Buying guide
The best wireless earbuds (updated August 2026)
Updated Aug 27, 2026 ยท prices dated per offer
Everyday true wireless earbuds have flattened out. Cheap ones now pair quickly, last a workday and sound fine for podcasts and playlists, so the question is no longer whether a pair works. What actually changes with price is noise handling, codec support, how the controls behave and how neatly they slot into the phone you already own.
These three cover the spread, from a twenty dollar backup pair to Apple's default. Every price below was checked on the date shown next to the offer.
Wireless earbuds: all 3 products we track, with dated prices →
| Spec | Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC | Apple AirPods 4 | JLab Go Air Pop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best price | $79.99 at Target | $129 at Apple | $19.99 at Target |
| Checked | ✓ AUG 26 | ✓ AUG 30 | ✓ AUG 26 |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | IP54 (earbuds and case) | IPX4 |
| Battery (earbuds) | 10 hrs normal, 8 hrs with ANC on | - | 8+ hours |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint | - | Bluetooth with Dual Connect |
| ANC | Adaptive ANC 2.0, up to 98.5% noise reduction claimed | - | - |
| Battery (with case) | 50 hrs normal, 40 hrs with ANC on | - | - |
| Codec | LDAC hi-res, AAC, SBC | - | - |
| Driver | 11mm custom drivers | - | - |
| Extras | HearID personalized EQ, fast charge (10 min gives about 4 hrs) | - | - |
| Battery Life (earbuds) | - | Up to 5 hours listening | - |
| Battery Life (with case) | - | Up to 30 hours total | - |
| Chip | - | H2 | - |
| Charging | - | USB-C | - |
| Fit | - | Open-ear, no silicone tips | - |
| Audio | - | Personalized Spatial Audio, Adaptive EQ | - |
| Voice | - | Hands-free "Hey Siri" plus tap controls | - |
| Battery (total with case) | - | - | 32+ hours (3 extra charges) |
| Controls | - | - | Touch controls on each earbud |
| EQ Modes | - | - | 3: JLab Signature, Balanced, Bass Boost |
| Colors | - | - | 8 color options |
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Best overall value
1. Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
The Liberty 4 NC is the pair that makes the rest of the price ladder look silly: adaptive ANC, LDAC hi-res support, multipoint pairing to two devices at once, and 10 hours of playback per charge or 8 with ANC running, plus roughly 40 more from the case. Ten minutes of charging buys about four hours, per Anker.
The tuning is bass forward rather than neutral, the capacitive touch controls take some aiming, and the IPX4 rating covers sweat and splashes rather than rain. None of that is unusual at this price. The feature list is.
Skip it if: you want neutral sound straight out of the case, since the default tuning leans hard on bass and fixing it means living in the app.
Best for iPhone owners
2. Apple AirPods 4
AirPods 4 are the default for a reason. The H2 chip handles near-instant pairing and switching across your Apple devices, Spatial Audio is personalized to you, and the open fit means nothing silicone is wedged into your ear canal. Around 5 hours per charge and up to 30 with the case, USB-C charging, IP54 on both buds and case.
This base model has no active noise cancellation, that is the separate pricier version, and the open design lets ambient noise in by design. There is also no volume control on the buds themselves, so changing it means Siri or your phone.
Skip it if: you commute or work in an open office, since the open fit and the missing ANC leave the noise exactly where it is.
Best budget
3. JLab Go Air Pop
Around twenty dollars buys a genuinely usable pair: 8 hours per charge and roughly 32 with the case, three EQ presets you cycle on the bud itself with no app needed, touch controls that cover play, volume, calls and voice assistant, and eight colors. As a backup pair, a gym pair or a first set, it does the job.
There is no app, no ANC, and call quality falls apart on a noisy street. Whatever isolation you get comes down to how well the tips seal.
Skip it if: you take a lot of calls outdoors, since callers get the street along with your voice.
Common questions
Is active noise cancellation worth paying for?
It depends where you listen. On transit, in an open office or near a fan, ANC removes the low-frequency layer that no ear tip alone will touch. If you mostly listen at home, that money is better spent on fit and battery. The Liberty 4 NC is the cheapest real ANC of these three.
Do AirPods work with Android?
They pair over standard Bluetooth and play audio fine, but the parts people buy AirPods for, instant pairing, automatic device switching, head-tracked Spatial Audio and firmware updates, need Apple devices. On Android the Liberty 4 NC gives you more for less.
Open fit or sealed in-ear?
Open buds like AirPods 4 sit in the outer ear, stay comfortable for long stretches and let you hear the room, which is safer for walking and running outside. Sealed designs like the Liberty 4 NC and Go Air Pop block more and hold bass better, at the cost of pressure some people dislike after an hour.
How long will a pair last?
The battery is the limit. Cells wear down over a couple of years of daily charging and none of these have user-replaceable batteries, which is a good reason not to overspend on a pair you use casually.