While wireless Bluetooth earbuds will work with any compatible Bluetooth-enabled device, there are some advantages to getting headphones designed with your OS in mind. Many wireless earbuds work best with iPhones and come with features like easier pairing or spatial audio, but what wireless earbuds work best with Android? It's always important to get earbuds that you find comfortable and enjoyable to listen to, but some Android-specific features are worth looking for, like a compatible app or quick pairing. While compatibility varies from one device to another, unlike Apple products, plenty of Android devices can take advantage of the higher-quality Bluetooth codecs (like LDAC and aptX Adaptive) available on some of our picks.
We've tested over 800 pairs of headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best wireless earbuds for Android. You can also check out our recommendations for the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds, the best cheap earbuds, and the best Samsung earbuds.
The Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless are the best earbuds for Android with a wireless design we've tested. Even though they don't offer many Android-exclusive features, they still have some tricks up their sleeve. These headphones support LDAC, Sony's hi-res audio codec, which allows you to stream your favorite tunes with better sound quality than the default SBC codec. They also support Google Quick Pair, so connecting these headphones to your Android device is simple and easy.
Out of the box, they have a warm sound profile suitable for most kinds of audio. You can fine-tune their sound using their app's graphic EQ and presets. They also have an active noise cancelling (ANC) feature, and combined with their memory foam ear tips, they can block out a significant amount of background noise. That said, some users have reported that the ear tips aren't very comfortable because they put pressure on the ear canal.
If you're looking for buds with a more comfortable fit, check out the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Truly Wireless. They have a shallower silicone ear tip design, which puts less pressure on your ear canal for better comfort. The trade-off is that they block less high-pitched noise but still do a solid job of filtering out low- and mid-frequency noises like rumbling bus engines or ambient chatter. While they don't support Sony's proprietary LDAC, they can use aptX Adaptive, a codec that dynamically adjusts your audio content, providing either lower or higher latency for streaming video or better audio quality. However, unlike the Sony, the Bose don't support multi-device pairing.
If you want to spend a little less, check out the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3. They're another great set of earbuds with a good-quality build. They have a bass-heavy sound out of the box to bring out all the thump and punch in your audio. The treble is slightly veiled, but you can always adjust this using its Android-compatible companion app, which includes a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization. With a battery life of around 8.5 hours, they're great for longer days on the go, and their case holds three extra charges if you need a top-up.
Unlike the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless, they don't support LDAC, but they do support aptX Adaptive, which is great for balancing the connection strength with the audio quality and multi-device pairing. Their ANC feature also doesn't block out as much ambient noise as the Sony, but they perform decently and do a good job blocking out mid-range noise like office chatter. Fit is a pretty subjective thing, but these earbuds feel a bit bulky, and their stability fins can be uncomfortable. On the upside, the silicone ear tips aren't as invasive as the memory foam used on the Sony buds.
The Nothing Ear Truly Wireless are the best buds we've tested for Android at this price point. They're comfortable, very well-built, and bring a broad feature set to the table. These slick, chrome-accented earbuds come equipped with ANC, 7.5 hours of continuous battery life (with almost four extra charges in the case), and support for common Bluetooth codecs like AAC and SBC, as well as the high-resolution LDAC and LHDC codecs. Plus, they support Google Fast Pair for seamless pairing with Android devices.
These buds have an excellent default sound profile, with tight bass that's not overbearing, buttery mids, and a smooth treble range response. There's plenty of scope for further customization in the Android-compatible companion app, which lets you adjust the sound with a graphic EQ and presets. That said, while their ANC is serviceable and will help isolate you against some common scenarios, they don't attenuate against external noise quite as well as the Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless. While they're a bit pricier, the Sony also deliver audio more consistently and feature support for Sony 360 Reality audio, which can create a more immersive listening experience. That said, their default sound profile isn't as balanced, and their mic has a worse recording quality and noise-handling performance.
The Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless are a solid choice if you want something even more affordable. Their adaptive ANC feature adjusts itself to your environment, and it's fantastic at cutting out a wide range of background noise. Even with ANC on, they last for more than eight hours of continuous use, which is nice for long days at the office. Despite a more budget-friendly price, their performance rivals the Nothing Ear Truly Wireless in many ways. While they do leak a bit more audio than the Nothing, which might be an issue if you like to listen to your audio loudly around other people, their case holds four extra charges. Unlike the Nothing, they don't support Quick Pair for Android, but they do support multi-device pairing.
They're great for listening to music, with a warm sound profile that suits genres like rock and jazz. Elements like voices and instruments lack clarity and detail, but their companion app includes customization features like an EQ to adjust the audio to suit your tastes. If you prefer a more stable design in-ear fit for sports and fitness use, check out the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC Truly Wireless. While both buds also feature LDAC support, meaning you can enjoy high-quality wireless audio at a more wallet-friendly price than the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless, the Liberty 4 NC are a bit more expensive than the A40, and their ANC performance isn't quite as good.
At the budget price point, the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless are the best earbuds for Android that we've tested. While they don't have ANC like the Anker Soundcore Space A40 Truly Wireless, they stand out from other budget picks since they have a companion app, which is compatible with Android devices and offers a graphic EQ and presets so you can fine-tune their bass-rich sound to suit your tastes. While they don't have a premium build and lack a lid on the case, they feel well-made and have an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance.
Their battery lasts almost nine hours of continuous use, so they can last through a workday, and their case stores an additional three charges. Their auto-off timer will also save battery life if you forget to stick them back in the case. They don't have ANC and won't do much to block out noise like rumbling engines, but they do block out a good amount of mid-range noise like background conversations. They have a decently comfortable, stable fit, although they sit somewhat deep in your ears, which can create a plunger-like feeling when you remove the buds.
If you want aptX connectivity without compromising durability, the Jabra Elite 3 True Wireless are worth a look, although they can be a little more expensive. While both earbuds reduce noise through passive isolation, the Elite 3 block more low-pitched noises on the bus. For better battery life at a cheaper price, the Vibe Buds still edge ahead.
If you're a Samsung user, you'll want to check out the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro True Wireless. These buds have features unique to Samsung's ecosystem that you won't find anywhere else on this list. They support Samsung Seamless codec, a proprietary codec for improved audio quality, and they have a 'Game Mode,' which can lower latency with Samsung devices. Their ANC is excellent, making them a solid choice for long commutes or shifts at the office. Out of the box, they offer a fairly flat and neutral sound profile, and you can adjust it with an in-app graphic EQ and presets.
Their five-hour continuous battery life is short compared to similarly priced headphones like the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3. Their carrying case supplies roughly 2.6 extra charges, but you might prefer the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Truly Wireless if you want a slightly longer battery life. These much cheaper earbuds don't have as many extra features as the Buds2 Pro since they lack virtual surround sound and have a lower IP rating for water resistance. However, they last for around six hours of continuous use and support many of the same Samsung-centric features as the Buds2, including 'Game Mode.' They use Samsung Scalable codec instead of the Samsung Seamless codec and come in at a cheaper price.
Aug 02, 2024: We've replaced the Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless with the Nothing Ear Truly Wireless as our mid-range pick due to the Nothing's excellent neutral sound performance, extensive codec support, and improved build quality.
Jul 09, 2024: The Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless replaced the Google Pixel Buds Pro Truly Wireless as our mid-range pick because of their noise isolation performance when we updated these headphones to Test Bench 1.7. We've left the Pixel Buds as a comparison to the Sony LinkBuds S, though.
Jun 06, 2024: The Technica EAH-AZ80 True Wireless have been added as a Notable Mention, and the list has been checked for accuracy.
May 10, 2024: Due to their great price-to-performance ratio, we've added the OnePlus Buds 3 Truly Wireless as a Notable Mention. We've also added the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 as a Notable Mention as they're more expensive than their predecessor but don't perform quite as well as the Sony WF-1000XM5 Truly Wireless. Otherwise, we've checked our other picks to ensure they're all in stock and relevant and have made no further changes.
Apr 09, 2024: We've made minor updates to the text of this article and checked our picks to ensure they're all still in stock. We've also mentioned the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4, which we're currently testing.
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best Bluetooth earbuds for Android to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for wireless earbuds, sorted by Android quick pairing support. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.