Best earbuds 2020: the best earbuds, earphones and in-ear headphones for any budget

Are you looking for the best earbuds? Whether you’re looking for an affordable pair of buds or one of the best true wireless pairs available at the moment, we’re here to help.

What are the newest earbuds?

(Image credit: Sennheiser)

The latest earbuds we’ve tested are the Sennheiser’s new true wireless buds – and they’ve made it onto this roundup. Read our Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 review for more.

Finding the best earbuds for you can be a little tricky because there’s so much choice, with old-school wired models, neckbud-style wireless earphones, and cord-cutting true wireless earbuds to pick from.

Earbuds are a great way to listen to music, whichever form factor you decide to go for – and there’s no judgement here if you still want to opt for a wired pair of earphones for maximum audio quality and security.

Still, true wireless earbuds like the Apple AirPods, Sony WF-1000XM3, and the Beats Powerbeats Pro are getting better all the time; that’s why guide will include all kinds of earphones.

If you already have a particular type of earbud in mind, you might also want to check out our dedicated guides to the best wireless earphones and the best true wireless earbuds.

Our top earbud picks

1. 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphone

Your search for great sounding, good value headphones ends here

Lush sound quality

Excellent build and design

Unmatched value

Plastic remote feels cheap

If you like your headphones to come with a wire, these are the best earbuds you can buy in 2020. After spending a few weeks with both the 1MORE Triple Driver in-ear headphones and the 1MORE Quad Driver in-ear headphones we were blown away at just how much value each one gave in their prospective price ranges.

For $100 / £100 (around AU$168), it’s hard to think of a better sounding and built headphone than the 1MORE Triple Driver. That said, if you want just that little extra refinement and luxury materials, the 1MORE Quad Drivers are still a bargain at twice the price.

There’s very little we can fault the Triple Drivers for. Their rubber cable is annoying and its remote control feels cheap but these are just nitpicks. But, for their price, it’s impossible to do better than 1MORE’s Triple Driver in-ear headphones.

Read the full review: 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphone review

2. Sony WF-1000XM3 True Wireless Earbuds

Noise-cancelling true wireless headphones that made our dreams come true

Efficient noise-cancellation

Inconspicuous looks

Great fun to listen too

Not suitable for sports

Considering it’s still rare to get noise cancelation in wired earbuds at all, the fact that Sony has managed to pack it into a pair that are not only wireless, but true wireless is very impressive indeed.

The Sony WF-1000X manage to offer a level of noise cancelation that’s very good for a pair of earbuds – it won’t offer the same isolation as a pair of over-ear cans, but if you’re after a sleek form factor then the compromise is worth it.

That being said, in spite of a few minor problems we feel that Sony has knocked the ball out of the park with the WF-1000XM3: Not only are these hands down the best-looking true wireless headphones out there, but they combine serious noise cancelling tech with fist-pumping musicality. If you don’t want the inconvenience of carrying full-size cans, they’re a persuasive alternative.

Battery life is above average, and that compact charging case is pretty slick too. On-ear volume controls similar to the PowerBeats Pro have just been introduced via a firmware update, making them even better than they were at launch.

Read the full review: Sony WF-1000XM3 review

3. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2

Great-sounding and noise-cancelling

Incredible sound

Sleek design

Support for Hi-Res Audio

More expensive than rivals

The sound quality, battery life, and design of the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 are truly brilliant – and they’re a really good alternative to the Sony WF-1000XM3, particularly if you prefer a more flashy design to adorn your ears.

We did find that those with smaller ears sometimes find them a little uncomfortable, however, and their high price just stops them from taking the top spot of this round up.

Otherwise? Sennheiser has pretty much knocked it out of the park with these buds, offering great noise cancellation alongside smart looks and stunning sound.

4. Optoma NuForce BE Sport4

Practically flawless wireless earbuds

Impressive audio

Customized eartips

Practical design

Not suited to one-ear listening

The NuForce BE Sport4 wireless earbuds are that rare find: earbuds that are good for basically all situations. While they’re specifically designed for use in the gym and on the track, the BE Sport4 do an awesome job isolating audio in a crowded city environment and are even good enough for home listening.

The BE Sport4 earbuds have claimed 10-hour battery life, which we found to be pretty close to the mark in our time with them, and from empty you can get two hours of use from just a 15-minute charge – ideal for those needing a quick top-up while they put on their trainers and pack a gym kit.

Consider this a warning shot fellow audio manufacturers: build and audio quality do not need to be sacrificed in order to keep earbuds affordable.

