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Best wireless earbuds for Android

Get convenience, sound quality, and seamless smartphone integration features from the best wireless earbuds for Android.
By
March 27, 2023
Sony WF-1000XM4
By Sony
The Sony WF-1000XM4 noise-cancelling true wireless earbuds in black against a white background.
8
Check price
Positives
Excellent ANC and isolation
IPX4 rating
SBC, AAC, and LDAC
Comfortable foam ear tips
Negatives
Cost
Default sound profile is a bit wonky
The Bottom Line.
If you want a great pair of earbuds that deliver ANC, plenty of useful features, and good Android compatibility, the Sony WF-1000XM4 is it.Read full review...
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds I
By Bose
The Bose QuietComfort true wireless noise cancelling earbuds in black against a white background.
7.6
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Positives
Good ANC
Comfortable
IPX4 rating
Auto play/pause
Great sound and custom EQ
Negatives
SBC and AAC only
Bulky
Pricey
The Bottom Line.
If you want good ANC at an accessible price point, then the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds makes for a great option. These buds have automatic ear detection and other premium features like a solid mobile app.Read full review...
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
By Samsung
On a white background is the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in Bora Purple with the buds sitting outside the case.
7.9
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Positives
Sound quality
Bluetooth 5.3; SBC, AAC, and Samsung Seamless Codec
ANC is great
Touch controls work well
IPX7 rating
Negatives
Some Samsung Galaxy-only features
Case prone to scratches and nicks
App lacks custom EQ (has EQ presets)
The Bottom Line.
If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone, tablet, or other product, you can enjoy Apple AirPods-level seamless interaction between the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro and all of your smart devices.Read full review...
Jabra Elite 7 Active
By GN Audio
The Jabra Elite 7 Active in navy against a white background.
7.9
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Positives
Sound quality
Adjustable ANC
IP57 rating
Wireless and fast charging
Negatives
SBC and AAC only
ANC only good, not great
Potential comfort issues
The Bottom Line.
If you want Android earbuds that last through your most intense workouts, the Jabra Elite 7 Active is it. The buds boast an IP57 rating so even intense sweating won't harm them, plus the case's wireless and fast charging capabilities are always handy.Read full review...
Google Pixel Buds A-Series
By Google
The Google Pixel Buds A-series in white against a white background.
7.5
Check price
Positives
Good Android integration
Lightweight and comfortable
IPX4 rating
Handy touch controls
Negatives
Adaptive sound can be distracting
SBC and AAC only
The Bottom Line.
If you want great Android integration at a fantastic price, then the Google Pixel Buds A-Series makes it easy to do exactly that. Plus, these buds boast a comfortable and lightweight fit and an IPX4 rating.Read full review...

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 March 27, 2023, to highlight the Nothing Ear (2) and to answer a FAQ about the Nothing Ear 1.

For our top five picks, you can find the isolation and frequency response charts at the end of each image gallery. You can learn more about how to read our charts here.

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

If you want great noise cancelling, 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.

Sony WF-1000XM4
8
The Sony WF-1000XM4's case open, revealing the earphones sitting within.The memory foam tips of the Sony WF-1000XM4.A photo showing someone using the touch controls of the Sony WF-1000XM4.The Sony WF-1000XM4 on a wet, red bench, also with moisture on the earphones.A chart showing the frequency response of the Sony WF-1000XM4 true wireless earphones compared to the SoundGuys house curve.A chart shows the exceptional ANC and isolation performance of the Sony WF-1000XM4 true wireless earphones.

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.

The microphone in these buds will do alright, but windy conditions and office sounds things will introduce noise to your calls. Overall, you’ll get through phone calls if you make sure to find a calm spot to talk. Take a listen for yourself:

Sony WF-1000XM4 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Sony WF-1000XM4 microphone demo (Office conditions):

Sony WF-1000XM4 microphone demo (Windy conditions):

How does the microphone sound to you?

15660 votes
A chart compares the Sony WH-1000XM4 noise cancelling to the Sony WF-1000XM4, revealing the latter to have much better passive isolation.
The earbuds do a much better job of passively isolating the listener from background noise and even does more to affect low frequencies from 20-120Hz.

