The 1MORE EVO Buds come in at a medium price point, with audio quality that far surpassed my expectations. My day-to-day earbuds are three times the price of these wireless earbuds, but having used them for a number of weeks, I'd happily stick to the 1MORE for the majority of my audio needs. 

With a sleek matte case that magnetically opens and closes, the earbuds themselves can be touch-operated and have a glossy exterior that looks just as good as expensive alternatives. 

My one downside to these headphones was that the noise-canceling could've been better, so if you want a pair of the best headphones to study or commute, maybe try elsewhere. 

1MORE EVO Buds: At a glance

You'll likely buy the 1MORE EVO Buds on Amazon. They retail for $170, or £160 in the UK, but you're likely to find them on sale if you shop during Black Friday or Prime Day. 

The buds charge with USB-C, and the brand claims that the battery lasts eight hours on a full charge, or five hours if you're using noise-canceling. 

The 1MORE EVO Buds come in a metal case that opens and closes from a top lid mechanism. This is magnetic, and easy to pop open using a thumb while on the go. The case feels nice and sturdy, and I enjoyed that the earbuds came with some pre-charge, which meant I could get straight to testing. 

As for the buds themselves, these were quite small and fitted comfortably in my ears. As with most earbuds, you can choose from a selection of plastic tips to find the right fit for you. 

1MORE EVO Buds: key specs

1MORE EVO Buds: Performance

I tested the 1MORE EVO Buds on my morning commute, which involves half an hour on London's (very noisy) Northern Line. Having noise-canceling headphones on this journey is a must if I want to catch a word of my morning podcast, and while these buds did a decent job, I didn't find that they outperformed my current favorite buds, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ. With that said, these are also a more expensive option when compared to the 1MORE, so it's a case of getting what you pay for when it comes to noise-cancelling. 

As for audio quality, I found that these buds punched well above their weight. Music was clear and accurate, and worked just as well on the moody pop tunes I usually listen to as it did with a smattering of Holst's Planet Suite. 

Controls are intuitive. You can pause and play music with a double tap, hold for a few seconds to switch between noise canceling modes, and triple tap to activate a voice assistant on your phone. You can also customise these using the 1MORE app, which paired seamlessly with the buds from first use. 

How does it compare?

Compare with a minimum of 2 other products. If we've reviewed, link out to them on TTR. If we've not reviewed, link out to an affiliated site where it's available to buy.

A more affordable alternative, the Beats Studio Buds wowed us with their colorful design and clarity. Although the battery life isn't nearly as good as the 1MORE EVO Buds, they could be a good option for those who are happy to charge regularly. 

Cheaper still, the Earfun Free Pro earbuds are the best value buds we've tested. Our reviewer rated the battery life more highly than the Beats, finding that the 32-hour battery life as claimed by Earfun was accurate. However, we prefer the look of the 1MORE EVO, and the buds feature a more sleek and compact design. 

1MORE EVO Buds: should you buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested the 1MORE EVO Buds

We tested the 1MORE EVO Buds for a number of weeks before writing this review. Our reviewer Millie considered everything from design and looks to ease of use and battery life. Millie uses earbuds on a daily basis, listening to everything from podcasts to feel-good playlists for her commute and morning walks. She was able to compare the 1MORE EVO Buds to her usual earbuds, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ, in terms of sound quality and battery life. 

See more about how we test.

When it comes to audio equipment and headphones, JLab doesn't need introducing. The JLab Go Air Pop are a reliable and versatile pair of earbuds that are on the cheap end of the spectrum yet don't compromise on build or audio quality, ideal if you're looking for every day earphones that won't set you back too much.

These earbuds come in a light portable case and in a variety of colorways to choose from, from teal to brick red and the classic slate or black. For the price (less than $25), the earbuds and case don't feel flimsy and can withstand frequent daily use, including during exercise and in the rain. 

If you're an audiophile looking for the highest quality earphones to listen to music, then these are definitely not the right choice for you. However, they're a great pair to take everywhere from the gym, to work, or just to listen to tunes and podcasts on the go. 

I tested these earbuds over the course of a few months to test their audio quality, ergonomics and comfort, ease of use, and of course, durability. I have been really impressed with their performance, so read on to find out if they're the right pair for you.

For other listening options, check out our guide to the best headphones, which contains a variety of models for all needs and budgets.

JLab Go Air Pop: Design

The JLab Go Air Pop come in a standard-looking charging earbud case that clicks open and shut and has space to store and charge the earbuds when not in use. The lid mechanism doesn't feel too flimsy the case is nice and light, great for slipping into your pocket before you go out. 

The case has a charging cable attached to it which neatly tucks underneath it when not in use. You can plug the case in to a USB port on a laptop, or directly into a plug. 

In terms of design, these earbuds also look pretty standard. They're very small, light and compact, and don't have the "wing" you can find on Airpods for example. The downside of not having this wing is that the earbuds controls are on the earbud themselves, which can be a bit fiddly when you're putting them in.

The earbuds also come with three different sizes of silicone inserts to adjust the fit as needed. As someone with really small ears, I often struggle to find earbuds that fit properly, and most importantly stay in while I exercise and walk about. I fitted the Air Pop earbuds with the largest silicone inserts and found them really comfortable to wear, even for long periods of time, and was pleased with how snuggly they fit. 

As I mentioned above, the JLab Go Air Pop come in a variety of colors: red, teal, lilac, black, slate or graphite. It's nice to have the option as these are regular-use, every day earbuds so you could match them up to your phone or accessories, for example.

JLab Go Air Pop: Setup and usability

The JLab Go Air Pop connect to your devices using Bluetooth 5.1, which is known to be a bit unreliable with Android devices. I am an Android user myself, and from the moment of connection onwards, I had very few issues with these earbuds. Apart from the occasional and very short dropoff in one earbud, the connection is strong and steady across a variety of devices, from laptops to phones. 

Setup is relatively easy, as you only have to make sure the earbuds are charged before you can connect to your devices. It took me all but 5 minutes from taking them out of the box to start listening to music. 

The earbuds are controlled by tapping them in various sequences, as follows:
• Single tap: volume up on right earbud, volume down on left earbud, or answer call
• Double tap: play/pause on right earbud, voice assistance on left earbud, hang up a phone call
• Press and hold: forward track on right earbud, backward track on left earbud, reject incoming call
• Triple tap: EQ preset change on either earbud

The small, compact design means it's easy to accidentally trigger those controls while putting the earbuds in or adjusting their position. The sensitivity of these touch controls is also not the most reliable - I found I sometimes had to tab multiple times until my content was paused, or that I accidentally paused content instead of putting the volume down.

JLab Go Air Pop: Audio quality

The JLab Go Air Pop's audio quality is just fine. It won't blow you out of the water, especially if you're an expert audiophile and used to high quality equipment, but for everyday use, it does the job perfectly well.

I used them for everything from listening to my favorite podcasts to pop music for workouts, or to make phone and video calls. These earbuds have three EQ options: Bass Boost, Balanced, and JLab Signature. The Bass Boost preset makes a big difference for music with large amounts of base, but I tended to keep the earbuds on "Balanced" for most uses. 

In terms of mic quality for audio calls, these earbuds are great for making calls in quiet places, but the mic is very sensitive to surrounding noise, so if you're around a bit of wind or in a busy place, the person you're calling might struggle to understand you. 

The other thing of note is that the JLab Go Air Pop don't have ANC per se, they rely on a tight fit to block out some of the surrounding noise. While I found this a good thing to ensure safety while walking after dark, if you're after a pair of earbuds with active noise cancellation, you'll want to look elsewhere.

JLab Go Air Pop: Battery life

The battery life is perhaps where these earbuds shine brightest. Having tested a range of wireless earphones, I always found battery life to be a bit underwhelming, and resented having to charge most pairs every day. 

But not with the JLab Go Air Pop - the brand claims these have an 8-hour battery life, but I found this to be closer to 12 hours of constant use. The case when fully charged adds another 24 hours, so even with regular use, you might find you only have to charge these earphones once every couple of days. 

You also have a bit of time between the low battery warning and the earbuds shutting down, which means you could put the case on to charge when you first hear it. 

For the price, the battery life is really impressive, and one of the best I've seen on wireless earbuds. 

JLab Go Air Pop: User reviews

At the time of writing, the JLab Go Air Pop scored 4.4 stars out of 5 on Amazon, from 21,653 ratings. Positive reviews praised the really good value for money, the battery life and comfort of these earbuds, with one user saying "Stop looking now if you want a pair of low budget earbuds. I had to return two pairs with decent Amazon reviews that cost around $10, which taught me that spending at least $20 is mandatory. I found multiple reputable websites that declared the JLab Go Air Pop to be the best budget earbuds, and these did not disappoint! The sound quality obviously won't challenge very expensive earbuds, but the audio quality is more than adequate for those among us who aren't audiophiles."

The few negative reviews highlight some issues coming out of the box, and some difficulties with the touch controls. One user also highlighted that "If you don't start playing music right away, or if you pause a song for a few minutes the earbuds will automatically turn off. Then the only way to get them to turn on is to put them back in the case and take them out. That's a problem if you leave the case at home or in the car. With other jlab earbuds you can press and hold for 3 to 5 seconds and they turn back on. Not with the go air pop earbuds though."

JLab Go Air Pop: Price and availability

With a base price of $24.88 on Amazon, there is no doubt that these earbuds are in the budget category. However, I found everything from the audio quality to the durability to be above average and really really impressive for the price. As an added bonus, there are frequent discounts on JLab earbuds, and they are currently 6% off at Amazon.

Should you buy the JLab Go Air Pop?

If you're after a cheap but durable pair of earbuds that can withstand most use cases, then I would recommend these in a heartbeat. While they're some of the cheapest headphones I've seen, I've been using them consistently for a couple of months with no issues at all.

However, if you're looking for something a bit fancier that will guarantee a better microphone, fantastic audio quality, and features like Active Noise Cancellation, then you could consider something like the Bowers & Wilkins PX wireless headphones.

Once seen as Apple’s more garish, bass-heavy counterparts after the company purchased the product line, Beats are every bit as impressive as the company’s AirPods lineup these days.

If you’ve been disappointed by Apple’s AirPods, AirPods Pro, or even AirPods Max while working out, then it may just be time to check out the Beats Fit Pro or the Powerbeats Pro. Each is built for your running, cycling, weight-lifting, CrossFit, and any other workout needs, but they inherit much of what makes Apple’s own lineup special; instant-pairing and switching, a charging case, and “true” wireless connectivity.

Still, which one is best, and worth your money? While the Beats Fit Pro are newer, the Powerbeats could be more comfortable, but only the former offers noise cancellation. Here’s our rundown of the Beats Fit Pro vs Powerbeats Pro, but for more be sure to check out our Beats vs Bose comparison. 

Beats Fit Pro vs Powerbeats Pro: Design

As with many modern earbuds, there are two components to the Powerbeats Pro and Beats Fit Pro; the buds themselves, and the case to hold them.

Starting with the buds, each comes with a series of silicon ear tips for differing ear sizes, but that’s where the similarities end. The Beats Fit Pro have a small plastic (thin) on the side, with sensors on the other, while the Powerbeats Pro have a larger chassis that stretches into a hook that goes behind the user’s ears.

Neither is necessarily better than the other, but in testing, we did find the Powerbeats to be more comfortable when used as everyday earbuds over longer periods. Over time, that “fin” can become much more noticeable on the Fit Pro, although since all ears are different, your mileage may vary.

When it comes to the case, we have to hand it to the Fit Pro option. It’s drastically smaller, but also shorter in terms of overall height, too. The Powerbeats Case will fit in your pocket, but you’ll certainly notice it, whereas the Beats Fit Pro case is miniscule by comparison.

The case interior and exterior on the Powerbeats Pro are the same color, too, and we prefer the two-tone of the Beats Fit Pro case.

Winner: Tie

Beats Fit Pro vs Powerbeats Pro: Performance

If you’re working out and are looking for bass, then both the Powerbeats and the Beats Fit Pro will cater to the need for deep audio with plenty of oomph.

The Powerbeats, however, definitely harken back to the older, more bassy Beats headphones of yesteryear, while the Fit Pro give the highs plenty of attention, too. They’re much more balanced, akin to AirPods Pro rather than their predecessors from Beats.

There are another couple of factors that make the Beats Fit Pro an easy win in this category, too. One is the ANC we’ve mentioned multiple times in this article, which offers excellent cancelation of exterior noise while also offering transparency mode for moments when you need to hear what’s going on around you.

The Beats Fit Pro also support Apple’s Spatial Audio, which offers surround sound that matches head-tracking where supported. It’s not necessarily a huge boon for a workout, but if you want to kick back and watch a movie at the end of the day, it can offer a more cinematic experience.

Winner: Beats Fit Pro

Beats Fit Pro vs Powerbeats Pro: Battery life

When matched side by side, with the cases factored in, both the Beats Fit Pro and Powerbeats Pro offer a total of 24-hours of battery life.

The Beats Fit Pro will offer seven hours of playback before needing to be put in the charge, but that drops to six with the ANC on. On the other hand, the Powerbeats Pro offer 9 hours, presumably thanks to a larger battery given the increased space on offer.

