When you’re utilizing an Android telephone, discovering the appropriate pair of wi-fi earbuds can take slightly extra work than it does for iPhone homeowners. Apple’s AirPods are tightly woven into iOS, however that very same stage of seamless integration doesn’t mechanically carry over to Android. The excellent news is there are many earbuds that play simply as properly with Android gadgets, and in some circumstances provide options AirPods merely don’t.
From earbuds designed to pair particularly properly with Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel telephones to fashions that prioritize sturdy noise cancellation, lengthy battery life or workout-friendly sturdiness, the Android ecosystem has no scarcity of strong choices. We’ve examined a variety of wi-fi earbuds to seek out the perfect picks for Android customers, whether or not you’re after premium sound, dependable on a regular basis efficiency or a extra reasonably priced different.
Greatest Android earbuds for 2026
Billy Steele for Engadget
Max battery life: 6 hours | Water resistance: IPX4 | Noise cancellation: Sure | Multipoint: Sure | Included charging case: Sure | Waterproof: Sure (IPX4) | Driver dimension: Not specified
Learn our full Bose QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds (2nd gen) overview
Bose’s Immersive Audio characteristic often is the headline grabber on its QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds, however these additionally include the corporate’s stellar noise-canceling talents. This mannequin is very adept at battling airplane noise throughout a flight, a process I sometimes depend on over-ear headphones for. The second-gen QC Extremely Earbuds are efficient with human voices too, blocking that distraction higher than a lot of the competitors. However with any type of fixed roar, and plenty of irregular sounds, these earbuds will serve you properly. Plus, Bose’s CustomTune device analyzes the form of your ears and personalizes each sound and ANC. All of this mixed pushes the newest QC Extremely Earbuds to the highest of our record, unseating longtime champ Sony.
Whereas the QC Extremely Earbuds provide the perfect pure noise-blocking efficiency on this record, the additional audio options imply they’ve much less battery life than the remainder of our picks. It lasts six hours with ANC on and Immersive Audio off, however activate the latter and that quantity dips to 4 hours. And though Bose’s tackle spatial audio yields blended outcomes at occasions, the inventory tuning is an enchancment over the corporate’s final flagship mannequin. Due to small tuning tweaks, the general sound profile is extra balanced on the second-gen model as properly.
Photograph by Billy Steele / Engadget
Energetic noise cancellation: Sure | Wi-fi charging: Sure | Water resistance: IPX4 | Multipoint connectivity: Sure (2 gadgets) | Put on detection: Sure | Max battery life (rated): 12 hrs, 24 hrs w/ case | Codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 | Guarantee: 1 yr
Learn our full Sony WF-1000XM5 overview
Whereas Sony has launched the WF-1000XM6, I’d argue the earlier mannequin is a extra well-rounded alternative. The M6 doesn’t provide the ANC efficiency that the M5 does and the ear ideas don’t present a match that I’m utterly pleased with. When you plan to make use of your earbuds for calls, the M6 isn’t the most suitable choice there both.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 hits on nearly every little thing 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 outdoors noise, because of a robust ANC characteristic and reminiscence foam eartips that do a outstanding job of isolating sound passively. They sound nice out of the field, particularly when you like a hotter profile with elevated bass, however you possibly can simply customise the EQ curve by way of Sony’s app, and so they do properly to attract out treble-range element both method. 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 mechanically 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 ranking might be greater. Some folks may discover the reminiscence foam eartips slightly too full-feeling. In addition 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.
Photograph by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
Energetic noise cancellation: Sure | Wi-fi charging: Sure | Water resistance: IPX4 | Multipoint connectivity: Sure (2 gadgets) | 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 perfect finances wi-fi earbuds
When you don’t have lots of to spend, our favourite wi-fi earbuds within the finances bracket are the Anker Soundcore House A40. Ceaselessly priced between $45 and $60, this pair has the type of options we’d anticipate from earbuds that price 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 probably the most resolving or detail-rich sound of the field, unsurprisingly, however their heat profile presents nice, thumpy bass with out completely blowing out the low-end. If you wish to add extra treble presence, you possibly can customise the EQ by way of a clear and easy-to-read companion app. The precise earpieces are small, spherical and comfy as properly.
The principle 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 gained’t auto-pause whenever you take away an earbud. In addition they don’t help Google’s Quick Pair tech, although the earbuds ought to bear in mind your gadget and mechanically reconnect after you pair them for the primary time. However for the value level, it’s exhausting to complain.
Billy Steele for Engadget
Energetic noise cancellation: Sure | Wi-fi charging: Sure | Water resistance: No IPX ranking | Multipoint connectivity: Sure (2 gadgets) | Put on detection: No | Max battery life (rated): 7 hrs, 47 hrs w/ case | Codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC, aptX Adaptive | Guarantee: 1 yr
Learn our full Noble FoKus Rex5 overview
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 all the time come down to non-public 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 outstanding stage of element and correctly separate the instrumentation in any given observe. 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 when 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 suits comfortably within the ear. However you’d purchase it for the sound high quality at the beginning: Noise cancellation isn’t on Sony’s stage, the ultra-green end isn’t for everybody, the five- to seven-hour battery life isn’t perfect and there’s no auto-pausing whenever you take away an earbud. Most prohibitively, this stuff are rattling costly at $449. If you need one thing rather less dear, 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.