The Sony WF-1000XM4 has the best noise cancelling you can get from wireless earbuds, and it edges out the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones when it comes to passive isolation and some sub-bass attenuation (20-100Hz). If you want a compact solution that blocks out noise, the WF-1000XM4 has it all. One thing to remember: the earbuds are less likely to last as long as the over-ear headphones because the smaller battery cells deplete faster.

Sony WF-1000XM4Sony WF-1000XM4
Sony WF-1000XM4
Great ANC • IPX4 rating • 360 Reality Audio
Powerful active noise canceling earbuds.
The Sony WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds are some of the best on the market. High-quality sound is matched by top-notch ANC. Well designed ear tips provide an excellent seal, improving noise isolation, and call quality.
$178.00 at Amazon
Save $101.99

Need good noise-cancelling 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 cancelling 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.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds I
7.6
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds noise cancelling true wireless earbuds rest outside of the charging case on a table and in front of a stack of books.A hand holds the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds noise cancelling true wireless earbuds open charging case.A woman wears the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds noise cancelling true wireless earbuds.The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds noise cancelling true wireless earbuds in the USB-C charging case next to a Gameboy Color and PlayStation 4 controller.A chart depicts the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (cyan) frequency response against the SoundGuys Consumer Curve V2.0 (pink), revealing Bose's very pleasing sound.A chart depicts the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds active noise cancelling performance overlaid atop its passive isolation, and this is among the best ANC from true wireless earbuds.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds I
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While these earphones support only the AAC and SBC, they deliver a good listening experience thanks to their noise cancelling 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.

Bose QuietComfort EarbudsBose QuietComfort Earbuds
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds
Customizable ANC • 5h battery life • Various tip size
Bose QuietComfort earbuds offer high-quality sound. You can choose the degree of noise canceling and enjoy premium features like automatic ear detection.
$199.00 at Bose
Save $80.00

The mic in the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds I is fine, but there is some distortion and audible outside noise. You can take calls with these buds, but office sounds like ringing phones and keyboard clacks will be audible to your listeners. Have a listen for yourself:

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds I microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds I microphone demo (Office conditions):

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds I microphone demo (Windy conditions):

How does the microphone sound to you?

6642 votes
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II with the concha ear wings and oblong ear tips.
Edgar Cervantes / SoundGuys
The oblong ear tips are much smaller than before, and the concha ear wing is subtler.

The new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has better noise cancellation, a brand new design, and AI-powered features. With all these new features comes a brand new $299 USD price point. Ouch.

Like the AirPods Pro (2nd generation), announced on the same day as Bose’s earphones, the QC Earbuds II brings better battery life (7 hours 15 minutes) than its predecessor, the QC Earbuds (5 hours 29 minutes). With the new QuietComfort Earbuds II, you also get CustomTune and ActiveSense; the former adjusts the sound and ANC to your ear canal, and the latter enhances Bose’s Aware Mode (aka transparency mode). The QC Earbuds II will allow external noise in, but tamp down loud, abrupt sounds like construction, so they don’t pain your ears.

A chart compares the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II frequency response to the QC Earbuds, and reveals the older model has a better default sound.
This is a very different sound compared to the original QuietComfort Earbuds.

Like the original QuietComfort Earbuds, the second-generation earphones have an IPX4 rating, and the case supports wireless and USB-C charging. You can customize the sound in the Bose Music app, which you’ll want to download for firmware updates. The sound is surprisingly heavy on bass and treble.

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 Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
7.9
A hand holds the open case with the buds showing of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro in front of green succulents.A macro close up shows the details and texture of the case and earbuds included in the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro, with the case open on a colorful blanket.The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are sitting in and covered in water droplets on a tropical themed outdoor blanket with a water bottle in the background.On a tropical themed outdoor blanket the open case of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro rests with the lid open.A man wears the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro while facing left, and he's about to tap the touch pad with trees and concrete in the background.The normal EQ frequency response of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro as compared to the target curve, which it follows closely.A chart depicts the very impressive ANC and isolation performance of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
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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.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 ProSamsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Comfortable fit • Enhanced noise-cancelling technology • Satisfying battery life
Samsung's reliable earbuds upgraded
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro earbuds provide great sound and feature active noise-canceling. They meld a great fit and comfort with a vast range of ear tips. Efficient ANC and five hours of battery life sweeten the deal.

