Shopping for headphones on Prime Day? Here are 9 of the best earbuds on Amazon.
The best-reviewed wired, wireless, and wire-free earbuds options, all in one place.
Sure, they’re small, but that doesn’t mean earbuds are a purchase to be taken lightly.
You’ve probably been listening to music on the go for most of your life. So you know that finding a good pair of earbuds is actually pretty tricky. (I’ve gone through more in my lifetime than I can count.)
And while picking up a $5 pair in the checkout line is easy enough, you know you’ll just be back again next month (or sooner) for a new pair because they stopped working.
Does that mean all earbuds are crap? No way. It’s simply not true that bass, noise cancellation, and crisp sound can only be found in fancy over-ear headphones. Some of us prefer our headphones to be a little more inconspicuous and portable.
Since it’s always good to get a personal recommendation, we did some research and pulled out the best earbuds on Amazon, based on actual customer reviews. We looked at which products have the most reviews and highest star ratings to compile this list, which features the earbuds that the greatest numbers of people have been happiest with.
We’ve also split them into categories: the ones you’ll need a headphone jack or the beloved dongle for, the wireless Bluetooth earbuds that are still connected with a cord, and the truly wireless earbuds that are as discreet as you can get.
Whatever your preference and whatever your price range, you’re sure to find some that don’t suck. Scroll through to see our top picks.
Best wired earbuds
This is the headphone-jack kind you’ve used ever since your first Walkman (or iPod — kids these days!). There’s no charging or dealing with dead earbuds, but iPhone users will have to choose between listening to earbuds and charging their phones. RIP to the headphone jack; we still miss you.
Ergo-fit bud that conforms to your ear • Noise cancellation is better than expected at this price
Probably doesn’t have the same sound quality as higher-end options • No remote controls on the cord
If you lose your earbuds a lot, or are just on a budget, these are highly-rated.
“At first when I bought this [sic] earbuds I was skeptical because of the price. But out of all the earbuds I have owned (Beats, Sony, Skullcandy, etc.) These are by far my favorite because it is so reliable. After about a year, these other brands would give out. I’ve had these earbuds for about 4 years. They’ve been dropped countless times and have even been in the washer and dryer. When I found them I thought for sure they were done for but they just keep working. Truly satisfied with this product.”
Choose from 10 fun colors here, with prices starting at $8.99.
Made from genuine wood • Take phone calls • Highly-rated sound quality
Not a lot of bad things to say!
Many reviewers express surprise that these stylish buds have such great sound quality at such a low price.
“Wow. Just wow. For the price? Seriously? I was not expecting these to produce such well-balanced sound. My last pair were Soul by Ludacris, which did the job. However, I needed something more. I received far more than expected with these Symphonized NRG 3.0 earbuds. Again, I go back to price… ridiculously low for the quality of sound that comes from these.”
It’s seriously hard to find a review that’s not along the lines of “Wow, these should be more expensive.” Choose from five colors and get yours here, with prices starting at $19.99.
Great bass and balance • Highly-rated fit
Not a lot of bad things to say!
If you’re looking for great sound quality at an affordable price, these could be it.
“They fit perfectly in my ears, and stay in even when moving around/jogging. The included tips are thin and actually make a perfect seal. The sound of these right out of the box is incredible and got even better with several hours of use. I’m not an audiophile but know decent sound when I hear it. I’ve tried many brands over the years, and these are good too great IMO. I’m a bass head and the sound of these is pretty damn near perfect concerning the balance of bass, mids, and highs. The mids and highs aren’t too recessed, and the bass isn’t too boomy.”
These buds are regularly priced at $49.99, but we’ve seen them on sale numerous times for as low as $26.99. Get them in black, blue or red here.
Good sound quality • Active noise cancellation • Nice bass and clarity
Clunky ANC battery • No battery life indicator
If you can get past the bulky battery, this is a good pair of noise canceling earbuds at a decent price point.
Pressing an in-ear monitor button puts the buds in monitoring mode, which allows you to hear what’s happening around you and listen to announcements while the active noise cancellation is on. Because of the ANC feature, these earbuds will need to be charged, though a single charge gives you 15 hours of noise cancellation.
