ANC wireless earbuds

There’s a well-worn law of consumer electronics: the further you push into “Pro Max” territory, the more you’re paying for marginal improvements that most people don’t need. This Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max earbuds review finds the new buds challenge that rule in an interesting way.

The earbuds inside the case are identical to those in the $169.99 Liberty 5 Pro I reviewed yesterday — same drivers, same ANC, same battery life, same call quality. What you’re paying an extra $60 for, almost entirely, is the case. But it’s a truly remarkable case.

Anker’s Soundcore sub-brand spent years punching above its weight in the budget and midrange earbuds market, and Liberty 5 Pro is an ambitious new swing. Released alongside the pricier Liberty 5 Pro Max (reviewed separately tomorrow), these $169.99 earbuds aim squarely at anyone who wants AirPods Pro-level features without paying AirPods Pro prices.

This Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro earbuds review finds them excellent overall. They particularly excel at call clarity.

Two new sets of Soundcore flagship earbuds — Liberty 5 Pro and Liberty 5 Pro Max — introduce the company’s first product line built around a co-developed Thus AI chip, the Anker subsidiary said Thursday. Both models are available now, starting at $169.99 and $229.99 respectively. They’re compatible with Apple’s Find My network.

Apple users are trained to reach for AirPods. It’s Pavlovian at this point. But at a regular price of $79 or less — roughly the price of a single AirPods replacement bud — the new Tozo NC20 Pro does things AirPods 4 won’t. And Tozo launch deals get you these excellent buds for much less than the list price — currently $59.49 on Amazon, for example.

Two of the world’s most recognizable lifestyle and sports brands — Beats and Nike — joined forces for the first time with the launch of Powerbeats Pro 2 – Nike Special Edition, the companies said Tuesday.

It’s their first hardware collaboration. And it’s the first time Beats has shared brand real estate on a product like this. And what’s more, the promotional campaign stars basketball legend LeBron James alongside pro golfer Tom Kim and cast of comedic foils.

“This isn’t just a new colorway; it’s a collision of two brands that define performance, culture, and sports — the attributes of today’s athlete,”  said Chris Thorne, CMO of Beats. “By placing the Swoosh on our hardware for the first time, we’re honoring the shared DNA of Beats and Nike — and celebrating ambassadors like LeBron James who embody both. It’s a tribute to the grit, style and sound that push people to their limits.”

The innovative new Soundcore AeroFit 2 Pro earbuds mark a significant advancement in open-ear audio technology, the company said at CES 2026 Tuesday. The earbuds bridge the gap between situational awareness and immersive listening by offering both open-ear comfort and active noise cancellation in a single device — a first in the industry.

You can physically adjust the buds to be in the ear canal or just outside it. The buds sense the settings and adjust output accordingly.

Whether you’re commuting, working out or just enjoying your favorite music, there’s a pair of earbuds on our list of best budget earbuds for less than $100 that can meet your needs without (much) compromise.

Today’s budget-friendly earbuds offer impressive features once reserved for premium models — excellent sound quality, active noise cancellation, long battery life and companion apps for customization.

And can you believe it? Even an Apple product made our list of best budget earbuds (when it’s on sale).

After spending a few weeks with the new SoundPeats Air5 Pro+ earbuds as my daily audio drivers, I’ve come to appreciate what this Chinese audio brand accomplishes at the budget end of the wireless earbud market. These earbuds, released Tuesday, pack an xMEMS Labs’ silicon-based micro tweeter in addition to a more traditional dynamic driver. With a Black Friday sale price of just over $100, they deliver features and performance that can cost twice as much with more established brands.

But do the buds outshine pricier competitors? Not exactly. My experience with their sound quality and adaptive hybrid active noise cancellation (ANC) — “adaptive” being one of the new features that puts the “+” in the name — fell a little flat. I would not be tempted to choose these over AirPods Pro 3 for any reason other than cost.

The budget wireless earbuds market has become increasingly competitive, but this EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus earbuds review finds they manage to stand out with a compelling combination great sound, premium features and aggressively good value. Priced at $100 — with a launch discount coupon on Amazon bringing it down to about $80 —  these earbuds challenge what we’ve come to expect from the sub-$100 category. And they do so while going toe-to-toe with Apple’s $249 AirPods Pro 3.

New EarFun Air Pro 4+ noise-canceling earbuds are the world’s first Hi-Res certified dual-driver wireless buds with adaptive noise cancellation under $100, EarFun said Monday. So they offer Apple users a potentially compelling alternative to AirPods Pro at less than half the price.

And a launch discount makes the price even harder to resist. See below. 

Pairing your iPhone with the right earbuds shouldn’t be a compromise. While Apple’s ecosystem makes AirPods the obvious choice, Sennheiser’s German-engineered earbuds deliver superior sound quality that transforms how you experience music, podcasts and calls. We ranked the five best Sennheiser earbuds for iPhone users, with picks for various price points and uses.

From flagship audiophile options to budget-conscious picks, here’s everything you need to know about finding your perfect Sennheiser earbuds for iPhone.

Finding the perfect Sony headphones for iPhone might seem challenging when Apple pushes its own audio ecosystem so heavily. This comprehensive guide examines each model’s features, pros, cons and pricing to help you find the perfect match for your specific needs and budget. Let’s dive into what makes these Sony headphones exceptional companions for your iPhone.

iFixit released its teardown of Apple’s new AirPods Pro 3 Wednesday, providing a close-up look at new features including the foam-infused ear tips Apple includes for greater sound isolation, as well the new battery scheme and repositioned rare-earth magnets. 

