Music on the move: The best wireless earbuds of 2024

Sony’s current flagship WF-1000XM5 wireless earbuds earn our top spot, thanks to a superb blend of excellent noise cancellation, strong battery performance, and – above all – spectacular sound quality. As an all-round package, these are tough to beat. 

Larger drivers than on the previous model mean these earbuds have exceptionally detailed and dynamic sound, despite being 25% smaller and considerably lighter. Noise cancellation is also great, if not quite the best overall. They also support Sony's LDAC codec for the highest possible audio quality from supported sources. Battery life is also respectable – up to eight hours with noise cancelling, 12 without, and up to 24 hours when using the charging case.  

Other touches combine to make these a brilliant all-round experience. Instant Bluetooth pairing for Android and Windows devices, plus a button on the case for pairing to Apple products. They also allow you to connect to two devices at once thanks to Multipoint Bluetooth – so if you want to listen to something on your laptop while also being ready to answer a phone call, you can. Noise reduction and bone conduction sensors also help keep calls crystal-clear.

Their smaller size will be great for some, but others may find that they don't fit as snugly in their ears – this means they probably aren't the best wireless headphones for running. But overall, these are a brilliant pair of earbuds.

While these have an RRP of £89 at launch, we've seen them available for less than £40, making these exceptionally good value. Sony has plenty of history for making superb audio devices, but it's a different challenge to create great earbuds at a more affordable price point. And Sony has undoubtedly succeeded with the WF-C500 earbuds.

They are extremely neat and fit snugly in the ear with no stem to make them more prominent. They also have an IPX4 rating, making them sweat and water resistant. Crucially, the 5.8mm (about 0.23 in) drivers mean the sound is impressively punchy, although it isn't as rich at the low end as the best models.

The biggest omission from these is the absence of noise cancellation, which means when you're out and about, your audio will more likely be disturbed by ambient noise. There is also compromise to be found with battery life, with a maximum of 20 hours including the charging case. But you get an impressive 10 hours from the buds, which is better than some more than twice the price. 

One of our tech experts, Kyle Purves, has reviewed the Sony WF-C500 and has this to say – "If you value convenience and ease of use when it comes to choosing your earbuds, then the Sony WF-C500 is absolutely a top contender. While it boasts about its comfort-focused design and tries to maintain good audio quality in a smaller size, I believe the real strength of the Sony WF-C500 is in its hands-free experience.

"These are the perfect pair of earbuds for someone who is busy and sociable, letting them make plenty of calls a day without having to stress about battery life, but they're not the best for quieter souls who want music for their ventures outdoors."

Anything bearing the Marshall name has a lot to live up to, and these Motif earphones most certainly do. Not every piece of serious audio kit delivers on the reputation of the logo they've put onto the case, but the soundstage that these monographed beauties deliver is astounding. They don't overcook the bass either, the impressive drivers do all the hard work on their own. They're branded as A.N.C for good reason too, as they're engineered to give you undisturbed clarity when listening to music.

One slight (and we mean slight) negative is the four-ish hours of battery life when using their full ANC capabilities. But that's an understandable trade-off for all of that active sound processing. That said, don't forget that the case can top this up by an extra 20 hours.

What's The Best editor William Austin-Lobley had this to say when he reviewed the Marshall Motif ANC Earphones: "The audio is without fault. When I listened through a mix of genres I soon realised that the Motifs never miss a beat. The music of J Dilla and MF DOOM is given just as much respect as Herbie Hancock and John Coltrane – it’s all down to the organic balance of the Motif’s drivers."

"The performance on distorted guitar-led music is undoubtedly the highlight, though. It’s a real treat to encounter, as many mainstream earphones struggle with the dynamics of rock music."

Samsung is hardly a newcomer to personal audio. But even so, they exceeded our expectations, especially where its audio drivers are concerned. Now, for this list, we've given the Galaxy Buds2 Pro our 'best overall wireless earbuds' rating. But, they're also a contender the for best noise cancellation recommendation too. The only reason these don't feature twice in this list is that they're over twice the price of our favourite noise-cancellation earbuds. If you have the cash to throw at these Samsungs and want amazing performance and top-notch ANC, you'll get the best-performing earbuds you can buy. 

The sound quality is second to none across multiple genres. To cap it all, they're stylish and reliable, with responsive accurate touch controls. There's a microphone for your voice calls, plus Samsung builds quality. Reassuringly expensive – and worth every penny.

In his review of the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, William Austin-Lobley said: "The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro are my favourite earbuds. I tested them in January 2022, and they've been by my side – and in my ears – ever since. Here's why: the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro earbuds excel in delivering high-quality audio with wide frequency coverage, complemented by powerful bass-driven woofers and support for 24-bit audio, catering to the preferences of lossless streamers.

"The ear fit is nice – the few times one has dropped from my ear, it’s been mid-workout when I’ve been doing a lot of up-down motions, like burpees. For basically everything else, including running, rowing, cycling and general weightlifting, they’ve been fine. Of course, this means that they are always staying secure when out and about, and working at a desk, too."

The LinkBuds S earbuds are a super-solid addition to Sony's range of headphones. Despite their robust build, they're our pick for pure comfort. Each bud has a subtle tactile finish to it – making them easy to handle without dropping. The key feature though is that they come with a great range of ear tips for various sizes of ear canals. You'll find enough options here to guarantee a balance between firmness and cushioning. 

