Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS: What makes the Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS buds special is that they sound surprisingly good for open-back headphones — they're pretty close to what you get from Apple's AirPods 3 for sound. Moreover, they support Sony's LDAC audio codec for the devices that offer it. Not too many cheap open-ear headphones sound good, but these Soundpeats have good bass response and clarity. They are also decent for making calls and have a low latency gaming mode.
Sony WF-1000XM4: Released in 2021, Sony's WF-1000XM4 earned a CNET Editors' Choice award. They're still great headphones, but Sony has now released the next generation WF-1000XM5. They can be a good option if you find them at a good discount.
Beyerdynamic Free Byrd: Beyerdynamic may be late to the game, but it's finally unveiled its first true wireless headphones, which feature active noise cancellation, up to 11 hours of battery life (with noise muted), and impressive sound quality. Read our Beyerdynamic Free Byrd review.
Master & Dynamic MW08: These buds may not fit everyone's ear equally, but they certainly have a distinct look as well as a great sound and great listening experience if you can get a tight fit (I was able to get a secure fit with the largest tip). They provide a more audiophile sound profile, with smooth, well-balanced sound and well-defined bass.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX: Bang & Olufsen's $395 Beoplay EX buds are the company's best true wireless earbuds. They feature a comfortable, secure fit (except perhaps for those with really small ears), premium build quality, great sound, good noise cancellation and improved voice calling performance via B&O's EQ buds, with three microphones in each earcup that help reduce background noise while raising your voice. They're out of most people's price range, but they're probably the best earbuds out there, and they offer slightly superior sound to the AirPods Pro 2 with better clarity, deeper, more powerful bass, and richer, more accurate sound.
Sony LinkBuds: LinkBuds are, in a sense, Sony's answer to Apple's answer standard AirPods. They don't sound as good as Sony's flagship WF-1000XM4 or the noise-isolating LinkBuds S headphones, but they offer a discreet, innovative design and a more secure fit than the AirPods, as well as decent sound and very good voice calling. performance. Like third-generation AirPods, their open design lets you hear the outside world — that's what the ring is all about. Read our Sony LinkBuds review.
JBL Live Free 2: As on Live Pro 2JBL's new 2 Live Free buds are surprisingly good. With 11mm drivers, six microphones, oval tubes and oval silicone tips, they combine a comfortable fit together with strong noise cancellation, very good sound quality and voice calling performance. Features include multi-point Bluetooth pairing and wireless charging, and they're rated for up to seven hours of IPX5 water resistance (splash-resistant).
Our reviewer David Carnoy tests voice calling performance on the noisy streets of New York.