The mic you get in the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is very good. It cuts down on external noise to some degree, and reproduces voices pretty faithfully. It isn’t perfect, though, and deeper voices will sound a bit different than they do in person.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro microphone demo (Office conditions):

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro microphone demo (Windy conditions):

How does the microphone sound to you?

4426 votes

The Jabra Elite 7 Active is good for workout enthusiasts

For Android users that hit the gym hard, there’s the Jabra Elite 7 Active. These earbuds crank up the durability factor to an IP57 rating, so they’ll be fine no matter how hard you sweat.

Jabra Elite 7 Active
7.9
Jabra Elite 7 Active earbuds inside the charging case on a wood tableJabra Elite 7 Active earbuds on table with eartips taken off.Jabra Elite 7 Active charging case placed on a wood surface.Jabra Elite 7 Active charging case on wood table next to product box.Jabra Elite 7 Active on table with cable and ear tipsA chart showing the frequency response of the Jabra Elite 7 Active closely aligning with our house consumer curve.A chart showing the isolation and ANC performance of the Jabra Elite 7 Active with at least 20dB of attenuation throughout most of the audible frequency spectrum.
Jabra Elite 7 Active
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And if you’re worried about zoning out too much and missing a set or running into someone, these earbuds’ HearThrough mode along with adjustable noise cancelling will help keep you aware of your surroundings. Alternatively, you can use either earbud for mono listening. Thanks to their silicone rubber material, you get a tight seal in the ear, so there’s little worry about them tumbling out.

Add to that a battery life of 7 hours, 10 minutes (according to our tests), and practically nothing will stop you. Plus, just five minutes of fast charging gives you 60 minutes of listening time. The one foible is these buds only support the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs, but you likely won’t be staring at your phone during workouts to notice latency issues.

Jabra Elite 7 ActiveJabra Elite 7 Active
Jabra Elite 7 Active
Great sound • ANC • IP57 rating
A great companion to any workout.
The Jabra Elite 7 Active is ideal for workouts and is a good pair of true wireless earbuds in general.

The Jabra Elite 7 Active has a pretty good mic, with office noise such as keyboards and ringing phones attenuated to a level that likely won’t both anyone on the other end of your calls. Take a listen for yourself:

Jabra Elite 7 Active microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Jabra Elite 7 Active microphone demo (Office conditions):

Jabra Elite 7 Active microphone demo (Windy conditions):

How does the microphone sound to you?

4685 votes

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.

Google Pixel Buds A-Series
7.5
A hand holds the open case of the Google Pixel Buds A-Series in front of a beach.A hand holds a smartphone showing the Pixel Buds app.The Google Pixel Buds A-Series on driftwood with a smartphone.This is the frequency response for the Google Pixel Buds A-Series.A chart showing the mediocre isolation performance of the Google Pixel Buds A-Series
Google Pixel Buds A-Series
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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.

Google Pixel Buds A-SeriesGoogle Pixel Buds A-Series
Google Pixel Buds A-Series
Terrific Android integration • Low price • Multiple fun colors
The core features of the Pixel Buds and Pixel Buds Pro at a lower price
If you like the Pixel Buds line but think they are too pricey, the Pixel Buds A-Series should be on your radar. They have the core features you need at a price you'll love.

The microphone in the Google Pixel Buds A-Series does cut out wind noise, but it also chops up some words in the process. If you’re in a quiet area, this won’t be a problem, but outdoors or near fans be aware people might ask you to repeat yourself. Listen to the sample below to hear for yourself:

Google Pixel Buds A-Series microphone demo (Non-standardized):

How does the microphone sound to you?

5730 votes

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

The Google Pixel Buds Pro case is open with the lid propping the case up, revealing the buds.
Jasper Lastoria / SoundGuys
The case lid props up the buds for easy access.

