I have the very best Earbuds of 2024, and I have to say, this year has been a game-changer. While previous years saw small updates, 2024 brought big leaps in earbuds technology. Every brand seems to be coming out with innovative open-design earbuds, adding impressive active noise cancellation and delivering better sound quality across the board. In fact, the checklist I used to review earbuds for the last four years feels almost irrelevant because most earbuds now come packed with top-notch features and exciting, new options, which made this year’s awards tough but incredibly fun to put together.
Instead of just ranking them from one to five, I recognize that everyone’s needs for earbuds are different: some prioritize microphone quality for work, others are focused on sound quality, workout durability, value, or an all-around great experience. So, in this review, I’ll break them down by category.
These are my 2024 Earbuds Awards based on my experience reviewing hundreds of earbuds over the years.
Here is the Best Earbuds List.
The Best Value Earbuds
Now, I got to preface this one a little bit. Like, what is the best value? Are we talking about the lowest price—like, if they turn on, that’s good value? Or are we looking at what delivers the most flagship features at a little less than flagship pricing? Well, I was kind of going somewhere in the middle. The best value earbuds, in my opinion, are the ones that really deliver a lot of flagship-quality features for around $100.
And this year, that award goes to the Nothing Ear (1). When these came out, I was beyond impressed. I’ve regularly used them instead of my flagship earbuds because I really like how they fit. I love the design of these, and I love the app that comes with them. The sound quality is unparalleled at this price point.
Even though they don’t have A-tier microphones or A-tier ANC, they’re a really solid performer. They get the job done! So, if you’re looking to spend around $100 on a pair of earbuds, even if your budget is more like $70 to $150, I’d say just consolidate that and get the Nothing Ear (1).
These earbuds are absolutely solid, so impressive, and like I said, the sound quality is really punching at this price point.
The Best Open Earbuds
I have two categories here for open earbuds. The first one is genuinely open earbuds, which is something a lot of companies seemed to overlook in recent years. But this year, open earbuds have seen a big comeback, and I think it’s because people are realizing that not everyone wants silicone ear tips in their ears. Whether it’s for comfort, hygiene, or being able to hear your surroundings while biking or walking, there are plenty of reasons why open earbuds are fantastic.
This year, we’ve seen a lot of great open earbuds come out. Nothing has an open option; Shokz is always strong in this category, and Apple and Samsung both introduced open designs too. But the winner in my opinion for genuinely open earbuds this year is Bose QuietComfort Open Earbuds.
These Bose earbuds have a wildly different design that I really appreciated. They sound great and are so comfortable that I could wear them for hours without even realizing they were in. They’re designed more like an earring, so they’re almost a style accessory as well.
The sound quality is still excellent, and they’re perfect if you need to stay aware of your surroundings, like if you’re on a busy road or riding a bike. Plus, they minimize wind noise really well. I used them a lot for work, so I could hear if someone came over to my desk while still enjoying my music or podcast. They’re so comfortable that they practically disappear in your ears, letting you focus on what matters.
The Best Semi-Open Earbuds
semi-open earbuds, I mean earbuds that go in your ear without a silicone seal. These types often have active noise cancellation, so they offer the benefits of hygiene and comfort for those who don’t like silicone ear tips. Plus, they block out a bit more ambient noise compared to fully open earbuds.
For this category, we have two winners: the Apple AirPods 4 ANC and the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3.
The Apple AirPods 4 ANC fit my ears really well, though they may not be perfect for everyone. Their active noise cancellation is surprisingly effective, especially considering they don’t fully seal the ear. It’s impressive that Apple managed to achieve such good noise cancellation in this design.
For those who aren’t Apple users, the Galaxy Buds 3 from Samsung offer similar features. They also provide shockingly good active noise cancellation without sealing the ears, making them a great choice for comfort and ambient awareness. Samsung and Apple have really nailed the semi-open design with these earbuds.
The Best Active Noise Cancelling Earbuds
When it comes to active noise-cancelling (ANC) earbuds that completely seal off your ears and block everything around you, there’s one clear winner. If I’m heading on a flight, without a doubt, I’m reaching for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.
Noise cancellation is about more than just sheer power, like blocking out jet engines. For some people, it’s essential to block voices and other specific sounds. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are truly a jack of all trades in ANC. They’re equipped with a powerful engine that blocks out more sound than any other earbuds I’ve tested.
However, if your focus is blocking higher frequencies, the Sony WF-1000XM5 with foam ear tips is worth considering, as they excel at filtering out those sounds. But for an all-around ANC performer, Bose QuietComfort Ultra is the one to go with.
The Best for Workouts
This year’s top pick for workout earbuds took me by surprise. In the past, my go-to recommendation has always been the Beats Fit Pro because of their physical buttons, wing tips for a secure fit, good active noise cancellation, and microphones—basically like AirPods with a wing tip. And honestly, they’re still a great choice, especially if you find them at a discount.