But the group’s major finding should be unsurprising to anyone familiar with the company’s wireless earbuds. The latest generation earns the same dismal 0 out of 10 repairability score that has plagued the product line since its inception nine years ago.

Need great wireless earbuds but not into spending hundred of dollars? Amazon is currently selling Beats Studio Buds+ for the uncommonly low price of $169.95 $99.95 — a whopping 41% off. 

Or if that deal expires — it’s only good for a limited time — you can get a pair of the more basic Beats Studio Buds for $99.95 (a third off). See more below.

Apple looks poised to unveil its highly anticipated AirPods Pro 3 at its Awe Dropping event on September 9, marking the first major update to the premium noise-canceling earbuds since 2022. Multiple sources suggest the third-generation model will bring significant hardware upgrades alongside Apple’s continued software feature rollouts. Check out all the AirPods Pro 3 rumors below.

Whether you’re navigating a noisy commute, seeking focus in a bustling office, trying to unwind during air travel or simply blissing out to your favorite tunes, the right pair of noise-canceling headphones can transform your audio experience. These sophisticated devices do more than just play music — they create a mobile personal sanctuary.

Active noise cancellation (ANC) technology has evolved dramatically in recent years, with options ranging from premium over-ear headphones to compact wireless earbuds. The best models excel not just at blocking out unwanted noise, but also deliver exceptional sound quality, comfortable fit and long battery life.

Our comprehensive guide discusses key factors like a model’s noise-reduction capabilities, audio performance, comfort during extended wear and additional features that enhance the user experience. Find help navigating the options to find your perfect audio companion below.

If you’re like me, Amazon Prime Day is partly about scoring cool stuff you otherwise find uncomfortably pricey. I can’t go around buying every set of headphones and earbuds that catch my eye. But with Prime Day headphones deals, maybe I can sneak something sweet-sounding past my sense of guilt, you know?

And so can you! Check out some of the absolute best Amazon Prime Days deals on headphones and earbuds below. I found wishlist-worthy cans and buds with savings of $100 or more (in some cases, much more — even discounts of $305 off primo open-back cans, $315 off top noise-canceling headphones and $150 off some seriously nice earbuds).

Right now you can get the best Amazon Prime Day Beats audio deals on great headphones and earbuds — some pretty close to their lowest prices ever. For example, a fresh price drop on Beats’ awesome flagship headphones, Beats Studio Pro, gives you a whopping $180 discount. At just $169.95, they’re 51% off and just $10 above their lowest-ever price.

Another great example? You can nab a whopping $80 off the excellent Beats Studio Buds+ at just $89.95 — a 47%-off discount! And you get the new Powerbeats Pro 2 sport earbuds for $198.95, or $80 off.

After four solid generations before them, Soundcore Liberty 5 wireless noise-canceling earbuds are compact audio powerhouses. My Soundcore Liberty 5 earbuds review finds they challenge premium noise-canceling earbuds like AirPods Pro 2 for about half the price. In fact, Liberty 5’s price ($130) went down from Liberty 4’s starting price by $20.

While Apple, Sony and Bose dominate the high-end market, Soundcore steadily refined their Liberty series to deliver impressive sound quality without the premium price tag. During my testing, the earbuds demonstrated remarkable performance in a variety of ways, along with a limitation or two.

Newly updated Soundcore Liberty 5 noise-canceling wireless earbuds pack enhanced voice reduction, more-adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC) and improved Dolby immersive audio, the Anker Innovations brand said Wednesday.

And did we mention the price dropped by $20 since Liberty 4? So now they’re even less expensive than Apple’s various AirPods Pro 2, at $129.

The sleek new Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds designed to stay on during workouts of any intensity only came out in February 2025. But you can already get a 20% discount. That brings down the list price from $249.99 to $199.99, a savings of $50. And that applies to all four color choices!

So maybe you buy these and that becomes your motivation to get back to the gym. Everybody wins.

Apple’s audio lineup recently expanded with the arrival of Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 earbuds, creating an interesting competition with the established AirPods Pro 2. Both high-end wireless earbuds share Apple’s technology backbone but target different segments of the market. So in a Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 vs. AirPods Pro 2 comparison, which should you choose?

Let’s compare these premium options across design, features, performance and value to help you determine which is right for your lifestyle.

The redesigned Powerbeats Pro 2 unveiled Tuesday are Apple’s first earbuds to feature built-in heart rate monitoring. The fitness-oriented wireless earbuds feature ear hooks for a secure fit during workouts. Plus, they come with Apple’s H2 chip and bring adaptive EQ, Spatial Audio and improved active noise cancellation with Transparency Mode.

Apple calls the new Powerbeats Pro 2 “the most advanced product we’ve ever developed.”

The new flagship EarFun Air Pro 4+ noise-canceling earbuds feature AI-powered language translation. EarFun also will roll out other new products this week at CES, the big consumer electronics show in Las Vegas. The lineup includes clip-on earbuds and hook-on open-ear earbuds for workouts, affordable noise-canceling over-ear headphones, and an Auracast USB-C dongle that can enable lossless audio for devices. If you’re looking for a comparison with AirPods Mac, check out how they stack up against these new releases.

Over about a week of testing for this Status Audio Between 3ANC earbuds review, I found the distinctive buds to be a product of intriguing contrasts — ambitious in some areas while falling short in others.  Currently priced at $179 (recently reduced from $199 and $249 before that), the earbuds try to compete with industry leaders like AirPods Pro 2 through a unique triple-driver design and striking looks. In fact, these earbuds even claim in ads to have a “subwoofer” for the low end. But while Between 3ANC buds boast good sound, I found overall performance results somewhat mixed.