Coupled with the LinkBuds S fit is their remarkable lightness. You'll know you're wearing them, but without that pressure feeling that can occur over time with other earbuds. That said, if you're planning on jogging we'd recommend the Jabra or Bose options above. Being so light and designed for comfort rather than stability, these earbuds are a tad less secure than others for exercise.

Curtis Moldrich tested the LinkBuds S earbuds. In his review he said: "Sony has consistently produced class-leading headphones and earphones for the last few years, so it won’t surprise you that the LinkBuds S earphones here are similarly impressive."

"In isolation, I found that they offer detailed but punchy sounds and are well-balanced enough to bring the magic out of everything from vocal-led tracks to more dance floor-orientated ones. When combined with their barely-there size and weight, the LinkBuds S are a great shout if you’re looking for earphones to work or exercise with."

Some runners swear by bone conduction headphones when they're out running, for the increased situational awareness that these afford – especially if you're running in traffic, for example. But we're picking the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 earbuds, for their excellent durability, impressive battery life, and good quality sound performance. 

Crucially, a runner needs earbuds that will stay put. Jabra ShakeGrip uses a liquid silicone rubber that's designed to feel soft, while still ensuring a secure fit. Battery life is also excellent, with the earbuds going up to eight hours between charges while using ANC, 14 hours without ANC, and up to 56-hours with the charging case. That's enough for almost any run you might be planning.  

Jabra really put these through their paces, making sure they meet military standards, so they know have an IP68 rating to protect against water and dust ingress. So, no matter how sweaty you get, or if you're running on the beach, these earbuds are designed to cope. 

Sound quality and noise cancellation are good, if not quite as good as the best on the market. The touch controls on the earbuds can be fiddly, and pressing forces them further into your ears, which can be uncomfortable.

Despite coming out as long ago as 2021, the Beats Fit Pro are still an excellent set of wireless earbuds, designed to cope with even the hardest of gym sessions. And they're very much designed with that in mind. IPX4 rating means these are resistant to water and sweat, while the flexible silicone wing is designed to hook onto the inside of your ear, to give them a more secure hold. Though it helps with keeping these earbuds secure, the wing might be uncomfortable for some, especially if you're wearing them for extended periods. 

Fully adaptive noise cancelling, transparency mode and spatial audio are all features you'd expect to find on Apple's AirPod Pro earbuds. Thanks to Beats now being owned by Apple, those features have also made their way onto the Beats Fit Pro, with one major drawback. Android phone users won't benefit from all of these features – spatial audio is only compatible with Apple devices, as is Siri voice assistant. 

Battery life is solid, rather than spectacular. Six hours with ANC active, plus 18 hours via the charging case. It's more than enough for most gym sessions. And if it isn't, what are you doing in the gym for more than six hours?

If you just want the best noise-cancelling earbuds, you can stop reading. It's these. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are the best, bar none. While some other earbuds do a decent job of noise cancellation, these are the best around. But it isn't just exceptional ANC on offer, that's complemented by rich audio performance that really enhances whatever you're listening to, creating the perfect way to shut out the world and immerse yourself.  

Bose Immersive Audio is key to this, making it seem as if the audio is coming from beyond the earbuds themselves – making it more like listening through a set of speakers. This is complemented by an extremely comfortable design, with tips that are extra soft, and easy to swap if they aren't the right size for you. 

At this price, it's disappointing to see that there still isn't multipoint Bluetooth, or wireless charging. Battery life also can't compete with the best on the market. While it's not unreasonable to expect premium earbuds to include these sorts of features, the top-notch sound quality and noise cancellation will be ideal for those who want the best audio experience.

The rather empty-sounding Nothing company is anything but. It specialises in simple stripped-down gear that delivers clear and distinct functionality. The Nothing Ear (stick) earbuds are designed to be extremely lightweight - each bud is a feather-light 4.4gm. As for function, it's all about clarity. The drivers in these are an impressive 12.6mm which means they're able to render some of the subtleties in sound that other earbuds can't. They'll even automatically boost the bass if your wearing position changes to always deliver a full range of sound.

But all of this audio goodness is heading in one direction: clear voice calls. Nothing's Clear Voice technology and three high-definition mics will isolate your voice from your surroundings, including crowd noise and wind. They are excellent all-rounders too, with excellent battery life and decent performance for music listeners. There most certainly is something 'ear' for you.

While the Apple AirPods Pro 2 are a good pair of wireless earbuds for anyone, they really stand out for anyone who already uses Apple products. The noise cancellation is brilliant, almost as good as the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra earbuds we mentioned earlier. It's incredibly noticeable what a difference it makes, even when wearing them in very noisy environments, such as walking beside a busy road with heavy traffic.

Sound quality has been enhanced over the previous version, and listening to music is an absolute joy. While the AirPods Pro 2 don't offer Lossless audio, they do support Dolby Atmos from services such as Apple Music and Tidal, providing a rich and vibrant soundscape. Volume controls have been added to the stems of the buds themselves making it much easier to adjust sound levels as you go about your business.

Transparency mode – which shuts off noise cancellation while you talk to someone, for example – is also excellent, while Adaptive Transparency is designed to protect your hearing by blocking out sudden loud noises. Battery life is solid, but not best-in-class, offering around six hours between charges with noise cancelling active.

They're a brilliant set of earbuds for anyone with an iPhone or iPad. But for Android users, while you can still benefit from superb noise cancellation, you won't get the full experience of what these can offer.