Read the full review: Optoma NuForce BE Sport4 review

5. Cambridge Audio Melomania 1

Mind-blowing sound without the wires

Outstanding audio quality

Good value for money

Comfortable design

Control buttons can be annoying

Cambridge Audio is known for its high-end audio equipment, but until now, hasn’t ventured into the world of true wireless earbuds. Enter the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1s: with an outstanding 45 hours of battery life, they combine the brand’s award-winning engineering with the convenience of truly wireless listening.

For a pair of true wireless earbuds, the sound quality offered by the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1s is sensational. In fact, it rivals some of the best over-ear headphones, which is all but unheard of for buds of this size.

They may not have the noise cancellation technology offered by the Sony WF-1000XM3 Wireless Earbuds, but they are $100 (around £80) cheaper – and have a superior battery life.

Read the full review: Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 review

6. RHA T20i

Sound so good you’ll want to go back to wired

Excellent build quality

Customizable sound

Extremely comfortable

No remote for Android

Good sound is subjective, yes, but there are things that we can all agree on that make a headphone sound good: Bass should be tight and impactful, highs detailed but not harsh, and mids that are smooth like honey.

Most headphone manufacturers shoot for these specs, but what if you want a little more bass or want to increase the energy of the highs? For most headphones, your only option is to mess with equalization. But RHA has a different idea.

The RHA T20i is an excellent sounding pair of in-ear headphones with a neat party trick: customizable filters. These filters thread into the headphone housings and let you choose from Bass, Treble, and Reference. Each filter makes an audible impact and are easy to swap out on the go.

As a package, the build quality, sound, and customizable filters make the RHA T20i a must-have for audiophiles on the go. In fact, they sound so good, they made us want to give up our wireless headphones.

Read the full review: RHA T20i review

7. Bowers & Wilkins PI3 Wireless Headphones

Neckbuds with phenomenal sound

Comfortable design

Excellent sound quality

No waterproofing

Average battery life

The Bowers & Wilkins PI3 are the first neckband headphones for the company, and they’re a great start. Well-designed, comfy, and simple to use, they sound really good, too.

Thanks to dual drivers, these buds sound fantastic, with crisp highs, lively mids, and plenty of powerful bass. Look past the fairly unremarkable battery life and limited features, and you’ll be mostly very impressed by what these offer.

Read the full review: Bowers & Wilkins PI3 Wireless Headphones review

8. Sennheiser CX Sport wireless earphones

No fuss buds with fantastic audio

Weight: 15g | Battery life: 6 hours | Heart rate monitor?: No | On-ear controls?: No (in-line remote)

Fantastic audio quality

Sports-friendly design

Not the cheapest option

Mids could be richer

If the most important aspect of running earphones for you is the audio quality, these wireless earbuds from Sennheiser could be a fantastic choice.

With a lively, bass-heavy presentation, and a comfortable fit, the Sennheiser CX Sport wireless earphones can really bolster your running performance through sound quality alone.

They don’t come with a heart rate monitor, but the inclusion of ear fins and sporty neon color scheme makes them ideal for casual workouts.

With a battery life of six hours, they’re great for your average running session, or even your daily commute – but marathon runners will want to look elsewhere.

Read the full review: Sennheiser CX Sport Wireless earphones review

9. OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2

Amazing wireless earphones for the price

Magnetic on/off switch

Lively sound

Strong wireless connection

Terrible carrying case

OnePlus is most known for its “flagship killer” phones like the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro, but the company also makes headphones – the best example of which are the company’s excellent Bullets Wireless 2, which offer an incredible value in the neck-bud headphone category.

In terms of audio quality, they boast a lively sonic presentation and an accurate-feeling soundstage, although bass-heads may want to look elsewhere for headphones that pack a bassier punch.

They’re comfortable to wear too, but it’s just a shame that they don’t have a waterproof rating and the inline remote is so fiddly, because otherwise they could make a decent pair of running headphones.

They may be $30 more expensive than their predecessors, but the improved battery life and sound quality makes up for that; it also makes it worth upgrading if you have the originals and are due a new pair of wireless earbuds.

Read the full review: OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2 review

true wireless earbuds — (Image credit: Lypertek)

10. Lypertek Tevi

Incredible, affordable buds

Incredible value

Neutral audiophile-like sound

Great battery life

Design is a bit plain

If you’re looking for budget-friendly true wireless earbuds, then the Lypertek Tevi are a great choice – they’re among the best earbuds we’ve tried, especially given their low price tag ($130 / £99 / AU$185).