In our Google Pixel Buds Pro review, we note that this is Google’s first set of noise cancelling 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.

Google Pixel Buds ProGoogle Pixel Buds Pro
Google Pixel Buds Pro
Active noise-cancelling • Android integration • Google Assistant features
The Pixel Buds Pro introduce ANC to the series
The Google Pixel Buds Pro are the first in the line to offer active noise-cancelling. Obviously, they also have tight integration with Android and tons of support for Google Assistant commands, including the popular translation features.

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

Two hands hold the Nothing Ear (2) with a blue SoundGuys shirt in the background.
Harley Maranan / SoundGuys
You can use the Nothing Ear (2) and its app, Nothing X, if your phone uses Android or iOS.

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.

Nothing Ear 2Nothing Ear 2
Nothing Ear 2
Very comfortable earbuds • Squeeze controls • Bluetooth Multipoint
A very comfortable and powerful pair of true wireless buds
With a focus on refinement, the Nothing Ear 2 offer a similar, ergonomic design to the original Ear 1 wireless earbuds, now with improved connectivity, higher quality materials, better controls, and cleaner sound.
Nothing Ear 1 earbud in ear.
The Nothing Ear 1 supports the SBC and AAC Bluetooth audio codecs.

In our Nothing Ear 1 vs Apple AirPods Pro (1st generation) article, we discuss how these two stemmed sets of buds compare to one another. While the AirPods Pro (1st generation) comes out on top for iPhone owners, the Ear 1 is a great option for Android phone (or iPhone) owners who want a unique design and solid performance. Nothing recently increased the price by a whopping 50%, so some retailers still have stock selling at the original price, but the MSRP is now $149 USD. Noise cancelling is a bit weak when compared to the Nothing Ear (2). You also only get AAC and SBC codecs with the Ear 1.

Sound quality is good, though the Nothing Ear 1 has an emphasis on the treble response which some people may not like, however, but default it’s better than the Nothing Ear (2). With the Nothing app, you can only choose between a few EQ presets. Remember, though, that you can usually adjust the sound in your music streaming app of choice. We like Nothing’s product because it offers a lot of the same features as the AirPods Pro (1st generation), like IPX4-rated earphones, a wireless charging case, and touch controls. If you want more options, kick in the extra bucks for the Nothing Ear (2).

Nothing Ear 1Nothing Ear 1
Nothing Ear 1
Adjustable ANC • Loud and clear microphone • IPX4 rating
True wireless earbuds that pack all the essentials in an affordable package
The Nothing Ear 1 buds are super comfortable, sound good, and feature decent noise-cancelling abilities. Nothing's signature transparent design philosophy reflects in the form factor of the earbuds, and you get all of this for a very comfortable price.
$53.99 at Amazon
Save $95.01

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.

The Sony WF-C500 charging case open next to a phone behind it and the buds are lying on the table in front of it.
The Sony WF-C500 doesn’t support Bluetooth multipoint, so it’s easiest to keep it synced to your phone at all times.

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.

Sony WF-C500Sony WF-C500
Sony WF-C500
Small and lightweight • Comfortable ear tips • Price
Comfortable everyday earbuds for exercising and commuting.
The Sony WF-C500 makes for a comfortable commuting and workout companion. Noise isolation helps keep the background noise to a minimum while the lightweight design is easily worn all day long.
$58.00 at Amazon
Save $41.99

The best wireless earbuds for Android: Notable mentions

Beats Studio Buds packaging
The Beats Studio Buds comes with plenty of ear tips for you to find a comfortable, secure fit.
  • 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 cancelling, 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 $179.95 at Amazon.
  • 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.
  • 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 cancelling and software features.
  • 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 $99.99 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 cancelling 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 cancelling 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 cancelling 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?

