HEADPHONES The Best True Wireless Headphones So Far

We tested 11 of the most promising true wireless in-ear headphones (as in, no wires at all connecting the earpieces like traditional Bluetooth headphones). All of them, we found, have some flaws in fit, functionality, or convenience. Because this is the first generation of the technology, manufacturers are still working out the kinks. As a result, we can’t make an overall pick that we think would work for most people. What will work for you depends on what mobile device you have and how willing you are to put up with performance glitches in order to take advantage of a cutting-edge (but still clearly work-in-progress) convenience feature.

What we can tell you is which sets are the better options right now, and what they offer in terms of pros and cons. Depending on how you plan to use your headphones, we have picks for iPhone/iOS users, budget-oriented folks, those who prioritize sound above other features, fitness buffs, and Samsung users. This way, you can decide for yourself which ones will fit best into your lifestyle, if any, and which ones are worth your money, if any.

Why you should trust me

I spent several years in terrestrial radio before moving on to become a professional voice actor in Los Angeles, a job I still do and love. In other words, I’ve been in and out of top recording studios for over a decade. I also have reviewed high-end home audio equipment for publications such as Home Entertainment, Home Theater Magazine, and Sound & Vision. My articles have been featured in Fast Company, Forbes, the Los Angeles Times, and Time, and on Good Morning America and the BBC World Service.

I have a bachelor’s degree in both music performance and audio production from Ithaca College, and I’ve tested literally hundreds of headphones while working for The Wirecutter. In other words, I’ve got a pretty good handle on what’s out there and what’s worth your time and hard-earned money, and I am committed to finding gear that will make you happy.

What are “true wireless” headphones, and who are they for?

In case you’re unfamiliar with the technology, “true wireless” headphones are in-ear Bluetooth headphones that don’t have a cord connecting them either to your music device or to each other. They look a little like hearing aids, held in place in your ears by fit alone, without any distracting wires to be found. Mics are built in, as are any controls, since no cable is available to support a traditional in-line remote. Because these headphones are small, most sets don’t have more than a five-hour battery life. However, they can recharge in their carrying case, generally taking around 20 minutes to charge for an hour of listening.

With any pair of in-ear headphones, fit is everything—it can affect not only comfort but also sound quality. True wireless headphones up the fit ante, since they depend on fit to stay in your ears at all. If a true wireless earbud falls out while you’re on the go, it’s just one wrong bounce away from being gone for good. Furthermore, the pieces are small enough that they may pose a serious choking hazard for small children—you won’t want to leave them lying around where little ones could get their hands on them. In other words, you’ll need to use extra care to keep track of this style of headphones.

One last catch: Because the audio signal has to transmit to one ear and then sync to the other, all true wireless headphones have a delay when you’re watching video. In some cases, it’s barely perceptible; in others, the latency is noticeable, half a second off from what you see on screen.

Right now, we can recommend true wireless headphones only for early adopters who like the latest thing, as well as for people who just cannot stand the cords that connect traditional in-ear headphones. Some of these models automatically pause when you remove them from your ear, or offer speech-intelligibility enhancements or voice control, but as of now, other than the lack of a cable running behind your head, true wireless headphones provide no real additional everyday usability advantages over standard in-ear Bluetooth headphones. Most of these cost at least $100 more than traditional Bluetooth headphones but don’t upgrade the sound, battery life, or available features.

But if you really hate that cord, or if you just want to be the first to try something new, true wireless headphones are sure to be the future—eventually. It just might take a little while before they develop into something most people will be happy using.