Wireless earbuds reached their apex in 2022. Established players updated flagship models, and prices continued to fall for mid-range buds while still adding features like active noise-cancellation (ANC).
All of this is to say: there’s never been a better time to get wireless earbuds if you're a newcomer or upgrade an older pair if yours are on their last legs. While the majority of the wireless earbuds that made our list come with premium price tags, you can find nearly all of them on sale, which makes them even better values.
Here are the seven best noise-cancelling wireless earbuds of 2022, presented below in no particular order.
Bose QC Earbuds II
Bose made the somewhat bold choice to announce the QC Earbuds II right before Apple was set to unveil the AirPods Pro 2, but that boldness paid off given the glowing reviews these wireless earbuds received. We had the chance to test them ourselves and can confirm the hype is not unfounded. They sound great, and Bose is working some kind of witchcraft with the sound isolation experience on offer. If you can afford the high price tag and can live without wireless charging, you will not find a pair of wireless earbuds this well-rounded.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3
Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 3 are the best wireless earbuds the company has ever made. While Sennheiser's wireless earbuds always sounded amazing, the Momentum True Wireless 3 take that sound quality and pack it in a much more attractive package for mainstream users. The ANC is also upgraded compared to past models. If your biggest priority is audio quality, the Momentum True Wireless 3 should be at the top of your shopping list.
AirPods Pro 2
It would be more of a surprise to find the AirPods Pro 2 not on this list. The originals became ubiquitous in the ears of pedestrians practically overnight, despite some concerning quality control issues. Apple upgraded everything in AirPods Pro 2, while polishing some of the rougher edges. ANC and Transparency modes both got meaningful upgrades, the stems were refreshed with volume controls, and there's finally proper Find My tracking with the U1 chip. Sound quality improved in a major way, too, with new audio components delivering richer bass and a wider soundstage.
Jabra Elite 5
We've been consistently impressed with Jabra’s recent wireless earbuds lineup, but the Elite 5 are probably our favorite from the brand. The Elite 5 share the same driver and physical shape as the already great Elite 4 Active, but bring upgraded ANC and a more advanced chipset. The result is a great-sounding pair of wireless earbuds that deliver ANC strong enough to satisfy the vast majority of users. The Elite 7 Pro are still the most advanced wireless earbuds Jabra sells and are the better pick when they're discounted. But if the Elite 5 are the cheaper option when you’re shopping, don’t feel pressured to pay up.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are a more dramatic leap forward from their predecessor than the AirPods Pro 2. Samsung refined just about everything with the premium wireless earbuds, from the design to the audio components. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are smaller and sound better, and if you have a Samsung device running One UI 4 or newer, you even get the benefit of higher bitrate audio that no other brand can offer for Galaxy phones. They’re the closest Samsung has come to the AirPods' experience in the best ways possible.
Google Pixel Buds Pro
If you have any Android phone not made by Samsung and have been looking for something that delivers the system-level integration found on AirPods and Galaxy Buds, look no further than the Pixel Buds Pro. Google’s latest wireless earbuds are the company’s best-sounding and feature-packed offering to date.
Sony LinkBuds S
Sony’s LinkBuds S, the second entry to its LinkBuds brand, made a much better impression than the open-ear style LinkBuds. While the sound quality and ANC are nowhere near the flagship (deep breath) WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds, the LinkBuds S manage to outshine much of the competition from other brands. They’re incredibly light and comfortable as well, with a smaller profile than the bulky WF buds.
INVERSE celebrates the best of the best in entertainment, gaming, science, and technology of 2022. Go to the INVERSE Awards hub.
