Wireless earbuds are the headphones most of us actually use every day – on the commute, at the gym, on calls and on flights. In 2026 the best pairs combine noise cancelling that rivals over-ear headphones, genuinely hi-fi sound and six to twelve hours of battery in a case that fits in a coin pocket. The difference between a €40 pair and a €300 pair is now mostly in noise cancelling, call quality and refinement rather than basic sound.
Below are the earbuds that expert reviewers – What Hi-Fi, hifi.de and Tom’s Guide in particular – rate most highly this autumn, with euro prices checked in October 2026. Flagship prices drop often, so don’t pay full price for the top models: all four premium pairs here have been seen 10–20% below their list price.
Our picks at a glance
- Best overallSony WF-1000XM6
- Best soundSennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5
- Best noise cancellingBose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen)
- Best for iPhoneApple AirPods Pro 3
- Best mid-priceSony WF-C710N
- Best for runningJBL Live Pro 2 TWS
- Best budgetSony WF-C510
Prices are approximate and change often. Ad
1. Sony WF-1000XM6 — best overall
Sony’s sixth-generation flagship is What Hi-Fi’s best wireless earbuds overall, and hifi.de rates it 9.1 (“very good”), only a hair behind its top pick. The XM6 gets the balance right: a natural, musical sound with plenty of detail and dynamics, noise cancelling that is among the very best you can buy, and microphones that keep calls clear in busy streets. LDAC support is a bonus for Android users with hi-res streaming services.
The weak points are small: the case is bulkier than AirPods’, and Sony includes fewer ear-tip options than some rivals, so check the fit. The list price is €299, but MediaMarkt had it for €234.99 in mid-October 2026 – that’s the price to aim for.
Sony WF-1000XM6
What Hi-Fi's best wireless earbuds overall and a 9.1 'very good' at hifi.de: natural, detailed sound with superb noise cancelling.
- Battery
- 8 h (ANC on), 24 h with case
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, LDAC
- ANC
- Yes
- Strength
- Sound + ANC + calls
Pros
- Natural, musical, detailed sound
- Superb noise cancelling
- Great call quality
Cons
- Limited ear-tip options
- Bulky case
2. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 — best sound
hifi.de’s highest-rated in-ear of 2026 (9.2/10) is the pick for people who care most about how music sounds. The Momentum 5 adds aptX Adaptive and Lossless support for compatible Android phones, Bluetooth 6.0 and noise cancelling that hifi.de now puts on a par with the AirPods Pro 3, Bose and Sony flagships – a big step up from earlier Momentums.
There’s also a feature nobody else offers: both the earbuds and the case have replaceable batteries, so the pair should last far longer than the usual three years. On the downside, there’s no Auracast at launch, transparency mode adds a faint hiss and the shape can press on smaller ears. At around €290–300 it’s a serious investment.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5
hifi.de's top-rated in-ear (9.2/10): excellent sound, much-improved ANC and – unusually – replaceable batteries.
- Battery
- Up to 12 h (≈6 h ANC), 40 h with case
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive/Lossless
- Bluetooth
- 6.0
- Extras
- Replaceable batteries
Pros
- Excellent sound
- Noticeably improved ANC
- Very good app
- Replaceable batteries
Cons
- No Auracast at launch
- Faint hiss in transparency mode
- Can press on small ears
3. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) — best noise cancelling
If silence on planes and trains is your priority, Bose is still the benchmark. What Hi-Fi names the second-generation QC Ultra Earbuds its best noise-cancelling earbuds, and hifi.de scores the ANC slightly above the AirPods Pro 3. They also bring multipoint (connect to phone and laptop at once), aptX Adaptive on supported phones and a proper Android and iOS app with EQ.
Battery life is shorter than rivals at around six hours with ANC, and the Immersive Audio mode drains it faster. List price is €299.95, but they’ve been seen at €241–265 in Germany during 2026.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen)
What Hi-Fi's best noise-cancelling earbuds: class-leading ANC, a secure fit and excellent call clarity.
- Battery
- ≈6 h (ANC), 24 h with case
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive
- Multipoint
- Yes
- Water
- IPX4
Pros
- Typically excellent noise cancelling
- Punchy, full-bodied sound
- Multipoint and Android/iOS app
Cons
- Immersive Audio mode drains battery
- Only three ear-tip sizes
- Shorter battery than rivals
4. Apple AirPods Pro 3 — best for iPhone users
For iPhone owners the AirPods Pro 3 are the easy choice: instant pairing, automatic switching between Apple devices, and extras such as heart-rate tracking, hearing-health features and live translation. What Hi-Fi praises their spacious, powerful and dynamic sound and very natural noise cancelling; hifi.de gives them 9.0. IP57 water resistance makes them the toughest premium pair here – good for running in the rain.
On Android they lose most of their tricks, there’s no multipoint or hi-res codec, and battery life (eight hours) is good rather than class-leading. €249 at Apple; €219 at MediaMarkt.
Apple AirPods Pro 3
What Hi-Fi's AirPods pick and a 9.0 at hifi.de: spacious, dynamic sound, natural ANC and IP57 water resistance.
- Battery
- 8 h (ANC), 24 h with case
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- Water
- IP57
- Extras
- Heart-rate sensor (iPhone)
Pros
- Spacious, powerful, dynamic sound
- Natural noise cancelling
- Very comfortable and easy to use
Cons
- Many features need an iPhone
- No multipoint or hi-res codecs
5. Sony WF-C710N — best mid-price
What Hi-Fi gave the WF-C710N its mid-price award for its fulsome, controlled bass and genuinely musical sound, plus noise cancelling that’s good for the money. At around €100 it’s half the price of the flagships.
