Other Earbuds We Like

Every month seems to bring new sets of earbuds with longer battery life, new features, and more compact designs. As such, we can’t list everything we like. But if you’re still hunting, here are some other recommendations.

Nothing Ear (a) for $59: It has taken a lot for me to recommend a pair of ostensible AirPods Pro clones as the best earbuds for most people, but that speaks to just how much I actually like the Nothing Ear (a). These stylish little yellow earbuds come in a sleek, clear charging case, and they have excellent sound and decent noise cancellation for under $100 retail. I liked how easily they paired with Android and iOS devices and that the lightweight, compact design helped them stay comfortable during longer listening sessions. The larger, more expensive Nothing Ear are also good, but they don’t quite match the Ear (a)’s svelte figure.

Status Audio Pro X for $239: The multi-driver array inside these cool-looking earbuds from little-known brand Status Audio helps them rise above the rest when it comes to audio quality. A dynamic driver down low pairs with a set of Knowles balanced armatures for upper mids and highs, providing a ton of musical separation between instruments, and offering some of the best detail down low that we’ve heard in a pair of buds so far. The warm EQ works well with pop music and acoustic music alike, and the Pro X support Sony’s LDAC Bluetooth codec for near-lossless streaming quality. We compared them with the best from Sony, Bose, Sennheiser, and Technics, and found that the Pro X hold their own valiantly, with only the call quality coming in a touch below what others have to offer.

Technics EAH-AZ80 for $165: Technics’ follow-up to the fantastic EAH-AZ80 provides trickle-down driver technology from the brand’s hi-fi in-ears, the EAH-TZ700. The result for the AZ100 is even richer and more detailed sound that digs deep into instrumental textures to reveal new dimensions in old songs. The buds add new features like Dolby-powered Spatial Audio and Bluetooth LE Audio support for futureproofing, along with old favorites like three-device multipoint pairing and mildly improved noise canceling. The slimmer design isn’t as ergonomic as the AZ80 to my ears, but they’re still comfy, and battery life of up to 10 hours per charge with ANC lets you listen long past Bose and Apple buds. —Ryan Waniata

Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 for $150: These premium earbuds from Beyerdynamic look nondescript and sound fantastic, but they lack any of the superlative qualities of the buds on the list above. If you’re after a clean-looking pair of headphones with fantastic vocal definition, they’re worth considering.

Audio-Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 for $159: These buds from Audio Technica boast 15 hours of battery life with noise canceling on, which is the longest we’ve tested in a pair of earbuds. Despite a somewhat bulky appearance, they actually remain very ergonomic, with multiple pairs of included eartips to guarantee a good fit. A cool magnetic feature allows you to clip the buds together when they’re not in their wireless charging case to engage standby mode. These aren’t the best-sounding buds for the money, nor do they have the best noise reduction, but if you want a pair that will last you throughout multiple workdays (or one really long one), these are a great option. (Note: These have been in and out of stock on Amazon.)

Soundcore Space A40 for $45: While they’re no longer on our main list, the Space A40 are still some of my favorite buds for the money, providing good features, clear sound, and excellent noise canceling for their price class. They also look polished, with only their lack of auto-pause sensors betraying their low price.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro for $100–$200: The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are getting older, but they’re still among the best buds to pair with a Samsung phone. They don’t have the multi-device connectivity of our top pick for Android users, and their five-hour battery is looking pretty short these days, but they provide excellent sound quality, IPX7 waterproofing, and a distinctive design that doesn’t just ape the AirPods Pro. That makes them well worth considering on sale.

Sony Linkbuds Fit for $200: Sony’s Linkbuds Fit offer rich and punchy sound, naturalistic transparency mode, and a light and comfy fit, helping them live up to their intent as a “wear anywhere” solution. They provide some solid features, but skimp on battery life with just 5.5 hours per charge, and their noise canceling is just OK. Their oddly unresponsive touch controls and reliance on flimsy silicone sleeves further diminish their value, but they’re still Sony buds and could be worth nabbing on a good sale.

