Whether or not it’s justified or not, Apple’s AirPods have develop into the default for many iPhone homeowners available in the market for brand spanking new wi-fi earbuds. If you happen to use an Android cellphone, nevertheless, the very best choices aren’t as apparent. If you happen to’re looking for a brand new pair your self, enable us to assist: We’ve examined numerous pairs through the years, so we’ve damaged down our high suggestions for Android customers under. Whether or not you need highly effective noise cancellation, a pair that’ll survive the gymnasium or simply one thing that performs good with a Galaxy or Pixel cellphone, listed below are our favourite AirPods options for Android.
Learn our full Sony WF-1000XM5 evaluation
The Sony WF-1000XM5 hit on nearly all the pieces we would like from a premium set of wi-fi earbuds. Their small, rounded design ought to really feel snug and safe in most ears. They’re almost unmatched at muting exterior noise, due to a robust ANC function and reminiscence foam eartips that do a exceptional job of isolating sound passively. They sound nice out of the field, particularly for those who like a hotter profile with elevated bass, however you’ll be able to simply customise the EQ curve via Sony’s app, and so they do effectively to attract out treble-range element both approach. They’re additionally loaded with further options, together with multipoint connectivity, Google Quick Pair, LDAC and spatial audio assist, the flexibility to swap between ANC and ambient sound modes mechanically and extra. The wi-fi charging case is conveniently tiny, whereas the eight- to 12-hour battery life provides little to complain about.
Nonetheless, the XM5s nonetheless aren’t a whole slam dunk. The built-in mics aren’t the clearest for cellphone calls. The IPX4 water-resistance score may very well be larger. Some folks would possibly discover the reminiscence foam eartips a bit too full-feeling. In addition they price $300, which is much from inexpensive. However no different wi-fi earbuds we’ve examined have managed to tick so many containers.
- Robust, customizable audio high quality
- Must be snug to most
- A great deal of useful bonus options
- Costly
- Reminiscence foam eartips aren’t for everybody
- No battery life enchancment over predecessor
Learn our information to the finest funds wi-fi earbuds
If you happen to don’t have lots of to spend, our favourite wi-fi earbuds within the funds bracket are the Anker Soundcore House A40. Steadily priced within the $50 to $60 vary, this pair has the type of options we’d anticipate from earbuds that price twice as a lot: genuinely highly effective ANC, multipoint connectivity, wi-fi charging, a stable eight to 10 hours of battery life, LDAC assist, respectable (if not nice) IPX4 water resistance and a usable ambient sound mode. They don’t have probably the most resolving or detail-rich sound of the field, unsurprisingly, however their heat profile provides nice, thumpy bass with out completely blowing out the low-end. If you wish to add extra treble presence, you’ll be able to customise the EQ via a clear and easy-to-read companion app. The precise earpieces are small, spherical and comfy as effectively.
The principle trade-off is name high quality, because the built-in mic can lose your voice in noisy environments and doesn’t deal with sibilant sounds very effectively. There’s no put on detection both, so your music gained’t auto-pause while you take away an earbud. In addition they don’t assist Google’s Quick Pair tech, although the earbuds ought to keep in mind your machine and mechanically reconnect after you pair them for the primary time. However for the worth, it’s onerous to complain.
- Glorious ANC for the worth
- Heat, nice sound
- Comfy and compact
- Good battery life
- No automated put on detection
- Mediocre name high quality
- Would not sound as detailed as higher-end choices (as anticipated)
Figuring out which set of headphones has the “finest” audio high quality is at all times a idiot’s errand — on the finish of the day, it’ll come down to non-public style. But when we needed to choose one pair we’ve significantly loved for music, we’d go along with the . They’ve a barely heat however detailed and welcoming sound profile out of the field, the sort that performs effectively with hottest music instantly. There’s a bit further emphasis on the low-end, however the bass is well-controlled on the entire, whereas a largely impartial midrange makes the instrumentation on most tracks come via clearly. The treble is a bit underemphasized, so vocals or cymbals could not at all times sound as shiny as some would love, however it’s clean. Usually, the laid-back-ness of the default tuning makes it straightforward to tweak in Sennheiser’s app. This pair additionally helps hi-res codecs like aptX Lossless and aptX Adaptive, which might help it reproduce some finer particulars with the suitable music recordsdata.
