We’ve tested more than 350 pairs of headphones for this guide. That’s a lot to cover, so we’ve listed only some notable and recently tested competitors here. However, if you’re curious about a specific model, we’ve archived many of our more recent testing notes in a spreadsheet. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a bone-conduction set or one with an open-ear design, we have a separate guide for that.
Apple AirPods Pro 3: While this is a great, feature-heavy pair of earbuds for Apple fans, it isn’t ideal for people who exercise intensely and frequently because the design is prone to coming loose or falling out with all but the most stationary workouts (like indoor cycling). Plus, we found the controls to be tough to use while you’re in motion. You can read more in our detailed review.
Beats Powerbeats Fit: If you prefer winged earbuds and want a pair from the Apple ecosystem, this successor to the Beats Fit Pro (a former pick) is worthy of consideration. Like the Powerbeats Pro 2, the Fit sounds great and offers IPX4 water resistance, heart-rate monitoring, and always-listening Siri voice controls. The silicone wings have been updated in this newest iteration to be more flexible and have an overall softer texture, which in theory should reduce the risk of ripping — a flaw some users reported about the original Fit Pro. However, the wings aren’t replaceable like those of the Sony LinkBuds Fit. The physical controls are customizable and easy to use by feel, but they are limited, so you have to omit one function. This is less of an issue if you use Siri, but Android users won’t benefit from that functionality. The case is chunky and lacks wireless-charging capabilities. The flaws here aren’t massive, but this set lacks the overall versatility of the Sony LinkBuds Fit.
JBL Endurance Peak 4: This sealed, hook-over-the-ear pair has limited onboard controls, middling passive noise isolation, and a large charging case. But the Peak 4 also has some positive qualities. The IP68 rating is excellent, the fit is comfortable, and the sound is quite good, with an especially rich bass response. The hear-through mode doesn’t hiss or sound overly artificial. The call quality isn’t as clear as what you’ll get with our top Bluetooth earbuds pick, but the microphones reduce wind noise well enough that you could make a call while jogging. The price is lower than that of the Powerbeats Pro 2, which makes this a solid alternative if you want to spend less on a similar design.
Nothing Ear A: This is the most affordable earbud pair in Nothing’s Ear line. The ANC is above average and offers three levels of intensity, as well as an adaptive mode that adjusts to the noise in your surroundings. In our tests, we found the sound to be a bit hyped out of the box — it was not unpleasant, and you have a few ways to adjust it in the app if you wish. The earbuds have a dust- and water-resistance rating of IP54, and the case has an IPX2 rating. Technically, this set offers the full suite of controls if you change the gesture settings in the app, but in our testing the assigned controls often failed to activate. In our tests, the microphones sounded very compressed, especially in noisy environments; you’ll be understood, but your voice won’t sound like yourself.
Nothing Ear: The Ear is the midlevel earbud set from Nothing, with wireless charging and a better IP55 rating for the case. The earbuds use ceramic drivers, and out of the box this pair sounded slightly better than the Nothing Ear A in our tests, with a bit more depth to the sound, better restraint and clarity in the bass, and highs that were less harsh and icy. This was the only Nothing pair we tested that didn’t have issues with the controls’ acting buggy when we tried to customize them. The ANC was above average, but the microphones sounded notably compressed on calls.
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro: Galaxy-exclusive features include automatic Samsung device pairing, always-listening Bixby and Gemini voice activation, head gesture controls, live translation, 360 audio recording, and voice/siren detection that turns on the hear-through mode for safety. This pair has an IP57 rating, and the sound quality is quite good out of the box (it can also be customized in the app). The ANC is effective, but the supplied tips aren’t great at muffling voices and higher-pitched sounds. I found the squeeze-based controls to be annoying to use, as each squeeze can reposition the earbud in your ear. People with deeper ear canals or small ears may struggle with the fit of the stemmed design, and there are no stabilizing wings or hooks to keep these earbuds in place during intense workouts.
Sennheiser Momentum Sport: Sennheiser’s Momentum line has a distinct sound profile; the boosted bass extends into the lower mids to give guitar and vocal ranges a warm feel, while an extra spike in the high frequencies can enhance details but may be fatiguing for some people. If you like that response, you’ll be happy with the Momentum Sport’s sound quality. But otherwise, this pricey pair is a miss. The earbud design relies on wings that are made of a stiff silicone, which became fatiguing to wear over time. The larger earbud size means that people with smaller ears will likely struggle to get a good fit. The ANC is underwhelming for a set of earbuds that costs over $300. The body-temperature measurement seemed accurate, but the heart-rate measurement was prone to errors when I moved my jaw. Actions such as talking, gritting my teeth, or chewing gum caused my 70 bpm heart rate to register as 142.
Soundcore Sport X20: We liked the fit of these earbuds, specifically the soft earhooks, which retract and expand to accommodate ear height as well as width. The sound is quite good for the price, too. Sadly, the control buttons are infuriatingly small, and they’re so close to the ear that the buttons are hard to activate. The ANC is effective only on very low-pitched sounds.
This article was edited by Adrienne Maxwell and Grant Clauser.