Better yet, the Powerbeats Pro can offer an hour and a half of use after just five minutes of charging, meaning even with the battery depleted they’re still worth taking with you. The Beats Fit Pro, while still offering fast-charging, will add an hour when charged for five minutes.

Winner: Powerbeats Pro

Beats Fit Pro vs Powerbeats Pro: Connectivity

Both options here are running on Bluetooth, and while they work brilliantly with Apple tech from iPhones to Macs, they’re also just as capable on Android, Windows, or anything else that offers Bluetooth.

Naturally, to reap the benefits of instant device switching, quick pairing, and anything else afforded by the H1 chip, you’ll need to be using an Apple device.

Still, we’re giving the Beats Fit Pro the nod here thanks to the more forward-thinking charging port. It’s a USB-C port rather than Apple’s proprietary Lightning connection which is due to be phased out in the coming months.

Winner: Beats Fit Pro

Beats Fit Pro vs Powerbeats Pro: Value

The Powerbeats Pro are cheaper than the Beats Fit Pro, but whether they’re worth $149 to you will likely come down to how highly you prioritize the presence of Active Noise Cancelation.

If it’s not a biggie for you, the Powerbeats Pro are well worth  a look – and we’ve seen them drop to around the $100 mark with some steep discounts.

On the other hand, the $199 Beats Fit Pro certainly aren’t cheap, but the inclusion of ANC and the smaller form factor, plus the potential of Spatial Audio, mean they’re a great alternative to the AirPods Pro that’s actually cheaper than Apple’s option.

Winner: Tie

Beats Fit Pro vs Powerbeats Pro: Which should you buy?

Looking for a no-nonsense pair of workout earbuds that’ll stay in your ears and offer solid audio? The Powerbeats Pro are a great option and offer better battery life than the Beats Fit Pro as well as better in-ear controls.

If you want even more tech packed into an unfathomably small space, though, then the Beats Fit Pro are the way to go. They’re more compact, offer noise canceling, and even charge via USB-C. They’re not as comfortable over long periods, but they’re our pick.

Winner: Beats Fit Pro

This head-to-head showdown between Beats and Bose isn't just about comparing two popular brands. It's about audio quality, comfort, battery life, noise cancellation, and more. We'll talk about the unique features of Beats and Bose to help you choose.

We've also scoured the market to bring you the key information for each brand across their headphone ranges. We've tested and reviewed many other headphones from different brands in our best headphones buying guide if none of the Beats and Bose headphones appeal to you.

Our goal is to help you find the perfect headphones, whether from Beats, Bose, or another brand. But for now, let's get started.

Beats vs Bose: Price & value

• Bose headphones offer superior sound and noise cancellation, ideal for audiophiles.
• Beats are more affordable with stylish designs but compromise on audio quality.

Bose headphones, like the Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, are pricey. Because of their advanced noise-cancellation technology and sound quality, they're a good investment for audiophiles and frequent travelers. In the long term, users get excellent value for money because of the enhanced audio performance and comfort.

However, Beats headphones, like the Beats Studio3 Wireless, are usually cheaper than their Bose counterparts, so they appeal to younger people and people who prioritize style over functionality.

Although Beats headphones have trendy designs and good bass, they don't sound great compared to Bose. That said, many users appreciate Beats' aesthetic appeal and brand reputation as part of their identity and lifestyle.

Bose might be worth the investment if you want superior noise cancellation and clarity. Conversely, if you like stylish headphones with decent sound at a more accessible price point, Beats might be a better choice.

Beats vs Bose: Features & functions

• Beats headphones prioritize style and portability with great sound and Active Noise Cancellation
• Bose excels in comfort and audio clarity.

Starting with Beats, the Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones emphasize style and portability. With the Apple W1 chip, they're seamless with Apple devices and can do things like "Hey Siri." In addition, the headphones feature Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), which blocks out external noise effectively. Some users might notice a slight hissing noise when no music is playing. On-ear controls allow quick adjustments to volume and tracks during use, making Beats ideal for genres like hip-hop and electronic music.

Conversely, like the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, Bose headphones are all about comfort and noise-cancellation. You can fine-tune the noise-cancellation system based on your environment. Bose also excels at audio clarity, rendering vocals and mid-range sounds in great detail. Touch-sensitive controls make it easy to use, and voice assistant integration makes it even better.

With Bose headphones, you can talk easily without removing them because they have features like "Conversation Mode," which lowers playback volume and amplifies external sounds.

However, for those who consider headphones fashion accessories, the Beats offer a more vibrant aesthetic and various colors, which could be a big draw.

Beats vs Bose: Performance

• Bose headphones excel in noise cancellation and clarity, while providing comfort.
• Beats offer bass-heavy sound, but may cause discomfort for some due to fit issues.

Its noise-cancellation technology makes the Bose headphones stand out. They make a tranquil listening environment with their finely tuned ambient noise removal, which makes them great for travelers or people who need to concentrate in noisy environments. The sound quality is consistently clear and bold, especially in the mid-range, rendering vocals and instruments with impressive clarity. The bass is slightly subdued but easily adjustable, so users can customize their listening experience.

In contrast, Beats headphones, especially the Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear model, are well known for their bass-heavy sound signature, so they appeal to people who like hip-hop and electronic music. This one sounds more balanced than previous models, though sometimes it's a little muddled. Though audio quality is subjective, Beats delivers a satisfying experience for casual listeners who want vibrant bass.

With Bose headphones, you don't get ear fatigue after prolonged use due to their lightweight materials and ergonomic design. Even though Beats headphones are adjustable, some users may find the ear cups don't fit all ear sizes, making them uncomfortable.

Beats vs Bose: which is better?

Bose and Beats headphones offer distinct advantages, so your choice will ultimately depend on your preferences. With its superior sound quality, especially in the midrange, the Bose 700 headphones are designed for long-term comfort. A remarkable amount of external noise is blocked out with their industry-leading noise cancellation technology.

Alternatively, the Beats Studio3 headphones are more stylish and have an impressive battery life. They're also a little more affordable at retail price, although prices can fluctuate.

Do you think we're going to call it a tie? If not, here's the verdict: Bose wins. Both headphones aren't bad, but we think the Bose's audio quality is better. Beats headphones provide decent sound, but if you're spending $350 on headphones, you should expect more than "acceptable" sound. The Bose headphones aren't cheap, but we think it's worth it.

A pair of the best headphones is a must-have for song, podcast, or audiobook lovers, not forgetting the work video-callers, travelers, and gym-goers. And if you’re into your music (who isn't), they’re especially worth the investment. Why? From premium sound quality and noise-canceling technology to stylish designs and long-lasting battery life, they’ll improve your listening in more ways than one. 

Whether you’re on the go and need a set for your morning commute or are searching for a premium pair to improve your audio experience, there are several headphone types to choose from. Think over-ear headphones, wireless earbuds, and options to plug into one of the best smartphones. Depending on your preferences, these headphones are available in simple or more stylish designs. 

So, to help you find the best ones, we’ve tested a range of models available on the market, including options from big brands like Beats, Bose, and Sony and more affordable buys. In addition to listening out for the best headphones, we’re also in tune with other tech, like the best tablets or laptops to buy.

The best headphones we recommend

Top Ten Reviews is on a mission to review everything we feature in our buyer's guides. Still, while we work hard to make this a reality—or where this isn't possible—some of our guides still feature rankings based on our team's considerable expertise and research.

While we haven't been able to test any of the units in this guide in person, we've instead honed in on top-rated brands and used our knowledge of the best features to help you make the right decision for your home, all for the best price.

The best headphones overall

You want the full package? This is the full package. Bowers & Wilkins may not be a household name, but on the back of these headphones it deserves to be. These are the first wireless headphones with built-in noise-cancelling the company has produced, and it’s knocked the ball clean out of the park on its first swing. 

They may not look much, with a two-tone grey finish (soft gold is an optional extra) made from aluminum and ballistic nylon, they’re solid yet light, and exert a good amount of pressure when applied to your ears.

Wireless sound quality using the aptX HD codec is clean and clear, with a decent bass kick and the distinct feeling that the music is coming from in front of you. Noise-cancelling comes in two modes - Flight, which blocks out everything, and City, which should allow you to hear the honking of an oncoming taxi. 

Lifting an earcup off your ear pauses playback, and you can pause manually and adjust volume using the trio of buttons tucked behind the right earpiece. The PX doesn’t fold up particularly small, but can be made compact enough to slide into the provided carry pouch.

The best wireless earbuds

Beats Studio Buds are easily the best headphones that Beats has ever made, and they’re also some of the best noise-canceling earbuds you can find on the market. They have a super unique and stylish look, which is the result of ergonomics as much as styling. This attention to form factor means that they fit super well, which makes them ideal headphones for the gym or your morning run.

As for the actual sound quality? It’s sublime. Beats have typically been all about that bass, but the Beats Studio Buds have a much more rounded and balanced sound profile. The bass is still great, but it no longer drowns out everything else. On top of this, you get active noise canceling that will block out all that pesky background noise.

The battery life is a bit so-so, but you still get a decent amount of juice between the buds and the charging case, and they recharge super quickly when you do need a top-up. If you want fancy features like wireless charging, you’re out of luck though. These are minor complaints though, and the Beat Studio Buds are our favorite pair of headphones at the moment, especially with the aggressive price point they’re selling for.

• Read the full Beats Studio Buds review.

The best value wireless earbuds

Every now and then, a product drops from a relatively unknown company and blows the whole game wide open. That’s the case here, with the Earfun Free Pro wireless earbuds from Kickstarter success story Earfun.

These true wireless earbuds offer exceptional audio quality that rivals what you’d find in headphones that cost four or five times as much. You get great bass and treble, and respectable performance on the mids that leaves them with an impressively balanced sound profile.

The Earfun Free Pro earbuds also come with active noise cancelling technology and while they can’t keep up with the market leaders here, it’s still decent, especially for a pair of headphones this cheap. And that’s really the clincher for the Earfun Free Pro earbuds - the price. At $59.99, you’re simply not going to find a better pair of headphones at this cost. In fact, you could double or triple your budget and you’ll still struggle. These things offer ludicrous value, and the only real downside is that the touch controls take some getting used to. A price worth paying, we think.

• Read our Earfun Free Pro review.

The best noise-cancelling headphones

Bose is a company that really should know what it’s doing, and it shows. The noise-cancelling performance on offer here is second-to-none, and the sound quality isn’t bad either, although it doesn’t quite match our overall best headphones. 

It’s hard to dislike the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700s, despite their extremely long name. The new design over Bose’s previous model was worth the investment, as the seamless finish exudes a feeling of quality the more plasticky models can’t match. Touch controls are a great thing to add, making buttons feel positively 20th-century, and the use of the Bose logo as part of this gives insight into the level of thought that has gone into their manufacture.

While sound quality doesn’t match the heights of the B&Ws, it’s perfectly good in its own right, and when coupled to that remarkable noise-cancelling technology the headphones sound great. A comfortable favorite among commuters, these headphones won’t disappoint.

The best premium wireless earbuds

The rise of the true wireless earbud - that’s a pair that don’t rely on a cable between them like some wireless buds do - has been a remarkably fast one. They rely on duplication of technology, as each must house Bluetooth circuitry, mics, and its own battery, so they can tend toward the bulky, or have noticeable descending stems like the Apple Airpods.

Sony gets around this problem with intelligently shaped buds that sit in your ears like tiny Bluetooth headsets. Their noise-cancelling ability is good, and the overall sound quality, considering the drivers in earbuds are many times smaller than those in over-ear headphones, is remarkable. The small batteries are topped up using a charging case, which contains a larger battery you charge from the wall, and sound equalization functions are handled by a companion app on your phone.

These earbuds sit at the top-end of the price range that includes entries from Apple, Jabra, Beats and more. They need to stand out to justify that, and they do. You won’t find a better pair of true wireless earbuds out there. Their only drawback is a lack of waterproofing, making them unsuitable for use in the gym or while running. Apart from that, these are the best around.

The best headphones for Apple users

Apple AirPods Pro are probably the most famous earbuds in the world, alongside the normal AirPods, but are they deserving of that monstrous fame? The short answer is yes they are. When it comes to aesthetics and form factor, AirPods Pro are peerless thanks to their compact, stylish design, and on-earbud controls.

Apple AirPods Pro are no slouches when it comes to audio quality either, and we were thoroughly impressed by the balanced sound output and solid bass these things can kick out. They also feature decent noise cancellation, which you can customize, so you can drown out the rest of the world and just jam to your tunes.

The only real issue is that you’re paying a premium for that Apple badge and there are better headphones out there for cheaper, both in terms of sound quality and noise cancelling. But if it absolutely must be Apple, these are a fine choice.

The best budget earbuds

Not content to blow the big names out of the water in the smartphone space, OnePlus has dived into the best headphones brawl with the OnePlus Buds. As we’d expect from OnePlus, this is a stellar first effort with the OnePlus Buds offering great sound quality at an affordable price. They offer excellent sound quality at half the price of competitors like the Apple Airpods. They look slick too - we’re especially fond of the electric blue color.

OnePlus has also brought a staple feature from its phone range along - Warp Charge. This means that you can get ten hours of playtime from just ten minutes of charging. Topping out at 30 hours total charge including the case, the OnePlus Buds last for a long time too.

