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Oct 17, 2024

Best Earbuds for Phone Calls for 2024 - CNET

Article updated on October 16, 2024 at 11:19 AM PDT Whether you’re working from home or on the go, these are the best wireless earbuds and headphones for crystal-clear phone and video calls. CNET’s

Article updated on October 16, 2024 at 11:19 AM PDT

Whether you’re working from home or on the go, these are the best wireless earbuds and headphones for crystal-clear phone and video calls.

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.

What to consider

Budget

First things first: You need to know how much you're willing to spend on great earbuds.

Fit

A comfortable, secure fit not only impacts your ability to use your earbuds for longer periods, but has lasting impacts on noise-isolation capabilities.

Return Policy

Where you buy earbuds from matters, in case the headphones or earbuds turn out to be a bad fit for you.

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.

What to consider

Budget

First things first: You need to know how much you're willing to spend on great earbuds.

Fit

A comfortable, secure fit not only impacts your ability to use your earbuds for longer periods, but has lasting impacts on noise-isolation capabilities.

Return Policy

Where you buy earbuds from matters, in case the headphones or earbuds turn out to be a bad fit for you.

Most wireless headphones and earbuds are reliable when it comes to listening to music, podcasts and more. However, when you start using earbuds in voice and video calls, you'll notice the difference between cheap wireless earbuds and those that enhance your call quality. Whether at your desk or on the run, these are the best wireless earbuds and Bluetooth headphones for making calls. A pair of these earbuds or headphones would also make a good gift for that friend who's always on the phone this holiday shopping season.

However, not all earbuds are created equal. Even if a pair of earbuds has great sound quality, it doesn't mean its built-in microphone can pick up audio to the same standard. If you're planning to use earbuds for two-way audio calls, it's crucial to get a pair with a decent mic array to ensure your voice comes through clearly to the listener.

The best wireless earbuds for voice calling pick up your voice clearly, but also significantly reduce background noise. This utilizes onboard microphones as well as sophisticated noise-reduction software algorithms and sometimes even voice accelerometers that can detect when you're speaking.

In our tests at CNET (on the noisy streets of New York, no less) we found the best earbuds for phone calls were the AirPods Pro 2. Updated almost two years ago with USB-C charging, Apple's flagship noise-canceling earbuds are good at picking up your voice while minimizing background noise.

It's generally better to go for noise-isolating earbuds, as they effectively block out sound. This can be achieved through either physical sound isolation or active noise cancellation algorithms that help you focus on the sound in your ear. Other features, like sidetone, allow you to hear your own voice while speaking, helping you control your volume and better understand what the other person hears.

If you're mainly interested in headphones for static use, like in your home office, check out our guide to the best headphones for working from home. These models as more likely to include an extendable boom mic, rather than in-built hardware designed for portable use.

Read more: Best Wireless Earbuds of 2024

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Apple not only swapped in USB-C for Lightning connectivity in its new iPhone 15 models, but it made the switch with the AirPods Pro (2nd generation). The new AirPods Pro 2 with MagSafe (USB-C) are nearly identical to their Lightning predecessor, delivering the same excellent sound, noise canceling and voice-calling performance.

They offer some other small upgrades, including additional dust resistance and a new acoustic architecture that allows for Lossless Audio with the Vision Pro. Is it possible that new acoustic architecture makes the buds sound subtly different from current devices like the iPhone? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, the AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) are easy to recommend to Apple users despite their high price. Pro tip: Don't pay more than $190 for these. That's the online sale price at which they're now frequently available.

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The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro offers improved noise canceling along with very good sound and voice-calling performance, plus support for high-resolution wireless audio streaming if you're a Galaxy device owner with the right setup. Their biggest upgrade may be the design and smaller size, which make them a better fit for more ears. Aside from their somewhat high price tag, their only drawback is that some of their key features only work with Samsung Galaxy devices.

