sounding earphones.
- A nice build.
Cons
- Carrying case/charging case sold separately.
- Battery life is average at best.
Wireless Earphones – Buyer’s Guide
A lot of people question the legibility of wireless earbuds and have gone to the point of bashing them by stating wireless earbuds don’t offer any real benefits.
Sure, the sound quality isn’t as good as their wired counterparts, but to say wireless earbuds aren’t any good is severely wrong.
Wireless earbuds and headphones used to suffer from a lot of problems in the past, but they have become comparatively better in the modern-day and age.
We have several latest technologies like Apt-X, as well as the energy-efficient Bluetooth standards.
To be fair, wireless audio equipment is a lot closer to their wired counterpart than it used to be in the old days. With that out of the way, we are going to take a look at some of the advantages of buying wireless earbuds.
These benefits will help you in understanding that wireless earbuds aren’t terrible. These earbuds are for people who want to be active or don’t like to have wires in their way.
Increased PortabilitySweat Proof DesignActive Noise Cancellation
It’s safe to say that wired earbuds are easy to carry. However, the main thing that creates the most amount of the difference between wireless and wired is wireless earbuds don’t have any cables.
You have a small wire that connects the earbuds, but that’s it. There is no tangling between wires and ease of access increases by many folds.
You can carry a pair of earbuds in your pocket as well. However, headphones with wires may get tangled.
This alone acts as something that makes up the deal for those confused whether or not they should opt for a wireless option or a wired one.
Things you should look for in Wireless Earbuds
Now that you have taken a look at all the major benefits of buying wireless earbuds, we can look at some things you should look for in wireless earbuds.
Fit and ComfortBattery LifeTechnologiesActive Noise Cancellation
When buying a pair of wireless earphones, the most important thing that you should look for is the fit and comfort of the earphones. Unlike full sized headphones, the earbuds mainly rely on their fit to provide the maximum amount of passive noise isolation.
Even if your earbuds have the active noise cancellation, it’s important that they have a good fit. Most earbuds come with multiple ear tips made out of different materials. However, the good thing is that you can easily find the right fit.
As for the comfort, this is something that we need regardless of what you’re buying. If you’re getting full sized headphones, wired earphones, or wireless earbuds, having maximum comfort is a priority.
When you’re looking for earbuds, make sure the review you’re reading mentions comfort level of the earphones. If it’s not good, don’t buy them.
Conclusion
The pair of earphones which managed to stand out to us was the Sony MDRXB50BS.
Thanks to the incredible bass performance, brilliant battery life, and overall great comfort across the board, choosing the MDRXB50BS as our favorite pick wasn’t a difficult decision.