The only major gripe we have is the rigid plastic design. It apes the look and feel of Apple Airpods, but they’re a little bigger and as a result, they won’t fit everyone’s ears quite as well. Definitely try a pair before you buy, because they can fall out easily when you’re on the move if they don’t fit snuggly.

The best cheap sports earbuds

What’s going on here? Beats headphones listed as a budget option? Yeah, we’re as shocked as you are, but Beats Flex are the latest pair of earbuds from Apple’s stylish little subsidiary and they’re not only surprisingly affordable - they’re pretty damn good too.

Obviously they look great, these are Beats headphones. You don’t make it out off the production line without oozing style. Beats Flex are banded headphones connected by a flexible band, meaning they’re not truly wireless. The band means you can easily hang them around your neck when not in use though, and stop them falling to the floor if they fall out. This means they’re ideal workout earbuds.

The audio quality is pretty well rounded, with excellent bass output as you’d expect. The mids get a little lost at times, which results in some sounds getting muddled together into one, but the sound output is still great in this price range. And speaking of price, it’s also very reasonable… for a pair of Beats. Realistically you can find headphones this good for cheaper, but can you find headphones that sound and look this good for cheaper? Probably not.

The best fitness earbuds

Jabra’s entry into the fitness earbud sector packs in the features. You get water and dust resistance that should see you wash your earbuds under the tap without damaging them, along with decent sound and excellent noise-cancelling. 

They look great too, their unique shape making them instantly recognizable, and come with a nice range of different silicone tips to really lock them in place and block your ear canals - essential if noise-cancellation is to effectively remove all ambient noise. You get five hours of use out of the batteries, and the charging case will extend this by another 10 before it needs to be topped up. Watch out for the lid, though - it’s not the easiest to get along with.

While you can get better sound elsewhere, the quality the Jabras are capable of putting out is perfectly acceptable, especially if you’re using them while running. For everyday use, too, we’d find them perfectly acceptable, but we might be thinking about the Sonys.

The best cheap over-ear headphones

Another relatively unknown company, Treblab is also pushing the narrative that you can look outside the big audio names and still find great headphones with the Treblab Z2. These over-ear noise cancelling headphones are aimed squarely at the workout and gym enthusiast, with a lightweight, comfortable build and water resistance.

The build quality and materials are good, even if it doesn’t quite reach the same levels that you’d find in premium headphones, and you get good sound quality for the price too. The audio profile is balanced in favor of the highs, which means they’re best suited towards things like podcasts and YouTube videos, but you get respectable music performance too.

They also come with active noise cancellation - it’s not groundbreaking, but it does help drown out the background noise when you’re out at the gym or running down the street. Overall, the Treblab Z2 headphones aren’t flashy, but they are great value for money.

• Read our Treblab Z2 review.

How to choose the best headphones for you

While we know what to listen out for when it comes to the best headphones, there are a few key considerations to make before you buy. Not only will this help you sort the best from the rest, but also distinguish which type will work for you. 

Budget: While headphones may be considered an essential, they can vary in price, with cheaper models costing around $20 to premium buys in the hundreds. Figuring out your budget, and what you want to get out of your headphones will be the first step to finding the right set, at the right price. 

Type: Whether from big name tech brands or cheap online finds, headphone types are made with different audio needs in mind. There are large over-ear headphones, wired or wireless earbuds to choose from, and how you use your earphones will determine which style suits you best. For example, if you’re a commuter in need of something simple and small to put in your bag, bud earphones would work best. But if you require something stylish for when you’re out and about, then bigger over-ear headphones will look the part.

Features: Not second to style, but should be equally considered are the features the headphones offer. Do you require a portable pair since you can’t go a moment without music? Or a wired option for when you don’t have time to charge a wireless pair? Similarly, you may be looking for top specs like noise-cancelling quality to drown out background noise, or waterproof potential for those sweat-heavy workout sessions. 

Battery-life: Putting plug-in earphones aside, how long your wireless earbuds or over-earphones last is worth considering too. Earbuds tend to have a shorter lifespan but can be charged on the go, whereas headphones and headsets can last longer before needing to be docked and charged.  

If you're on the lookout for a reliable, entry-level pair of wireless earbuds, the SoundPEATS Air3 Pro should be on your radar. Launched in June 2022, they retail at $70 but are often on sale on Amazon or on the SoundPEATS website. As such, they're on the lower end of the price scale for wireless earbuds. 

The SoundPEATS Air3 Pro have three modes, including standout Active Noise Cancelation (ANC). For the price, the battery life and the sound quality are both very decent, so unless you're particularly picky about audio quality, chances are you'll be very satisfied with these earbuds. We had a few issues with the controls being hard to remember and accurately toggle, but overall, we feel confident recommending this model for most people.

We tested these earbuds alongside a variety of other models for a month, assessing their performance across different uses: professional calls, exercising, watching films, listening to music and podcasts. We took battery life, price, audio quality, ANC, ergonomics, design and features into account when we assessed them to make the best possible recommendation. 

If after reading this review, you are still unsure about choosing the SoundPEATS Air3 Pro, then check out our guide to the best headphones to find something more suitable for your needs. 

SoundPEATS Air3 Pro: Design

The SoundPEATS Air3 Pro look like fairly standard wireless earbuds: they come in matte black plastic with a SoundPEATS logo on the side of each earbud in a pleasant metallic purple color. The downside is they only come in this colorway, so anyone after a different color might be disappointed, but if you're not fussed, then the design is quite pleasing.

The buds come with three sizes of tips you can swap out to find the perfect fit for you. We found the smallest fit the best, and there is a large enough difference between the sizes of tips to ensure most people would find a good option. 

In terms of the design of the earbuds themselves, at first we found them a bit uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time, but this could be because we have relatively small ear canals. After some adjusting, we had no issue at all wearing them for most of the day without having to take any breaks.

The case is small and rectangular, also made of black matte plastic, and has two slots inside to fit the earbuds. When you open the case, a small light flashes to indicate the battery level of the charging case - red for low, orange for medium, and green for high. There is a mini USB charging port on the bottom of the case. When it is charging, the light inside the case turns orange. 

You can control the earbuds by tapping the side of each one, on the SoundPEATS logo.

The controls break down as follows:
• Long press on the left earbud: change between ANC, normal mode, transparent mode
• Long press on the right earbud: next song
• Short press on the left earbud: volume down
• Short press on the right earbud: volume up
• Double tap on either earbud: pause/play

The controls definitely take some getting used to, as there's a lot to remember. Additionally, the surface you have to tap is relatively small, so adjustments can actually be quite hard to make. This is especially true if you are running or exercising, or if you're in a hurry or have your hands full. It's quite easy to accidentally double press on the earbuds and pause your music instead of adjusting the volume, for example.

SoundPEATS Air3 Pro: Performance

For the price, sound quality on the SoundPEATS Air3 Pro is really decent. We tried using them across a range of music genres and podcasts and films and found they fared well across the board. 

It helps that the SoundPEATS app enables you to choose between nine EQ presets, meaning you can adjust the sound exactly as you please. We recommend doing so and toggling between the different options as you set up the earbuds so you can find the perfect set up for your needs. 

We were very pleasantly surprised by the Active Noise Cancelation (ANC) mode on these earbuds. Turning it on really drowned out ambient noise, even in a noisy office or coffee shop, which really helped with concentration. 

Likewise, "pass through" or "transparent" mode made a big difference and allowed sound to come through over the music we were playing. This is a great feature for running and exercising outside, when being aware of your surroundings is beneficial.

The Bluetooth range on these earbuds is also impressive for their price point. We found we could leave our phone in one room and keep listening to content while roaming around our (albeit small) flat with ease, without the connection dropping off. However, go more than 10 meters away, and you'll start experiencing issues - a range that's fairly standard for wireless earbuds.

The one letdown performance-wise is the voice call quality, which is average at best. By all means, you can still get through professional calls just fine, even in noisy settings, but the sound quality is a bit tinny and not the clearest, according to the people who had to listen to us.  

SoundPEATS Air3 Pro: Battery life

SoundPEATS claims you can have up to 6 hours of single listening time with the Air3 Pro, which we found to be about right. Obviously, factors such as having ANC on or the sound turned on loud affected battery life, but we found you can get more than 5 hours of straight listening time on normal mode. 

With the charging case providing another 3 full charges for the earbuds, the total listening time extends to about 24 hours, which is excellent considering the price point. Our testing showed you can indeed get three charges before you have to recharge your case, so the total listening time does tally up to over 20 hours.

While the charging case doesn't offer fast or wireless charging, we found it reaches full charge in under an hour, which is pretty convenient and will ensure you rarely ever have to go without earbuds. 

SoundPEATS Air3 Pro: Price

• $69.99

The SoundPEATS Air3 Pro come in at the lower end of the wireless earbuds price scale. Considering they include several functions such as ANC and a Game Mode, as well as a decent battery life and reliable Bluetooth connection, the price is very reasonable. 

It's worth noting they're not the most design or extravagant product, but for the price, you get a solid piece of kit that feels sturdy and durable for under $70. These earbuds are available to buy from Amazon.com and the SoundPEATS website.

SoundPEATS Air3 Pro: User reviews

At the time of writing, the SoundPEATS Air3 Pro scored 4.1 stars out of 5 on Amazon.com, from 249 ratings. 

Positive reviews praised the Active Noise Cancellation and the battery life, especially considering the low price point, with one reviewer writing: "I really liked the noise cancelling feature. It's great for a low/mid tier earbud - completely blocked people's voices which was great for trying to get work done, but not so great for higher pitched frequencies - like doing dishes." 

The more negative reviews criticized the quality of the sound profile and the earbuds' controls, stating "I wish the button was a tactile push button instead of a touch button. It's easy to accidentally press it when adjusting the position or simply taking them out of the charging case. If the shaft was longer, this probably wouldn't be a problem."

Should you buy the SoundPEATS Air3 Pro?

If you're looking for a decent pair of wireless earbuds for cheap, then the SoundPEATS Air3 Pro are an excellent choice. As long as you're not expecting bells and whistles and the highest sound quality, these earbuds are a reliable and sound choice for exercise, professional and personal purposes. 

The Active Noise Cancellation is really quite impressive, and the battery life can keep up with most of a day of use thanks to the rechargeable case. For under $70, we think there's a lot to like here. 

The only qualms we and other users had were with the sound quality, which is obviously not comparable to high-end (and more expensive) earbuds, and the slightly counter intuitive controls. Apart from that, the SoundPEATS Air3 Pro are a great choice if you're looking for a no-frills, solid pair of earbuds on a budget.

How we tested the SoundPEATS Air3 Pro

Here at Top Ten Reviews, we feel strongly about giving consumers the best buying advice. As such, we test every product thoroughly in order to give an accurate opinion of its quality. 

We tested the SoundPEATS Air3 Pro over the course of a month, across a variety of scenarios and uses including exercising, professional calls, listening to audiobooks, podcasts, and music, as well as watching movies. 

Our testing took into account the earbuds' battery life, sound quality, Bluetooth range, price point, design and usability. All of these factors were taken into account while rating the earbuds. 

The Jabra Stealth is one of the best Bluetooth headsets out there right now that your ear could have the honor of offering a home to. It'll fit comfortably while actually looking good thanks to a sleek design honed from the many decades of experience this earpiece specialist has to offer. There's decent ambient noise blocking making the 84 dB volume plenty in nearly all situations. Although an ability to adjust this on the ear might be of use, rather than having to use your phone. 

Call quality is fantastic thanks to the noise-canceling function, and the battery life, at a good six hours of talk time and ten days on standby, is more than enough for most people. Somehow, it still manages to weigh just eight grams, which makes for a comfortable all-day wearable headset. It would be nice if a wall adapter or car charger were included but since you can buy these separately it's not too much of a gripe. The price isn't the lowest, but you really do get what you pay for here with quality and comfort that sets the bar against all the competition. 

Jabra Stealth: Design

At just eight grams, the Jabra Stealth is one of the lightest Bluetooth headsets we've tested. The Stealth is very comfortable, is great for extended wear, and the fact that you can wear it on either ear is a big plus. This is supported by the inclusion of two ear hooks and six ear cushions that enable you to find the best fit, no matter your preferred wearing style. It fits snugly, much like the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless, but is more understated in design and form.

Testament to its design, aesthetic and build, the Jabra Stealth won an award a few years ago; an accolade that highlights both the appearance and intuitive nature of the design. On the downside, and unlike many others in the market, the Stealth does not come with a charging case, wall adapter or car charger, just a USB to micro USB cable.

It's a decent looking bit of kit, with a modern design and aesthetic so it won't look out of place, well, anywhere. The controls have plenty of space to sit and breathe while being readily accessible, and the design is intuitive to handle, interact with and wear.

Jabra Stealth: Features

Worked into the design are the Stealth's features, which are a streamlined affair. Present are a single power switch; a concealed micro-USB charging port; and two control buttons. The voice button is on the underside of the mic arm and the answer/end call button is right over the Jabra logo. There are no dedicated volume buttons, so volume will have to be adjusted from the phone, or other connected device, which is a shame. However, given the stripped-back nature of the buttons and features, this is acceptable.