Amazon customer Pentox writes:
“For the longest time I’ve been a big supporter of full headphones over earbuds. This pair may be changing my mind about that. At first I was dubious of how good the active nose cancelling could be, you always see earbuds claim to be nose cancelling, but rarely actively so. The nose cancelling isn’t quite full headphone level, but combined with the natural noise blocking off earbuds it does a great job.”
Grab this pair of TaoTronics for $45.99.
Bluetooth and wireless earbuds
If you’re tired of untangling headphone cords every damn day or constantly losing your iPhone dongle, a pair of wireless earbuds may be more up your alley.
Good bass and clarity • Comfortable fit • Good customer service
Some reviewers reported the control remote coming apart • Not very loud • Not the most durable
These might not last a lifetime, but they provide good quality and customer service will send a replacement pair if yours breaks.
You can wear these while you work out and you won’t have to worry about losing one of the earbuds if it falls out (which it probably won’t because these earbuds feature customizable tips and ear hooks), and these are sweat- and weather-resistant. You get six hours of listening per charge.
Amazon customer Rae writes:
“I work a desk job that allows me to listen to music while I work so these are in my ears all day every day. They are very comfortable; I’ve used some headphones that have irritated my ears after a few hours but I’ll wear these at work and again when I’m working out. They stay in place even while running – I think is thanks to the design of the ear pieces.”
The Bose SoundSport wireless earbuds retail for $129, though we often see them discounted to $99.
Sweatproof • Ear hook for extra security • Eight hours of listening on a charge
Some reviews said they stopped working, but got free replacements
If you’re willing to bet that your pair won’t stop working after a few months, these could be an excellent deal.
“These blew the top of my head clean off. It’s scary how nice these are. The price doesn’t seem to match the item. This is totally confounding me. Under $20? Ok, what game is this? I almost wish I could find some huge flaw somewhere. I feel like some great company left some money on the table to benefit all of earbud mankind. These could easily fetch double the charge. Otium, thank you!!!!!!”
Dang, Otium. Some negative reviews claim that their pair stopped working within the first few months, but most mention that Otium sent them a replacement pair immediately. Choose from black or red and get them here, with prices starting at $18.99.
Sweatproof • Magnets keep them together • Good fit
If you like an ear hook, you’re out of luck here
Highly-rated sound and a convenient magnet make these a great choice.
“These are my favorite Bluetooth headphones ever! I’ve gone through at least half a dozen headphones in the last year trying to find the best affordable pair, and none have even come close to these SoundPeats. I liked them so much that when I lost my previous pair, I went ahead and bought them again! So many things about them that are amazing… the sound quality is superb for the price, they are as light as any non-bluetooth pair of earbuds are, the bluetooth connection is reliable and not delayed, the design is incredibly comfortable with a responsive remote exactly in the place you would want it, the battery life is better than average… I could go on, but I think it suffices to say that these are the best bluetooth headphones available at this price point.”
Get these earbuds in one of two colors here, with prices starting at $14.99.
Truly wireless earbuds
For those who are constantly on the go and really just can’t be bothered with any cords whatsoever, 100 percent wireless earbuds are a game changer. This is a serious Men in Black look, y’all. Just make sure you don’t lose them.
Sweat- and water-resistant • Active noise cancellation • Transparency mode for hearing environmental noises
Pricey • Not always in stock
If you’ve got the money, these are a really solid pair of wireless earbuds.
AirPods Pro
With excellent sound quality and active noise cancellation, AirPods Pro are a top pick.Active noise cancellation is great, but sometimes you need to hear what’s going on outside of your music. That’s where transparency mode comes in. It lets in outside sound, so you’re not walking around cut off from the world around you.
Amazon customer Jon simply writes:
“They fire”
Need we say more? Snag the sweat- and water-resistant AirPods Pro for $249.
Tiny • Excellent battery life • 50-foot connection range
Might take a while to get used to these tiny buds
If you want truly wire-free buds and don’t want to spend a ton, try these out.
The F10 earbuds have seriously impressive battery life as well. They’re apparently able to last up to six or seven hours, depending on the volume. But we don’t think you’ll need full volume anyway, because according to the listing, the lithium accumulator gives full-volume sound at just 30 or 40 percent.
