Buzz
1. Anker Soundcore Liberty 2
Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 stands out as an excellent choice for most with its customizable fit, adjustable sound, and decent battery life. The included multiple ear tips and silicone wings ensure a comfortable fit for everyone, and the Anker app allows you to fine-tune the audio to your liking.
The sound quality is among the best in this price range, slightly emphasizing bass and delivering crisp highs. Thanks to the EQ options in the Anker app, you can tweak the sound to match your preferences. In fact, the app features a HearID function that helps find the best EQ settings for your ears.
The battery life falls slightly short of the advertised 8 hours, averaging around 7 hours per charge in our tests. However, it still stands above average in the truly wireless earphones category. The case provides approximately 3 full charges. As for the build, it feels a bit fragile with a thin plastic shell that can slide open and might pop out in your pocket or bag.
Liberty 2 is certified with IPX5, meaning they are sealed to withstand strong water sprays and even tested to resist some light splashes. While you can't submerge them, they're durable enough for workouts and sweating without worrying about damage.
Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 offers the most for the majority at an excellent price point. You'll get a comfortable fit and dial in the sound you love.
2. JLab Audio Epic Air Sport ANC
Choosing JLab Epic Air Sport ANC as our top sports pick doesn't mean you should rule them out if you're not into sports. Quite the opposite. They are great for those concerned about getting a secure fit, especially for individuals struggling with traditional in-ear headphones. Rated IP66, they have excellent dust resistance and can handle moisture — just don't dunk them. Of course, they're also great if you're an active person.
A significant reason for this is the over-ear design. It's a soft silicone type that we never find uncomfortable, fitting snugly even for glasses wearers. Some may not be fans of this style, but it allows a much more secure fit compared to any other option — we never felt like they would fall out and go astray. These loops aren't detachable (see non-Sport siblings), but Epic Air Sport comes with various silicon ear tip options, along with a very comfortable ear tip.
Overall, the sound leans towards the bass-heavy side, but like Anker Liberty 2, there are plenty of EQ options to help you fine-tune your preferred audio.
Battery life falls slightly short of the claim. We measured around 13 hours per charge compared to JLab's 15-hour claim, but that's commendable for true wireless earphones. Turning on features like noise cancellation will result in slightly less battery life. Speaking of noise cancellation, like all NC services here, it's very subtle. It won't hurt to have it, but if you're specifically looking for noise cancellation, you might want to check our top picks in the best wireless earphones or our best noise-canceling earphones list.
Similar to most newer true wireless earphones, Epic Air Sport ANC also provides an adjustable transparency mode, which JLab calls Be Aware, allowing you to hear your surroundings in busy areas.
The case, slightly larger than others in this category, houses a large battery, providing around 3.5 extra charges. It comes with a USB cable, a strength or weakness depending on your device. More importantly, it features wireless charging, which is a fantastic touch.
If you're planning on walking or hiking, these are what you'd want to grab. However, if you're not a fan of over-ear loops, Anker Liberty 2 is a better choice.
3. JLab Go Air Pop
JLab Go Air Pop is by no means the best in-ear headphones available, or even present on this list. But with a commitment level lower than your choice of toppings on a weekend pizza, there's no better way to test truly wireless earphones without the guilt. Consider them your training wheels — a great way to see if truly wireless buds are for you with minimal investment or commitment.
Go Air Pop is effortlessly pairing, providing a solid connection, and although the sound won't blow anyone away, it's versatile for listening to music and podcasts in various situations. There's not much finesse, depth, or dimension, and they might struggle to deliver higher frequencies — especially in crowded environments. But there's no heavy bass or boomy lows. If you're not too picky about sound, they'll perform well.
As one might imagine, both the earbud and case seem a bit budget because they are just that. But it's also a standout, compact, easy-to-slip-into-your-pocket package. When it comes to battery life, these earphones stretch all the way to 8 hours of playback in testing, meeting or beating some of the best in this category. The case provides an additional three charges, totaling an impressive 32 hours on the go and even comes with a included charging cable. Unlike previous Go Air models, this time there's an actual, albeit somewhat fragile, lid.
The features are surprisingly slim, with no dedicated external microphones for transparency mode or Active Noise Cancellation. There are also no extras like wireless charging, auto-off, or a dedicated app for more enticing features like tracking your lost buds.
The added controls are an improvement, allowing you to play/pause, adjust volume, and skip tracks via touch-sensitive mousepads on both sides (though with a certain learning curve). The touch-sensitive sensors even let you access some basic EQ settings to boost the bass. Like most in-ear earphones today, you can choose to use one earbud or both simultaneously, and they even have IPX4 water resistance, fitting in with some pricier options like Samsung's Galaxy Buds 2.
Key point: It's a small, quite sweet package for the money. If you or a loved one is looking to dive into the world of fully wireless earphones on a super slim budget, then JLab's Go Air Pop offers an affordable, fresh take and surprisingly good reserves (especially in the battery department) at a nearly unbeatable price.