Opinions on the ANC differ, though: Germany’s nextpit found it too weak and scored the earbuds only 3.5/5. If strong noise cancelling is your main reason to buy, the budget CMF Buds Pro 2 in our budget earbuds guide or a discounted flagship may serve you better.
Sony WF-C710N
What Hi-Fi's mid-price award winner: fulsome bass, musical sound and decent ANC for the money – though nextpit found the ANC weak.
- Battery
- 8.5 h (ANC), ≈30 h with case
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- ANC
- Yes
- App
- Sony Sound Connect
Pros
- Fulsome, controlled bass
- Musical sound
- Good battery life
Cons
- ANC weaker than flagships
- No aptX or LDAC
- Slightly bulky case
6. JBL Live Pro 2 TWS — best for running
What Hi-Fi’s running pick has a punchy, lively sound with solid bass that suits workouts, a stable fit and a user-friendly app. It has ANC and a transparency mode for traffic awareness. It lacks aptX HD and LDAC and only comes with three ear-tip sizes. It’s an older model, so stock and prices vary – check the current offer.
JBL Live Pro 2 TWS
What Hi-Fi's running pick: punchy, lively sound with meaty bass and an easy app.
- Battery
- 8 h, 30 h with case
- ANC
- Yes + transparency
- Bluetooth
- 5.2
Pros
- Punchy, lively sound
- Solid bass
- User-friendly app
Cons
- No aptX HD or LDAC
- Only three ear-tip sizes
7. Sony WF-C510 — best on a tight budget
If you just want reliable, good-sounding earbuds for very little money, the WF-C510 is hard to beat. What Hi-Fi gave it an award for battery life (11 hours per charge) and hifi.de scored it 8.4 for its natural, detailed sound and light, secure fit. There’s no noise cancelling and the bass is lean, but at €35–40 in 2026 sales it’s a bargain. More cheap options are in our best budget earbuds guide.
Sony WF-C510
What Hi-Fi's best battery life award and an 8.4 at hifi.de: natural, detailed sound and a light, secure fit for very little money.
- Battery
- 11 h, 22 h with case
- ANC
- No
- Codecs
- SBC, AAC
- Water
- IPX4
Pros
- Natural, detailed sound
- Light, comfortable fit
- Long battery life
- Very low price
Cons
- No noise cancelling
- Bass is lean
- Feels a bit cheap
Compare the key specs
| Model | Sony WF-1000XM6Best overall | Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5Best sound | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen)Best noise cancelling | Apple AirPods Pro 3Best for iPhone | Sony WF-C710NBest mid-price | Sony WF-C510Best budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TechHive score | 9.2/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.0/10 | 8.9/10 | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Approx. price | €235 | €290 | €265 | €219 | €100 | €40 |
| Battery | 8 h (ANC on), 24 h with case | Up to 12 h (≈6 h ANC), 40 h with case | ≈6 h (ANC), 24 h with case | 8 h (ANC), 24 h with case | 8.5 h (ANC), ≈30 h with case | 11 h, 22 h with case |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive/Lossless | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC |
| ANC | Yes | — | — | — | Yes | No |
| Strength | Sound + ANC + calls | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bluetooth | — | 6.0 | — | — | — | — |
| Extras | — | Replaceable batteries | — | Heart-rate sensor (iPhone) | — | — |
| Multipoint | — | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| Water | — | — | IPX4 | IP57 | — | IPX4 |
| App | — | — | — | — | Sony Sound Connect | — |
| Shop Ad | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
How to choose wireless earbuds
Match them to your phone
AirPods unlock their best features only on an iPhone. Android users get more from Sony, Sennheiser and Bose, whose apps work on both platforms and which support LDAC or aptX codecs on many Android phones.
Noise cancelling: how much do you need?
If you fly or commute by train, top-tier ANC (Bose, Sony, Sennheiser, AirPods Pro 3) makes a real difference. For the gym or office, a cheaper pair with decent ANC – or none at all – is often enough.
Fit is everything
Earbuds that don’t seal properly lose bass and noise cancelling. Try every ear-tip size in the box, and buy from a retailer that accepts returns: in the EU you can usually return online orders within 14 days (hygiene rules sometimes apply to opened in-ears, so check the shop’s policy).
Multipoint, calls and water resistance
Multipoint lets you stay connected to phone and laptop at once – handy for work calls. If you run outdoors, look for IPX4 or better; the AirPods Pro 3’s IP57 rating is the best here.
Battery and longevity
Six to eight hours with ANC is normal; the case adds two to three charges. Batteries are the part that wears out, which is why Sennheiser’s replaceable batteries are worth noting. Every pair bought in the EU carries at least a two-year legal guarantee.
Prefer over-ears for long flights? See our best noise-cancelling headphones.
How we choose
We don’t run our own audio lab. We compare the verdicts and measurements of established reviewers – What Hi-Fi, hifi.de, Tom’s Guide and nextpit for this guide – pick products that score consistently well, check European prices and always list each pair’s weaknesses. Read more about how we research.
FAQ
Which wireless earbuds have the best noise cancelling?
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) are What Hi-Fi’s pick, with the Sony WF-1000XM6, Sennheiser Momentum 5 and AirPods Pro 3 very close behind.
Are AirPods Pro 3 good with Android?
They work, but you lose automatic switching, most health features and the easy controls. Android users are better served by Sony, Sennheiser or Bose.
Are expensive earbuds worth it?
For frequent travellers, yes – ANC and call quality are clearly better. For casual listening, a €40–100 pair like the Sony WF-C510 or WF-C710N sounds very good.
When are earbuds cheapest?
Big sales such as Prime Day and Black Friday regularly knock 15–25% off flagship earbuds; our listed deal prices show what’s realistic.
