Best wireless earbuds for Android

Apple users have the AirPods to cover their in-ear needs, but what wireless earbuds should Android users get? Thankfully, there are plenty of options available for them, too. Whether you’re an athlete, commuter, or general consumer, you’re bound to find something in among our picks for the best wireless earbuds for Android.

Editor’s note: this list of the best wireless earbuds for Android was updated on June 8, 2023, to add the Beats Studio Buds Plus to Notable mentions and to answer a FAQ about Google Fast Pair.

Why is the Sony WF-1000XM4 the best pair of wireless Android earbuds for most people?

If you want great noise canceling, solid sound, and plenty of convenient features, then the Sony WF-1000XM4 is the perfect pair for you. These buds boast a set of features that rival the Apple AirPods, but because they aren’t exclusive to Apple devices, your Android phone can take advantage of them, too.

The earbuds support the LDAC Bluetooth codec, which is crucial for Android devices because AAC doesn’t reliably transmit at higher bit rates on the platform. Many models of earphones only support SBC and AAC, but thankfully the Sony WF-1000XM4 bucks that trend. Plus, the buds have an IPX4 rating, so sweating and splashes won’t harm them.

You will have to drop a pretty penny on the WF-1000XM4, but the excellent isolation and ANC and 360 Reality Audio support help compensate for that. You can always take advantage of touch controls, so you don’t have to constantly fish out your phone.

The one foible of these earphones is a slightly wonky default frequency response. However, you can easily use the included EQ in the Headphones Connect app (iOS/Android) to lower the bass and mids a bit, if you even notice it at all.

Need good noise-canceling at a great price? Get the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds I

The Apple AirPods Pro is known for its excellent ANC, and if that’s what you crave on Android too, then the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds I delivers it at a good price to boot. These buds take all the noise canceling tricks Bose is known for, and puts them into a small and portable package. ANC here is best-in-class and renders 250Hz frequencies nearly one-sixteenth their actual loudness. While the high-frequency attenuation isn’t quite as good as Sony’s flagship earbuds, you’re more likely to notice a difference as you toggle ANC on/off on Bose’s earphones than you would on Sony’s.

While these earphones support only the AAC and SBC, they deliver a good listening experience thanks to their noise canceling chops. And if you don’t stare at your screen all day noticing mismatches between video and audio, you might not even notice anything else. They have an IPX4 rating, too, so they’ll stand up to workouts and a bit of drizzle. Plus, to add to the more in-ear-focused use case, you get auto play/pause and mono listening (right bud only).

There are both tap and swipe controls, so you can perform many commands without taking your phone out of your pocket. And stashing the buds in the charging case for just 15 minutes gives them up to two hours of playback time, meaning you won’t have to be without them for very long when on the go. Add to that the fact an EQ now comes as part of the latest firmware updates, and you have a flexible set of excellent ANC earphones to take practically anywhere.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is great for those already in the Samsung ecosystem

A walled garden can be a cozy place, and Samsung understands that well with the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro. Much like the AirPods Pro (1st generation) with an iPhone, these earbuds will slot in nicely if you already own a Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

Samsung-exclusive features include a variety of perks. Most notably, you get the Samsung Seamless Codec which improves upon the Samsung Scalable Codec. With the Seamless Codec, you can enjoy 24-bit audio transmitted to the Buds 2 Pro (OneUI 4.0+ software required). You can also take advantage of WirelessPowershare, which lets you charge the case atop a compatible Samsung device. It’s a bit of a gimmick but comes in handy when you’re in a bind. Pairing the Galaxy Buds 2 to a compatible Samsung phone also opens the door for 360 Audio.

Non-Samsung Android phone owners can still use Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity along with the AAC and SBC codecs. No matter what OS you have, you can appreciate the buds’ IPX7 rating, making them some of the most water-resistant earphones on this list. The default sound follows our consumer target curve, with a slightly boosted sub-bass and bass response. Generally speaking, the Galaxy Buds 2 will please most listeners.

Workout and enjoy music with the Jabra Elite 4

Whether you’re heading to the gym, watching videos, or streaming music from your Android phone, the Jabra Elite 4 is a great all around pick for under $100 USD. Sporting an IP55 rating, the Elite 4 easily keeps up with jogs and jaunts about town.

The impressively isolating earbuds render the ANC not as useful as some other ANC equipped earbuds, but isolation doesn’t cost you any battery life and the Elite 4 has that in spades. Plus, you can access the companion app, Sound+, to use HearThrough. Additionally, Sound+ has a competent equalizer, so the default good sound can be tailored to your taste.