When the Stealth is first turned on, it immediately enters pairing mode and it easily pairs with your phone and does it quickly. If your phone supports NFC pairing - Near Field Communication, which almost all modern smartphones do - you can pair by sliding the device and headset’s NFC zones against each other until they connect. When connected, the Stealth alerts you to incoming calls, and it works seamlessly with caller ID reading the caller’s name or number (if you have them in your contacts, naturally). It does not alert you to texts if you have your phone on vibrate, which is easy to forget about. However, The Jabra Assist companion app which you use alongside the Stealth can read out all your messages to you, offering more communication options. The app can also enable you to monitor your headset’s battery, adjust your message settings, help you find your device if lost, and can show you the manual if you need to revisit anything.

Because there are only two buttons, there’s a learning curve to answering and making calls. For example, you need to tap the call button to answer a call and double-tap to reject or end a call. This can be tricky to master but it's a usual side effect of a compact product and after a while of constant use, the interaction does become second nature. Elsewhere, the Stealth’s dedicated voice button lets you give voice commands, depending on the connected device, and it is compatible with both Apple's Siri and Google Now.

Jabra Stealth

The Stealth stands strong in the field of Bluetooth headsets, mainly because it has excellent audio and voice quality. This manifests itself during use: we had absolutely zero complaints in our hours of testing on the Stealth's call and playback. Listening to music, no sound ranges felt lacking - the overall quality was surprisingly solid and enjoyable for a one-ear headset - and voices came across clearly, crisply and easy-to-understand during calls.

The headset's volume is even incredibly deliberate and well-executed. According to the World Health Organization’s 2015 'Make Listening Safe' brochure, 85 decibels is the highest volume level considered to be safe for up to eight hours of extended listening - at max volume, the Stealth put out 84 decibels. Perfectly in tune with the guidance but also plenty loud enough. Team that with the crispness of audio and it's a great balance. A balance in audio is further accentuated by the earpiece being designed to help block ambient noise and direct the speaker’s sound. It isn't quite on a par with noise canceling in the Plantronics Voyager 5200, but it's very good. This enables you to comfortably listen to the Stealth at lower volumes and still hear everything around you - a good safety feature for the commute.

Utilizing this feature and setting the Stealth to a lower volume also helps conserve battery. The device handles up to six hours of talk time and 10 days on standby. We performed our tests over five consecutive days – using the Stealth for call and playback tests for about an hour a day, on a single charge. Once depleted, it takes about two hours to charge back to full which is very agreeable for a top-performing product in this field.

Should you buy the Jabra Stealth?

The Jabra Stealth is a superb Bluetooth headset that packs a lot of features into a compact and sleek form factor. There's a decent battery and more than decent audio quality, making this perfect for calls and even for all-day use. Everything is backed by a helpful app and you have the option to add accessories as needed – although more included like a car or wall charger would have been nice. Aside from not being able to adjust volume directly on the headset, this is a real all-around winner. 

If this product isn't for you

The other really big name in the Bluetooth headset world is Plantronics and the Plantronics Voyager 5200 model is one of the best it has to offer. The four-mic system makes for very clear calls with active noise cancellation, the reversible design is good for either ear, and call volume is well balanced. This may be a bit bulky for some but with features like moisture resistance, dynamic mute alert and smart sensors, this certainly offers a lot for the price.

If you want the full headphone experience as well as that Bluetooth headset functionality then a dual earbud setup could be ideal. The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless is designed for gaming, meaning it's built with a focus on clear and high-quality microphones for calls. It’s also made to be comfy for long periods of time and features a good-looking minimal design.

Synonymous with audio quality, Sennheiser has done it again with the Sennheiser Presence headset, which offers superb in-ear audio as well as excellent microphones for clear voice transmission. The look is great, fit is comfy and the battery life is one of the best out there. The catch? It's not cheap.

With their Treblab Z7 Pro headphones, the Miami-based company has refined the qualities that made the previous Treblab Z2 over-ear headphones such a competitive mid-range option when it comes to wireless headphones, creating a set of lightweight, comfortable cans that boast excellent audio quality and a near-seamless user experience.  

At nearly half the price of some of the biggest brands currently residing on our best headphones list, the Treblab Z7 Pro headphones pull off the difficult balancing act of providing a premium experience - including the tentpole features of many more expensive headphones such as ANC, touch control and ambient sound awareness - with a more affordable price tag. 

If you were a fan of the previous Treblab Z2 headphones then the experience might not be as dramatically improved as you might have hoped, but the Treblab Z7 Pro headphones do boast 10 more hours of battery life and a far sleeker design, while carrying over the comfort and impressive audio performance that made their forerunner such a compelling set of over ear headphones. 

While still not enough of a challenge to the likes of heavyweights such as Bowers & Wilkins PX wireless headphones or Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, there’s plenty to recommend the Treblab Z7 Pro headphones if it’s just a pair of quality, affordable wireless headphones that you’re looking for. 

Treblab Z7 Pro: Setup and usability

The packaging that the Treblab Z7 Pro headphones arrive in reflects the sleek, discreet style of the headphones themselves. A sturdy, dark satin gray box opens to reveal minimal contents, which includes the headphones contained in an equally sturdy yet lightweight black carry case, a 10” USB-C charging cable, a 51” 3.5mm audio cable, a quick start guide, and a clear and concise user manual. A longer 3.5mm audio cable would have been welcome, but it’s unlikely most users would be relying on connecting these headphones via cable too often, preferring wireless listening much of the time. 

The carry case has a netted pocket for storing the cables while the headphones themselves fit neatly into the case with a gentle swivel of the ear cups and the help of a velcro strap, with barely any distinguishable movement when carried in the case. Sure, it’s a little bulky to carry around but the case is a bonus and near-essential if you’re planning to take the headphones with you when traveling.

With nearly a full charge straight out of the box, we were able to set up the Treblab Z7 Pro headphones within minutes, aided by the quick and painless Bluetooth connection to an Android phone.

The Treblab Z7 Pro headphones touch controls are located beneath a thin skin of soft leather material on the right panel and were a breeze to control after a few minutes of getting a feel for them. Double-tap to pause or resume playback, swipe left or right to skip a track backward or forward, and swipe up or down to raise or lower volume. Removing the headphones from your ears automatically pauses playback, which is a very nice touch when you just need to hear a snatch of outside conversation. You can achieve the same effect even easier, though, by cupping a hand over the right panel. 

Treblab Z7 Pro: Design

• Sleek, stylish looks 
• Extremely comfortable memory foam 

The Treblab Z7 Pro headphones feel premium the moment you put them on thanks to a secure headband and perfectly sculpted ear cups lined with protein leather memory foam cushioning. After several hours of constant listening, this breathable material prevented our ears from getting too warm, and at just over 8 oz, the Treblab Z7 Pro headphones are as lightweight as you could wish for. All in all, these are some supremely comfortable headphones. 

Anyone who plans to take these headphones to the gym or outdoors will be pleased to know that they are IPX4 Water resistant and can hold up to splashes and sweaty workouts well. 

We vastly prefer the simplified design and muted style of the Treblab Z7 Pro over the Treblab Z2 headphones, which have a stark company logo emblazoned on its panels. This dark gray brushed look offers a more sophisticated and discreet appearance than their forerunner, something that appeals to those of us who prefer to wear our brands lightly. 

The cable sockets, LED indicator lights and control buttons are spaced well along the bottom of the panels, allowing for quick adjustments to power, ANC and Bluetooth. Hold the middle power button in and the headphones wake up, while a single press informs you of the headphones’ battery level.

Treblab Z7 Pro: Features and performance

• Responsive, intuitive touch controls 
• Well-balanced, rich sound 
• ANC is effective although not as absolute as more premium headphones 

When it comes to stereo audio quality, the Treblab Z7 Pro headphones don’t disappoint, producing clear, balanced sounds that are a pleasure to listen to. Trebles are sharp and clear while bass notes are rich and warm and pitched just right so that they don’t suffocate the surprisingly velvety mids produced by the Treblab Z7 Pro. To be sure, the quality on display is more satisfactory than it is mind-blowing, but the Treblab Z7 Pro headphones certainly do most music genres justice, and podcasts and audiobooks were especially smooth and silky to listen to. Pleasingly, there was minimal distortion at high volumes.

The Treblab Z7 Pro headphones employ what Treblab calls Hybrid Active Noise Canceling (ANC) to eliminate background noise with the aid of six auto-adjusting microphones. On the whole, the ANC on these headphones works well, and having tested them in packed subway carriages and busy, chattering marketplaces, I can confirm that they effectively screen out most erroneous background noise in a way that is at least an improvement on the Treblab Z2 headphones, although not fully up to par with a pair of Bose noise-canceling headphones. 

Ambient Sound is another mode, selected with an additional press of the ANC button, which is meant to allow external sounds to be heard. It’s a feature that works but doesn’t impress very much, but I can see its use in a crowd of friends or colleagues, for example.

Unfortunately, the audio quality experienced when playing music through the Treblab Z7 Pro headphones doesn’t seem to extend to phone calls. Conversations via both cell networks and Wi-Fi were clear enough for the listener, although callers noted that the audio was thin and tinny at their end, somewhat diminishing the overall package offered by these headphones.

Treblab Z7 Pro: Battery life

• Battery life: 45 hours, 20 hours with ANC turned on
• Rapid 2.5-hour USB-C charging  

A battery life of over 45 hours is an impressive boast for any set of wireless headphones or earbuds, but after using the Treblab Z7 Pro headphones consistently for several days, it’s not one I’m inclined to doubt. Although having ANC switched on can more than halve that figure, 20 hours is still a very healthy battery life for similar over ear wireless headphones.  

When you do find you’re running low on juice, simply connect the USB-C cable to the headphones and a compatible charging port and you’re good to go in around 2.5 hours. 

Treblab Z7 Pro: Price

• Available in the US for $159.97
• 1-year warranty 

With premium over ear headphones from the top-performing brands selling for upwards of $300, the Treblab Z7 Pro headphones are positioned extremely well at just over $150. Very little about the Treblab Pro Z7 feels cheap or sub-standard, and the overall experience comfortably places these headphones in the mid-range of quality headphones. A 1-year warranty is also welcome, and users have reported good experiences communicating with customer services. 

Treblab Z7 Pro: User reviews

Treblab is a company that is quietly but noticeably winning new fans all the time, and while reviews on leading retailers are few, users have been generally positive about the Treblab Z7 Pro headphones. Most agree that the headphone’s light weight, comfort and stylish design make them a standout set of headphones, and many praised the audio quality.  

Others have detected the poorer quality experienced on voice calls  and conference calls, with one Amazon user declaring the mic was weak and inadequate for audio-conferencing calls.  

Should you buy the Treblab Z7 Pro?

The Treblab Z7 Pro over ear headphones offer great value at their mid-range price point, offering most of the high-end features and ease of use found on pricier headsets, and in a comfortable and stylish package you wouldn’t be ashamed to have straddling your head. Audio performance doesn’t quite reach the high notes you’d find with truly premium - and pricier - headphones, but for most users the experience is excellent with rich, textured, well-balanced sound and crisp, clear speech. 

Voice calls are disappointingly unreliable but serviceable - fine for a quick call, less so perhaps for an extended audio-conference. Fortunately, Treblab's claims of 40+ hours battery life seem accurate, making the Treblab Z7 Pro headphones a true marathon runner when it comes to battery life. 

If this product isn't for you

The Treblab Z7 Pro headphones offer remarkably good value, but if your budget can’t quite extend to the $159 asking price, and you don’t mind earbuds over headphones, then the Earfun Free Pro earbuds provide an exceptional audio experience for around $60.  

For a similarly cheap option, but one with a big name attached, the Beats Flex earbuds are ideal. They currently retail for around $65 and offer up to 12 hours of battery life, on-device controls, and are powered by Apple’s W1 chip for seamless integration with iPhones.  

If only the very best over-ear headphones will do, there is always our previous best overall headphones, the Bowers & Wilkins PX wireless headphones. One of the most deluxe headphones available, they’re a perfect balance of audio quality, comfort and style.  

The EarFun Free Pro 2 earpods compete with some of the best headphones out there right now, despite being far cheaper.

The price of these earpods sets them way apart from most of the competition. They're in another galaxy compared with a certain fruit-named company's offering. Yet these offer good battery life and audio quality with that all important active noise cancelling (ANC) onboard.

Of course these were never going to sound as good as something priced four times as much. But are they good enough? And that's the point because if they are good enough then you stand to save a serious amount of money and still have all the features you need in truly wireless earbuds. 

EarFun Free Pro 2 review: Design

Compact, sleek and solid – these are some of the ways we can describe this second generation of earpod which may not have been as possible with its predecessor – at least not on this level. The first gen was very similar and the good has stayed. That means compact ear buds with a rubberized edge to help them fit snug into your ears. You also get multiple tip options to make sure these fit all ear sizes.

The case is smaller now and remains lightweight. There is an LED on the front to indicate battery status and the buds themselves also use lights to show they're on, connected or connecting.

The case is USB-C chargeable meaning they can fast charge to full and this also means many people likely have a charger cable already lying around. The magnetized case lets you drop the buds in and they fit perfectly holding in place and automatically charging back up to full, ready for your next opening.

The buds use Bluetooth 5.2 meaning this gets you plenty of range away from your device while also keeping battery drain to an absolute minimum.