With USB-C charging, a well-balanced sound, lengthy battery life, and waterproofing, they tick every box you could ask for, from what are basically a pair of budget buds.

The Lypertek Tevi, surprisingly, might just blow you away, punching well above their weight and rivaling buds from some of the biggest audio brands on the planet.

Consider us pleasantly surprised.

11. 1More Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones

More expensive than the Triple Drivers, but More powerful too

Beautifully balanced sound

Luxurious build quality

Remote controls work on

Cheaper sibling is better value

They’re expensive, but the 1MORE Quad Driver in-ear headphones are worth every penny. 1MORE hit it out of the park with this flagship pair of in-ear headphones with its balanced sound build quality, smartphone compatibility and price. These in-ear headphones will make mobile audiophiles very happy.

The only reservation that we have is that the Quad Drivers face tough competition from 1MORE’s own cheaper Triple Driver sibling which costs half the price (which sit pretty at the number one spot on our list).

In terms of value, the 1MORE Triple Driver headphones are the winner but for those who want just a bit better build and more detailed sound, the 1MORE Quad Driver headphones are worth the extra money.

Read the full review: 1More Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones

soudnmagic e11bt — (Image credit: SoundMAGIC)

12. SoundMAGIC E11BT

Magic bullets that sound deceptively good

Fantastic price

Elegant design

Comfortable

Treble tones can sound harsh

The SoundMagic E11BTs are an extremely capable pair of wireless in-ear earphones, and given their low price, it really is difficult to fault them – the audio quality is fantastic and they look very elegant.

They’re comfortable to wear thanks to ergonomically designed eartips and a flat neckband that won’t irritate you while running or working out – and with an IPX4 rating, they should withstand sweaty sessions.

Read the full review: SoundMAGIC E11BT

Tips and tricks

How to choose the best earbuds for you

Which headphones style is best for you?

The best pairs of in-ear headphones need to be ultra-comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, and must fit securely in your ear for decent noise isolation.

If you’re looking for a pair of running headphones, your new buds should have an IPX4 water-resistance rating or above; this means that they’ll be able to withstand a little sweat as well as a spot of rain.

There are wired and wireless earbuds on this list, but newer models can be completely wire-free. Our current favorite true wireless earbuds, the Sony WF-1000XM3 go one step further, combining truly wireless sound with high quality noise cancelation tech.

If you do opt for wireless or true wireless earbuds, make sure the battery life is up to scratch, otherwise you could find yourself caught short without any music in the middle of your commute.

Most importantly, they need to sound good. If you’re a dedicated audiophile, look for buds that support Hi-Res Audio codecs like LDAC and aptX HD Bluetooth for stellar connectivity.

FAQs

The best earbud and in-ear headphones FAQ: quick questions answered

Which brand’s earphones is the best? That totally depends on what you’re looking for – but we’re careful with our lists. That means all of the earbud and in-ear headphones below come from brands we trust. Still, if you’re not sure where to start looking, respected brands like Sony, Apple, Cambridge Audio, JBL, and Optoma are good places to start.

What are the best cheap earbuds? At least half of the buds in this list are below the $80 / $80 mark, which makes them ideal for those who need a new set of headphones but can’t justify a splurge. We recommend taking a good look at the RHA MA390 Wireless, as well as the 1More Triple Drive In-Ear Headphones. If they’re still too pricey for your current budget, then check out our guide to the best cheap headphones of 2020.

Which is better, earbuds or headphones? It’s up to you. Some people love the feel and immersive sound experience of over-ear headphones, others prefer the freedom and compact size of in-ear headphones and earbuds. It all depends on what your priorities are.

How do I keep my earbuds from falling out? Although most of the high-end in-ear buds and headphones are designed to stay put, everyone’s ears are different. Which means there’s still a chance they’ll fall out – especially if you’re running or moving. If this keeps happening, we recommend opting for a pair built with sports in mind, these tend to have better support and even a different design that anchors them into your ear better.

Should I buy wireless earphones? Wireless and true wireless earbuds are a great option for those who want to listen to music on the go without the hassle of tangled cables getting in their way. However, some audio purists think that the sound quality afforded by Bluetooth connections still doesn’t compete with traditional wired models.

Best earbuds 2020, at a glance:

1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphone
Sony WF-1000XM3 True Wireless Earbuds
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2
Optoma NuForce BE Sport4
Cambridge Audio Melomania 1
RHA T20i
Bowers & Wilkins PI3
Sennheiser CX Sports Wireless
OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2
Lypertek Tevi
1More Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones
SoundMAGIC E11 BT

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