The 5 hours, 5 minutes battery life (with ANC on) is enough for most single uses. Especially great for Android users is that the Jabra Elite 4 possesses aptX for better audio and a lower noise floor than standard SBC, and reduced latency when watching video. Overall, the Jabra Elite 4 might not be the most exciting set of earbuds, but it’s so refined in execution that you can simply pick it up and go without hassle.

The Google Pixel Buds A-Series is smart value

If value is your main concern, then the best wireless earbuds for Android in your case would be the Google Pixel Buds A-Series. It makes sense that buds by Google would integrate well within the Android ecosystem, and these do.

Though these earbuds aren’t fancy, you do get in-ear detection, touch controls, and a useful app with EQ presets. A lightweight build and comfortable fit mean that, while these may be more budget buds, they don’t “feel” cheap. You can even take advantage of the IPX4 rating to not worry about errant splashes or drips. Plus, Google Assistant is easy to access via voice commands or by pressing and holding the G logo on the buds, so seamless Android integration can be hands-free, too.

Two small pitfalls do exist, though. There’s only SBC and AAC Bluetooth codec support, and the Adaptive Sound feature instead of ANC can get distracting. Still, at this price, these earphones are a solid Android-tailored pick.

Should you get the Google Pixel Buds Pro instead of the Pixel Buds A-Series?

In our Google Pixel Buds Pro review, we note that this is Google’s first set of noise canceling earphones and it’s a success with some drawbacks. Unlike the Pixel Buds A-Series, the Pixel Buds Pro earbuds lack concha wing tips that secure the buds to your ears. You get the same IPX4 rating as before but the Pro model includes an IPX2-rated case. Other new features include better microphone quality and battery life. The Pixel Buds Pro earbuds last just over 7 hours with ANC on, two hours longer than the non-ANC A-Series.

So what’s the catch? Well, the Pixel Buds Pro costs $192.5 at Amazon, and this is more what the A-Series costs ($93.02 at Amazon). You also get an oddly boosted bass response on the Pixel Buds Pro, which renders sub-bass notes about two times louder than mids. This can really hamper audio quality if you’re trying to hear higher-pitched vocals.

For those who want to try out the Google Translate integration feature, this is an advanced set of earbuds packed full of technology.

The Nothing Ear (2) is clearly inspired by AirPods Pro

Nothing’s third true wireless entry takes most of what the original Nothing Ear 1 does, and goes for one better on the Nothing Ear (2). These buds are a little lighter, smaller, and possess an improved IP rating of IP54 for the buds (or IP55 when they’re in the case.) ANC, especially of low pitched noise is pretty effective, especially compared to the first Ear 1. It’s also no surprise that the stemmed buds bare some resemblance to AirPods Pro, including squeezable stems for commands.

You’ll definitely want to take advantage of the various Nothing X app’s EQ options, because out of the box it’s rather trebly to listen on. Squarely aiming at Android users the Ear (2) supports not just the standard AAC and SBC codecs, but also LHDC 5.0 audio codec (not LDAC) to potentially transmit 24 bit/192kHz audio with Android. Besides that, for the price it does most of what you want and scarcely much you don’t want.

The Sony WF-C500 is a reliable all-rounder

If you can’t decide what features matter most to you, don’t want to spend a lot, and can live without ANC, then the Sony WF-C500 is a good set of Android earbuds.

While you don’t get many fancy features, you do get an app with an EQ and 360 Reality Audio to enjoy on compatible streaming services. To make up for the lack of ANC, there’s also pretty good isolation. Tap controls let you start and stop your music and take calls without looking at your phone, while letting you launch your voice assistant, too.

Again, there’s only support for SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs, but that’s true of many more expensive options, too. Likewise, you still get an IPX4 rating, plus comfortable ear tips to enjoy your tunes throughout the day.

