# Best Wireless Earbuds _CompareFairly · en/GB · neutral comparison, cited sources, no paid placement_ **Category:** electronics › audio › wireless earbuds **Our pick**: Sony WF-1000XM5 (72/100) · **Cheapest**: Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC · **Best value**: Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC ## Comparison table | Criterion | Sony WF-1000XM5 | Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) | Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC | Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds | Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 | Jabra Elite 8 Active | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Sound Quality | Exceptional | Superb | Good | Outstanding | Exceptional | Good | | Battery Life (hours) (hours) | 8 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 8 | | Latency | Very Low | Low | Low | Moderate | Low | Moderate | | Price (GBP) | 259 | 249 | 89 | 299 | 229 | 199 | | Noise Cancellation | Superior | Superior | Superior | Superior | Effective | Effective | | Water Resistance | Splashproof (IPX4) | Waterproof (IPX7) | Splashproof (IPX4) | Splashproof (IPX4) | Splashproof (IPX4) | Waterproof (IPX7) | | Microphone Quality | Excellent | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | | Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0+ | Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0+ | Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0+ | Bluetooth 5.0+ | | Comfort & Fit | Good | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Good | Excellent | | Build Quality | Premium | High | Medium | High | Premium | Premium | ## 1. Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless earbuds with noise cancelling capabilities. _Source (verified): [https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/best/wireless-earbuds](https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/best/wireless-earbuds)_ ## 2. Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Third-generation AirPods Pro with top-quality noise cancellation and re-tuned audio. **Best for:** Apple lovers and fitness enthusiasts. **Pros:** - Outstanding noise cancellation - Superb sound quality - Long battery life - Built-in heart rate monitor - Useful Live Translation capabilities - Comfortable, secure fit - Waterproof **Cons:** - No user-adjustable EQ _Source (verified): [https://uk.pcmag.com/headphones/4371/the-best-earbuds-in-ear-headphones](https://uk.pcmag.com/headphones/4371/the-best-earbuds-in-ear-headphones)_ ## 3. Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC Wireless earbuds with noise cancellation. _Source (verified): [https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/best/wireless-earbuds](https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/best/wireless-earbuds)_ ## 4. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Earbuds with incredibly effective noise cancellation and outstanding audio. **Best for:** Cross-platform listeners and those who need good transparency modes. **Pros:** - Incredibly effective noise cancellation - Outstanding audio with rich bass and bright highs - High-quality codec support - Good transparency modes **Cons:** - Large buds with finicky controls - EQ options could be better _Source (verified): [https://uk.pcmag.com/headphones/4371/the-best-earbuds-in-ear-headphones](https://uk.pcmag.com/headphones/4371/the-best-earbuds-in-ear-headphones)_ ## 5. Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 Superb audio fidelity and adaptive noise cancellation with a premium build. _Source (verified): [https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/best/wireless-earbuds](https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/best/wireless-earbuds)_ ## 6. Jabra Elite 8 Active Rugged design with superior water and sweat resistance, good sound and ANC. _Source (estimate): [https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/best/wireless-earbuds](https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/best/wireless-earbuds)_ ## 7. Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro Excellent ANC and sound, especially for Samsung users, with a compact design. _Source (verified): [https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/best/wireless-earbuds](https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/best/wireless-earbuds)_ ## 8. Beats Fit Pro Secure fit for workouts, good ANC, and solid sound quality with Apple and Android compatibility. _Source (estimate): [https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/best/wireless-earbuds](https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/best/wireless-earbuds)_ ## In short This comparison covers 8 wireless earbuds across 10 criteria: Sound Quality, Battery Life (hours), Latency, Price, Noise Cancellation, Water Resistance. Sony WF-1000XM5 comes first with 72/100, driven by Noise Cancellation (100/100) and Build Quality (100/100). Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) follows at 72/100 and beats it on Water Resistance. The cheapest option is Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC. Sourced data: 6/8 options; the remaining values are estimates, flagged as such. ## Frequently asked questions **What are the best wireless earbuds in 2026?** The Sony WF-1000XM5 are currently ranked highest with a score of 72/100, followed closely by the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation). **How do the Sony WF-1000XM5 compare to AirPods Pro for sound quality?** While specific comparative data isn't provided here, the Sony WF-1000XM5 lead our overall ranking, suggesting strong performance across key criteria including sound quality. **Where does your wireless earbud ranking come from?** Our rankings are based on objective data for each criterion, and our comparison is completely neutral; no ranking is influenced by payment or sponsorship. **What factors are used to compare wireless earbuds?** We compare wireless earbuds based on Sound Quality, Battery Life (hours), Latency, Price, Noise Cancellation, and Water Resistance. --- _Generated by CompareFairly - neutral universal comparator. Ranking not for sale, data sourced._ --- _CompareFairly · https://comparefairly.com/en/GB/best-wireless-earbuds — citation with a link is allowed; bulk extraction/redistribution is prohibited._