The best wireless earbuds
Proper noise cancelling doesn’t have to cost £200. The earbuds worth buying, whether they’re on iPhone, Samsung or anything else.
Earbuds are one of the most-wanted gifts for teenagers and adults alike. You don’t need to spend £200: the best-value pairs now have proper noise cancelling for under £50.
What matters
- Noise cancelling is the feature most worth paying for.
- Match the brand to the phone for the easiest pairing (Apple with iPhone, Samsung with Galaxy).
- A secure fit matters for the gym and running.
- Total battery with the case of 24 hours or more is plenty.
Photos are illustrative. We may earn a small commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. How we pick · How this works.
Best overall
#1 of 5
9.1/10
soundcore by Anker P31i Noise Cancelling Earbuds
£49.99 RRP
Proper adaptive noise cancelling for well under £50, from soundcore, Anker’s audio brand. Great for the commute and the gym.
- Adaptive noise cancelling
- Hi-res sound (LDAC)
- Secure fit
- Long battery life
What owners say: Phenomenal sound for the money, a secure fit that stays put at the gym, and a battery that lasts.
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A closer look: With noise cancelling on, expect up to 8 hours per charge and 40 in total with the case, and a 10-minute top-up before leaving the house buys up to 3 hours. Six microphones help calls cut through wind and traffic, and a two-way translation feature covering 100 languages could earn its keep on a school trip abroad.
Best for: Most people: commuting, the gym, long journeys
- Noise cancelling
- Yes
- Battery per charge
- 10 hrs (8 with noise cancelling)
- Total with case
- 50 hrs (40 with noise cancelling)
- Water resistance
- Sweat and rain (IP55)
- Works best with
- Any phone
Best for iPhone
#2 of 5
9.1/10
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
£££ Over £40
If they have an iPhone, nothing pairs more easily. The noise-cancelling version is well worth the extra.
- Active noise cancellation
- Redesigned for all-day comfort
- Press controls on a shorter stem
- Instant iPhone pairing
What owners say: Incredible sound, great noise cancelling and comfortable for long listening. Owners say they’re worth the money.
Heads up: The open design doesn’t suit every ear shape, and they’re at their best with an iPhone.
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A closer look: Start talking to someone and the volume drops automatically, useful at a coffee counter or when a colleague leans over to ask something. Two people with AirPods can listen to the same song or show together, and if one goes astray down the side of the sofa, the Find My app helps track it down.
Best for: iPhone owners
- Noise cancelling
- Yes
- Battery per charge
- 5 hrs (4 with noise cancelling)
- Total with case
- 30 hrs (20 with noise cancelling)
- Water resistance
- Sweat and splashes (IP54)
- Works best with
- iPhone
Best for Samsung
#3 of 5
8.8/10
Samsung Galaxy Buds FE
£61.66 RRP
The Samsung equivalent: they pair instantly with Galaxy phones and have noise cancelling at a friendly price.
- Active noise cancelling
- Wing tips for a secure fit
- Deep bass
What owners say: Great value, excellent sound and a snug fit, and they pair effortlessly with Samsung phones.
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A closer look: Spend a few minutes on day one trying the different ear tip and wing tip sizes, as a good seal helps the noise cancelling and stops them working loose. Listening time runs up to 30 hours, and the UK version comes with a two-year manufacturer warranty, so keep the receipt somewhere safe.
Best for: Samsung Galaxy owners
- Noise cancelling
- Yes
- Battery per charge
- 8.5 hrs (6 with noise cancelling)
- Total with case
- 30 hrs (21 with noise cancelling)
- Water resistance
- Light sweat (IPX2)
- Works best with
- Samsung Galaxy
Runner-up
#4 of 5
8.7/10
Sony WF-C510 Truly Wireless Earbuds
££ £15–£40
Among the smallest and lightest earbuds Sony makes, so they’re comfortable for hours.
- Among Sony’s smallest and lightest
- DSEE sound upscaling
- Comfortable for long wear
What owners say: High-quality sound that goes loud enough, a comfortable, secure fit, and worth the price.
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A closer look: Multipoint keeps them connected to a laptop and a phone at the same time, so a work call can cut into your music without any re-pairing. Five minutes of quick charging gives about an hour of listening if they’ve been left flat, but there’s no noise cancelling, so anyone with a loud commute might prefer a pair that has it.
Best for: Small ears and all-day comfort
- Noise cancelling
- No
- Battery per charge
- 11 hrs
- Total with case
- 22 hrs
- Water resistance
- Sweat and splashes (IPX4)
- Works best with
- Any phone
Best budget
#5 of 5
8.6/10
TOZO A1 Wireless Earbuds
£19.99 RRP
Tiny, light and surprisingly good for around £20. Ideal for younger teens, or as a spare pair for the gym bag.
- Only 3.7g per earbud
- Up to 32 hours with the case
- App EQ settings
- Bluetooth 5.3
What owners say: Good quality, excellent sound for the price, and a comfortable fit that stays put.
Heads up: No noise cancelling at this price.
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A closer look: Volume, track skipping and calls are all controlled by tapping the earbuds, so the phone can stay on a bench or in a bag up to 12 metres away. Each charge lasts around 6.5 hours at 60% volume, and the shape is made for smaller ears, so they don’t stick out under a hat or hood.
Best for: Younger teens, or a spare pair for the gym bag
- Noise cancelling
- No
- Battery per charge
- 6.5 hrs
- Total with case
- 32 hrs
- Water resistance
- Sweat and rain (IPX5)
- Works best with
- Any phone
How they compare
| Feature | #1soundcore P31iBest overall | #2AirPods 4 (ANC)Best for iPhone | #3Galaxy Buds FEBest for Samsung | #4Sony WF-C510Runner-up | #5TOZO A1Best budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picked Rating | 9.1 | 9.1 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 8.6 |
| Price | £49.99 RRP | £££ Over £40 | £61.66 RRP | ££ £15–£40 | £19.99 RRP |
| Noise cancelling | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Battery per charge | 10 hrs (8 with noise cancelling) | 5 hrs (4 with noise cancelling) | 8.5 hrs (6 with noise cancelling) | 11 hrs | 6.5 hrs |
| Total with case | 50 hrs (40 with noise cancelling) | 30 hrs (20 with noise cancelling) | 30 hrs (21 with noise cancelling) | 22 hrs | 32 hrs |
| Water resistance | Sweat and rain (IP55) | Sweat and splashes (IP54) | Light sweat (IPX2) | Sweat and splashes (IPX4) | Sweat and rain (IPX5) |
| Works best with | Any phone | iPhone | Samsung Galaxy | Any phone | Any phone |
| Best for | Most people: commuting, the gym, long journeys | iPhone owners | Samsung Galaxy owners | Small ears and all-day comfort | Younger teens, or a spare pair for the gym bag |
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