The best wireless earbuds for Android: Notable mentions

• Amazon Echo Buds (2nd Gen): These buds give you an ear tip fit test, which is always handy, ANC, and an IPX4 rating, but only average sound along with middling battery life. Still, they’re sleek and integrate with Android and your smart devices well via the Alexa app. No surprise you can buy this for $69.99 at Amazon.
• Anker Soundcore Space A40: For only $99.99 at Amazon Anker supplies some premium features, including really excellent noise canceling, as well as LDAC codec support.
• Beats Fit Pro: While this set of Beats suits iPhones, it works basically just as well with Android. It supplies a secure fit, good ANC, and a workout friendly sound. Find it for $159.95 at Walmart.
• Beats Studio Buds: Yes, Apple owns Beats, but these buds aren’t quite as exclusive to iPhones (or as expensive at $99 at Amazon) as the AirPods. The Studio Buds can quickly pair to Android devices and deliver enjoyable sound, so if you want fun, colorful buds, they slide in nicely within that niche.
• Beats Studio Buds Plus: These updated Beats are designed to pair well with Android and Apple. They’re similar to the non-plus Studio Buds except with much better ANC, definitely worth a look for $169.95 at Amazon.
• Bose Sport Earbuds: These comfortable workout earbuds with auto play/pause and an active EQ are a good choice if you need earphones that stay firmly in place thanks to their unique design. They go for $129 at Amazon.
• Grell Audio TWS 1: Audiophiles who want a to-go headset should get the TWS 1 from Grell Audio (at $99 at Drop), brainchild of the former Sennheiser chief headphone engineer. The frequency response very closely follows our target consumer curve but sound quality isn’t the only thing this headset has going for it: it also has very effective noise canceling and software features.
• Jabra Elite 7 Active: Match an IP57 rating, ANC (albeit, not the best), and a battery life lasting over 7 hours for $99.99 at Amazon. You only get AAC and SBC, however.
• Nothing Ear (stick): If you want AirPods for Android, and all the foibles that come with the unsealed fit, this one supplies you with a competent app and a nice price of $99 at Nothing.
• Samsung Galaxy Buds 2: You get many of the same features as the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro at a cheaper price at $109.99 at Amazon. The ANC isn’t as good here as on the Buds 2 Pro, but it can still hush the world around you. These buds are worth considering if you have a Galaxy device and want to stay within the ecosystem for less money.
• Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless: A solid all-rounder, these buds boast SBC, AAC, and aptX and a decent app along with ANC. These buds are bulkier than some and priced oddly ($69.95 at Amazon) compared to the non-ANC CX True Wireless, but they’re straightforward and sound good, too.
• Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3: These noise canceling earbuds have even better ANC than the CX Plus True Wireless, and you get the same IPX4 rating as the more affordable model. What makes the Sennheiser MTW 3 stand out from the CX Plus is its support for aptX Adaptive and wireless charging case. Find the premium buds for $199.95 at Amazon.
• Sony LinkBuds S: These earbuds are understated. The active noise canceling is excellent and the earbuds cost just $148 at Amazon and often go on promotion.
• TCL MOVEAUDIO S600: This AirPods Pro look-alike has a useful app and ANC. While the noise canceling isn’t the best, it’s helpful to have and you get an IP54 rating, so these buds can stand up to some pretty tough conditions. They only have SBC and AAC Bluetooth codec support, however, but you can find the buds for $109.99 at Amazon.

What you should know about Android earbuds

When buying wireless earbuds for your Android phone, you should keep a few things in mind. Here are the main features and design elements that deserve some scrutinizing prior to you hitting the “buy” button.

What are Bluetooth codecs, and which ones matter for Android?

A Bluetooth codec determines how your source device (smartphone) transmits audio to your wireless earbuds. e what get sound to your headphones from your device. To oversimplify it, a codec transforms digital signals in the device into wireless signals and then finally turns that back into sound in your headphones. If that sounds like a bit of an adventure, that’s because it is.

For that reason, it takes computing power and time to do all those tasks. As a result, latency may result where video and audio fall out of sync. And Android is particularly unreliable when it comes to latency. For all these reasons, it helps to pick headphones with aptX, LDAC, or Samsung Scalable codec support if you want visual and audible components to remain in step. Coincidentally, these are also the codecs to look for if you’re worried about sound quality over a Bluetooth connection.

These codecs are much more reliable on Android devices, but the last one only works with Samsung Galaxy devices. However, if you aren’t bothered by latency, then it likely won’t matter as much.

Why is the battery life so short for true wireless earbuds?

You may have noticed that all these wireless earbuds have rather limited battery life when compared to over-ear headphones, for instance. And unfortunately, that’s likely not going to change any time soon.

Physics, which governs all our lives, mandates that smaller batteries won’t last as long. Furthermore, that means earphones have a limited overall lifespan. For these reasons, manufacturers include charging cases with their true wireless earbuds. There’s not much you can do about that, but you can do some things to keep your battery as robust as possible.

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Frequently asked questions about wireless earbuds for Android