The Best Wireless Earbuds for Travel (And Everything Else)
While wireless earbuds have been around for a while, the AirPods ushered in a new generation of true wireless earbuds when they made their debut at the end of 2016. So began a Bluetooth-dominated era, where earbuds aren't physically connected to your device or to each other. For travel, going wireless can be liberating—no more wire tangles clogging up your backpack and no more slack cord dipping into your in-flight meal by mistake. And for some, over-ear wireless headphones are too bulky to stow away in an already stuffed carry-on bag. Here are the best editor-tested wireless earbuds on the market right now for travel and otherwise.
(Note: We don't think sorta-wireless earbuds—the ones with a wire connecting them to each other—are worth it when there are so many great wireless options available now, so we've limited this selection to true wireless earbuds.)
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date. All products featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
All products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Sony WF-1000XM3 Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Sony's new wireless earbuds were industry leading from the day they landed in stores last fall for two big reasons. First, they're entirely noise-cancelling, standing up to comparison with the greatest on-ear headphones out there. Second, these compact buds contain eight hours of battery life per charge, with 24 additional hours in the charging case (which can add 90 minutes of life with a mere 10-minute charge). The WF-1000XM3's, which have a rich sound that can handle whatever bass you throw at it, can maintain a connection to two devices at the same time, making switching between a phone and laptop easy.
Battery life: Eight hours, plus 24 hours of back-up in the charging case.
Hits: Warm, expansive sound quality with excellent battery life, USB-C charging, and best-in-class noise cancelling.
Misses: None come to mind—these are the earbuds to beat.
Buy Now: $198, amazon.com
Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Wireless Earbuds
If you're looking to spend $100 or less on wireless earbuds, the Soundcore Liberty Air 2 are your best bet. They're similar to the Apple AirPods in that they have a long cylindrical stem that sticks out of your ears, and they're remarkably comfortable. Plus, the latest version added an impressive 13 hours to the charge capacity, and sped up the charge time. Now, you can get two hours of listening time with just a 10-minute charge. They have silicone tips that seal off your ear canals so they are technically noise-isolating, but the effectiveness really depends on how well the included ear tips fit you—to that end, there are now five sizes to choose from, ranging from XS to XL. They'll definitely stay in place if you're, say, sitting at the airport, but if you're taking these on a long run or for a jaunt around the gym, they won't be as snug as the Jabra Elite Actives or Powerbeats Pro.
Battery life: Seven hours, plus an additional 28 from the charging case.
Hits: Solid noise-isolation system and comfortable fit; a strong Bluetooth 5.0 connection; easy pairing to your device.
Misses: They are cheaper than most of the wireless earbuds on this list, which means they (and their charging case) also look and feel cheaper.
Buy Now: $80, amazon.com
Powerbeats Pro Wireless Headphones
The only choice for the active traveler, the latest Beats earbuds are entirely sweat resistant, with an adjustable over-the-ear hook that guarantees the buds will stay in place whether you're running a mile or taking off a sweater mid-flight. Along with the durability comes impressive sound quality, remarkable battery life, and an incredibly stable connection and clear microphone when making calls (aided by the fact that Powerbeats, owned by Apple, pair seamlessly with iPhones). The Apple benefits don't stop there: Powerbeats can be charged with an iPhone cable, and come with a new one to add to your collection.
Battery life: Nine hours, plus an additional 24 hours with the charging case.
Hits: Apple connectivity, sweat-resistant design, and never having to scramble for a fallen bud again.
Misses: At $250, there are cheaper workout headphones—and the size of the charging case takes getting used to.
Buy Now: $250, amazon.com
Jabra Elite 65T True Wireless Earbuds
If you prioritize sound quality for music above all else, the Jabra Elite 65T are the best wireless earbuds at a more affordable price point than the Sennheiser. They carry an impressive dynamic range and come with three different sizes of silicone tips, called EarGels, so you can find a fit that will also offer very good noise isolation. The connection strength, powered by Bluetooth 5.0, is ironclad, so you won't experience dropped audio unless your phone is running on an earlier Bluetooth system. If you exercise a lot, consider getting the Jabra Elite Active 65T, which are nearly identical to the standard Elites but are sweat-resistant (and $20 more expensive).
Battery life: Five hours, plus an additional 10 out of the charging case.
Hits: Great sound; easy-to-use controls; strong Bluetooth connection.
Misses: Not the best for phone call audio quality, especially if you're on a busy city street.
Buy Now: Jabra Elite 65T, $120, amazon.com
Buy Now: Jabra Elite 65T Active, $140, amazon.com
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless Earbuds
For those who follow the evolution of earphone brands closely, it would have been pretty obvious that the German perfectionists at Sennheiser were not messing around when they released the Momentum True Wireless Earbuds in November 2018. These earbuds prove that size doesn't matter, to the point that it's easy to forget you're dealing with two tiny capsules that could easily be lost in the wash, not oversized headphones. The sound and passive noise isolation of these wireless earbuds are superb, with thumping bass and non-grating treble. An elegant, pocketable, USB-C charging case that doesn't look like it's holding your meds (hi, AirPods) is the cherry on top.
Battery life: Four hours, plus an additional eight out of the charging case.
Hits: Arena-like sound quality and an eye-catching design.
Misses: The controls—a complicated network of taps on the completely buttonless earbuds—can take some getting used to.
Buy Now: $230, sennheiser.com
Apple AirPods Pro
You can say what you want about Apple—that it doesn't innovate quite like it used to, or that it's the company that got us into this wireless mess with its nixing of the headphone jack—but the AirPods set a new standard for how Bluetooth earphones should work. Granted, they are designed for iPhone and Mac users, so if you're of a different persuasion, there are better options for you in this list. But when used to their fullest, the AirPods can be remarkable, and the noise-cancelling capability of the Pro model only improved upon the overall quality; with the Pro, you can toggle noise cancelling on and off, and there's a noticeable improvement in sound quality when turned on. The seamlessness of the connection, established as soon as you pull them out of their carrying case; the addition of ear tips for cushioning; and handy features like automatic pausing when you pull one earbud out all add up to a pretty nifty listening experience.
Battery life: Four and a half hours (five with noise-cancelling turned off), plus an additional 24 from the charging case.
Hits: Seamless Bluetooth connection; incredibly easy set up for iPhone users; sweat- and water-resistant.
Misses: The price is $100 more than standard AirPods, and the battery life is no longer top-of-class.
Buy Now: $250, target.com
TRNDLabs NOVA True Wireless Earbuds
Okay, these little guys aren't going to win any innovation awards. They're extremely simple—two tiny plastic pods with one button on each—and they do suffer from some annoying hiccups, including totally failing at syncing with video. But hey, look at that price. For something that will channel decent-fidelity music into your ears for the price of a 30-minute Uber ride in New York City, all without a wire in sight, the TRNDLabs NOVAs are a pretty great budget option, and the battery life is unmatched. There are even a few things that are really great: The disc-like carrying case is genius and if the provided extra pair of memory foam tips fit your ears perfectly, these cheap earbuds actually provide some spectacular noise isolation.
Battery life: Three hours, plus an additional 60 (yes, sixty) with the charging case that doubles as a power bank.
Hits: A rock-bottom price tag; decent audio quality; good isolation if they are the right fit.
Misses: Crappy mics make for crappy phone calls; tons of lag when watching videos; cheap-feeling all-plastic build.
Buy Now: $49, trndlabs.com