EarFun Free Pro 2 review: Features and performance

The active noise cancelling is the feature that makes this stand out for the price. Sure it's not as good as the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 or the Apple AirPods Pro, but the point here is that it's comparable. In the gym, on a train, in a plane or car this will cut out nearly all the background noise. It does so well enough for you to get lost in the audio and forget about the surroundings, and that's the point, right?

Battery life is excellent with up to 30 hours of use thanks to that case topping up the buds each time they go back in. Expect to get a good three or four hours on the buds alone, which is plenty for most situations except, perhaps long haul flights.

The EarFun Free Pro 2 buds are IPX5 waterproof with SweatShield tech, as it's called, which makes these perfect for the gym or running. The fit really is exceptional and you'll forget you have these in since they're also super comfortable. Certainly a lot more quality in the fit and feel than you'd expect for the price.

Touch controls make turning on ANC, turning it off or using ambient sound mode easy as a tap and hold of the left bud. Use these taps to control volume, skips tracks and answer or end calls too. This works well even with gloves on or with wet hands.

The microphone setup is impressive with six-mics built-in which are able to pick-up your voice for calls while cancelling out background noise for you and the person on the other end of the call. These worked well in most situations but there were a few occasions when we weren't so clear to the person on the other end.

The 6mm composite drivers aren't as good as the 10mm titanium versions in the pricer EarFun Air Pro 2 earpods. But on comparing the two it is difficult to hear much difference initially. That said, there is a difference to be heard. While bass is impressive on both, the top-end is less clear on these. The soundstage on the Pro is noticeably larger, giving a more dramatic feel to music – but not enough for most people to care about and especially not at this point. Unless you're an audiophile these will do the job well enough.

EarFun Free Pro 2: Release date and price

The EarFun Free Pro 2 are super affordable despite cramming in the features. Honestly, we struggle to see how more expensive earbuds can be justified.

The earpods are available to buy now and are priced at $79.99, down from an alleged $99.99, though when they were that much is unclear. At the time of publishing you can buy them directly from the manufacturer's website for that lower sub-$80 price.

These have been on Amazon but are out of stock at time of publishing. Worth checking back though as prices can drop here.

When buying from the manufacturer you get a 30-day money-back guarantee as well as an impressive 18-month warranty and expert support available to you.

EarFun Free Pro 2 review: Should you buy?

The EarFun Free Pro 2 get your ANC, decent battery, impressive microphones, IPX5 waterproofing and good audio quality, all for a super low price, relatively. Unless you're an audiophile or someone who needs the best call quality, you'll be hard pressed to find better.

The EarFun Air Pro 2 earpods are some of the best headphones out there right now.

The price is really affordable when you consider what you get for your money, from the sleek and attractive design to the high-quality audio and that active noise cancelling (ANC) onboard.

Yes, that name can't go by unmentioned. A certain fruit-based tech company does offer a similarly named pair of earpods. And yes, we do see these as an affordable alternative, offering most of the same features just at a far more affordable price.

So should you make a saving and go for these earpods or is it worth playing it safe and spending a bit more from a brand name you might know better?

EarFun Air Pro 2 review: Design

This generation of the EarPods are barely recognizable when compared to the last, and that's a good thing. The EarFun Air Pro 2 are more slender, sleek and minimal in design which combines to offer a better look when wearing them but also more comfort and portability. You get a selection of silicone earbuds so you can find the perfect fit for your ear. So light and comfortable are these, that you barely notice they're in. This fit also results in passive noise cancellation before you even turn on the six microphone powered 40dB ANC. 

Each earbud can be placed in the included charging case where it will magnetically pop into place with a really premium feel. Small LED lights on the EarPods and the case keep you in the know with how power and connectivity are progressing.

The EarPods are IPX5 water and sweat resistant. This means that using them while working out or running in the rain is worry-free as these will keep going totally unaffected by the wet. The 10mm titanium composite dynamic drivers offer premium quality audio in a very compact form. There is also in-ear detection tech, so remove these while listening to music and they will pause, then play again when you pop them back in.

The case itself is USB-C charged meaning it can be charged with any USB-C cable you may already have. It can also be charged wirelessly using a charging pad. Charge times are rapid with a 10-minute charge of the EarPods when depleted - good for an impressive two hours of playtime, but more on that below.

EarFun Air Pro 2 review: Features and performance

The EarFun Air Pro 2 features active noise cancelling, which is a big deal at this price point. The fact that this actually works really well is even more impressive. From train noise, to a background dryer or even the sound of music in the gym – this will reduce it all. 

For human voices, it's not so impressive when close up, which can be a good thing if someone is trying to get your attention. That said, it is enough that consistent talking fades into the background unnoticed. So these aren't going to compare to the likes of over ear options such as the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, but at this price and in this style, who would expect them to? The big comparison, to the Apple AirPods Pro, is what shows how great these are as that ANC is barely noticeably different between the two.

Audio quality is another major concern when buying these type of buds and at this price these are brilliant. In fact, at a higher price these would still be seen as above average in quality. They offer a clarity from the wide soundstage and multi-level instrumentality. For music, that means punchy and immersive audio, for streaming movies, it means all the levels of a scene are present while balancing clear vocals, and for calls it means clearly hearing the other person as if they were there with you. Although some calls did result in the other person saying they couldn't hear so clearly, but this was rare.

The downside? You guessed it, a lack of bass. Everyone jumps to complain about a lack of bass but this writer actually doesn't usually say that. So in this instance that means a lot. It's not bad, by any means, just perhaps lacking a little for some and without an EQ app to adjust this, it's set that way. This is not a major negative, just something that could be improved in future generations perhaps. 

Connectivity and charging are great, which is a welcome surprise as these more affordable earpods can sometimes perform worse than you'd expect. The Bluetooth 5.2 is quick to connect first time and auto-connects easily every time the earpods are taken out of their case. The only issue was that sometimes one would connect and the other wouldn't, so you have to replace them in the case and try again. If you don't have the case, say out on a run, this could be frustrating. 

Touch controls work well, with a left tap for volume down or right ear tap for volume up. Double tap to play and pause or triple tap either ear to skip track forwards or backwards – it just works and works well.

Charging is effortless thanks to the charging case. The EarPods themselves will go, in real world use, a good five hours with ANC on before going back in the case for a charge. EarFun says they can do up to seven hours, but it all depends on how you use them. These charge to full in an hour and the case itself tops up in two hours. 

The reality of these numbers is that you never really think about battery life, the pods just charge when you put them away, so you're good to go when you need them. The case itself rarely needs a charge (34 hours on a charge) and the LED light lets you know your battery level, with green for more than 30%, orange for less than 30 percent, red for under 10 percent, or flashing red for under 5%. We've not had any concerns about charging when using these earpods.

EarFun Air Pro 2: Release date and price

The EarFun Air Pro 2 follows in the footsteps of the original model and has made a huge jump forward from an already impressive set of buds. Despite this, and a totally new design, the price remains affordable.

The earpods are available to buy now and are priced at $79.99, apparently down from $99.99, but we've not actually seen them at that price so make sure you get them at the lower price. At the time of publishing you can buy them directly from the manufacturer's website for that lower sub-$80 price.

Following the link on their website to the Amazon buying option, at time of publishing, came up as unavailable. But since that link is on the company's own website expect it to be back up and running soon.

When buying from the manufacturer you get a 30-day money-back guarantee as well as an impressive 18-month warranty and expert support available to you.

EarFun Air Pro 2 review: Value

It's difficult to stress how good the EarFun Air Pro 2 earpods are for the money. They look, feel, sound and work like a far more expensive set of earbuds. They have a premium finish and a feel that you'd expect from a far-higher priced product.

The only issue could be how long they last. But since the company gives you an 18-month warranty, even that isn't really a worry. And that 30-day money-back guarantee means you can effectively try these before you decide if they're for you.

EarFun Air Pro 2 review: Should you buy?

If you want a pair of truly wireless earbuds that offer decent active noise cancelling, very good audio quality, impressive battery performance, a premium build and finish plus a worry-free guarantee – all without breaking the bank – you'll struggle to find a better option than the EarFun Air Pro 2 earbuds.

When you think of Beats, you’re likely thinking about the style and not the substance. The iconic logo, the striking colors, the flashy over-ear styling. Beyond their reputation for bringing literally all of the bass, Beats haven’t traditionally been known for their sound quality. That’s all about to change, though, because the Beats Studio Buds are easily the best sounding pair of Beats that we’ve ever tested. More than that, they’re some of the best headphones out there if you’re looking for stylish, noise-canceling earbuds.

None of that is to say that the Beats Studio Buds don’t look great though. While they come in a rather unassuming little charging case, the earbuds themselves look very unique, with a rather bulbous inner ear section and a raised ridge that displays the logo. The designers have obviously put a lot of thought into this design because the Beats Studio Buds are not only extremely comfortable to wear, but they’re super secure too, so there is very little chance of them falling out while you’re wearing them.

In fact, we’ve got very little to complain about after our time with the Beats Studio Buds. The active noise canceling tech is superb, they have a decent battery life and they sound great. The only minor quibble we have is the lack of volume controls on the earbuds themselves, but how often do people really use them?

Beats Studio Buds review: Design

• Stylish, unique design
• Three colors: Red, Black, or White
• Compact charging case

Beats Studio Buds are certainly a visually striking pair of earbuds thanks to their very unusual shape. They’re available in three colors: red, white, and black. We’ve always associated Beats with red, and flamboyant colors in general so we snagged a red pair and they look stunning, if a bit strange. The main body that fits into your ear is quite bulbous, with the soft tip of the earbud protruding at a seemingly odd angle. In practice though, they’re incredibly comfortable to wear and fit us like a dream. The large, rounded shape rests comfortably on your inner ear lobe and they just stay put, even when exercising.

The other distinctive part of the design is the raised ridge that faces outwards, proudly displaying the Beats logo. These raised ridges on each earbud are actually physical buttons, allowing you to pause music and skip tracks. A single press is play/pause, while a double press skips the track. Holding the button down switches between the three noise-canceling modes. Bizarrely, the controls are the same for both earbuds.

We love the look of these things. They might look a bit weird sitting on a table, but when you’re wearing them, Beats Studio Buds look fantastic. There is a downside to this unique look though. Due to the odd shape and limited space, there are no on-earbud volume controls. It’s a minor omission in our mind, but it might bother some people. During our briefing with Beats, the possibility of adding volume controls via a long-press of the buttons through a software update was suggested, but there are no guarantees.

The charging case for the Beats Studio Buds is remarkably understated for a Beats device, especially with the headphones themselves having such a radical design. It’s a compact, oval-shaped device with the Beats logo and a small LED light to indicate when it’s charging on the front, and a USB-C charging port on the bottom. It opens via a single hinge that feels a little flimsy if we’re honest, as it’s a wide lid and small hinge. There’s no danger of it snapping off, but it means the lid feels a little wobbly when closed. Inside the case, the buds fit snuggly into their assigned slots thanks to the power of magnets. There is also a button for synching Bluetooth connections.

Beats Studio Buds are IPX4 rated for both water and dust resistance, which means you’ll be able to use them out and about without worrying about the weather ruining your sweet new earbuds. This also makes them a great choice as a pair of workout earbuds too.

Beats Studio Buds review: Features and performance

• Active noise canceling
• Balanced sound profile
• One-touch pairing

As we alluded to in our intro, the Studio Buds sound nothing like you’d expect a pair of Beats headphones to sound, and that’s only a good thing. The bass has been reigned in significantly. That’s not to say the bass isn’t excellent though - it’s just no longer running the show. We wheeled out an old favorite, Fort Minor’s Remember the Name which has a punchy baseline, and the Beats Studio Buds brought it to life beautifully.

The real difference comes in the rest of the audio range. Again, we went back to Steely Dan’s Do It Again to test the treble, where the opening medley’s huge variety of instruments puts headphones to the test. We were impressed with the clarity of the sound profile, with no individual element being lost in the mix.

Beats Studio Buds also feature both active noise canceling and transparency modes - a first for Beats earbuds. We tested the ANC in a variety of locations, both in the house and out on the street and we were impressed with the performance. In fact, an alarm went off on my phone as I was writing the above sentence, and I didn’t hear a thing. We’ll call that a win for Beats. The transparency mode is basically the opposite of noise-canceling, using the exterior mics on the earbuds to bring more sound in. This is ideal when you’re in an environment where you need to be able to hear e.g. you’re working in the office and need to hear when the boss asks you where those TPS reports are.

You can also use the Beats Studio Buds for taking calls thanks to the 2 external voice microphones (alongside the 4 mics that are used for the noise-cancelling modes). We found call quality to be fine, but nothing special. It’s a nice feature to have though, if you don’t mind looking like you’re talking to yourself.

While we’d normally expect Beats headphones to play nice with Apple devices, given that Beats is owned by Apple, the development team has actually gone to efforts to make sure that Beats Studio Buds are seen as device agnostic, in their words. To this end, these earbuds aren’t using the H1 chip that you find in Airpods. Instead, it uses a proprietary chip, offering benefits to both Android and Apple users. Beats Studio Buds support one-touch pairing with Android and Apple devices. There are still some Apple-only benefits though, like compatibility with Apple Music Dolby Atmos and the Find My capability for iOS devices.