Amazon customer Jon writes:
“It’s rare that I leave a 5 star review, so trust me when I say this little guy deserves it! Let me start off by saying I own a pair of Bragi’s Dash which retails for almost $300. This F10 was nearly able to replace it. Pro: Amazing quality for the price, dual device pairing actually works, small size yet holds true to its claimed run time, works in both ears which is a plus for me, no mediocre gimmicks like some other little buds, and absurdly long connection range – 50 feet!”
Get your FOCUSPOWER earbuds for $25.99 here.
Affordable • Stylish • Crisp sound
Not the cheapest, but not the priciest either
If you’re looking for style at an affordable price, these could be the earbuds for you.
“Let me tell you these are some serious wireless headphones guys.The sound is perfectly balanced with a stage right in front of your head. Just exquisite. I smiled when I saw the 3D audio remark but they weren’t kidding, the sound does sound three dimensional and hits you from all sides. The look the feel the weight, all perfect. All at fraction of the price. I don’t know how they can offer this quality for this much, but it is what it is. Great job on these bad boys Treblab!”
These earbuds retail for $25.28. Get them here.
Sweat- and weather-resistant • Excellent sound quality • Includes “find my buds” app feature
Bulky charging case • Battery life could be longer
If you want the best wire-free option with loss-prevention tech, these could be worth the price tag.
“This [sic] real wireless earbuds by Bose are awesome, sound fantastic. The bass sounds are impressive, mediums and trebles are excellent and don’t fall out of your ears. The set up process is very easy just follow the instructions no tricks, After I set up my earbuds they connected immediately with my iPhone after I take them out of the charging case. They are my real partners in the mornings when I go walking and working. You can wear them for long hours and you don’t feel them. Definitely is another excellent Bose product, the best choice in the market.”
Choose from black, blue, ultraviolet, or orange for $199 here.
Easily control surrounding sound • Comfortable fit • Wireless charging
Customer complaints about Bluetooth connectivity • Bulky charging case
These highly rated earbuds are great for users who prioritize sound and are passionate about their playlists.
But don’t worry, Quick Ambient Mode will alert you to important sounds such as oncoming traffic and ambulance sirens. And you won’t have to worry about these buds randomly falling out of your ear (or onto subway tracks) — Samsung Galaxy Buds come with three adjustable ear tip and wingtip sizes, so you can comfortably zone out to your favorite tunes without fear of them falling out.
Amazon customer J. Paul writes:
“Samsung hit a home run with these buds. Great snug yet comfortable fit and don’t fall out after months of use in a variety of activities and exercise. Great noise cancelling for buds when mowing grass and on airplane. Not complete noise cancellation, but close when playing music. Exceptional crisp sound, best I have heard on any buds.”
Samsung Galaxy Buds are available for $104.99 at Amazon.
Great sound quality • Excellent fit • Volume and track controls on earbuds
Bulky case • Sounds quality lacks if you do not have the proper seal (use the correct fitting tips)
These earbuds will stay in your ears no matter what kind of activity you’re doing.
Designed for those on the move, the Power Beats Pro totally wireless earbuds are both sweat and water resistant. And with nine straight hours of listening time these earbuds will last long after you leave the gym. Plus, with the charging case you get up to 24 hours of listening.
One Amazon customer Kimberly Gunn writes:
“I have very tiny ears and have always had an issue with earbuds staying in my ears, especially while working out or walking. These come with smaller rubber pieces for your ears and the fact that they go over the top of the ear were really the deciding factor for me. Having said all that, I am glad I spent the money on these. I had really given up on most of the cheaper ones because I just couldn’t find ones that fit perfectly, and these are just right!”
The Power Beats Pro wireless earbuds retail for $249.95, but we’ve seen them drop to $199.95.
Great sound quality • Efficient Bluetooth connectivity • Long charging case battery life
If you’re looking for a great pair of earbuds but don’t want to spend a lot of money these are a great purchase.
And perhaps one of its most notable features, the ENACFIRE earbuds promise that when charged with the included portable charging case, you can expect a whole month of listening time. Perfect for those who just can’t seem to imagine life without music and always forget to charge their devices. Granted, this is accounting for three hours of listening per day. So, really you get 104 hours of playback — however long that lasts you.
Amazon customer Martiza simply writes:
“They’re solidly built, easy to pair, and sound great.”
Get a pair for yourself for $49.99 here.
Published at Wed, 30 May 2018 22:07:45 +0000
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