Two screenshots placed next to each other of an Android phone's settings screens. The left is the developer options menu, and the right is the Bluetooth codec seletion menu where all options except SBC and AAC are grayed out. Left screenshot text transcription: Developer options. Use Developer options. Bluetooth AVRCP version. AVRCP 1.5 (Default). Bluetooth MAP version MAP 1.2 (Default). HD audio. Bluetooth audio codec. Streaming: AAC. Bluetooth audio sample rate Streaming: 44.1 kHz. Bluetooth audio bits per sample Streaming: 16 bits/sample. Bluetooth audio channel mode Streaming: Stereo. Bluetooth audio LAC codec: Playback quality. Right screen shot text transcription: Developer options. Use Developer options. Trigger Bluetooth Audio Codec Selection. Use system selection (default). SBC. AAC. Qualcomm® aptX" audio. Qualcomm® aptX" HD audio. LDAC. Grey-out means not supported by phone or headset. Ok.
Android phones offer an easy way to check which Bluetooth codec is in use and change between them.

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.

Not every pair of wireless earbuds will come with a mobile companion app, but if you want to extend the utility of your earbuds, it’s worth investing in a headset with an app.

Because there is no direct equivalent for the Apple H1 chip on Android (Samsung Galaxy phones aside), a lot of the experience of using true wireless earbuds on your Android device comes down to the app. Therefore, we often recommend you install it and take some time to get familiar with it.

Apps usually let you control how the voice assistant functionality works, EQ your music, change settings, update firmware, and much more. Updating firmware is especially important because that often means new features or fixes to annoying quirks.

Plus, sometimes, the app for your buds is also the app for other things, like Alexa. In that case, if you’re already the broader ecosystem, more things can work together.

If you really, really can’t stand having a manufacturer’s app on your phone, though, you could EQ with third-party apps and then just live with whatever firmware version you happen to like, but we don’t usually recommend this approach.

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

A photo of the white Google Pixel Buds on a marble table next to Pixel 3 with battery card displayed
Most wireless earbuds also drain the battery at a slightly different rate, so your right or left earbud may also last a few minutes longer (or more) than their counterpart.

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.

Why you should trust SoundGuys

Sol Republic Soundtrack Pro shown on mans head listening to music
With every product that comes our way, we make sure to use it in and out of the lab.

SoundGuys serves as each of our day jobs, or rather we serve SoundGuys as our nine-to-fives, we have multiple years of keeping tabs on the audio industry. Our collective experiences allow us to pick out the good from the bad, or the unremarkable, reducing the time you have to spend doing independent research.

While our site uses referral links, none of our writers may benefit from suggesting one product over another; they won’t even know if a link was ever clicked. Ultimately, we just want you to enjoy your purchase because we get that picking out audio products can be an overwhelming, time-consuming process. If you so choose, we recommend reading up on our ethics policy.

When it comes to choosing the best wireless earbuds for Android, we make sure to subject each product to a battery of tests so we can present frequency response and isolation charts to you, along with standardized microphone samples and battery life information. We then use this data to inform our reviews and score products accordingly. We then discuss what products may be worthy of being on this list of the best wireless earbuds for Android and take a vote.

The process doesn’t end after we publish the best list, though. We keep our eyes and ears open for new and noteworthy products coming down the pike to keep you up to date on exemplary products.

Frequently asked questions about wireless earbuds for Android

A chart compares the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro noise cancelling to the Galaxy Buds 2 and shows that the Buds 2 has slightly better ANC/isolation.
The Galaxy Buds 2 has slightly better ANC and isolation than the pricier Buds Pro.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro is discontinued, but if you can find it, it’s more durable than the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, with the Buds Pro boasting an IPX7 rating compared to the IPX2 rating of the Buds 2. Interestingly, the Galaxy Buds 2 has slightly better ANC than the Galaxy Buds Pro and costs less. You don’t get Samsung 360 Audio with the Buds 2, but you do get Wireless PowerShare with compatible Samsung devices and an ear tip fit test—something the Buds Pro lacks.

Yes and no. The Buds Pro will connect to all sorts of devices including TVs and soundbars as a set of standard wireless earbuds via Bluetooth, but the special features of these earbuds only work with Galaxy devices.

Well, you can, but it won’t be a great experience. Apple locks down their buds experience to work with the iPhone, and using the AirPods on an Android phone means no automatic switching, no EQ, no app, no easy pairing, no control over ANC (for the Pro model), and more. It’s a pretty lackluster time, before even considering you only get the SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs.