Justified or not, Apple’s AirPods have turn out to be the default alternative for many iPhone homeowners available in the market for brand spanking new wireless earbuds. If you happen to’re searching for an Android telephone, nonetheless, the highest picks aren’t so apparent. That’s the place we might help: We’ve examined dozens of wi-fi earbuds through the years, so we’ve damaged down our high suggestions for Android customers beneath. Whether or not you need highly effective noise cancellation, a pair that’ll survive within the gymnasium or simply one thing that works notably properly with a Galaxy or Pixel telephone, listed below are our favourite AirPods alternate options for Android.
Desk of contents
Finest Android earbuds for 2025
Energetic noise cancellation: Sure | Wi-fi charging: Sure | Water resistance: IPX4 | Multipoint connectivity: Sure (2 units) | Put on detection: Sure | Max battery life (rated): 12 hrs, 24 hrs w/ case | Codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | Guarantee: 1 12 months
Learn our full Sony WF-1000XM5 review
The Sony WF-1000XM5 hit on nearly all the things we would like from a premium set of Bluetooth earbuds. Their small, rounded design ought to really feel snug and safe in most ears. They’re practically unmatched at muting exterior noise, because of a strong ANC characteristic and reminiscence foam eartips that do a exceptional job of isolating sound passively. They sound nice out of the field, particularly in case you like a hotter profile with elevated bass, however you may simply customise the EQ curve via Sony’s app, and so they do properly 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 help, the power to swap between ANC and ambient sound (or “transparency”) modes robotically 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 complete slam dunk. The built-in mics aren’t the clearest for telephone calls. The IPX4 water-resistance score could possibly be increased. Some folks may discover the reminiscence foam eartips a bit too full-feeling. Additionally they have a listing value of $330, which is much from reasonably priced. However no different wi-fi earbuds we’ve examined have managed to tick so many bins.
- Robust, customizable audio high quality
- Ought to be snug to most
- A great deal of helpful bonus options
- Stellar noise isolation
- Costly
- Reminiscence foam eartips aren’t for everybody
- No battery life enchancment over predecessor
Energetic noise cancellation: Sure | Wi-fi charging: Sure | Water resistance: IPX4 | Multipoint connectivity: Sure (2 units) | Put on detection: No | Max battery life (rated): 10 hrs, 50 hrs w/ case | Codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC | Guarantee: 18 months
Learn our information to the best budget wireless earbuds
If you happen to don’t have tons of to spend, our favourite wi-fi earbuds within the price range bracket are the Anker Soundcore Space A40. Steadily priced between $45 and $60, this pair has the form of options we’d anticipate from earbuds that value twice as a lot: genuinely highly effective ANC, multipoint connectivity, wi-fi charging, a strong eight to 10 hours of battery life, LDAC help, respectable (if not nice) IPX4 water resistance and a usable ambient sound mode. They don’t have essentially the most resolving or detail-rich sound of the field, unsurprisingly, however their heat profile affords nice, thumpy bass with out completely blowing out the low-end. If you wish to add extra treble presence, you may customise the EQ via a clear and easy-to-read companion app. The precise earpieces are small, spherical and cozy as properly.
The primary 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 properly. There’s no put on detection both, so your music received’t auto-pause while you take away an earbud. Additionally they don’t help Google’s Quick Pair tech, although the earbuds ought to keep in mind your gadget and robotically reconnect after you pair them for the primary time. However for the worth level, it’s onerous to complain.
- Glorious ANC for the worth
- Heat, nice sound
- Comfy and compact
- Good battery life
- No computerized put on detection
- Mediocre name high quality
- Does not sound as detailed as higher-end choices (as anticipated)
Energetic noise cancellation: Sure | Wi-fi charging: Sure | Water resistance: No IPX score | Multipoint connectivity: Sure (2 units) | Put on detection: No | Max battery life (rated): 7 hrs, 47 hrs w/ case | Codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC, aptX Adaptive | Guarantee: 1 12 months
Learn our full Noble FoKus Rex5 review
Figuring out which set of headphones has the “finest” sound high quality is a idiot’s errand — on the finish of the day, it’ll at all times come down to private style. But when we needed to choose one pair we’ve notably loved for music, it’d be the Noble FoKus Rex5. Its distinctive five-driver design helps it draw out a exceptional degree of element and correctly separate the instrumentation in any given monitor. It’s a balanced sound profile, with tight however not overindulgent bass, a natural-sounding midrange and relaxed highs that don’t fatigue over time. The soundstage is wider than most true wi-fi earbuds we’ve examined, whereas help for LDAC and aptX Adaptive solely help with element retrieval. You may set a private EQ in case you want it, however we’ve discovered the inventory tuning to go well with any style properly by default.
The FoKus Rex5 helps ANC and multipoint connectivity, whereas its IEM-style, metal-and-acrylic housing matches comfortably within the ear. However you’d purchase it for the sound high quality at first: Noise cancellation isn’t on Sony’s degree, the ultra-green end isn’t for everybody, the five- to seven-hour battery life isn’t preferrred and there’s no auto-pausing while you take away an earbud. Most prohibitively, these items are rattling costly at $449. In order for you one thing a little much less expensive, the Technics AZ100 and Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 are compelling (if bassier) choices as properly. However for self-proclaimed audiophiles with money to burn, the FoKus Rex5 are a deal with.
- Detailed, immersive sound
- Comfy match
- Customized audio profiles that save on to the buds
- Very costly
- Only one coloration and it isn’t for everybody
- Subpar ANC efficiency
Energetic noise cancellation: Sure | Wi-fi charging: No | Water resistance: IPX4 | Multipoint connectivity: No | Put on detection: Sure | Max battery life (rated): 6 hrs, 24 hrs w/ case | Codecs: SBC, AAC | Guarantee: 1 12 months
Most of our picks above will work simply fantastic within the gymnasium, however in case you’re shopping for a pair for exercises at first, strive the . Sure, we’re recommending a set of Apple-made earbuds in an Android shopping for information. However whereas this pair works finest with iPhones, most of their AirPods-style options are additionally accessible on Android via the . You may 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, remap controls and examine their battery degree from the notification tray. There’s no hi-res codec help, however basically the drop-off from iOS to Android isn’t as nice right here as it’s with a pair of AirPods.
The primary purpose we suggest the Powerbeats Match is their light-weight design, which is provided with flexible silicone fins that maintain the earbuds safe in place when you’re transferring round. It’s extraordinarily much like the earlier , although the fins on this new iteration are a bit softer and extra versatile, which makes them a bit comfier. Additionally they include an additional small set of ideas within the field. Their IPX4 water-resistance score isn’t the very best, however it needs to be sufficient for all however the sweatiest gymgoers. (Simply don’t use them within the pool.) We additionally like that the Powerbeats Match makes use of bodily buttons to regulate quantity or skip tracks, since contact controls can really feel finicky while you’re making an attempt to maintain up with a exercise. Their punchy sound is well-suited to the gymnasium too, 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 in search of exercise earbuds, you may nonetheless do higher. The Powerbeats Match nonetheless lack wi-fi charging and multipoint connectivity, and there’s no solution to customise the EQ in case you don’t just like the default sound. Their built-in mics aren’t something particular for telephone calls, and the six-hour battery life is simply satisfactory. Plus, whereas the ANC mode is beneficial sufficient for tamping down the noise of a gymnasium, it’s a transparent step down from the very best choices available on the market. If you could find the older Beats Match Professional at a considerably cheaper price, these should still be a greater worth, because the adjustments listed below are pretty minimal — although the brand new mannequin does include a smaller charging case alongside the redesigned wingtips.
We’ll additionally word the , one other current Beats mannequin which has an around-the-ear hook design that some may choose, a extra superior Apple H2 chip (the Powerbeats Match makes use of the older H1) and a modicum of coronary heart price monitoring. That one is priced $50 increased, although.
- Safe match for exercises with versatile wingtips
- Punchy sound is well-suited to the gymnasium
- Bodily management buttons
- Smaller charging case than earlier Beats Match Professional
- No wi-fi charging or multipoint connectivity
- Six-hour battery with ANC could possibly be higher
- ANC is not fantastic however nothing particular
Energetic noise cancellation: Sure | Wi-fi charging: Sure | Water resistance: IP54 (IPX4 for case) | Multipoint connectivity: Sure (2 units) | Put on detection: Sure | Max battery life (rated): 12 hrs, 48 hrs w/ case | Codecs: SBC, AAC | Guarantee: 1 12 months
Learn our full Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 review
The Pixel Buds Pro 2 are explicitly designed to work in concord with different Pixel units, so that they’re price contemplating in case you’re a devoted fan of Google’s telephones. They arrive with a number of helpful bonus options, from remote ringing and a “conversation detection” mode to a customizable EQ and automatic switching between units 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 may nonetheless entry a lot of the Pixel Buds’ perks on different Android units by downloading a separate app, however the entire performance is baked into Pixel telephones natively. This implies you may handle the earbuds, examine battery standing and the like proper out of your gadget’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, sufficient name high quality and an pleasing 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 Noble picks above, so those that aren’t all-in on Google {hardware} can be at liberty to look elsewhere. Extra lately, Google launched the extra reasonably priced — at $129, however it misses out on a bunch of options included with the Pixel Buds Professional 2, together with wi-fi charging, longer battery life, onboard quantity controls, help and extra.
- Tight integration with Pixel telephones
- Tiny, comfortable design
- Agreeable sound
- Smaller contact panels require precision
- ANC is not on par with Sony WF-1000XM5
Energetic noise cancellation: Sure | Wi-fi charging: Sure | Water resistance: IP57 | Multipoint connectivity: No | Put on detection: Sure | Max battery life (rated): 7 hrs, 30 hrs w/ case | Codecs: SBC, AAC, SSC, SSC-UHQ | Guarantee: 1 12 months
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro review
Alongside these traces, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are to Galaxy telephones what the Pixel Buds Professional 2 are to Pixel telephones. Utilizing them with a Samsung handset unlocks a number of 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 gadget finder, adaptive ANC, simplified voice instructions and computerized switching between Samsung units.
This type of walled backyard method is irritating; keep in mind when you might plug your headphones into any gadget 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 in case you’ve already purchased into their chosen platform.
The remainder of the bundle will get extra proper than mistaken, although there are some points price calling out. The stem-style design just about rips off the AirPods Professional — that is notably 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 help with non-Samsung telephones. On the plus facet, the ambient sound mode works properly. 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 price noting that Samsung froze shipments of the Galaxy Buds 3 Professional proper round launch resulting from high quality management considerations (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 telephone to get essentially 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 units
Photograph by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
For essentially the most half, the options you need from a set of “Android earbuds” are the identical as what you need from any headphones. Nice sound high quality, a snug match and enough battery life are nonetheless the foundations. Enough water resistance is nice for exercises, and no one desires a crummy mic for making calls. When you method the $100 vary, options like energetic 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 power to pair with a number of units concurrently) needs to be anticipated.
For Android units particularly, there are a number of extras to think about. A devoted app that makes it simple to change sound modes, customise the audio profile, find your earbuds in the event that they ever get misplaced or alter different settings is strongly most well-liked. Options like Google Fast 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 units can even make the most of higher-quality Bluetooth codecs corresponding to aptX Adaptive or Sony’s LDAC — these aren’t practically 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 can even assist cut back latency, which is nice for streaming video or gaming.
Range is Android’s best energy, however it additionally signifies that some wi-fi earbuds play nicer with sure units, usually these made by the identical firm. Current Samsung earbuds, as an example, include a number of perks which might be solely accessible in case you use a Galaxy telephone. We now have a few suggestions associated to this concept above.
How we check Android earbuds
Photograph by Billy Steele/Engadget
One of the simplest ways to check earphones is just to put on them as a lot as attainable, in order that’s what we do. We usually do that over a one- to two-week interval, although embargo instances sometimes pressure us to complete our evaluation course of a bit sooner. We take heed to a check playlist that features a number of musical genres and podcasts, paying shut consideration to how every pair approaches the bass, mid and treble frequencies to get an correct sense of its sound profile. We additionally check at excessive and low volumes to examine for consistency within the tuning. We should not have entry to a dummy head to take extra goal measurements, however we’ll typically look to websites like Rtings, SoundGuys and others that do exactly to make sure our impressions usually are not wildly off-base. If a mannequin helps customized EQ, we’ll tinker with that and use the accessible EQ presets to see if one sounds dramatically higher than the others — although basically we base most of our impressions on the inventory tuning every pair makes use of by default.
To evaluate microphone high quality, we report our personal audio samples and take a number of calls with a associate each indoors and outdoors. For battery life, we play our check playlist on a loop with the quantity round 75 p.c and measure how lengthy it takes for every set to empty. The place relevant, we do a radical evaluation of a pair’s companion app and check every accessible characteristic. Whereas consolation is in the end subjective, we pay attention to how safe every pair feels whereas we’re on the transfer. We additionally use sure pairs in particularly crowded public areas to get a greater sense of their passive and energetic noise cancellation, in addition to their means to take care of a constant Bluetooth connection.
Current updates
November 2025: The evenly up to date Beats Powerbeats Match change the older Beats Match Professional as our high choose for understanding. We’ve additionally famous the brand new Google Pixel Buds 2a as a less expensive different to the Pixel Buds Professional 2, which stay our suggestion for Pixel telephone customers.
August 2025: We’ve taken one other sweep to make sure our recommendation remains to be up-to-date.
Might 2025: We’ve checked this information to make sure our high picks nonetheless stand and famous a pair alternate options to the Noble Fokus Rex5, since that pair has had inventory problems with late. We’re additionally maintaining a tally of how the Trump administration’s tariff policy impacts the pricing and inventory of our suggestions (and the patron tech trade as a complete). All of our picks are nonetheless accessible of their regular value ranges at this time, however we’ll replace this information if that adjustments.
February 2025: The Noble FoKus Rex5 is our new “finest for sound high quality” choose, changing the Sennheiser Momentum True Wi-fi 4. Our different suggestions stay unchanged.
December 2024: We’ve evenly edited this information for readability and ensured that our present picks are nonetheless correct.
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