Best true wireless earbuds 2019
No headphone jack? No problem. Apple's AirPods and the best alternatives are true wireless earbuds to save the day.
Not many phones have headphone jacks any more and the popularity of Apple's AirPods means that true wireless earbuds are everywhere. We've reviewed and ranked the best earphones you can get including the likes of Sony, RHA, Cambridge Audio and more.
We're focusing on what are known as 'true wireless' earbuds here – ie not ones that are attached to each other with a cable that hangs on your neck like the Google Pixel Buds or B&O Beoplay H5 - aka neckbuds.
If you're looking for general wireless headphones then we have a dedicated chart for that which includes on- and over-ear headphones.
In terms of wireless earbuds, you're going to have to spend a fair amount to get a decent pair. This is because there's a lot of technology packed into tiny headphones. Since the category is very new, prices won't come down for a while – the average price for a well-known brand is £200/$200.
Make sure you check out our best headphone deals article for the top bargains right now.
Generally speaking, the earbuds from different manufacturers are very similar. The headphones connect to your phone (or other devices) and each other over Bluetooth and tend to have playback controls on at least one earbud.
You'll get a few hours of battery life (there's not much space for the battery) and the carry case will handily charge them up, normally a few times over.
If your budget is tight, take a look at our recommendations for the best cheap true wireless earbuds.
Best true wireless earbuds 2019
1. Cambridge Audio Melomania 1
At they're affordable price compared to the big name rivals out there, the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 wireless earbuds should be lacking in a few areas but they're really not.
They might not have the most striking design but they're lightweight and comfortable. The buttons can handle a whole range of functions once you learn the system, too.
More importantly, there's excellent battery life on offer here combined with top sound quality so what more could you want? Perhaps noise cancelling but not at this price.
2. RHA TrueConnect
Simply put, the RHA TrueConnect are one of the best pairs of wireless earbuds we've tested.
Although they don't have active noise cancelling like the Sony WF-1000X, the comfortable and efficient seal provides excellent noise isolation instead. This means they're cheaper and don't suffer from dropouts either.
Add in a whopping 25 hours battery life via the charging case, IPX5 splash resistance and top-notch audio quality and this is the pair to beat.
3. Sony WF-1000XM3
Improving upon the original WF-1000X earbuuds, the new model has been redesigned and improved. The charging case is a little bulky, but the total run-time of 24 hours is very impressive.
With great noise cancelling and the ability to tweak everything, including the touch key functions, in the companion app and use Siri or Google Assistant hands-free, they're a great buy.