Beats Studio Buds review: Battery life

• 24 hours total battery life, or 15 hours total with ANC
• Fast Fuel charging
• No wireless charging

Battery life is where we find out the cost of that sweet sweet noise-canceling technology sadly. Without the ANC on, Beats Studio Buds can go for eight hours on a single charge, but turning the ANC on drops that down to five hours. You get another two full charges out of the charging case, for a total of 24 hours listening time without ANC, or 15 hours with ANC.

That’s not terrible as battery life goes, but it’s not amazing either. For comparison,  the Earfun Free Pro earbuds that we reviewed earlier this year last six hours per charge with the ANC on, and come with another three charges in the case on top of that.

There is no wireless charging either, which might put some people off. If you want wireless charging earbuds, you should check out the Apple Airpods Pro. At the same time, it’s worth noting that those will cost you nearly twice as much, for very similar sound quality. You can recharge your Beats Studio Buds using a USB-C cable. Thanks to the Fast Fuel charging tech, five minutes of charge will give you an hour of playtime - ideal for when you’re about to leave the house and realize the battery is drained.

Beats Studio Buds review: Price

• $149.99 / £129.99
• One year warranty

Beats Studio Buds cost $149.99 / £129.99 and can be purchased from the Beats store, Apple store, Amazon, and numerous other retailers. Inside the box you get the Beats Studio buds and charging case, 3 pairs of alternative ear tips, a USB-C charging cable, a quick start guide, and a warranty card. Beats Studio Buds come with a one year limited warranty in the US and UK.

As a nice added bonus, all Beats Studio Buds come with a free four-month trial for Apple Music, so you can put them to the test with Apple Music’s extensive library of music.

As a nice extra touch for eco-conscious buyers, the packaging for Beats Studio Buds is made from 92% plant-based material that is either sourced from recycled material, or sustainable forests.

Should you buy Beats Studio Buds?

Beats Studio Buds are an absolute triumph for Beats, finally letting the company shed its bass heavy, style over substance reputation by putting sound quality at the forefront of their design. That’s not to say the style has gone anywhere though - these are some of the freshest looking earbuds we’ve seen in sometime. Stack the active noise-canceling tech on top of that and Beats are on to a real winner here.

The only real downside to these headphones is the relatively lackluster battery life. It’s not bad and they’ll certainly last you a couple of days on a full charge with the case, but they’ll need charging more often than most, especially if you’re using the power hungry ANC mode.

Earfun is a relatively new company in the headphones space, but it’s already making huge waves by offering excellent audio quality at a fraction of the price of the big names like Bose, Sony, and Sennheiser. Now it's at it again with the Earfun Free Pro earbuds.

The Earfun Free Pro are a pair of true wireless noise-cancelling headphones, and on paper they seem too good to be true. Excellent sound quality, active noise cancelling, Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, 32 hour battery life, wireless charging, touch controls, and an IPX5 waterproof rating for just $59.99? 

OK, so what’s the catch? Does the devil get to claim my soul? Do they explode in your ears after a few hours? After several weeks testing out the Earfun Free Pro earbuds, we certainly haven’t been able to find the secret deal breaker here. The touch controls are a bit finicky, and the ANC is only OK, but the fact that it exists at all in a pair of $60 earbuds is staggering anyway. These are simply some of the best headphones we’ve ever seen. 

Earfun Free Pro review: Design 

• Premium design
• Lightweight with compact charging case

Styling is usually one of the first hurdles that budget headphones stumble at, but we think that the Earfun Free Pros look fantastic, and they come with a sleek carry case that’s one of the best we’ve seen since the AirPods Pro.

The Earfun Free Pro earbuds are a mixture of black and gunmetal grey, with a glossy black side panel that displays the Earfun logo. The earbuds themselves have soft, rubber tips that come in three different sizes. There is a small LED on top of each earbud that flashes blue or red depending on battery life. All in all, they look and feel like a premium product.

When you’re wearing the Earfun Free Pros, they actually go in upside down, with the bulk of the earbud pointing upwards.This feels strange at first, but they’re surprisingly stable in this position as they rest against the inside of your ear.

When not in use, the Earfun Free Pros pack neatly away into their carry case. It’s a little longer than most other carry cases, but at 2.6 x 1.0 x 1.2 inches it comfortably fits in your pocket when you’re out and about. The case is primarily gunmetal grey, with a gloss black top that displays the brand logo, just like the earbuds. There is a single LED on the front that changes color depending on battery life, and a micro USB port on the back for charging.

Earfun Free Pro review: Features and performance 

• Excellent sound quality
• ANC is good, but not industry leading
• Touch controls take some getting used to

This is where things start to get interesting. We were blown away by the sound quality that the EarFun Free Pro earbuds offer, especially for their price range. You get a punchy, warm bass that comes through wonderfully on tracks like Linkin Park’s Papercut and Muse’s Hysteria.

The treble is similarly impressive. Listening to Steely Dan’s Do It Again, you can comfortably pick out the medley of instruments that make up the opening minute of the track before those vocals kick in. The mids are probably the weak link in the chain for these earbuds, but they’re still more than serviceable across the board. We’ve compared these directly to our Apple Airpods and they blow them out of the water, for less than half the price.

Alongside the audio output, you also get a dual microphone set-up in each earbud, for a total of four microphones for use in phone calls. We tested this on several calls and the audio quality was largely excellent. The person we called said the sound they heard through was a little different, but perfectly clear and understandable.

Those microphones aren’t just for phone calls though (because honestly, who even uses their smartphone to make phone calls these days?). They’re also part of the EarFun Free Pro earbuds’ active noise cancelling (ANC)  technology. The mics pick up external sounds and then work to filter them out when you’re listening to music. 

This can be switched between ANC, ambient sound, and normal modes by triple tapping the left earbud. ANC will filter all external sounds, while ambient sound mode will attempt to just eliminate background noises (meaning you should still be able to hear someone talking to you). We tested this by listening to music next to various external noises, ranging from traffic and an extractor fan to our partner’s singing (truly a noise you’d want to exclude). 

The ANC performed reasonably well, blocking out almost all external noise when active with music playing in the house. Out on the street, performance dipped a bit and we could hear a little of the outside world, but it still greatly reduced the undesirable noise. The ambient mode functioned as a half-way house as intended, making it possible to hear direct noises while keeping background noise out. You couldn’t have a conversation like this, but it would make it possible for someone to get your attention.

On top of all that, there is a low latency mode for gamers, to help make sure your in-game sound lines up perfectly with the on-screen action.

Our only real complaint with the Earfun Free Pros is the touch controls. This might just be a personal gripe, but we’ve yet to find touch controlled earbuds that do anything but annoy us. You need to learn all the specific touch patterns to do the various things you want, and while it's pretty accurate at interpreting your commands, the main issue is that you accidentally pause your song or crank the volume up every time you need to readjust your earbuds.

Earfun Free Pro review: Battery life 

• Up to 32 hours battery life including case
• Wireless charging available, but not included

EarFun states that the Free Pro earbuds are good for six hours of battery life with noise cancellation turned on, and seven hours with it disabled. In addition to that, you get 25 hours of playtime from the charging case for up to 32 hours of total usage on a full charge. 

After testing the EarFun Free Pros extensively over a period of several weeks, we can confirm that numbers line up with our experience. We generally have our tunes a little louder than average, but we still consistently got around six hours per charge with noise cancelling turned on.

The charging case has an LED light on the front that activates when you open the case, letting you know how much juice is left in the case too. It starts green, then goes orange when you go below 30% charge, before changing to red when you go below 10%. You can recharge the case and earbuds using a micro-USB connection located on the back of the charging case or via a third-party wireless charging pad.

Earfun Free Pro review: Price 

• $59.99
• 18-month warranty

The EarFun Free Pro earbuds cost $59.99 and can be purchased from major online retailers including Amazon and Walmart. You can also purchase them directly from the MyEarFun website.

Some retailers are listing that the EarFun Free Pros have an MSRP of $79.99, showing the $59.99 price as a discounted rate, but our research into price history using CamelCamelCamel and other tools shows that they have never been priced higher than $60. 

Earfun Free Pro Earbuds come with an 18-month warranty, according to the EarFun website. There is also a 30-day money back guarantee, should you decide that you’re unhappy with your purchase.

Should you buy the Earfun Free Pro? 

Yes, yes you should. These are simply the best earbuds that we’ve tested so far. You can technically get better audio quality and active noise cancelling headphones elsewhere, but you’re going to be paying four or five times the cost of these to see any real improvements. 

They’re stylish and comfortable, they sound great and they have a long battery life. You really couldn’t ask for better than the EarFun Free Pro earbuds.

You probably haven’t heard of Treblab, but if you’re looking for a cheap pair of over ear headphones and don’t want to skimp on quality, then the Treblab Z2 headphones might be the answer to all your problems. In fact, we’re convinced that they’re some of the best headphones you can buy for under $100 right now.

Treblab is pitching the Z2s as a pair of workout headphones, and it’s certainly easy to see why. They’re lightweight, IPX4 waterproof, comfortable to wear and have an excellent battery life. But in truth, the Treblab Z2s are an excellent pair of headphones for anyone that’s hunting for a good pair of headphones that won’t break the bank.

Will these outcompete something like the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700? No, of course not, but they also cost around a third as much. For the price, these are some seriously impressive headphones that are comfortable to wear and offer good audio quality and active noise cancellation. 

Treblab Z2 review: Design 

• Good looking, but not quite premium
• Comfortable to wear

When we first got our hands on the Treblab Z2s, we have to say that we were impressed with their design and feel. These headphones feel robust and well-built, without the cheap, tacky feeling that you usually find in budget headphones. The outer shell is a matte black hard plastic, with a fancy vinyl design on the outer edge of each earcup to give them a bit of visual flair. The ear cups and top of the headband are cushioned for added comfort. We found them very comfortable to wear, and easy to adjust to your head size.

There are controls on the underside of each ear cup, which means you don’t need to be messing around with your smartphone or music player if you’re working out, running, or even just cleaning up in the kitchen. The left earcup has the on/off switch for the active noise cancellation mode, while the right ear cup has three buttons for playing, pausing, and skipping tracks, along with volume controls. You can tap the forward and backward buttons to adjust volume, and hold them to skip a track.

The shape isn’t quite as sleek as you’d find on more premium models like the Bose QuietComfort QC35 II headphones that this reviewer is accustomed to using, with more harsh angles and chunky sections, but they’re still a decent looking pair of cans.

The Treblab Z2 headphones don’t fold up much beyond being able to rotate the cups, which lets them fit snugly inside the included case. The protective case is nice if you’re shoving them into your backpack for a trip, but it’s too bulky to be carrying around with you on a day-to-day basis though.

Treblab Z2 review review: Features and performance

• Decent, balanced sound for the cost
• ANC is a nice addition, but not mind blowing

It’s all very good that a pair of headphones looks nice, but they also need to sound good too. Fortunately, the Treblab Z2 headphones do sound good. You get a nice, balanced audio profile from them that maybe leans a bit in favor of the highs, which means you’ll get the best results from things like podcasts and YouTube videos, but they’re still great for music too.

The bass is decent, though maybe not quite as punchy as you’d like. It’ll do a reasonable job on those bass heavy tracks like Muse’s Hysteria or Rush’s YYZ, especially when you crank the volume. The mids can get a bit lost on some tracks, but overall, we’re impressed with what the Z2’s can do.

Impressively for a pair of headphones in this price range, the Treblab Z2 headphones also come with active noise cancelling technology. Now, we’ve had mixed results with the ANC in the Treblab Z2 headphones, and it’s certainly not as advanced as you might find in a pair of premium headphones. You do get a slight improvement in sound quality with it turned on, but it’s not going to completely block out background noise. 

We’ve used some premium noise cancelling headphones where you could be shouting at the wearer from the other side of the room and they wouldn’t hear you when music is playing - that isn’t the case here, but it’s still a nice little boost to audio quality in busy environments. You do get that kind of static, white noise sound when the ANC is on and music isn’t playing too, which can be noticeable during quiet sections of songs or gaps in speaking during podcasts.

Treblab Z2 review: Battery life

• 35 hour battery life
• Can’t operate when battery is drained, even when wired

According to Treblab, you can get up to 35 hours of playtime when it comes to battery life. That’s certainly nothing to be sniffed at, and after having used them for several weeks we have no reason to doubt the accuracy of that claim.

There is one downside to the Treblab Z2’s when it comes to battery life though - they won’t work at all when the battery is dead, even if they’re plugged in via a 3.5mm headphone jack. This isn’t a deal breaker, but there are plenty of wireless headphones out there that work just fine when plugged in, regardless of battery charge so it can be frustrating.

When your Treblab Z2s do finally run out of juice, you can recharge them via a micro-usb slot at the bottom of the right ear cup.

Treblab Z2 review: Price 

• $119.97 MSRP, but often cheaper
• One year warranty

The Treblab Z2 headphones technically have an MSRP of $119.97 and can be bought via Amazon, Walmart, and through the Treblab website itself. While that’s the MSRP, in reality they can usually be found at around $90 on most retailer websites.

While certainly not the cheapest headphones you can find, Treblab Z2 are probably the best over-ear headphones out there in terms of bang for your buck. You’re getting good audio quality, a robust and comfortable design, and excellent battery life.