Valentina Palladino for Engadget
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 yr
Learn our full Beats Powerbeats Match overview
Most of our picks above will work simply superb within the gymnasium, however when you’re shopping for a pair for exercises at the beginning, strive the Beats Powerbeats Match. 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 by way of the Beats app. You may pair them with one faucet by way of a pop-up card, view a map with their final recognized location, swap between ANC and ambient sound modes from the house display screen, remap controls and test their battery stage from the notification tray. There’s no hi-res codec help, however usually the drop-off from iOS to Android isn’t as nice right here as it’s with a pair of AirPods.
The principle cause we suggest the Powerbeats Match is their light-weight design, which is provided with flexible silicone fins that preserve the earbuds safe in place whilst you’re transferring round. It’s extraordinarily just like the earlier Beats Match Professional, although the fins on this new iteration are a bit softer and extra versatile, which makes them slightly comfier. In addition they include an additional small set of ideas within the field. Their IPX4 water-resistance ranking isn’t the perfect, but it surely ought 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 whenever you’re attempting 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, but it surely’s energetic.
When you aren’t particularly on the lookout for exercise earbuds, you possibly can nonetheless do higher. The Powerbeats Match nonetheless lack wi-fi charging and multipoint connectivity, and there’s no technique to customise the EQ when 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 perfect choices in the marketplace. If yow will discover the older Beats Match Professional at a considerably lower cost, these should still be a greater worth, because the modifications listed here are pretty minimal — although the brand new mannequin does include a smaller charging case alongside the redesigned wingtips.
We’ll additionally be aware the Powerbeats Professional 2, one other current Beats mannequin which has an around-the-ear hook design that some may want, a extra superior Apple H2 chip (the Powerbeats Match makes use of the older H1) and a modicum of coronary heart fee monitoring. That one is priced $50 greater, although.
Photograph by Billy Steele / Engadget
Energetic noise cancellation: Sure | Wi-fi charging: Sure | Water resistance: IP54 (IPX4 for case) | Multipoint connectivity: Sure (2 gadgets) | Put on detection: Sure | Max battery life (rated): 12 hrs, 48 hrs w/ case | Codecs: SBC, AAC | Guarantee: 1 yr
Learn our full Google Pixel Buds Professional 2 overview
The Pixel Buds Professional 2 are explicitly designed to work in concord with different Pixel gadgets, so that they’re value contemplating when you’re a devoted fan of Google’s telephones. They arrive with a bunch of helpful bonus options, from distant ringing and a “dialog detection” mode to a customizable EQ and automated switching between gadgets 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 many of the Pixel Buds’ perks on different Android gadgets by downloading a separate app, however the entire performance is baked into Pixel telephones natively. This implies you possibly can handle the earbuds, test battery standing and the like proper out of your gadget’s settings menus. It’s just 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 value, eight-ish hours of battery life, sufficient name high quality and an pleasing sound with punchy bass and prolonged treble. That stated, you’ll nonetheless get richer audio high quality and extra sturdy noise cancellation from our Sony and Noble picks above, so those that aren’t all-in on Google {hardware} can be happy to look elsewhere. Extra just lately, Google launched the extra reasonably priced Pixel Buds 2a — that pair is an honest purchase at $129, but it surely 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, adaptive audio help and extra.
Photograph by Billy Steele / Engadget
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 yr
Learn our full Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional overview
Alongside these traces, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Professional 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 device 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 automated switching between Samsung gadgets.
This type of walled backyard strategy is irritating; bear in mind when you may plug your headphones into any gadget and it’d work the identical method each time? However, as with the Pixel Buds and AirPods, the Galaxy Buds 3 Professional are undeniably handy when you’ve already purchased into their chosen platform.
The remainder of the package deal will get extra proper than improper, although there are some points value 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, this stuff sound glorious out of the field, with full, meaty bass complemented by amply detailed highs and upper-mids.
It’s value noting that Samsung froze shipments of the Galaxy Buds 3 Professional proper round launch as a result of high quality management considerations (primarily concerning the inventory eartips), however these look to have been resolved, and we haven’t seen something out of the strange with our overview unit.
What to search for in wi-fi earbuds for Android gadgets
Photograph by Jeff Dunn / Engadget
For probably 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 cushty match and ample battery life are nonetheless the foundations. Sufficient water resistance is sweet for exercises, and no person desires a crummy mic for making calls. When you strategy the $100 vary, options like energetic noise cancellation (ANC), wi-fi charging, an ambient sound mode (which helps you to higher hear outdoors noise with out turning off your music) and multipoint connectivity (the power to pair with a number of gadgets concurrently) ought to be anticipated.
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