The 7 best earbud headphones

The most stylish and functional earbuds from different manufacturers: conversation headsets and models with perfect sound.

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The best in ear headphones

In-ear headphones with a pill-shaped housing appeared on the consumer market about 30 years ago. Since then, the look of the product hasn't changed much - only the tabs have changed from droplets, and the wires are slowly becoming a thing of the past.

In-ear headphones are characterized by their small size and weight, as well as their lack of sound isolation. But they are the most comfortable of the compact "ears".

Skullcandy Push Ultra TWS

Bright headphones with earbuds

Ergonomic headphones Skullcandy Push Ultra - a great choice for outdoor activities and work. They deliver detailed clear sound, can work singly, and are held securely in place by the earcups.

Reasons to buy:

• secure fit;
• moisture-proof;
• stable wireless connection without interference;
• search function.

The miniature plastic headset is equipped with a clip that holds it in your ears during intense activities. Each housing has its own on/off button - only one earpiece is activated when needed. The one-button interface lets you answer calls, call a voice assistant, control volume, and change tracks.

Passive noise isolation is not very effective, but for earmuffs and it is good. The Tile feature, available in the smartphone app, detects the location of the earpiece when lost.

For charging and storage, it comes with a plastic pouch with magnetic attachment. The battery capacity is enough to fully charge the Skullcandy Ultra once. The headphones themselves can work autonomously for 6 hours.

FiiO EM5

Premium wired in-ear headphones

EM5 from FiiO brand pleases with interesting design, high-quality assembling and fantastic sound that brings music listening to a new level. Also, the headphones come with interchangeable plugs for connection.

Reasons to buy:

• Rugged housing and sturdy wire;
• light weight;
• beautiful sound;
• case included.

The housings of these headphones are made of epoxy resin using 3D printing technology. The left and right earpieces are marked with blue and red notches on the inside.

The non-removable white braided cable is resistant to damage, does not get tangled, has a runner and a coil. The conductor used is sterling silver. Removable plugs fit a variety of connectors: 2.5, 3.5, 4.4 mm.

The foam tips on the earmolds act as sound filters. The built-in dynamic drivers, coated with beryllium, give a textured and deep sound of high and low frequencies. But a lot depends on the source and partly on the fit of the earmolds in your ears.

Apple AirPods 2.

Same AirPods, but with a new chip

AirPods of the second generation are attractive with their functionality and laconic design. The comfortable model sits securely in your ears and is ideal for watching video content, listening to music, and communicating.

Reasons to buy:

• high-quality materials;
• Instant wireless with multipoint support;
• voice assistant;
• two microphones;
• fast charging and Qi support.

The new version of AirPods is externally identical to the previous one. The shock-resistant plastic drop-shaped housing, equipped with a long stem with a chrome tip, holds well in the ears. The filling has changed - now there is an Apple H1 processor inside the headphones. The new chip increased the speed of connection and data transfer, as well as began to better cut off external noise during the conversation.

Bluetooth wireless connectivity supports connection to multiple devices simultaneously. The initial connection to the iPhone is automatic. To activate Siri, you can double-click on one of the headphones or simply call the assistant with a voice command. The app switches tunes, answers calls, and routes.

The battery allows 3 hours of talking on the phone or 5 hours of listening to music. The case provides multiple charging cycles, allowing you to get up to 24 hours of battery life in total. When you remove any AirPods from your ear, playback pauses and resumes when you put them back in.

JBL Tune 225TWS Ghost Edition.

True wireless with a high-capacity battery

JBL TWS earmuffs look elegant, don't put pressure on your eardrum, and are suitable for wearing at home and outdoors. They also sound great.

Reasons to buy:

• comfortable fit;
• Easy operation, plus voice assistant;
• Beautiful sound with plenty of volume;
• excellent autonomy.

The transparent plastic model has a standard in-ear headphone shape. Inside the teardrop-shaped housing is a powerful speaker. The outer wall is continued in the form of a "stalk" in which the microphone is located.