But now there’s a new winner that completely nailed it for workouts: the Sennheiser Momentum Sport Earbuds. These earbuds offer a really secure fit, complete with wing tips that keep them steady during intense workouts. And, being from Sennheiser, they also deliver amazing sound quality. Their active noise cancellation is impressive for this class of earbuds, giving you that added focus when needed.
What really makes them stand out, though, are the new features Sennheiser added: a body temperature sensor and a heart rate sensor. These allow you to track more of your workout metrics directly through your earbuds. Although these types of sensors aren’t always the most reliable, they’re handy if you’re in a situation where a watch isn’t practical—like if your hands are busy or you’re wearing gloves. It’s just nice to have these tracking options right in your earbuds.
Best Earbuds for Sleeping
For those who like to wear earbuds while sleeping, the Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds are my top pick. They’re designed with sleep comfort in mind and have an extremely slim profile that stays put comfortably, even for side sleepers. This new category was something I really wanted to add to the list this year because I know many people need a way to block out noise for better sleep, especially in louder environments.
The Soundcore Sleep A20 earbuds feature double-layer silicone ear tips that help reduce ear pressure and fatigue more effectively than other earbuds I’ve tested. I’ve personally slept with these earbuds in for many nights, and they’ve never caused discomfort or made my ears feel too warm. Plus, they offer great battery life, so they’ll last through the night.
These earbuds also come with sleep tracking via an accelerometer that tracks how much you move around, which is a nice touch. And unlike some earlier models (like the original Bose sleep earbuds, which only played white noise), the Sleep A20s let you play any audio from your phone—whether it’s white noise, classical jazz, ASMR, or any other audio that helps you relax.
Overall, if you’re looking for earbuds designed specifically to help you sleep peacefully, the Soundcore Sleep A20 delivers comfort, battery life, and flexibility.
Best Earbuds for Microphone Quality
If you’re someone who relies on crystal-clear microphone quality for work calls or meetings, my top pick in this category is the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancelling (ANC). These AirPods have an exceptional microphone, especially when used within the Apple ecosystem, where they can maximize all their features for the clearest audio.
For those using Android, these AirPods can still work, but keep in mind that you won’t get software updates and may miss out on a few features. In that case, Bose earbuds are a great alternative, as they often come with solid microphone quality as well.
Why ANC on open earbuds? Some people might wonder why ANC would be added to open-style earbuds, thinking it may defeat the purpose. But honestly, it’s quite a useful feature here, allowing you to have that open, natural sound while still reducing background noise during calls. So, for anyone prioritizing microphone quality, especially if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem, the AirPods 4 with ANC are hard to beat.
Best Sounding Earbuds
For anyone looking for the best-sounding earbuds, it can be a tricky choice since sound quality is very subjective. After trying various options and seeing what others say, I keep coming back to one pair that balances customizability with a natural, neutral tone: the Nothing Ear earbuds (not to be confused with the Nothing Ear (A)).
At $150, these earbuds offer an impressive suite of features, especially if you value a fully customizable equalizer. You get access to a full EQ spectrum, frequencies, and Q values, allowing you to adjust the width and depth of your sound profile. This means you can tailor your sound exactly to your liking, which is rare even in pricier models. Aside from customization, these earbuds have excellent detail, a balanced, neutral sound signature, and high-resolution codec support for platforms like Tidal or Apple Music, allowing you to hear music as it was meant to be heard. While other brands like Sony are also fantastic, I think the Nothing Ear’s EQ puts it a step above for anyone who loves to fine-tune their audio experience.
Best Overall Sound Quality
If you’re looking for the best overall earbuds—something that performs well across all categories without a specific focus—there are three standout choices, each excelling in different ways.
- Apple AirPods Pro 4
For iPhone users, AirPods Pro are hands down the best choice. They offer top-tier microphone quality, impressive active noise cancellation, and a balanced, neutral sound that works well for most genres. With added health features like hearing aids, hearing health tests, and volume protection, they go beyond music. Apple has integrated them deeply into the ecosystem, making them the ideal pick for anyone on iOS. - Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
If you’re on a Samsung or Android device, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro shine with their dual-driver architecture that brings excellent sound quality, upgraded noise cancellation, and a sleek design. Samsung adds unique features like flashing light stems for easy tracking, even in dark places. However, they don’t have true multi-point connectivity for non-Samsung devices, meaning switching between different brands might be a hassle. But if you’re on a Samsung, these are hard to beat. - Sony WF-1000XM5
Finally,Sony WF-1000XM5 offers exceptional ANC, sound quality, and advanced features like Speak-to-Chat, which Sony pioneered. With top-tier sound and a strong track record for innovation, they’re ideal if you need a pair that works seamlessly across various devices, even if Samsung’s feel more tailored for Samsung users.
These three models offer impressive overall performance—each shining in its own way based on the device you use most.
