Best Wireless Earbuds and AirPods Alternatives in 2026: Picks by Need
Last updated: October 22, 2026. Picks, prices and buying advice come from CNET's wireless earbuds guide (updated October 7, 2026), battery figures from TechRadar's guide (updated October 16, 2026) and Apple's AirPods Pro page, all read October 22, 2026.
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- CNET names the Sony WF-1000XM6 ($328) its best overall and the Apple AirPods Pro 3 ($199) the best for Apple users.
- Lower-priced alternatives in CNET's guide include the EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus ($100), Baseus Inspire XP1 ($65) and Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE ($113).
- Match the earbuds to your phone, fit, noise cancellation needs, call quality and battery life, and check current retailer prices.
AirPods are the default choice for many iPhone owners, but they are far from the only good option, and prices for alternatives range from well under $100 to more than $400. This guide explains what to look for in wireless earbuds, then walks through the picks that CNET and TechRadar recommended in October 2026, with the prices and battery figures they list. It covers premium models, Apple and Android ecosystem options, budget buys and open-ear designs. Prices change often, so confirm them on retailer pages.
1. What to look for in wireless earbuds
CNET's guide lays out the main factors. On price, it describes entry-level models at $30 to $80 as decent for sound with fewer premium features, mid-range models at $80 to $150 as balancing sound with basic noise canceling and water resistance, and premium models at $150 to $300 or more as offering better sound engineering, stronger noise cancellation and longer battery life.
- Noise canceling: CNET notes that active noise canceling can limit battery life and sound quality, so a natural-sounding transparency mode matters if you plan to hear your surroundings.
- Battery: CNET says single-charge runtime typically ranges from 5 to 12 hours, with noise canceling reducing battery life by about 20 to 30 percent, and charging cases usually provide two to four extra charges.
- Features: Bluetooth multipoint lets you connect to more than one device at once. CNET suggests AAC support for Apple devices and aptX Adaptive or LDAC for Android.
- Durability: check the IP rating, which describes dust and water resistance.
- Fit: a poor seal can dramatically reduce sound quality and noise canceling, so look for several ear tip sizes.
CNET also stresses buying from a retailer with a good return policy in case the fit or sound is not right for you.
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2. Premium picks that compete with AirPods Pro
At the top end, CNET names the Sony WF-1000XM6 ($328 at Amazon at the time of its update) its best overall pair. It praises the sound, noise canceling and voice calling, which uses eight microphones, four in each bud. Its listed drawbacks are the high price, eartips that may not suit everyone and spatial audio features that are Android-only.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) ($299) get CNET's nod for the best-sounding Bose earbuds, with improved noise canceling and newly added wireless charging, though CNET says the hardware changes do not amount to a true second generation and the Immersive Audio mode hurts battery life. TechRadar calls the Bose its pick for sheer noise-canceling power, listing 6 hours in the buds and 24 hours with the case.
TechRadar's overall top pick is the Technics EAH-AZ100, which it praises for balanced sound, comfort and triple-point Bluetooth that connects to three devices. It lists up to 12 hours in the buds and 29 hours with the case, and notes the sound changes noticeably with noise canceling on versus off.
CNET also lists the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 ($300) for user-replaceable batteries and the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 ($469) for sound.
3. AirPods and their closest alternatives by phone
For iPhone users, CNET still rates the AirPods Pro 3 ($199) as the best earbuds for Apple users. It cites improved noise canceling, better bass response, heart-rate sensing and battery life rated for up to 8 hours, up from 6 on the AirPods Pro 2. Apple's own page lists the same 8 hours with noise canceling on and an IP57 rating. CNET's drawbacks: they still use the H2 chip, and many features work only with Apple devices.
| Model | Best for, per source | Price per CNET | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple AirPods Pro 3 | Apple users | $199 | Up to 8 hours with noise canceling (Apple) |
| Apple AirPods 5 | Open-style earbuds for Apple users | $129 | IP57 rating, noise canceling on both models (CNET) |
| Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro | Samsung owners | $250 | Some features are Samsung-only or Android-only (CNET) |
| Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro | Voice calls | $170 at Best Buy | Small touchscreen built into the case (CNET) |
CNET also gives an honorable mention to the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 for Android users.
4. Budget earbuds under about $150
CNET's value picks show how much you can get for less. The EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus ($100 at Amazon) is its best-sounding budget pair, with dual drivers, Bluetooth 6.0, support for a variety of audio codecs and up to 8 hours of battery with noise canceling on.
The Baseus Inspire XP1 ($65) uses Sound by Bose tuning and earns CNET's top-value label for noise-canceling earbuds, with very good sound for the price, good noise canceling and decent voice calling.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE ($113 at Amazon, and CNET notes a list price of $150) offer good noise canceling and top-tier voice calling for people on Samsung phones, along with Bluetooth auto-switching between Galaxy devices.
TechRadar's under-$100 pick is the Nothing Ear (a), which it praises for looks and sound at a low price. It lists 5.5 hours in the buds and 24.5 hours with the case. TechRadar's mid-range choice is the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100, which earned a full five stars in its review, with 11 hours in the buds and 39 hours with the case.
Treat the prices as snapshots, since they can change when retailers run sales.
5. Open-ear, workout and long-battery options
If silicone eartips bother you, or you want to hear your surroundings, open-style designs are worth a look. CNET lists the Apple AirPods 5 ($129) as its best open earbuds for Apple users and says they sounded surprisingly good for open buds. For people who want ear hooks, it picks the Shokz OpenFit Pro ($250), with up to 12 hours of battery and wireless charging. TechRadar also names it the best open-design pair, listing 12 hours in the buds and 50 hours with the case.
CNET's Baseus Inspire XC1 ($110) is a clip-on open pair rated IP66 for water and dust, though CNET says it is not great in noisy places. For workouts with an ear hook, CNET picks the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 ($249), which it says have built-in heart-rate sensors and buds 20 percent lighter than the original.
For battery life, TechRadar's October 16, 2026 update added the JBL Live Beam 4 as its best-for-battery pick, listing up to 12 hours in the buds and up to 48 hours in total, plus a touchscreen on the case. CNET notes that the Shokz noise reduction does not muffle sound as well as AirPods 4 with Noise Cancellation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best AirPods alternative?
It depends on your phone and budget. CNET names the Sony WF-1000XM6 its best overall, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro its best-sounding Samsung pair and the EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus its best-sounding budget pair.
Are cheap wireless earbuds worth it?
They can be. CNET rates the Baseus Inspire XP1 ($65) and EarFun Air Pro 4 Plus ($100) well for sound and noise canceling, but lists trade-offs such as average transparency mode and no wireless charging.
Do AirPods work with Android phones?
CNET says AirPods Pro 3 work with Android, but many of their features are exclusive to Apple devices. If you use Android, a model made for your phone may give you more features.
How long should earbuds last on one charge?
CNET says single-charge runtime typically ranges from 5 to 12 hours, with noise canceling reducing it by about 20 to 30 percent. Cases usually add two to four more charges.
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