You also get an official one year warranty when you purchase the Treblab Z2 headphones, so you’re covered in case yours develop a fault. There is also a 30-day returns policy should you be unhappy with your purchase.

Should you buy the Treblab Z2 headphones?

If you’re in the market for a cheap pair of over ear headphones, you’ll struggle to find better value for money elsewhere. The Treblab Z2 headphones are comfortable, well-built, and look great. The sound quality is about as good as it gets in this price range too, with a balanced audio profile and reasonable bass.

The active noise cancelling does an admirable job, even if it’s not quite as sophisticated as the technology you’ll find in premium headphones. It’s certainly good enough to drown out exterior noises when you’re blasting tunes during a workout at the gym.

Frankly, you're a fool if you don't take advantage of this Amazon Prime Day earbud deal. Prime Day ends in a few hours, but there are plenty of bargains to be had - and this one is perfect for commuters, music fans, or those that are fed up of tangled wires. Sony’s WF-1000XM3/S, one of the earbud types in our best headphones list, are now $148 down from $249.99 - a drop of over 40%. These miniature marvels are offer premium sound, as well as impressive noise cancellation and a handy case that allows for 24-hour battery life.

That’s not all, though - Amazon is also giving away a $20 gift card for free, making this one of our favorite Prime Day deals so far. Amazon is practically paying you to take these earbuds away. Well, maybe not quite, but it's still an excellent saving. If you need to know more about these buds, we have a full Sony WF-1000XM3/S review.

Sony’s entry in the wireless earbud market is one of the best, too. It offers option digital noise cancellation by picking up audio in your environment and filtering that out of what you hear. It also filters it out of your phone calls, too, so your calls sound better than ever. The WF-1000XM3/S are also compatible with Alexa, meaning you can ask the Amazon assistant questions on the fly, request a certain song, and more.

If you’re not the type to talk to a digital assistant in public (it’s OK, we get it), you can use touch controls to change track, make calls, and more, and there’s a handy ‘Quick Attention’ mode that turns the volume down and deactivates noise canceling with just a fingertip over the left earbud.

Music automatically pauses when you remove a bud and picks up where you left off, and putting both in the charging case will give you ninety minutes of playback after just ten minutes of charging - with 24-hour battery life in total before you need to charge the case, making them perfect to ‘grab and go’. There’s even an app you can install on your device to customize the audio.

These are perfect for pairing with any of the best smartphones, and they're handy for exercising, alongside any of the best smartwatches too.

Welcome to another headphone showdown as we set Apple Airpods vs Airpods Pro to see which is the best choice? Both Apple AirPods and the AirPods Pro are great options if you're looking for the best headphones – but is one better than the other?

This is an easy one, as the answer is simply yes. The AirPods Pro are better in terms of features and performance than the AirPods. But the difference in price is huge. So the real question should be, is it worth spending the extra on the Pro models over the AirPods?

This guide should help you decide between tApple AirPods and Airpods Pro. Apple Airpods were first released in 2016 and with a second gen refresh launched in 2019 and they're usually priced from $159. Apple AirPods Pro launched in 2019 and are priced from $249. For this comparison we're using the AirPods 2 (2019) versus the AirPods Pro (2019).

We’ve split this contest down into five distinct categories: comfort, noise-cancelling, audio quality, battery life, and style.

Apple AirPods vs Apple AirPods Pro: Prime Day 2021

Before we get started, it's worth pointing out that it's currently Prime Day, which means there are deals for both the Airpods and Airpods Pro on Amazon for Amazon Prime subscribers. We've collected the best deals below, but you can also check out our Prime Day USA deals page for more offers.

Apple AirPods vs Apple AirPods Pro: Comfort 

This is an area of big variation as the AirPods come with a plastic finish to the in-ear part which either fits you well or it doesn't. This is largely based on how large or small your ear holes are. Whereas the AirPods Pro feature silicon tips which not only are more comfortable but also help to passively cancel out noise. The tips come in a selection of sizes meaning you should be able to find a tight fit making this a great choice for anyone planning to run with them in.

For longer term wearing the harder finish of the Apple AirPods might become uncomfortable for some. That said if they're not a tight fit even that hardness may not be an issue. In fact the tighter fit of the Apple AirPods Pro might not feel as comfortable for some people.

The bottom line is that comfort is built around perception. But it's that silicone finish on the Apple AirPods Pro which can help shift that perception positively as they move less and aren't noticed as much, making them more comfortable in the long run. Apple even uses a pressure valve to release any build-up from that in-ear seal.

Winner: Apple AirPods Pro

Apple AirPods vs Apple AirPods Pro: Noise-Cancelling 

This is a very easy category to pick a winner on since the Apple AirPods have no noise cancelling. The Apple AirPods Pro, on the other hand, feature not only the passive noise cancelling of those silicone buds which block out noise, but also active noise cancelling.

The Apple AirPods Pro use microphones to record the audio around the wearer and then play the opposite end of the sound spectrum, cancelling that audio out. So the wearer won't hear the drone of a fan in a room, for example. Crucially though this also works for the microphones used in calls, meaning the person on the other end should get a far clearer call with your voice heard but not the background sounds.

Winner: Apple AirPods Pro

Apple AirPods vs Apple AirPods Pro: Audio Quality

The actual audio production of the two speaker systems might not be that different but the Pros also have the advantage of that noise cancellation microphone array. This is used to pick-up the environmental noises and adjust the audio accordingly. This is called the Adaptive EQ and it tunes the low and mid frequencies using a high dynamic range amplifier for a clearer sound and even better battery life.

The Apple AirPods Pro are also slightly better at producing a wider soundstage which gives a more realistic and immersive finish when listening to music. This is likely thanks to a longer frequency range and a bigger chamber for sound expansion.

Winner: Apple AirPods Pro

Apple AirPods vs Apple AirPods Pro: Battery Life

Apple has made the AirPods to last 4.5 hours on a charge and the accompanying case keeps them recharged for a total of 24 hours of use. The AirPods Pro last slightly longer at five hours but also have a total 24 hours additional charge from the case.

The AirPods come with either a wired or wireless charging case whereas the AirPods Pro come with a case which is able to do both.

So while the AirPods Pro can go a little longer before retreating to their charging case, both headphones top out at that 24 hour high-end. But with more charging options the Pros have to take this round.

Winner: Apple AirPods Pro

Apple AirPods vs Apple AirPods Pro: Style

The Apple AirPods are slightly longer than the Apple AirPods Pro and don't fill the ear canal quite as much. They don't have any rating for ruggedness whereas the Apple AirPods Pro are IPX4 rated meaning they can withstand sweat and water but aren't built for use in water sports, for example.

The Apple AirPods are slightly lighter at 1.41oz versus the 1.61oz of the Apple AirPods Pro. Not something you notice but we had to mention it.

While the AirPods are longer they can be used to make more of a fashion statement, if that's your thing. That said, the Pro model is recognisably different with slightly more of a metallic end finish, arguably making them looks more premium.

Winner: Apple AirPods Pro

AirPods vs AirPods Pro: Should you buy the Apple AirPods or the AirPods Pro? 

As we said at the start it's a clear win for the Apple AirPods Pro, packing in active noise cancelling, a better fit, more rugged build, Adaptive EQ audio and top call quality and a slightly better battery life. But, the issue is that all those extras will cost you as the price is nearly $100 different and since the AirPods aren't cheap to start with that represents a big investment. 

So if it's money no object, or you can stretch to the top end, then the Apple AirPods Pro are the best option. But if you can live without active noise cancellation and find the fit comfortable enough then perhaps the Apple AirPods will give you all you need in a more affordable package.

It looks like the iPhone 12 won’t be coming with a set of Earpod headphones when it launches later this year, if a recent rumor from Apple expert and industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is to be believed. The rumor was first reported by 9to5Mac and suggests that Apple may be dropping the iconic EarPods from the iPhone box to help push sales of its wireless AirPods.

Earpods have been a staple feature that have been included with iPhones since the iPhone 5 first launched with them bundled in back in 2012. Now it looks like the iconic earbuds will be dropped in favor of pushing the completely wireless AirPods. However it’s unlikely that we’ll see AirPods coming free with the iPhone 12 given the price disparity between the EarPods, which currently retail for $30 separately, and the AirPods which start at $159. At best, we might see a bundle deal that costs less than the iPhone 12 and AirPods would separately.

It’s not all doom and gloom though, as Ming-Chi Kuo does also suggest that Apple will be offering deep discounts on AirPods this holiday season to help iPhone users ease into the transition. It’s a real shame to see EarPods dropping out of the box, but it’s not entirely unexpected. Apple made waves back with the iPhone 7 when it removed the standard headphone jack in favor of a USB-C connection, meaning you needed to buy an adapter or use Apple’s EarPods if you wanted headphones for your iPhone.

At the same time, other companies have already dropped headphones from their phones to save on costs, such as Google who no longer includes headphones with its Google Pixel line, including the Google Pixel 4XL. Google claims this is because most people don’t use them, favoring their own selection of the best headphones like the Bowers & Wilkins PX.

We don’t have any official word on when the iPhone 12 will be launching, but the signs point to October this year. In a private conference call to investors, Apple’s largest manufacturing partner Foxconn told investors that it was on track for a fall release, though that schedule may since have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. In the meantime though, you can still grab the current models, the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro which are both among the best smartphones on the market.

If you need an inexpensive, basic Bluetooth headset, the Motorola Boom 2+ is a solid option. It’s a tiny, lightweight device with an IP54-rated coating to protect it against water and dust ingress, so you can make a call in the rain.

Volume

Many of the products we reviewed performed similarly, with few product flaws standing out. One very noticeable thing about the Boom 2+ is that its quieter than any of the other headsets we tested. To test the maximum volume levels, we played very loud audio clips through each headset and measured the decibel reading right up against the speaker. The Boom 2+ put out 68 decibels, while others could crank out up to 101 decibels. The World Health Organization recommends listening to music at no more than 85 decibels for extended periods of time. But the Boom’s measly 68 decibels output doesn’t live up to the device’s name. The Boom 2+ works well if you’re using your headset primarily in moderately quiet environments such as in an office or your car. If you need something with a little more oomph, we recommend the Jabra Stealth.

Call Performance

Aside from being quiet, the Boom 2+ has average audio and voice quality. It isn’t the best, but it works fine. The mic tends to pick up some ambient noise during calls in loud environments, but that’s also true of several other headsets we tested. One area where the Boom 2+ outperforms is battery life, as it has nine hours of talk time or eight days on standby. The only device we tested with longer talk time is the Sennheiser Presence, which is more expensive than the Boom 2+.

Design

The Motorola Bluetooth headset weighs in at nine grams. This isn’t the lightest headset we reviewed, but it is very small. It features a volume rocker and one call button directly over the speaker. These are easy to find and use while you’re wearing the headset. The Boom 2+ has a flappable mic that works as an on/off switch for the device and is a useful visual cue to remind you to shut it off when you’re not wearing it.

The Boom 2+ comes with two different ear gels styles, but they are relatively the same size. It also comes with an omni-directional ear hook for added security on either ear. Unlike some other products we tested, the Boom doesn’t come with a charging case, wall adapter or car charger, though it does include a USB to microUSB cable.

The Motorola Boom 2+ isn’t the best Bluetooth headset on the market, but its inexpensive cost, various wearing styles and simple functionality make it a great value if you’re looking for a basic Bluetooth headset.

The Jabra Motion is an around-the-ear-style Bluetooth headset. This style was hit or miss for our testers, some of whom didn’t mind the bulkier headset while others strongly preferred smaller products. At 18 grams, the Motion is the second heaviest product we tested, and it looks massive compared to most of its svelte competitors. Still, it’s more comfortable to wear than the Plantronics Voyager 5200, the other around-the-ear headset in our lineup. You can adjust the height of the earpiece, rotate the ear hook and swap between three sizes of ear cushions to customize your wearing experience.

Besides fit, many other things about the Motion were disappointing. The Jabra Motion gets its name from its internal motion sensor, which enables the Motion to answer calls by picking up the headset or take a power nap to conserve battery when you’re not wearing it. Unfortunately, these features worked inconsistently, particularly the answering feature, which didn’t work at all during our tests. Answering calls without the motion sensor is easy, you can pick up via the call button or voice command.

The most problematic issue with the Jabra Motion is that it sometimes fails to register when the paired phone receives a call. In several different instances during testing, we called the paired phone and received no indication that there was an incoming call. We checked to make sure the devices were paired correctly, played with settings and consulted the manual, but didn’t figure out the solution.

When the Motion did work, it worked well. Its audio quality was good, similar to the Plantronics Voyager 5200. It has a flip-down boom mic that also serves as the device’s on/off switch. The dual mic helps cancel out background noise, and there’s a small voice and mute button on the underside of the mic arm.

The headset features a call button over the speaker and a volume panel that runs across the back of the body. We found the call button placement inconvenient, as you can accidentally end calls while adjusting the earpiece. We did like that there is a dedicated volume control on the device, but we found the touch-sensitive panel a little odd. In addition to the volume control panel, the Motion has an automatic volume control that adjusts speaker volume depending on how fast you’re walking and the surrounding noise. You can also switch audio profiles in the Jabra Connect app.

