The Best Wireless Earbuds (2022): Affordable And Noise Cancelling Options!

If you’re looking for a great set of True Wireless Earbuds that have audiophile-approved sound, then look no further; here you go! We’ve picked a bunch of products at many different price points and a wide variety of feature sets. So there’s something here for everyone!

We have over 20 years of experience evaluating and reviewing hi-fi components, and we listen to tons of gear, so you don’t have to!  Here are our picks for the Best Wireless Earbuds!


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Here’s our shortlist of the Best True Wireless Earbuds For Audiophiles! (2022):


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The List:

Best Value True Wireless Earbuds Without Noise Cancelling: EarFun Free 2 Wireless Earbuds ($39.99)

We really liked the EarFun Free 2 True Wireless Earbuds when we tried them out, as they were super comfortable and had a smooth, rich sound. These highly affordable earbuds use the latest Bluetooth 5.2 protocol for quick and stable connections, plus they have Qualcomm aptX technology for immersive near-CD quality playback. They also have low latency transmission for video sync, IPX-7 water resistance, USB-C quick charging, and wireless charging. When you add all of this up, you get one of the best values in wireless headphones.

Key Features/Specs:

  • Build-in Qualcomm QCC3040 SoC with aptX
  • Latest cVc 8.0 tech for Great Call Quality
  • Bluetooth 5.2 + TrueWireless™ tech offers stable transmission and Smooth Single Earbud Use
  • 60ms Super Low Latency Mode
  • IPX7 Fully Waterproof
  • Playtime: 7 Hours + 23 Hours with Charging Case
  • Wireless Charging Compatible
  • Touch Control w/ Volume Control

What we love:

  • Comfortable Fit
  • Smooth and Balanced Sound
  • Near CD-Quality Playback
  • Easy to use touch control

What to think about:

  • May fall out during vigorous movement (esp. when sweating)

Buy: Amazon


Best Value True Wireless Earbuds With Noise Cancelling: AKG N400NC TWS ($47.99)

If you’re looking for a sweet deal on a pair of wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation, then look no further than the AKG N400NC TWS.

These $48 earbuds (Orig. $149.95) have all the stuff you’ll want in a pair of true wireless earphones, like responsive touch controls, top-notch active noise canceling (adjustable via smartphone app), Bluetooth 5.0 for good battery life (6 hours playback) plus good range, and an IPX 7 rating for waterproof operation. They also have advanced auto play/pause, so they will start/stop playback when taken out or put back in your ear. In addition, the beautiful case and earpieces are both made of metal, and each is lightweight and rugged.

As far as sound goes, these buds are an audiophile dream. They have a detailed, spacious sound with a lot of separation and balance, so when you put them in, you will swear you’re listening to a pair of full-sized over-ear Audiophile headphones. That said, if you’re looking for the boomy thumpy bass one would get from a pair of mainstream tuned earphones (a la Beats), you may not like the crisp hi-fi reference tuning of the N400.

Key Features/Specs:

  • Bluetooth version: 5.0
  • Driver size (mm): 8.2
  • Charging time (hours from empty): 2
  • Maximum music playtime with ANC on (hours): 5
  • Maximum Play Time (hours): 6

What we love:

  • Remarkable balanced sound
  • Stable fit
  • Excellent Active Noise Cancelling

What to think about:

  • Earpieces are on the large side
  • No aptX

Buy: Harmon Audio


Best True Wireless Earbuds For Samsung Users: SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds Pro ($199.99)

If you have a Samsung device, then the SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds Pro are the buds you should pick up. When used with Samsung tablets, phones, or laptops, they pair super quickly and do automatic switching. They also have a comfortable fit, remarkable noise cancelling, and a crisp, energetic sound that makes just about any music sound great. If you like listening to movies and music in surround sound, they will work with Samsung devices to give you 360-degree (Dolby Atmos) audio.

Key Features/Specs:

  • Speaker: 2way 11mm woofer+6.5mm tweeter
  • Play Time: 5H (ANC On) / 8H (ANC Off)
  • Water Resistance: IPX7
  • Wireless Charging Case
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • BT Codecs: SBC, AAC, Samsung Scalable Codec

What we love:

  • Awesome noise cancelling
  • An exciting sound that works with any genre
  • Comfortable fit

What to think about:

  • May have a little too much mid-bass for some folks

Buy: Amazon


Best True Wireless Earbuds For Apple Users: Apple AirPods Pro ($249.99)

If you have an Apple device, then the Apple AirPods Pro are probably the true wireless earbuds you should get. With their Apple-designed H1 chip, they do some wondrous things, like almost instantaneous connection and automatic switching between Apple stuff (amongst other Apple-specific tricks). They also have top-notch noise-cancelling, the best transparency mode we’ve ever heard, plus a crisp, balanced sound with tons of detail. In addition, they also do Spatial Audio and Dolby Audio for 360 degree sound. They don’t have the deepest bass, but they have enough to drive the rhythm on all but the most bass-heavy tracks.

