These are the wireless earbuds that are truly worth your money
Do the cords of your headphones look like the knotted center of a rat king after spending just a few minutes inside a pocket or purse? Turns out there's a scientific explanation for that.
In 2007, two researchers at the University of California, San Diego decided to study the likelihood of knot formation by tumbling a piece of string inside a plastic box. They performed no less than 3,415 trials of this experiment and analyzed the resulting knots using mathematical knot theory. (That's a thing, apparently.)
The pair published their findings in a paper, titled "Spontaneous knotting of an agitated string," concluding that one end of a string has to cross another part of the string just twice for a spontaneous knot to begin forming. That means as soon as you stash away your headphones, they can be well on their way to Tangle City in a matter of seconds. Read more...
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BEST OVERALL CHOICE
Jabra Elite Active 65tThey may not enjoy the same mainstream brand recognition as AirPods or Galaxy Buds, but Jabra's good-sounding, long-lasting earbuds are the cream of the wireless crop.
- Playtime: 5 hours (+10 hours with charging case)
- Style: True wireless
- Built-in mic: Yes
- Charging case included: Yes
BEST FOR NOISE CANCELLATION
Apple AirPods ProApple's infamous in-ear buds have gotten even better with the addition of active noise cancelation technology.
- Playtime: 4.5 hours of listening time and 3.5 hours of talk time (+24 and +18 hours, respectively, with charging case); listening time can be extended to up to 5 hours with Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency off
- Style: True wireless
- Built-in mic: Yes
- Charging case included: Yes
BEST BUDGET PICK
Anker Soundcore Liberty NeoOffering decent sound for the money, Anker's buds are a worthy upgrade from the junky earbuds you impulse-bought at the airport.
- Playtime: 3.5 hours (+9 hours with charging case)
- Style: True wireless
- Built-in mic: Yes
- Charging case included: Yes
BEST PREMIUM BUDS
Sennheiser Momentum True WirelessIf you can justify their borderline ridiculous price tag, you'll be the proud owner of the best-sounding buds on your block.
- Playtime: 4 hours (+12 with charging case)
- Style: True wireless
- Built-in mic: Yes
- Charging case included: Yes
BEST FOR DEEP BASS
Bose SoundSport FreeThese bulbous little buds offer some serious oomph — just don't expect much from them when it comes to video syncing.
- Playtime: 5 hours (+10 hours with charging case)
- Style: True wireless
- Built-in mic: Yes
- Charging case included: Yes
BEST FOR FLEXIBILITY
Samsung Galaxy BudsThese durable and highly customizable earbuds offer the sort of convenient functionality that even Apple devotees can get behind.
- Playtime: 6 hours (+7 hours with charging case)
- Style: True wireless
- Built-in mic: Yes
- Charging case included: Yes
BEST FOR WORKING OUT
LifeBEAM Vi Sense Wireless HeadphonesThese AI-enabled earbuds have the potential to replace your Fitbit *and* your IRL personal trainer.
- Playtime: 8 hours
- Style: Wireless
- Built-in mic: Yes
- Charging case included: No
BEST FOR ALL-DAY WEAR
Beats Powerbeats Pro Totally Wireless EarphonesLove Apple, but hate AirPods? The Beats Powerbeats Pro are a sporty alternative comfy enough for all-day wear with an all-day battery life to match.
- Playtime: 9 hours (+24 hours with charging case)
- Style: True wireless with earhooks
- Built-in mic: Yes
- Charging case included: Yes