The entire selling point of wireless earbuds is that they make things easy. You pull them out of a case, they automatically connect to your phone, and you get audio in your ears without the hassle of cords.
Unfortunately, it’s not always this simple.
Thanks to what seems like a never-ending list of audio codecs and Bluetooth protocols, your experience with Bluetooth earbuds can differ depending on what earbuds and what phone you’re using.
And when it comes to Android, the wireless earbuds that are great on the iPhone aren’t always as great on Google’s OS.
Why? It comes down to AptX support, or the lack thereof, from earbud makers. Even though there have been AptX earbuds available for the last two years, this audio codec isn’t as widely supported today as some had expected. Reasons for not supporting the standard range from sub-optimal power consumption (questionable) to the belief that using AptX optimized chipsets only provide minimal benefit in loud areas (valid, but people also use them in quiet places). In those cases, wireless earbuds simply use the SBC or AAC codec with Android. But as tests from sites like SoundGuys have shown, getting the best audio quality in these circumstances is a mixed, inconsistent bag.
It’s not all doom and gloom, however. There are not only some great AptX wireless earbuds for Android phones out there but also some non-AptX wireless earbuds that still manage to shine on non-Apple phones.
Keep reading for our top picks.
1. Sony WF1000XM4
BEST WIRELESS EARBUDS FOR ANDROID OVERALL
Great sound, check. Great microphone, check. Good fit, check. The previous version of these wireless earbuds for Android users was superb, but the 1000XM4 are better in just about every way. The ANC is improved keeping unwanted noise out even better than before. The design is a little less bulky helping them stay in your ears, even during exercise, and these are also a great pair of wireless earbuds for taking phone calls thanks to the superb microphone. We’re impressed with these wireless earbuds and you will be, too.
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2. Jabra Elite 85t
ADJUSTABLE NOISE CANCELLATION
The Jabra Elite 85t are a little bit bulkier than their predecessors but provide additional audio features. For instance, you can adjust the ANC to your preferred level. Most earbuds are all-or-nothing, but Jabra provides you the luxury to adjust it as you please. Beyond the ANC, the overall sound quality sounds spectacular as well. If the idea of adjustable ANC butters your bread, these are worth the price. If not, you can go with the 75t and be plenty happy with an already fantastic previous model earbud.
3. Jaybird Vista 2
BEST ANDROID WIRELESS EARBUDS FOR RUNNING
Two major factors play into these being some of the best Android wireless earbuds for running: lengthy eight-hour battery life and an IP68 waterproof rating. So even while you are sweating your butt off during your run or if it starts to rain in the middle of your training session, your earbuds will be good to go. The charging case also carries an extra 16 hours of battery life, so you really get a full 24 hours before the case needs to be plugged in. Runners, these headphones answer the call.
4. UE Fit
CUSTOM FIT
UE is known for making custom in-ear on-stage professional monitors for touring musicians. With the UE Fit, they are bringing some of that fit customization to wireless earbuds for Android users. You just place the buds in your ears for 60 seconds and the fitting will custom form to your ears creating a seamless fit that is about as comfortable as you can imagine. And when the fit is nice and tight, this keeps outside noise from leaking in and ups the sound quality of your buds. This is great for those who have trouble finding buds fit perfectly.
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5. Master & Dynamic MW08
SPLURGE PICK
Sure, the price might initially seem steep, but consider all that you get with these wireless earbuds for Android. The battery life is an impressive 10 hours with ANC and 12 without. Speaking of ANC, it has a smart ambient mode that listens to your surroundings and automatically adjusts the ANC. It’s also a solid set of headphones for people seeking a pair of earbuds that are great for phone calls with six microphones and wind reduction. Lastly, the design is plain beautiful. If you got the cash, spend it here.
Read More: Best Wireless Earbuds Under $50
6. Amazfit PowerBuds
CUSTOM SOUND
There’s a lot of reasons to be pumped on the PowerBuds. For starters, you can customize the sound settings using the app. In conjunction with the app, you can also use these earbuds to track your heart rate — no need for a smartwatch. These headphones also have active noise canceling and an impressive nine hours of battery life. For $150, these are a pretty great steal for wireless earbuds for Android.
7. Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
BEST SAMSUNG EARBUDS
Samsung users will be hard-pressed to find a better pair of wireless earbuds for their phones. Why? Galaxy Buds Pro have features such as 360 surround sound that makes watching movies on flights awesome for instance, but that feature only works with Samsung phones. Proprietary features aside, these buds have an ambient mode that recognizes when you or someone else is talking to you and lowers the ANC so you can hear. Not to mention these buds are completely waterproof. Galaxy users should look no further.
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8. Google Pixel Buds Series A
BUDGET GOOGLE BUDS
Looking to save a little money on Google Buds? The Pixel Buds Series A are a stripped-down version of the Google Buds, but not really — they are still plenty awesome. These buds omit wireless charging, wind reduction and attention alerts, but other than that, you’re still getting the same great earbuds at a better price. We don’t know about you, but to us, that seems like a pretty legit way to get great earbuds for an Android on the cheap.
9. Sony WF-1000XM3 Wireless Earbuds
ALSO GREAT
When you put the overall feature set of the Sony WF-1000XM3 up against the competition, they emerge as the clear leader of the pack when it comes to the best wireless earbuds for Android. While these earbuds may not support AptX, Sony has instead opted to use its DSEE HX upscaling algorithm to provide crystal-clear audio. As one of the leaders when it comes to noise-canceling headphones you can expect top-class performance on that front as well. Rounding out the feature set, the WF-1000XM3 earbuds come with an app that lets you fully customize the sound these buds produce, as well as the touch controls. And there are even some excellent premium features, such as the ability to activate ambient mode by placing one hand over one of the earbuds.
10. Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Review
ALSO CONSIDER
Given all of the functionality that Anker’s Soundcore Liberty Air 2 headphones offer for under $100, it’s hard not to consider them some of the best wireless earbuds for Android you can buy. Sporting a look similar to the Airpods, these earbuds support the AptX codec, seven hours of playback on a single charge (with another 21 stored in the case), four integrated microphones which give you excellent call quality, and a companion app that lets you fully customize the sound or pick from a number of presets (including some designed by audio pros). These earbuds will definitely need a little EQ tweaking since they’re heavy on treble by default, but there are few wireless earbuds for less than $100 that can match what you get with the Soundcore Liberty Air 2.
11. Google Pixel Buds
BEST FOR PIXEL OWNERS
In choosing not to support the AptX audio codec, it’s clear that Google wasn’t going for ultimate audio quality with its Pixel Buds. Instead, it aimed to provide a set of premium features to those who are entrenched in the company’s wide-ranging ecosystem. The most central of these features is the fact that you can activate Google Assistant the same way you would with one of their smart speakers: by just saying ‘Hey Google.’ You don’t have to tap or press anything to start a call, change tracks, adjust the volume or send a text message. But when you also include the Pixel Buds’ ability to translate foreign languages on the fly and their design (which looks as good as anything out there), and you have a worthy pair of all-around earbuds that are more than just a device for listening to music.
12. Edifier TWS6 Wireless Earbuds
ALSO CONSIDER
Edifier is not as well known as some of the other brands on this list, but for the last few years, they have quietly been making speakers and headphones which offer amazing bang for the buck. The TWS 6 are no exception, producing some of the most accurate and detailed audio you find in any pair of the best wireless earbuds for Android regardless of price. What’s also great about these is how surprisingly small they are. As someone who has regularly used these in day-to-day life, there are many instances where people don’t realize I’m wearing earbuds at all.
But offering quality AptX audio at a near-unbeatable price does come with a few tradeoffs: These are a relatively spartan pair of headphones, so you won’t get much in the way of noise-canceling, sound customization options or little quality of life features, like music auto-pausing when you pull an earbud out. The balanced audio driver also means that while audio is accurately reproduced on a technical level, these are not bass-heavy and some people may find the sound a bit clinical. Still, considering that these offer seven hours of battery life on a single charge and have a case that supports the wireless Qi charging standard, these are an amazing option when it comes to budget wireless earbuds for Android phones.
13. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 Earbuds
BEST FOR AUDIOPHILES
If you’re looking for the best possible audio quality you can get out of a pair of wireless Android earbuds, look no further than the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless, which offer Android users AptX encoding, Bluetooth 5.1 compatibility, six hours of battery life and noise cancellation. But what really helps these sing are the 7mm drivers, which are larger than the 6mm drivers found in your typical pair of wireless earbuds, which gives them more oomph on the low end of the audio spectrum. While Bluetooth audio has yet to fully meet the high bar set by audiophiles, these are a pair that have come the closest to clearing it.
14. Skullcandy Jib True Wireless Earbuds
BEST BUDGET OPTION
For those who just need a pair of really cheap, no-frills earbuds that just work, the Skullcandy Jib wireless earbuds come in at an amazingly low $30. While there is nothing in the way of unique features or superlative performance, these headphones have a bass-forward design and audio quality which exceeds the price. While these certainly won’t meet the standards of audiophiles, they are so cheap that it won’t be the end of the world if you break them or lose one.
15. Bose Quiet Comfort Wireless Earbuds
BEST NOISE-CANCELING
Bose is one of the companies that have opted to forgo AptX compatibility in their earbuds, but they still earn a spot on the list of best wireless earbuds for Android due to the fact that the Quiet Comfort earbuds are the ultimate when it comes to noise cancellation. If you are frequently on planes or in a noisy environment where you need to concentrate, you should look no further than Bose. These earbuds promise to reduce all the clamor around you to a hush, letting you concentrate on the task at hand. But they’re no one-trick pony: these earbuds also have excellent audio quality and battery life, dust and water resistance, and batteries that last up to six hours on a single charge.
16. Jabra Elite Active 75t Wireless Earbuds
BEST FOR WORKING OUT
If you use your earbuds to work out a lot, or simply live somewhere wet like, say, Seattle, you’re going to want a pair of waterproof earbuds. The Jabra Elite Active 75t may not have AptX support, but they are IP57 rated, which means they’re waterproof and resistant to dust. Add to this a nice, compact design, software-based noise cancellation, fully customizable audio and a battery that lasts seven hours, and these are the best wireless earbuds for Android you can buy if you’re active.