The best true wireless earbuds you can buy in 2020

6 min read 6 min 4 comments 4
David McCourt

True wireless headphones used to be the things of science fiction movies, but today in 2020 there's a huge selection of great earbuds without any wires. Here are the best true wireless headphones for all budgets.

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Wireless Bluetooth headphones come in all different shapes and sizes, but for this article, we're focusing on the products that feature two completely wirelessly connected earbuds that you carry and recharge in a case.

Summary:

Best true wireless earbuds overall: Apple AirPods Pro

Much fuss has been made about Apple's AirPods Pro, but it really is justified. the Cupertino-based company listen to consumers when going about improving the regular AirPods and has produced a product we think is pretty close to perfection:

Apple's true wireless headphones that currently offer the best compromise between wearing comfort, sound and battery life. There's also active noise cancelling in the little white buds now and the sound quality is much improved. You'll have to pay a little more, but the AirPods Pro are the best on the market at the moment.

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The Apple AirPods Pro are a great all-round pair of true wireless earbuds. / © NextPit

Rating

Pros

  • Very good fit
  • Good sound
  • Very good active noise suppression
  • Very good integration with iOS
  • Compact charging case
 

Cons

  • Only basic functions outside of the Apple Ecosystem
  • Missing volume control
  • Average battery life

Best true wireless earbuds for ANC: Sony WF-1000XM3

Following the colossal success of the WH-1000XM3, Sony brought its active noise-cancelling technology to the true wireless market. They're not the sleekest or the prettiest true wireless headphones out there, but if you are all about ANC, they are the pair you should buy. Don't be expecting tranquillity like you'd get from Sony's over-ear headphones, though, that's impossible. In the true wireless space though, the WF-1000XM3 are the ANC masters.

The Sony WF-1000XM3 have the best ANC in the true wireless market. / © NextPit

Rating

Pros

  • Active noise-cancelling
  • Very good battery life
  • Sound quality
  • Sony app
  • Price
 

Cons

  • No wireless charging
  • No waterproofing
  • Disappointing hands-free car kit
  • No volume control commands

Best true wireless earbuds for gaming: Razer Hammerhead True Wireless

Most true wireless headphones are not really suitable for ambitious gamers, except for the Razer Hammerheads. The gaming giant has designed and built a pair of true wireless headphones specifically for players. Unfortunately, there's no active noise-cancellation, but the Hammerheads are really loud, so you might not need it. They've also been designed for very low latency, meaning you can play your favourite games without the sound taking you out of the experience.

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The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless are the best in class for gamers. / © NextPit

Rating

Pros

  • Comparatively favourable
  • Good wearing comfort
  • Very high maximum volume
 

Cons

  • Gaming Mode not audible
  • Battery life is only average

Best true wireless earbuds for audio quality: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2

Sennheiser is one of the biggest names in high-end audio and with the Momentum True Wireless 2 earbuds, the German manufacturer shows once again why it has the strong reputation it does. The ANC may not be the best on the market, but as our Editor Antoine noted in his full review of the Momentum True Wireless 2, the sound simply crushes all of the competition.

The price of the Sennheiser earbuds is a little steep at 300 bucks, but that's the cost you'll have to bear if you want the absolute best sound quality available in 2020. You will also get fantastic German build quality here and the Momentum True Wireless 2 are IPX4 certified to protect against rain and sweat.

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The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 earbuds. / © NextPit

Rating

Pros

  • Sober and serious design
  • Sound crushes competition
  • Complete controls
  • Good, but not great, battery life
 

Cons

  • No wireless recharging
  • The ANC falls short of the competition
  • Rigidity in EQ
  • High price

Best mid-range true wireless earbuds: Cambridge Audio Melomania 1

For more than 50 years now, Cambridge Audio has been making high-quality British Hi-Fi equipment. Now, the British company has dipped its toes in the true wireless headphones business. The design might not be for everyone, but the build quality is just as high as you'd expect from this experienced audio company. The best part, though, is the sound quality. The engineers worked on the philosophy that music is to be heard the way the artist intended it, with nothing added, and nothing taken away. As a result, the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 offer one of the most balanced audio experiences on the market.

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The Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 offer excellent sound quality. / © NextPit

Rating

Pros

  • Great British sound
  • Incredible battery life
  • Premium build quality
  • Qualcomm aptX technology
  • Affordable price tag
 

Cons

  • No active noise-cancelling
  • No companion app

The mid-range alternative: Panasonic RZ-S500W ANC

For those looking for a pair of true wireless earbuds packed with features from an established audio brand, the Panasonic RZ-S500W could be just the ticket. These TWS earbuds come with what the brand is calling its dual hybrid noise cancelling, to drown out the world around you. There's also Amazon's Alexa built-in and IPX4 water resistance. For the money, you are getting a lot here. The only real downside is that the design is quite bulky and not exactly as stylish as some of the other pairs of earbuds on our list.

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The Panasonic RZ-S500W comes with ANC and IPX4. / © NextPit

Rating

Pros

  • Good sound
  • Dual Hybrid Noise Cancelling
  • Amazon Alexa built-in
  • IPX4 water resistance
  • Affordable price tag
 

Cons

  • Bulky design
  • No silicone fins

Best budget true wireless earbuds: SoundCore Liberty Air

True wireless earbuds are typically a premium product, but the market is slowly diversifying and today there are lots of budget-friendly options out there. SoundCore, the Anker sound company, has a pair that sound great and won't hurt your bank balance. You can pick up a pair of Liberty Air for under £100 these days. For that price, these are winners.

The SoundCore Liberty are great for those on a budget. / © NextPit

Rating

Pros

  • Sound quality
  • Battery life
  • Comfort
 

Cons

  • Unstable pairing
  • Touch input a little awkward

What are your favourite true wireless headphones available today? Let us know in the comments below.

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