Earbuds Shopping Guide

Upgrading your earbud game can be an exciting journey into the world of sound quality. You might even learn something new about your favorite songs, like a lyric you’ve never noticed before or a unique sound balance that your old generic earphones couldn’t handle.

With their small profile and big performance, it’s no wonder why earbuds have gained such popularity among athletes, commuters, and more. They’re known for being small enough to put in a pocket while delivering high-quality sound that will drown out the busy traffic around you.

Whether you’re looking for a sleek, easy-to-carry way to listen to your music, or you need a pair of earphones that move with you, you’re sure to find earbuds that work for your lifestyle.

We’ve taken a look at the top earbuds on the market, narrowing down our top choices to make the shopping journey a little easier. But, along with this, here are some things you can look out for to ensure that your earbuds are perfect for you.

The Best Earbuds Should Stay Put

You’ve heard all the rage behind Air Pods, the wireless earbuds that stay in your ear no matter what activity you’re doing. These make our top ten picks, but there are also other options to choose from, giving you some liberty in your final decision.

What makes these earbuds so popular? Their convenience, especially when you’re on the go. Have you ever paused your run because your earphones kept coming out of your ears? How many times have you detangled your headphones when taking them out of your backpack?

Earbuds just make it easier to listen to music.

Since you’re moving around, you’ll want earbuds that are designed to stay in your ear, no matter what. You don’t want to lose an earbud in the middle of Triangle Pose, which can throw off your meditation and focus on any routine.

Because of the challenges that earbud manufacturers face when designing an earbud that actually stays in your ear, consumers get the benefit of high-quality permanence when it comes to in-the-ear staying power.

For example, Bose has developed its own patented tip called the StayHear+ Sport Tips, which come in different sizes depending on your fit. This versatility gives users some customization and takes into consideration that each ear is different.

Other companies have used this same strategy when it comes to the tips, giving listeners several sizes to help them find the one that fits.

Anyone who has had trouble with earbuds falling out of their ears in the past should take a look at the options that provide multiple sizes of ear tips. This way, you can find ones that fit your particular shape, bringing even more comfort to your purchase.

Earbud Running Power

Maybe you’re an ultra-marathoner who is out training for hours at a time. Or, you’re preparing for a long flight and need the longest run time possible. On the other hand, you could be including your earbuds for your one-hour workouts, not really needing a long-running battery as long as the sound quality is good.

These are all specifications that can drive your decision for your next earbuds.

Take a look at both the time it takes the charge your earbud batteries as well as the runtime that comes from that. At the top of our list, you’ll find wireless earbuds that can last up to 10 hours, giving that your max for overall runtime.

For someone who needs a longer runtime than that, consider choosing earbuds that have wires, rather than those that are battery-powered. In this case, the convenience of having no wires pales in comparison to the convenience of a working, charged battery.

Control Your Surrounding Noise

With the technology implemented in today’s earbuds, it shouldn’t be a surprise that you now have the option to completely cancel out the noise of your surroundings at just the push of a button. While that used to be reserved only for giant, padded, wrap-around headphones, the technology has made its way into earbuds.

Along with this, manufacturers have now started to design earbuds with control over just how much ambient or environment noise you hear around you. This can be especially helpful if you want to be aware of your surroundings while still listening to your favorite songs.

For cyclists, this can help alert you of upcoming hazards or cars. For commuters, you can hear which stop is coming up next without missing your favorite Beyoncé verse.

You now have the ability to essentially turn up or down the volume of the noises outside of your earbuds, giving you full control over your immersion experience.