The market for true wireless in-ear headphones is now full of options and very valid offers suitable for all budgets. There is something for everyone: with or without rubber pads, with and without noise cancellation. Furthermore, thanks to the development and diffusion of the most recent versions of the Bluetooth standard, the stability of wireless connections and the quality of the transmission of the audio signal have improved significantly compared to the past. The positioning of competing models depends mainly on the technical characteristics. We have selected twelve from those that we have reviewed over the last year to help you choose the model that best suits your needs.
Nothing Ear (1)
The Nothing headphones are the first hardware product of the new startup of Carl Pei, former founder of OnePlus. Among the true wireless headphones for Android they win a lot for their attention to design and details. The see-through look may not appeal to everyone, but it sure doesn’t go unnoticed. The audio quality isn’t great, but it still remains above average for the price range.
Price: 99 euros
Recommended for: original design
Jabra Elite 7 Pro
Over the past few years Jabra has done a great job of positioning its brand in the upper mid-range of noise canceling headphones. Of all the products of the brand that we have tried, the Elite 7 Pro are perhaps not the most surprising model, but they are a great compromise for those who want stable and reliable earphones, which combine excellent quality of music and audio in call. Good noise cancellation, considerable autonomy.
Price: around 180 euros
Recommended for: great audio on calls
Apple AirPods 3
All the headphones on this list of course also work with iPhones and iPads. Only Apple headphones, however, guarantee complete integration with all the functions of the Apple ecosystem, such as Space Audio and the automatic switching of the connection from one device to another when connected to the same iCloud account. For those who use Apple products, therefore, we suggest making an extra economic effort, focusing on the models of the brand. The good news is that you don’t necessarily have to buy AirPods Pro to have a great user experience. Audio quality and ecosystem functions are also available on the entry level model, the third generation AirPods. Noise cancellation is renounced, but also the rubber pads of the “closed-ear” models, which however many users find uncomfortable.
Price: 199 euros
Recommended for: those who use Apple products, not just iPhones
Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro
Almost all Android smartphone manufacturers have now launched their own line of in-ear headphones to pair with their devices. Xiaomi is no exception and the Buds 3T Pro right now are one of the best options in the Chinese manufacturer’s range. They have noise cancellation (works quite well) and a sound optimization system which according to the manufacturer is “studio quality”. It’s a somewhat vague marketing definition, because while the audio quality is certainly good for the price range, audiophile studio standards are of course quite another thing. The Buds 3T Pro are a “closed ear” model (vulgo: they have rubber pads) and have a fairly original design: we liked them a lot in the black version we tested, but they are also available in white. We recommend them to those who use a Xiaomi smartphone.
Price: around 135 euros
Recommended for: great reliability
NuraTrue
For those looking for a model of true wireless headphones that focus on audio quality in music playback, the NuraTrue can be a good option. They include a hearing measurement system that generates a customized equalization for each user. There is also noise cancellation and sweat resistance, for those who want to use them during sports. Despite the particularity of the custom sound, a definitely distinctive feature, the price remains a bit too high when you consider the crowded market for true wireless headphones.
Price: 229 euros on Amazon.
Recommended for: those who want to experience a high quality but little known brand
Bowers and Wilkins PI7
Well finished, as expected of a top model, with a not particularly flashy design, they have a dual speaker system for each ear: one 9.2 mm and one high frequency “balanced armature”, each with its own separate amplifier. . For noise cancellation, but also for the best intelligibility of audio and video calls, each headset also includes three microphones. The Bowers and Wilkins PI7 doesn’t just sound good, they sound phenomenal. If they are compatible with your ears, if the music for you is more than just background, if you are fascinated by English high fidelity, then the amount required, however high, could even become reasonable.
Price: 399 euros
Recommended for: Those who want the best audio experience
Sony LinkBuds
They are very small True Wireless headphones, with an original ring speaker that leaves the ear free. You can always keep them on, to add music, podcasts and phone calls to the sounds of the world: a kind of augmented reality, but only audio. Not being closed, the sound is inevitably a bit lacking in the bass, but the rendering of the voice in the calls is good. More than acceptable autonomy, excellent compatibility with both Android and iPhone. There is an app to configure them and a little trick that seems magical: they are controlled by tapping on the cheekbone.
Price: 179.99 euros
Recommended for: those who do not want to isolate themselves from the rest of the world
OnePlus Nord Buds
The OnePlus Nord Buds true wireless headphones adopt 12.4mm titanium dynamic drivers, which ensure rich bass and transparent high frequencies. Like the OnePlus Buds Z2, the Nordes come with support for Dolby Atmos that simulates the 3D audio effects of a surround sound system when playing movies, music or games, plus four microphones that filter out background noise, with algorithms rather effective noise reduction, even if not at the top of the market. The design is a bit massive but conceived to reduce wind noise, allowing for clear sounding calls in any conditions. Excellent autonomy: 7 hours with a single charge (or 30 with that of the base) and, thanks to the fast recharge, 10 minutes are enough for another 5 hours of audio playback.
Price: 49 euros
Recommended for: excellent value for money
Beats Studio Buds
For those who use iPhone, they are the real alternative to Apple’s AirPods Pro, for those who have chosen Android they are an excellent true wireless solution with noise cancellation and spatial audio. It’s not just about the goodness of the sound: Beats Studio Buds bring Apple’s ease of use to Android and the ability to use a very important function like Find My Device (which is called Find My Beats here). The design won us over because it is captivating – not only that of the earphones, the case is also sexy – and at the same time functional: with a few touches and pressures you have a very good handling of reproduction and sealing of the ear canal. Finally, it is not a trivial matter, the headphones seemed extremely comfortable to us: they can also be worn for a long time without particular hassles, even while doing sports. They are available in six different colors.
Prezzo: 149,95
Recommended for: Those looking for the best alternative to Apple’s AirPods, at a lower price
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
The third generation of the German company’s True Wireless headphones improves everything on previous versions: design, versatility, sound. Thanks to the 7mm dynamic drivers the audio has deep bass, natural mids and detailed highs. The new Sound Personalization feature provides an enhanced sound experience through a guided listening test to set the perfect sound for each user’s individual hearing. In addition, the Smart Control App offers a choice of presets and an equalizer function to adapt the sound to everyone’s taste. Excellent adaptive noise cancellation, which adjusts automatically in relation to the environment in which you are, monitoring the ambient noise to exclude it in real time. Rich set of supported audio codecs: AAC, SBC and aptX Adaptive, which reduce latency to a minimum. They are controlled with a touch and are IPX4 certified for splash resistance, while the battery life is 7 hours (extendable to 28 hours using the case).
Price: 249 euros
Recommended for: those looking for the right mix of audio quality, design, robustness
Samsung Galaxy Buds2
Designed for a comfortable fit and to be worn all day, the Galaxy Buds2 are the perfect solution for Samsung smartphones, tablets or smartwatches (and more). Two-way speakers deliver crisp, clear highs and deep lows, while Active Noise Cancellation allows you to convincingly remove unwanted sounds. To hear your surroundings, simply tune in again thanks to three different adjustable levels of ambient sound. The voice in calls is very clear, thanks to a proprietary technology based on machine learning that isolates it and at the same time attenuates the sounds that can cause disturbance. In four colors, they are controlled through the Galaxy Wearable app, where there is also a test to check the fit to the ear.
Price: 149 euros
Recommended for: Those looking for small and reliable headphones
Creative Outlier Pro
The case of the Outlier Pro looks like a powerbank, and in some ways it is, as it allows you to charge the headphones up to four times. The autonomy thus reaches 60 hours in total, a record. Otherwise, Creative’s newest version of true wireless headphones is well designed, comfortable to wear, sweat and dust resistant, and has a pretty good app. Excellent noise cancellation, interesting but dubious support for X-Fi technology, which should allow you to rerpdoutrre only one “holographic”, according to the manufacturer. But the diffusion is scarce to say the least.
Price: 89 euros
Recommended for: those seeking maximum autonomy