As the holiday shopping season ramps up, Black Friday on November 28 and Cyber Monday on December 1 are fast approaching, but savvy shoppers don’t need to wait until those dates to find excellent deals on true-wireless earbuds and headphones. Many leading brands—including Apple, Sony, Bose, and others—have already begun discounting their top models to some of the lowest prices of the year. This year, the market continues to flourish, with several new and improved true-wireless earbuds hitting shelves just in time for gift-giving or personal upgrades.
### The State of True-Wireless Earbuds in 2025
In 2025, the true-wireless earbud category remains vibrant and competitive. Weekly evaluations of new products reveal that the best earbuds now combine comfortable fits with impressive sound quality, effective noise cancellation, and strong voice-calling capabilities. While premium models still carry higher price tags, budget-friendly options have made significant strides, bringing quality sound and features within reach for many consumers. This guide reflects hands-on testing and full reviews of a wide range of earbuds, updated regularly to reflect the latest market entries and innovations.
### Top Picks for 2025
Among the best available, Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 currently lead the pack. These buds have improved on their predecessors with a better fit, enhanced noise cancellation, upgraded sound quality, and longer battery life. For Apple users, they’re an easy recommendation due to their seamless integration and feature-rich experience, including a new heart-rate monitoring function. They excel in balancing excellent noise cancellation, voice clarity, and sound fidelity—a combination not many earbuds accomplish so well.
Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd generation) also deliver top-tier noise cancellation and sound quality. While the design hasn’t dramatically changed from the original, Bose has added wireless charging and wax guards in the ear tips to improve durability and usability. The buds feature a new immersive audio “Cinema” mode that expands the soundstage, enhancing video and spoken-word content. These earbuds offer a secure, comfortable fit and work well with both iOS and Android devices, though they are on the pricier side and slightly bulkier than some competitors.
For those looking for value, the newly released Earfun Air Pro 4 Plus stands out. Priced around $80, these earbuds include a dual-driver system that significantly improves bass and treble performance—a rarity at this price point. While their voice-calling performance could use improvement, their noise cancellation and comfort make them a strong budget choice. Similarly, the Baseus Inspire XP1, featuring “Sound by Bose,” offers excellent sound with punchy bass and respectable noise cancellation at just over $100, making them a solid alternative for budget-conscious buyers.
Sony’s WF-1000XM5 earbuds remain a top contender for overall performance, even two years after release. Smaller and more comfortable than their predecessor, they come equipped with advanced chipsets and audio processors that deliver rich, detailed sound with clear mids and solid bass. These earbuds support LDAC audio codec for Android users, and their Speak-To-Chat feature allows seamless conversations without removing the buds. Though the fit may not work for everyone, their frequent discounts and refurbished options make them accessible to many.
### Noteworthy Earbuds for Specific Needs
Panasonic’s Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds impress with a compact design and a proprietary Magnetic Fluid Driver that promises clean, balanced audio faithful to the original recording. These buds support Dolby Atmos spatial audio with head tracking and multipoint pairing for up to three devices simultaneously. Their sound quality places them among the best, though they come with a higher price tag and slightly less noise cancellation compared to some Apple and Sony models.
Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are notable for their excellent fit, improved sound quality over previous generations, and strong voice-calling abilities. Their ambient sound mode is natural-sounding, and built-in voice commands add convenience without needing external assistants. However, these buds are optimized for Samsung Galaxy devices, with some features not available on iOS, and their noise cancellation, while good, doesn’t quite match the best in class.
For those who prefer open-ear designs, Apple's AirPods 4 offer a less intrusive fit without silicone tips, with a smaller form factor and improved sound over previous models. Remarkably, the higher-end version includes active noise cancellation—a feature rarely effective in open designs—though it is less potent than what closed designs offer. These may appeal to users