The best wireless earbuds for running

The JBL Live Beam 3 are a very well-designed set of earbuds with short, ovoid nozzles that offer a comfortable listening experience. These earbuds pack in a dizzying array of software-dependent features via the JBL app, including EQ adjustment, a fit tester, and personalized EQ, while also supporting high-bitrate listening through LDAC and Multipoint. We found their sound is characterized by strong bass and emphasized highs, appealing to a consumer-friendly audience with a pleasing timbre and high immersiveness rating. JBL did a solid job with the microphone, equipping it with excellent noise rejection for clear calls. The ANC unit is pretty adept at hushing surroundings, effectively isolating you from 10-30dB of outside noise, which is ideal for commutes. In our standardized battery test, the earbuds lasted 8 hours and 14 minutes, which is a great result for true wireless earbuds.

The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 are fashionable, halo earbuds with metallic accents, and Sennheiser ensured a secure fit with three sizes of concha fins. These earbuds connect using Bluetooth 5.4 with a wide range of codecs including aptX Lossless, LC3, and LE Audio, and also support Auracast and Multipoint, with the Sennheiser Smart Control app offering extensive customization. Our virtual panel of listeners found the tuning and immersiveness of the earbuds to be stellar out of the box, indicating a fantastic sound for most. However, we found the microphone performance well below expectations for higher-tiered earbuds, with highly variable speech quality and poor environmental noise suppression, especially in wind. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 performed well in our lab, posting 83% average noise attenuation, making them an excellent companion for frequent flyers. In our standardized battery test, they delivered 7 hours and 45 minutes of music playback, which is beyond what most current true wireless earbuds manage.

The Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 retain a comfortable fit thanks to their ShakeGrip coating and boast an IP68 water and dust resistance rating, making them ideal for rigorous workouts. Their headline feature is the LE Audio smart case, which can transmit audio from any 3.5mm or USB-C source to the earbuds, along with a comprehensive Jabra Sound+ app for extensive customization. Most people will enjoy the sound quality, with a simulated panel of listeners rating the default sound very highly in Timbre, though we noted an under-emphasis in low-mid frequencies. In our testing, the microphones focused in on our voice in both quiet and loud environments, with excellent noise rejection. These earbuds offer great noise canceling, reducing most environmental noise by 80% and low-frequency rumble by about 30 dB. Our battery testing revealed an impressive 9 hours and 3 minutes of playback, which is significantly above average for wireless earbuds.

The EarFun Air Pro 4 feature a lightweight design that we found comfortable for hours, and they offer IPX5 water resistance for peace of mind during rain or gym sessions. They integrate the latest Bluetooth 5.4 technology, including aptX Lossless, LDAC, AAC, and SBC codecs, along with Google Fast Pair and Bluetooth Multipoint, and the EarFun Audio app provides extensive features. We were impressed by the sound quality, finding the earbuds sound good out of the box and closely follow our headphone preference curve. While the microphones accurately pick up voices in quiet settings, they are not ideal for noisy environments, as we found background noise can still be heard. The improved ANC blocks out 10-20dB of additional noise, reducing external loudness by an average of 75% on its highest setting. In our battery test, the EarFun Air Pro 4 lasted 8 hours and 44 minutes, which is above average and ensures plenty of listening time.

The JBL Tour Pro 3 earbuds feature a typical bud with a short lollipop stem and ovoid nozzles that fit easily into the ear canal, though the housings are large and somewhat heavy. These earbuds stand out with their Smart Charging Case, which acts as a standalone user interface and an audio transmitter for USB, 3.5mm, and wireless connections, alongside comprehensive JBL Headphones app features. We found the sound to be really decent and geared toward a consumer-friendly audience, with high marks across timbre, distortion, and immersiveness from our virtual panel of listeners. The microphone quality is exceptionally good at getting rid of or avoiding noise, handling office, street, and wind sounds with impressive effectiveness. The JBL Tour Pro 3 cancels noise very well, with ANC hushing away about 83-84% of outside noise when set to full-blast. Under our standardized test conditions, these earbuds lasted 8 hours and 17 minutes with ANC on, providing ample listening time for most use cases.

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro earbuds retain a comfortable fit with a swipe-enabled stem and boast IPX5 water resistance for gym and rain use. Their unique charging case features a small display, which, while interesting, we found to be more of a gimmick, yet the Soundcore app offers a staggering amount of features and customization. We found the sound quality to be great, with the default tuning closely following our headphone preference curve, though it emphasizes bass frequencies below 200Hz. The microphones work well for calls on the go, effectively focusing on the voice and handling simulated wind and reverb well, though some background noise can get through in office and street environments. The ANC does a good job of blocking external noise, reducing low-frequency rumble by about 30dB. In our battery testing with ANC enabled, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro lasted 5 hours and 42 minutes.

The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC with Sound by Bose earbuds are practically identical in design to Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, offering a secure and comfortable fit with three sizes of ear tips and fins. The headline feature is the “Sound by Bose” branding, with Bose-tuned drivers, a customizable 5-band EQ, and Bluetooth multipoint. We found the default sound to be very bass-heavy yet spacious and enjoyable for those who prefer that profile, though the lower distortion score hints that clarity can suffer at higher volumes. The microphone delivers clear but noticeably processed voice quality, doing a good job with noise rejection but struggling in windy conditions. These earbuds deliver respectable noise cancelation for their price, reducing low-frequency sounds by up to 28dB. In our testing, the Method 360 ANC managed 7 hours and 43 minutes with ANC on, offering a respectable battery life.

For someone simply looking for excellent audio without needing to understand every technical detail, our top recommendations balance ease of use with strong performance. If you prioritize durability and versatility for active lifestyles or travel, the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 are fantastic, offering exceptional water resistance and a unique smart case that allows wired connections. For those who want cutting-edge features and a truly unique experience, the JBL Tour Pro 3 stands out with its smart charging case and excellent all-around performance. If budget is a major concern, the EarFun Air Pro 4 offers a surprising amount of features and good sound for its price, making it a strong value pick. For a bass-heavy sound profile with solid noise canceling at a more accessible price point, the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC with Sound by Bose offers a compelling package, especially if you appreciate its bold design. Meanwhile, the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 delivers superb sound quality and future-proof features for those willing to invest a bit more. The JBL Live Beam 3 offers a great balance of features, comfortable design, and good all-around performance without breaking the bank. Finally, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro provides a comprehensive feature set and good sound, making it a strong contender for those seeking premium capabilities at a more affordable price, despite its unique case being a bit of a novelty. Ultimately, if you travel or commute frequently and appreciate having versatile connection options, the Jabra Elite 8 Active Gen 2 or JBL Tour Pro 3 will serve you incredibly well, while the EarFun Air Pro 4 is an excellent choice if you need great performance on a budget.