The case with built-in battery opens and closes with a characteristic click. Headphones do not fall out of the case. The magnetic fastening works very well. At the bottom of the case is a port for charging, at the top - LED indication.

Connecting to an Android smartphone is automatic after the initial search. The accessories work both as a pair and individually. Each has a mechanical multifunctional button that turns on the microphone, selects tracks, and calls the voice assistant.

The JBL Tune 225TWS earpieces do not feel in your ears and easily convey the entire palette of music. Unfortunately, they do not have their own smartphone app that gives you access to advanced sound settings.

Honor Am66 Sport Pro

Sports option.

Honor offers the new Sport Pro wireless headphones on a neck cord with a counterweight. The original design, stand-alone design and build quality make them suitable for sports training and other activities.

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable fit;
• water resistance;
• powerful battery;
• light weight;
• indicator light.

The ergonomic aluminum accessory is coated with matte ABS plastic. The earbuds have a sound path enclosed by a metal mesh and comfortable silicone tips. Magnets hold the earbuds together when stored. IPX5 protection means the earmolds are rain and sweat resistant.

The two housings are connected to each other by a nylon elastic braided neck cord. There is a battery and a control panel with buttons, a microphone, and a charge indicator. When you turn the headphones on and off, an audible notification is triggered.

Quality Bluetooth-communication eliminates tearing and "sticking" sound. Advanced microphone suppresses wind noise and does not distort the voice during a conversation.

One Honor Sport Pro charge lasts for 18 hours. Fast charging is provided: 5 minutes of plugging in is enough for 4 hours of battery life.

Huawei FreeBuds 3

Headset with active noise cancellation

Huawei FreeBuds 3 suppresses extraneous noise, recognizes voice and amplifies its sound during calls. This increases the comfort of communication outdoors, in noisy places, and at sports workouts.

Reasons to buy:

• comfortable fit;
• easy operation;
• multipoint connection;
• clear sound;
• active noise modulation.

The wireless earmuffs on a slim leg replicate the AirPods droplets. The housing is slightly curved, but holds well in the ear canal and directs sound straight to the ear canal. The battery is rated at 4 hours of use for the headset. However, when the active noise cancellation system is turned on, the autonomy is reduced to 2.5 hours.

Each earphone is connected to the sound source separately, so the playback delay is minimized. The device supports multipoint connectivity and switches between two devices instantly.

FreeBuds 3 is compatible with iPhone, iPad and Android devices. But to download updates and use advanced settings, you need to download Huawei's AI Life software, and it is only available for Android smartphones.

Hoco M57

The best budget earmuffs

The Hoco M57 corded headset does not isolate external noise, so you'll be aware of what's going on around you.

Reasons to buy:

• comfortable earpieces;
• flexible cord;
• sensitive microphone;
• very low price.

Inexpensive headphones are made of impact-resistant plastic. Droplet-shaped smooth heads do not cover the ear canal tightly. Because of the weak insulation, the music you are broadcasting can be heard around you if you turn them on too loudly. The earpieces do not press on your ears and sound natural, but are best suited for use as a headset.

The round silicone cable with a 3.5mm jack is non-removable, but durable. It has a remote control with a built-in microphone and button to take calls and play audio files. But the keys to control the volume is not here.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of earbuds are available?

Models can be wired or wireless based on the type of connection. In the first case, a cord with a 3.5 or 6.3 mm jack is used for connection (there are also other, less common variants). In the second case, pairing is done via Bluetooth.

Among BT devices, TWS headphones are a separate category - miniature, truly wireless accessories. Plug-in models are mostly represented by drop-shaped housings with an external foot.

What are the advantages of in-ear headphones?

Compact size, natural sound, compatibility with different audio devices. Products do not cause discomfort in the auditory canal, so it is recommended for people who do not tolerate foreign objects in the ears and can not "make friends" with vacuum earplugs.

How to choose in-ear headphones?

The main criterion for choice is comfort. Be sure to try the earphones on, make sure they do not squeeze your ears and fit securely. If they fall out or cause discomfort you will hardly use them. Pay attention to battery life and charging speed.

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