The best in-ear headphones for every budget
In-ear headphones, known in the industry as 'true wireless' headphones are among the hottest and most sought-after tech items today.
It's a multi-million dollar industry in Australia alone, and with so many brands to choose from it's also one of the most complex.
What to consider before buying in-ear headphones
One of the biggest challenges with this category is the fact that it's one of the only items you will buy that you really cannot try first. So you are relying on so much external information like reviews, recommendations from friends and also your own experience.
There are three big considerations for any in-ear headphones, and they are the fit, the sound and noise cancelling.
When it comes to fit, I'm also referring to the overall design here. Some people like the 'bud and stalk' design of the AirPods and many others. While many prefer the no-stalk 'bud' option.
You need to consider the size of the bud in those situations and for many people, their ear shape just rejects a larger bud even though the tip of the headphone that goes in your ear is broadly the same for all of them. It's for this reason these headphones always include a variety of tips to choose from so you can get the best and most snug fit in the ear.
Sound quality is critical, and it is broadly safe to say the more you pay the better it is, with some exceptions. Big audio brands in this space have been able to keep their audio style or tone in some of their most affordable products, but brands not historically in the audio space might struggle to push audio quality out at a lower price.
Unfortunately sound or music quality is in many ways the most subjective thing in technology, some people love a bit of bass, while others like more control over their EQ settings. But when you're on a good thing, stick to it, so if you've heard something from a brand and loved it, have confidence they will carry those things across the range.
There are three big considerations for any in-ear headphones, and they are the fit, the sound and noise cancelling.
When it comes to noise cancelling, unfortunately, with in-ear headphones it's hit and miss. Because any noise cancelling relies on, in part, the passive cancellation of sound by just physically blocking it out, that's a bigger challenge for these style headphones. Find the right tip for the bud, but also the correct position for the headphones in your ear – these things really matter.
Noise cancelling, like sound, is a price game. The big prices will get you the best noise cancelling, and for the most part, in true-wireless in-ear headphones, Sony and Apple are the top of the pops.
NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.
Premium in-ear headphones
JBL Tour Pro 2
Amazon: $329
The Good Guys: $329
Possibly the most innovative headphone release of 2023, JBL's Tour Pro 2 offers something no other headphones have. A case with a touch-screen to control the settings of your in-ear headphones.
Before I get to that, let me say these have top-notch noise cancelling – if pushed I'd say third best to Sony and Apple, but what they have over and above those is sound quality.
JBL's signature sound is impressive, and their app even more so, allowing you to customise everything from the touch gestures on the stalks to the EQ settings for your music listening. When it comes to pause, play, and even turning on and off noise cancelling, the JBL Tour Pro 2 case has a small touch screen that has these controls built-in.
Ideal for plane travel, so your phone can be away, either in a pocket or in the seat pocket in front of you, and to skip tracks, seeing track names while you do it – just tape the Fwd button on the touch screen. If someone is coming to talk to you, swipe to the noise cancelling page and turn that on, off or into ambient mode.
It comes across to many as a gimmick, but in reality, it's a shortcut that comes in very handy when you travel a lot.
These have a great fit, great sound and great features, and bang for your buck offer more than any other on the market.
Sony WF-1000XM5
Amazon: $419
The Good Guys: $419
Sony's latest generation is also the most recent release to the market. They have an all-new design which makes them fit snug in the ear, but also are easy to activate and use with new touch surfaces on them.
There's little question that Sony is the leader in noise cancelling, in particular with their over-ear headphones, but these do an amazing job as long as you choose the correct tip and get a great fit.
The Sony app works well to give you customisation of controls and sound, as well as being smart if set up right to utilise noise cancelling and not in the right moments – like when you're walking – it turns it down or off.
Apple AirPods Pro, 2nd Gen
Amazon: $345 (was $399)
The Good Guys: $399
Not being a true audio brand, Apple is the biggest surprise in this space. There's a reason so many people love AirPods.
Firstly, their ease of use with any iPhone or Apple device is second to none. The simplicity of the pairing process is something that no other device offers, and for that alone, they sell.
Sound quality is fantastic, and with their support for spacial audio, the new all-around Dolby Atmos music production, there's a really nice and very personal feeling to much of the music.
Noise cancelling is off the charts great, probably the best in this class with only Sony even close to rivalling the Apple algorithm. Apple's transparency mode and their 'adaptive transparency' lets in natural sounds, but dulls the harsh loud noises like construction or loud yelling to give you ambience while you walk, but great music at the same time.