Past that, Sennheiser’s earbuds are well-built and IP54-rated, plus they’ll join to 2 gadgets concurrently. Battery life can be aggressive at roughly seven or eight hours per cost. That mentioned, the adaptive ANC, whereas good, isn’t on the extent of the Sony WF-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds. Name high quality isn’t as clear as Sony’s pair both, and the design could really feel cumbersome if in case you have smaller ears. There’s additionally no Google Quick Pair assist. With an MSRP of $300, they aren’t low-cost, however for those who like a little bit of bass and care about audio high quality above all else, the Momentum is an efficient premium different to our high choose.
- Detailed, easy-to-enjoy sound high quality
- Helps hi-res audio codecs
- Stable battery life
- ANC is not on par with Sony WF-1000XM5
- Expensive
- No spatial audio
Learn our full Beats Match Professional evaluation
Most of our picks above will work simply wonderful within the gymnasium, however for those who’re shopping for a pair for exercises at the beginning, attempt the Beats Match Professional. Sure, we’re recommending a set of Apple-made earbuds in an Android shopping for information. However whereas they work finest with iPhones, most of their AirPods-style options are additionally obtainable on Android via the Beats app. You’ll be able to pair them with one faucet via a pop-up card, view a map with their final recognized location, swap between ANC and ambient sound modes from the house display screen, remap controls and test their battery degree from the notification tray. There’s no hi-res codec assist, however normally the drop-off from iOS to Android isn’t almost as nice right here as it’s with AirPods.
The principle purpose we advocate the Match Professional is their light-weight design, which is supplied with flexible silicone fins that preserve the earbuds safe in place whilst you’re shifting round. Their IPX4 water-resistance score isn’t the very best, however it ought to be sufficient for all however the sweatiest gymgoers. (Simply don’t use them within the pool.) We additionally like that the Match Professional makes use of bodily buttons to regulate quantity or skip tracks, since contact controls can really feel finicky while you’re attempting to maintain up with a exercise. Their punchy sound is well-suited to the gymnasium as effectively, with a noticeable however not overwhelming push within the bass and treble. It’s not one for purists, however it’s energetic.
If you happen to aren’t particularly searching for exercise earbuds, you’ll be able to nonetheless do higher. The Match Professional lack wi-fi charging and multipoint connectivity, and there’s no technique to customise the EQ for those who don’t just like the default sound. Their built-in mics aren’t something particular for cellphone calls, and the five- to six-hour battery life is on the sting of satisfactory. The charging case is considerably massive as effectively. Plus, whereas the ANC mode is helpful sufficient for tamping down the noise of a gymnasium, it’s a transparent step down from the very best choices in the marketplace.
- Safe design for exercises
- Punchy sound is well-suited to the gymnasium
- Bodily management buttons
- No wi-fi charging or multipoint connectivity
- Battery life is simply OK
- ANC is not wonderful however nothing particular
Learn our full Google Pixel Buds Professional 2 evaluation
The Pixel Buds Professional 2 are explicitly designed to work in concord with different Pixel gadgets, in order that they’re value contemplating for those who’re a devoted fan of Google’s telephones. They arrive with a number of helpful bonus options, from distant ringing and a “dialog detection” mode to a customizable EQ and automated switching between gadgets paired to your Google account. (You additionally get hands-free entry to Google’s Gemini AI bot, although we wouldn’t name that important.) You’ll be able to nonetheless entry a lot of the Pixel Buds’ perks on different Android gadgets by downloading a separate app, however the entire performance is baked into Pixel telephones natively. This implies you’ll be able to handle the earbuds, test battery standing and the like proper out of your machine’s settings menus. It’s much like how Apple integrates AirPods with iOS.