Montblanc MTB 03 for $395: These earbuds are priced out of reach for most buyers, but if you’ve got the cash, you’ll be rewarded with a luxury experience worthy of the brand. Montblanc has called in some heavy hitters from the audio industry to design and voice these buds. The result is a small, comfortable, and quite flashy-looking pair of wireless earbuds that sound really impressive.

Raycon Everyday Earbuds for $80: These YouTuber-beloved earbuds are actually a decent cheap pair. They are small and light, and they come with an IPX6 rating, which makes them great for workouts.

Earbuds to Avoid

As a general rule, you should avoid earbuds that don’t support the Bluetooth 5.0 standard (or higher), or don’t offer at least five hours of battery life—more like six these days. Batteries in wireless headphones degrade over time, so the better your battery life is at first, the more tolerable it will be in two to three years.

Apple AirPods (Previous or Current Gen) for $119–$170: These headphones do some things well, we just don’t like them all that much. (Read our latest review.) They get OK battery life, come in a compact case, and work well for calls, but they don’t fit all ears well, and since they don’t have ear tips or wings, you’re out of luck if they’re loose. The priciest model adds noise canceling, which works about as well as you’d expect for a pair that doesn’t offer a proper seal. Want clear music, good noise canceling, and advanced features made for iPhones for less than the AirPods Pro 3? Get the AirPods Pro Gen 2, which sometimes cost more (and sometimes less) but are legitimately great.

Beats Solo Buds for $70: These are lackluster in virtually every possible way, especially when it comes to features for the money. Their best traits are their micro-size and big battery, but that’s about it. It’s odd, because we like other headphones from the brand, but these just don’t keep pace. The best we can say is they are cheap.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 for $170: A Cybertrucked pair of AirPods clones, the headphones in the new Galaxy Buds line work worse than they already look. With no eartips, these are uncomfortable to wear for long periods, and the noise canceling is all but useless.

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If we measured EV updates on their “coolness quotient,” Audi’s newly revised 2027 A6 Sportback e-tron and Q6 e-tron lineups would probably top the chart. The automaker has released what I’d say are a bunch of lifestyle upgrades that make the cabin as entertaining and intuitive as it is practically possible.

Both the 2027 A6 Sportback e-tron and Q6 e-tron get a redesigned Audi Digital Stage (the combination of infotainment screen and instrument panel) with improved graphics, fewer menu lists, and intuitive visual tiles. You can also mirror the navigation or media into the virtual cockpit.

A tech refresh that feels like a lifestyle upgrade

The physical scroll wheel, a fan-favorite feature, is back on the steering wheel, letting you control volume and navigate menus. For co-drivers, the front passenger screen now supports independent media playback via Bluetooth headphones.

And if you don’t get the chance to handle the wheel for long, you can connect gaming controllers (via Bluetooth) and race your way in video games with Active Privacy Mode enabled so that it doesn’t distract the driver. Audi also adds new massage seat modes to enhance comfort.

To elevate the overall experience, the cars now come with ambient “experience worlds” that sync lighting, sound, and climate control for programmed durations. There’s also a Power Nap feature that creates a calm, reclined cabin vibe when you stop for a short charging break.

Reverse Assist, Trained Parking, and ambient Experience Worlds

To assist with driving, the cars now get a Reverse Assist feature that automatically reverses up to 150 feet, a Trained Parking feature that enables autonomous parking in up to five regular parking spots, and more powerful regenerative braking that brings the car to a standstill without applying friction brakes.

You can now get an optional 4K dashcam integrated into the base of the rear-view mirror, and a Dynamic Plus that prioritizes raw performance over stability systems (to a limited extent) for times when you’re on your way to a track session. If some of these features sound familiar, that’s because they’re already available on the 2026 Audi A5 and Q5 models.

The 2027 Audi A6 Sportback e-tron starts from $66,700 for the standard model, while the 2027 Audi Q6 e-Tron starts from $64,500. These are the entry prices for the core-electric sedans and SUVs; higher trims are more expensive. Both the lineups will arrive at Audi dealerships “in the second quarter of 2026.”