Overall, the Jabra Motion is a decent headset, but we had more issues with it than any other product we tested. Its premium feature set offers much more than basic hands-free functionality, but we’re hesitant to recommend it, based on our experience.

The Plantronics Voyager 3200 is a compact Bluetooth mono headset. It’s both sleek and discreet, and it comes with a charging case equipped with a leather loop you can use to attach it to a belt loop or purse. The headset itself has a maximum of six hours talk time, and the charging case can add up to ten more. You can purchase the Voyager 3200 without the charging case, but the portable charging aspect is so useful that we recommend spending a little more for the extra convenience. It doesn't quite make our list of the best Bluetooth headsets, but comes close.

Call Performance

The Voyager 3200 features triple microphones. Most products we reviewed use dual-mic technology to help filter out background noise, but the Voyager’s additional mic ups the call clarity compared to other products we tested. While the sound quality is good, it is a bit shallower than the more expensive Plantronics Voyager 5200. Use the button on the side of the mic arm to mute the mic or activate voice assistants including Siri and Google Now. If you try to talk while muted, the headset lets you know.

Volume

The Voyager’s speaker has a feature called SoundGuard, which levels out noises to protect your ears. In our volume tests, where we played audio clips of things like shrieking and train horns and measured the sound output while set at max volume, the Voyager 3200 put out a max volume of 84 decibels, which is well below the advertised max volume of 118 decibels. The World Health Organization sets the max threshold for safe extended listening at 85 decibels for up to eight hours.

Design

With three color options, the Voyager 3200 has a versatile design. It’s unobtrusive and professional-looking. It features a power switch, volume controls, a voice button and a main multi-function button. The multi-function button is hidden over the speaker on the outside of the earpiece, but it’s still easy to find and use.

At nine grams, the Voyager is on the lighter side of the products we tested. It’s fairly comfortable over a long period of time and comes with three ear tip size options and an around-the-ear hook for additional stability. Depending on the shape of your face, you may be able to feel the mic arm resting on your cheek. One thing we didn’t particularly like about the Voyager 3200 is that all its ear tips are clear and very slightly sticky.

Overall, the Plantronics Voyager 3200 is a good Bluetooth headset. Its triple-mic setup helps you make crystal clear calls without background noise interference, and the optional charging case is super useful and convenient for staying charged and connected on the go.

Many of the same design elements that make the Jabra Eclipse our pick as the most comfortable Bluetooth headset could also be deal-breakers for certain people. The super-lightweight earpiece can only be worn in the right ear, has no buttons and requires its charging pod to function, but if you can overlook these quirks, the Eclipse is a great, simple headset.

The Eclipse’s egg-shaped charging pod is integral to the device’s use. It holds the charging port and the only button, which you use to pair the headset. The device has to be in the pod to charge or pair, which can be annoying. Besides acting as a home base for the earpiece, the pod can also hold up to three charges for the earpiece, which is great for charging on the go. The charging aspect of the pod is pretty necessary, considering that you can only expect three to four hours of talk time or three days of standby from each charge. This is the shortest battery life of any headset we tested, so the Eclipse is best suited to more periodic use than other headsets – like the Motorola Boom 2+ – that have more talk time.

At just six grams, the Jabra Eclipse is the lightest of the products we tested, but it doesn’t feel light in a cheap way. It stays securely in your ear and is comfortable enough to wear for hours at a time. You may even forget you’re wearing it. One of the reasons it can be so light is that it doesn’t have any buttons or switches on the earpiece itself. You control the volume on your device, and you use taps and voice commands to answer calls.

One of the problems with this minimalist design is that the headset’s mic doesn’t always respond to voice commands. Because the headset is so small, its mic is a good distance from your mouth, which is not the best position for giving voice commands or even using to talk on a call. In our tests, users reported that the mic doesn’t do the best job of filtering out background noises like traffic.

On the wearer’s end, however, audio quality is great. The Eclipse’s ear cushions do an excellent job blocking out ambient noise, allowing you to hear the headset audio better, even at lower volumes. If you choose to listen to music through your headset, the Eclipse handles most sound ranges impressively. You won’t get any booming bass, but the balance is good for a Bluetooth speaker.

Overall, the Jabra Eclipse could be the best choice if you’re looking for something simple that you can wear comfortably for hours. It does everything you need a Bluetooth headset to do, plus offers great audio quality and an interesting design.

There are many advantages to supplementing your exercise with music. Not only can music provide a distraction from your environment so that you can focus on your exercises, it can distract you from the aches and pains of a workout. Music can help regulate your breathing and set your pace like a metronome. The perfect song can pump you up and push you to your limit. The perfect workout playlist can be the difference between running an extra mile and giving up after the first.

Creating the best workout playlist isn't easy. You can't just put your iPod on shuffle or stream music from a station on Pandora. First, you'll need to make sure you have a pair of sweat proof wireless earbuds. When your heart rate's up and sweat is dripping off your chin, it's critical that your wireless earphones don't short out from all that moisture. Next, you need to consider the type of workout you're going to do. The same playlist you use for an evening of running shouldn't be the same playlist you create for lifting weights. But most of all, make sure that your favorite songs play during the peak of your workout.

Warm Up
Your warm-up should only consist of two or three songs at most. This is the time where you're preparing your body and your mind for what's ahead. You don't want any songs that are too fast or too aggressive. Rock anthems are great warm-up songs because they aren't fast and the typically epic buildups are a great way to get your heart ready.

Recommendations: "We Are the Champions" by Queen, "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen, "Welcome to the Black Parade" by My Chemical Romance.

Running Playlist
The pace of your songs can have a major effect on the pace of your running. Without even realizing it, you'll match the pace of whatever song is playing. A website called Jog.FM is a great resource for finding the BPM of songs so that you can create playlists to meet your needs. For most people, songs with a BPM between 120 and 140 are ideal for maintaining a brisk pace, though you may need slower or faster songs. It's a good idea to test out different BPMs to see where you feel most comfortable. You should also pick songs with a straight 4/4 beat. Songs with funky beats and odd time signatures can throw you off your stride. Punk rock is rich with these types of songs.

This workout playlist can consist of as many songs as you want, but it's a good idea to plan according to the distance that you're planning to run. For example, if you plan to run five miles at about nine minutes per mile, you'll need a playlist that lasts at least 45 minutes. You should start with a song that's around 120 BPM and gradually add faster songs as the playlist progresses. You may also want to slow it down for the second to last song and finish with the fastest song on your playlist.

Recommendations: "Fun Night" by Andrew W.K., "Ready to Fall" by Rise Against, "Breeding Thorns" by Soilwork, "Turn Soonest to the Sea" by Protest the Hero, "Clayman" by In Flames.

Weightlifting Playlist
A weightlifting playlist is similar to a running playlist in that the pace of a song can set the pace of your reps and you want songs with comfortable rhythms. Unlike with a running playlist, you want songs with a slower BPM. Picking songs that are on the more aggressive side of your musical tastes is also a good idea. You want your adrenaline to be peaked when you're lifting weights. Testosterone-fueled songs set the mood. While metal and hardcore music are acquired tastes that can take time to develop, they are rich genres full of aggressive music to bring out your inner beast.

Recommendations: "Aphrodite: The Disillusionaire" by The Showdown, "Image of the Invisible" by Thrice, "Digital Veil" by The Human Abstract, "Ultraviolet Suspension" by Cardio Kazan.

Cool Down
Whether you've finished a long run or an hour of CrossFit, you should always spend time cooling down. You want to ease your heart rate down to its resting rate slowly while you stretch. Many people like to turn off the music at this point, which isn't a bad idea. The wrong song can keep your heart rate up, making it more difficult to cool down. If you must have music, you should choose slow, soothing songs.

Recommendations: "Santa Maria" by The Frames, "Ho Hey" by The Lumineers, "State Hospital" by Frightened Rabbit.

Editor’s Note: This product has been removed from our side-by-side comparison because it has been discontinued. You can still read our original review below, but Top Ten Reviews is no longer updating this product’s information.

The Sound ID 400 has outstanding sound quality and is extremely comfortable. The wireless headset has a variety of different sound settings you can choose to customize your sound, depending on the environment in which you are using the headset. The Bluetooth headset is simple to use, but the customer service options are extremely limited.

The Sound ID 400 Bluetooth headset utilizes several microphones on the back of the headset to help cancel out any extra noise. The microphone on the end of the earpiece will pick up your voice and broadcast it clearly. Even in a crowded room or on a windy street, the sound quality is terrific. The headset has two incorporated sound settings: Environmental Mode and NoiseNavigation. The Environmental Mode is designed to amplify and increase the listening power. However, this setting has some feedback that can be annoying. There is occasionally a small buzzing noise in the background. The other setting, NoiseNavigation, is designed to optimize speech intelligibility and works very well.

The Sound ID 400 Bluetooth headset doesn’t have integrated voice applications like other similar headsets. All the voice-dialing options supported by your phone will work with the Bluetooth headset. You can download programs to read text messages and emails. Some applications will dictate text messages, Twitter messages, Facebook posts and emails. These programs are especially useful for those who need to text or send emails while driving. Most of these applications have a small one-time or annual fee.

The wireless headset system is A2DP-enabled, which means it can stream audio. If a call comes in, the music will stop so you can answer. The music resumes after the call is ended. The Bluetooth headset is compatible with all different types of phones and devices, including computers and video gaming consoles.

The Sound ID headset is very simple to use. Put your headset in your ear, turn it on and your phone or other device will recognize the headset. You can pair this headset with multiple devices simultaneously.

The Sound ID 400 Bluetooth headset is extraordinarily comfortable. The headset does not come with an over-the-ear hook, but the earpiece is soft and great for extended use. The Sound ID 400 headset only comes with one earpiece and you cannot use an ear hook.

The manufacturer’s website does not have extensive customer support options. There is only an online form to fill out. You cannot contact the manufacturer via telephone, chat or even email. There are no sections for frequently asked questions or tutorials. When we left notes on the website it took several business days to receive a response.

The Sound ID 400 Bluetooth headset is well-designed for aesthetics, sound quality and comfort. The headset has two different customized sound settings and the sound quality is superb. We also love the fit of the headset. It’s an excellent choice even for extended use.

Editor's Note: This review has been removed from our side-by-side comparison because it no longer ranks as a top 10 product. The original review is below, but check out our current top 10 about Bluetooth Headsets here.

When it comes to electronic devices, LG is famous for high-quality televisions, phones, washing machines, home appliances, laptops and more. Bluetooth devices are a very small part of the LG brand. As a result, it's easy to expect the LG HBM-905 to be an afterthought – and for the most part, you'd be right. The LG HBM-905 fails to rise above the other Bluetooth headsets because the design is very large and the audio quality is only average.

The most noticeable feature that the LG HBM-905 has is the triple-microphone noise cancellation system. Most Bluetooth headsets use a dual-microphone system with an internal equalizer that filters out background noise – one microphone to focus on your voice, one microphone to focus on background noises. With this LG headset, the noise cancellation process uses three microphones instead of two. Ideally, this should make for a better noise reduction. However, the result isn't noticeably better than most dual-mic noise cancellations.

The LG HBM-905's noise cancellation is adequate when used in most noisy areas, like walking along a suburban street with considerable traffic or an active fast-paced office environment. However, dramatic increases in noise will interfere with the noise filtering process, causing the audio to sound like it's breaking up on the other end of the call. In addition, the volume automatically increases as the background noise increases. This can be inconsistent. Fortunately, you can manually turn the volume up or down to match your preference.

The audio driver uses dynamic wideband, which combined with the noise cancellation means your phone calls will be adequately clear. The audio isn't as rich or full as the best Bluetooth headsets with wideband audio. This is clear when you stream audio from your phone. The bass sounds hollow and the treble is thin. You can try to fix this by downloading apps that allow you to customize the different bass, mid-range and treble levels.

This LG Bluetooth headset is compatible with all kinds of Bluetooth-enabled phones. The HFP Bluetooth profile allows you to use your voice to answer, reject or dial calls. It doesn't include voice-to-text capabilities, but it does include a text-reading feature so that you'll hear all your incoming texts.

The LG headset can stream audio through the A2DP Bluetooth profile. While this isn't ideal for listening to music because you'll only receive one mono channel of a song's stereo frequency, you can still listen to audio books, podcasts and GPS directions through the headset. When you receive a call, the audio pauses automatically and resumes after the call ends. In addition, with multipoint technology, you can pair this with a Bluetooth-enabled media player while still maintaining a connection to your phone.

At just 0.39 ounces, this LG Bluetooth headset is light for its size. There is nothing subtle about this headset – it covers half of your face. There's no hiding this headset. It has a microphone that sticks out farther than most headsets. This length requires an over-ear hook that is flimsy and prone to unclipping from the headset. When it unclips from the earpiece, the weight of the headset rests on an earbud that struggles to handle it. This makes for a fit that isn't as secure as you'd want, especially for extensive on-the-go use that requires stability.

Despite having an advanced triple-microphone noise cancellation system and wideband audio drivers, the LG HBM-905 Bluetooth headset is underwhelming. Its size isn't appealing and the flimsy over-ear hook doesn't instill much confidence that the headset won't fall off your head at the first nod. However, the LG HBM-905 is a good headset for the features and audio quality that it offers.