Simply the best Sony 2023 earbuds

Sony has taken everything I loved about its higher-end buds and put them into this smaller and cheaper package. At this price, the audio quality simply cannot be beaten – and you can read all about it in our dedicated Sony WF-C700N review. OK, you don’t get lossless LDAC or the firm’s top-tier DSEE upscaler, but for this money it would be wrong to expect that. 

The best new earbuds of 2023 – hands down

Nobody thought Technics would steal the best earbuds mantle this year, but here we are – thanks to triple device multipoint connectivity, an excellent shape, stunning design, great sound and plethora of useful features, Technics gets the nod. Consult our Technics EAH-AZ80 review, of course, but also see my considered thoughts on why they’re the best if you need it. 

A no-brainer for iPhone owners

Apple’s ice-white buds offer excellent ANC plus a whole suite of iPhone-only perks. Build quality and sound is solid, as you’d expect from Apple – and now you even get a USB-C port in the pocketable charging nest. They’re the only AirPods to support volume alteration using the stems and we think they’re a top shout all around, as you can see in our AirPods Pro 2 review. 

Best for affordable ANC that works

When I first tried these JBL buds for adaptive noise-cancellation alone, I liked them so much I wrote a dedicated feature on their merits. If you need our verdict on how good they are overall, our JBL Live Pro 2 review is the place to go, but it might also reassure you to know that I personally gifted these earbuds to a friend who prioritises noise-nixing, recently. I vouch for them. 

For the ultimate in ANC and hang the cost, go Bose 

As I said in my full-length Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds review, these newest Bose buds now boast Snapdragon Sound with aptX Adaptive support, plus Bose’s all-new Immersive Audio for an expansive, moving soundstage. And Bose wrote the book on noise-nixing, so it’s excellent. You don’t get wireless charging or multipoint connectivity… but come on, do you care? 

Nice strap in here

These Pro-suffixed Samsung buds are the best wireless earbuds the company has produced by a country mile, as you can read about in my Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro review. They forego Samsung’s penchant for quirky looks in favor of great 24-bit sound, head-tracked spatial audio, solid ANC and a design that fits comfortably. They’re good, guys. No really, they’re good… 

The cheap ANC buds to beat – that haven’t yet been beaten

Want good noise-cancellation for little money? This is the set of earbuds for you – as long as you’re OK with stems. They may not look special, but they’re excellent value across the board, boasting a comfort, great sound, decent ANC, multipoint pairing and impressive battery life. As you’ll learn from our Earfun Air Pro 3 review, they quickly became a firm TechRadar favorite. 

The ridiculously cheap option that’s emphatically not junk

What you need to know is that if your budget only stretches this far, you’ll still be giving a reliable, desirable, musical gift. We’ve written an ode to these buds to tell you as much, alongside our dedicated JLab Go Air Pop review. But, buy cheap, buy twice right? Not so here – these little buds might not boast audiophile sound quality, but they still belie their lowly price tag. 

The hippest, squarest buds that don’t cost the earth

This cute little package looks a lot more expensive it is – and sounds it, too. Although these earbuds were released in December 2021, the cubist look is timeless. Want to buy them a set of inexpensive buds to make their friends will say, “Ooh what are those?” You’ve just found them, friend – but consult our Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW review for all the details.