The latest generation has better swipe controls on the stalks, but still, Apple lacks the ability for you to adjust the EQ settings to suit your own sound preferences.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
Amazon: $298 (was $399.95)
The Good Guys: $295 (was $399.95)
Sennheiser is another brand that you can trust to ensure the music you're listening to sounds great. Their heritage dictates this.
These headphones also tick every box. My only shortcoming would be the size of the earbud itself – it's quite a bulky unit but still feels comfortable so it's more a looks thing if you're sensitive to that.
It would be genuinely hard for the average listener to pick the best in class noise cancelling among the Apple, Sony and JBL, but Sennheiser is certainly right on their tail at worst.
The 'passthrough' or transparency mode as others call it on these isn't as great as the rest, and I think that might be to do with the microphone array, I think call quality was also a touch lower and there's a bit of wind noise when using them.
But, that said, on solid sound and music quality alone, these are exceptional at the price.
READ MORE: The very best noise cancelling headphones
Apple AirPods, 3rd Gen
Amazon: $279
The Good Guys: $279
The 3rd Gen Apple AirPods have to be in this premium category purely on price alone, while they don't have one key feature of the others – noise cancelling.
3rd Gen took the AirPods Pro 'look' and brought it to the basic headphones from Apple, the shorter stalk, the look of the Pro but without noise cancelling.
And, they also lack the silicone ear-tips. This is a deal breaker for many, as the AirPods just won't stay in snug without that silicone tip. If you aren't on planes all the time, then perhaps noise cancelling isn't a feature for you, so you do get Apple's premium audio experience, including spatial audio with these 3rd Gens.
True Wireless Headphones under $200
These have been my go-to for some time now, because they offer great noise cancelling...
JBL Live Pro 2
Amazon: $164 (was $199)
The Good Guys: $199
I'll come right out and say it, these are the category killers on bang-for-your-buck features and quality. These have been my go-to for some time now, because they offer great noise cancelling, no, not quite Sony or Apple levels, but on a plane, they dull that white noise very well. Play some great music and you'd think you're floating on the clouds.
Then you throw in JBL audio quality and you're starting to really drive value for yourself, while the JBL Headphones app is the "killer app" because there is no rival app quite like it.
Given the price and the quality, it's hard not to say "just buy these".
Jabra Elite 4
Amazon: $139
The Goods Guys: $179
Jabra is a company that's been doing audio for mobile for the best part of the smartphone era, and while they might not have the brand reputation of the others, they have a strong loyal user base who flock to them for the next set.
While they do have some epic tick-all-the-boxes headphones, I can only write about so many, so I chose the Elite 4 series because one thing stood out to me and still does about them – weight. They are so light, they feel weightless in your ears.
Strong customisation thanks to the Jabra app, and they do at this price – have active noise cancellation, but it's not going to rival Sony and Apple in this pair.
In various colours, and with this great price, well worth consideration and you won't be disappointed.
READ MORE: Our tech expert reveals the wireless earbuds worth your hard-earned cash
Sony LinkBuds
Amazon: $199 (was $249)
Oh, you want something different, do you?
You don't need noise cancelling, in fact, quite the opposite? You do all your walks and runs out in the open air and want full awareness of the cars and people around you.
The Sony LinkBuds are a strange design with a donut hole that sits in your ear and projects the sound into the ear, while also letting external sounds be heard. But don't discount their quality – open designs actually benefit audio quality in some situations, and for these, it's still a beautiful sound, but with that added benefit of being open.
Outside of running and outdoor walks, I think these are great for in the office. Wear them all day, literally all day, and enjoy the podcasts and music as you do, and if someone comes up to talk to you – it's not awkward or a shock.
ASUS ROG Cetra
Amazon: $189
If you're looking for a gift for that gamer in your life, or you quite frankly just want something that's a bit different in style, ASUS ROG Cetra are fantastic.
A flat design, with bold ROG branding will mean a bit to anyone in the gaming space. A far better option than 'bland' 'everyone has them' AirPods, plus they're probably a PC user and have an Android phone.
The sound is good and there is a hybrid active noise cancelling which basically means you'll be able to shut out a bit of noise, but don't think of these in the big leagues.
Frankly, I like them just on style, and many others would too.
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