The earbuds themselves are completely competent past that, with a tiny but snug design, respectable ANC for the worth, eight-ish hours of battery life, enough name high quality and an fulfilling sound with punchy bass and prolonged treble. That mentioned, you’ll nonetheless get richer audio high quality and extra strong noise cancellation from our Sony and Sennheiser picks above, so those that aren’t all-in on Google {hardware} can be happy to look elsewhere.
- Tight integration with Pixel telephones
- Tiny, cozy design
- Agreeable sound
- Smaller contact panels require precision
- ANC is not on par with Sony WF-1000XM5
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional evaluation
Alongside these strains, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional are to Galaxy telephones what the Pixel Buds Professional 2 are to Pixel telephones. Utilizing them with a Samsung handset unlocks just a few ecosystem-specific perks, together with the hi-res Samsung Seamless codec, a real-time translation software and a “Recreation Mode” that reduces latency. That’s on high of options like spatial audio, a graphic EQ, a misplaced machine finder, adaptive ANC, simplified voice instructions and automated switching between Samsung gadgets.
This type of walled backyard method is irritating; keep in mind when you possibly can plug your headphones into any machine and it’d work the identical approach each time? However, as with the Pixel Buds and AirPods, the Galaxy Buds 3 Professional are undeniably handy for those who’ve already purchased into their chosen platform.
The remainder of the bundle will get extra proper than unsuitable, although there are some points value calling out. The stem-style design just about rips off the AirPods Professional — that is significantly evident with the white end — however provides bizarre, pointless LED strips down the stems. It’s snug, however Samsung isn’t beating the copycat allegations right here. The ANC isn’t on par with the Sony XM5s both, and the six-hour battery life is shorter than many different premium pairs. There’s additionally no hi-res codec assist with non-Samsung telephones. On the plus aspect, the ambient sound mode works effectively. And most significantly, these items sound wonderful out of the field, with full, meaty bass complemented by amply detailed highs and upper-mids.
It’s value noting that Samsung froze shipments of the Galaxy Buds 3 Professional proper round launch because of high quality management issues (primarily relating to the inventory eartips), however these look to have been resolved, and we haven’t seen something out of the strange with our evaluation unit.
- Tight integration with Samsung telephones
- Nice audio high quality
- Comfortable match
- Pure ambient sound
- Want a Samsung cellphone to get probably the most out of them
- Battery life is shorter than some rivals
- Copycat design with gimmicky LED lights
What to search for in wi-fi earbuds for Android gadgets
For probably the most half, the options you need from a set of “Android earbuds” are the identical as what you need from any headphones. Pleasing sound high quality, a snug match and adequate battery life are nonetheless the foundations. Enough water resistance is sweet for exercises, and no person desires a crummy mic for making calls. When you method the $100 vary, options like lively noise cancellation (ANC), wi-fi charging, an ambient sound mode (which helps you to higher hear exterior noise with out turning off your music) and multipoint connectivity (the flexibility to pair with a number of gadgets concurrently) ought to be anticipated.
For Android gadgets particularly, there are just a few extras to think about. A devoted app that makes it straightforward to change sound modes, customise the audio profile, find your earbuds in the event that they ever get misplaced or modify different settings is strongly most popular. Options like Google Quick Pair or NFC-based pairing, which might help you keep away from having to dig via your Bluetooth menu to attach your earbuds for the primary time, are additionally good perks. Some Android gadgets may make the most of higher-quality Bluetooth codecs comparable to aptX Adaptive or Sony’s LDAC — these aren’t almost as essential to audio high quality because the precise structure of your earbuds, however they might help wring out a bit extra element if the buds are succesful sufficient and also you’re streaming lossless recordsdata. AptX Adaptive may assist scale back latency, which is sweet for streaming video or gaming.
Range is Android’s biggest energy, however it additionally signifies that some wi-fi earbuds play nicer with sure gadgets, usually these made by the identical firm. Current Samsung earbuds, as an example, include just a few perks which can be solely obtainable for those who use a Galaxy cellphone. We now have a few suggestions associated to this concept above.
Current updates
December 2024: We’ve frivolously edited this information for readability and ensured that our present picks are nonetheless correct.