Key Features/Specs:

  • Active Noise Cancellation
  • Transparency Mode
  • Sweat and water resistant
  • Adaptive EQ automatically tunes music to the shape of your ear
  • Easy setup for Apple devices
  • The Wireless Charging Case delivers more than 24 hours of battery life

What we love:

  • Amazing Active Noise Cancellation/Transparency Mode
  • Amazing Ergonomics/Comfort
  • Clean & Balanced Sound
  • Almost instant connection with Apple Devices

What to think about:

  • It may be a little thin in the Bass for some folks
  • Battery life isnt great compared to the competition

Buy: Amazon


Best All-Around True Wireless Earbuds Without Noise Cancelling: Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch Earbuds ($89.95)

When it comes to Wireless IEMs, the term we’ve come up with for Wireless Earbuds designed specifically for audiophiles, the Melomania Touch is an excellent package. Cambridge has done a great job balancing comfort, top-notch sound, and creature comforts (like the well-designed app and excellent fit). They also managed to offer them at a very attractive price. So if you’re looking for above-average sound at a good price, and don’t need ANC, then the Melomania Touch is a good pick. Although we loved them at their original price of $149, they’re pretty much a no-brainer at $89.95.

Key Features/Specs:

  • Bluetooth Version: Bluetooth 5.0, Class 2
  • BT Codecs: aptX, AAC, SBC
  • Driver: 7mm Dynamic with Graphene-enhanced Diaphragm
  • Battery Play Time (Earbuds): Up to 9 Hours (A2DP)-7 in High Performance Audio mode
  • Charging Time: Approx. 120mins (0%to 100%)

What we love:

  • Awesome Build Quality
  • Comfortable & Secure Fit
  • Exquisite Balanced Sound
  • Slick Companion App

What to think about:

  • Slow firmware updates

Read our full review

Buy: Amazon


Best All-Around True Wireless Earbuds With Noise Cancelling: Technics EAH-AZ60 True Wireless Earbuds ($229.99)

The Technics EAH-AZ60 is a great-looking set of True Wireless Earbuds that has great comfort, responsive touch controls, superb ANC, plus excellent call handling and a slick app that lets you customize features to your liking. They also sound great (especially in LDAC mode) with a rich midrange that brings your music to life.

We do wish the mid-bass was toned down a little bit out of the box, but you can adjust it with the app-based EQ if you wish. Nevertheless, the AZ60 does provide a top-notch sound experience and competes well with the competition from Apple, Sony, and Samsung, especially if you like deep bass. They are definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for an alternative.

Key Features/Specs:

  • Bio-cellulose 8mm drivers with harmonizer and acoustic control chamber
  • Bluetooth 5.2
  • Multipoint pairing for switching between two devices
  • IPX4 earbud water resistance
  • Supported BT Codecs: AAC, LDAC, SBC
  • Playback time 7 Hours (BT+ANC)

What we love:

  • Beautiful Design
  • Warm, Natural, Detailed Sound
  • Extraordinary ANC and Call Clarity
  • Full-Featured Companion App

What to think about:

  • Has LDAC but No aptX
  • Bass overpowers the mix at times

Read our full review

Buy: Amazon


The Absolute Best Sounding True Wireless Earbuds: Grado GT220 True Wireless In-Ear Headphones ($259.00)

If you’re looking for a ton of bells and whistles like ANC, a bunch of ear tips, or an app, the Grado GT220 may not be the True Wireless Earphone for you. Instead, this is a niche product for a particular audience. That audience is Audiophiles who want the best sounding wireless earbuds on the market and are willing to pay a premium for them.

If that’s you, then you will probably be thrilled with Grado’s first TWS earbuds because they have a mind-blowing sound that transports you to your own personal concert. They are the absolute kings of resolution, detail, and depth. They will bring out aspects of songs you never heard before. You will be able to hear a finger swipe a string or the breathiness of a vocal. It’s incredible how far Bluetooth headphones have come. The only issue you may have is the depth of fit. It may be hard to adjust if you’re sensitive to that sort of thing.

Key Features/Specs:

  • Bluetooth version 5.0 
  • aptX and AAC Bluetooth Codecs
  • 8mm dynamic drivers
  • 6 hours of playback
  • Wireless charging compatible

What we love:

  • Good Build Quality
  • Exceptional Balanced Sound
  • Responsive Touch Controls

What to think about:

  • Depth of Fit
  • Not many extras

Read our full review

Buy: Crutchfield


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