Status Audio's earbuds aren't exactly the sleekest or most attractive earbuds you can buy, but if you don't mind their utilitarian look and giant stems, you are getting an excellent-sounding set of earbuds. The Between 3ANC, the company's first noise-canceling earbuds, also do a good job muffling ambient sound, although they aren't up to the level of the Bose QuietComfort 2 earbuds for noise-canceling prowess. They did perform very well in my voice-calling test, reducing much of the background noise around me in the streets of New York while picking up my voice clearly, or so callers told me.

They have multipoint Bluetooth pairing — you can pair them to two devices simultaneously — but they are missing a few features, including ear-detection sensors. They also only support the AAC audio codec (they're equipped with Bluetooth 5.2), not LDAC or aptX. Some people with Android devices that support those codecs may not be thrilled with that, but they sound quite good using AAC, offering clean sound with punchy bass and good clarity. That's partly due to their driver design, and why the buds are on the larger side. They feature two balanced armature drivers, plus one 10mm dynamic driver in each earbud.

Despite being heavier than earbuds like Apple's AirPods Pro 2, they fit my ears comfortably and securely. Their case charges wirelessly and battery life is very good, at up to 8.5 hours with ANC on. There's also a transparency mode that sounds only OK, not great (a physical button on the earbuds activates it) and they have an IPX5 water-resistance rating, which means they can withstand a sustained spray of water. The companion app for iOS is fairly basic, but you can upgrade the firmware and tweak the sound profile with a customizable EQ option.

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Take one look at the new design of the third-gen AirPods ($179), and the first thing you'll probably think is: "Those look like the AirPods Pro without ear tips." You wouldn't be wrong. While they're more fraternal than identical twins, the AirPods 3 are shaped like the AirPods Pro, with the same shorter stems and pinch controls as those of the Pro. Aside from the design change, which should fit most ears better than the AirPods 2nd Generation (though not very small ears), the biggest change is to the sound quality: It's much improved. Also, battery life is better, and the AirPods 3 are officially water-resistant.

Since they're open earbuds, they let some sound in, so they're not as good as the AirPods Pro 2 for both listening and making calls in noisy environments. They do a nice job reducing background noise during calls and picking up your voice well.

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When Sony's WF-1000XM4 earbuds came out in 2021, we awarded them a CNET Editors' Choice. And while they're excellent, we had some quibbles. They're on the large side and aren't a good match for certain ears. Clearly, Sony took those gripes to heart when it set out to design its next-generation WF-1000XM5 flagship noise-canceling earbuds. Not only are the XM5s smaller, but they also offer improved performance pretty much across the board, with better noise canceling, sound and voice calling. Are the XM5s perfect? Not quite. At $300 — $20 more than their predecessor — they're also costly. Overall they're really impressive, and easily among the very top earbuds on the market.

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The Pixel Buds Pro are Google's first earbuds to feature active noise canceling. It's nice that they finally have a feature that a lot of true-wireless earbuds have had for a while, but what ultimately sets the Pixel Buds Pro apart and makes them worth considering -- particularly for Android users -- is their distinct design and winning fit. That helps enhance their performance on both the sound quality and noise-canceling fronts. While not quite elite for voice-calling, they did perform well as a headset for making calls. A couple of features were missing at launch -- spatial audio and a five-band equalizer -- but both have now been added with firmware updates along with some additional extra features.

Available in four color options, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 hew more closely to the newer Galaxy Buds Pro and Galaxy Buds Live, both of which have eye-catching glossy curved designs and the same compact charging case as this new model. It's the Buds 2's design and fit — they're 15% smaller and 20% lighter than the Buds Plus — that make them a potentially more likable alternative to the slightly better-sounding Buds Pro.

Like the Buds Pro, the Buds 2 are equipped with active noise canceling. That means all the latest Galaxy Buds models now feature some form of active noise canceling, though it's slight with the Buds Live, which have an open design sans ear tips. The Buds 2 look more like shrunken versions of the Buds Pro, but I found them more akin to the Buds Live in that they barely stick out of your ears and are fairly discreet. Because they sit more flush with your ears — and have that curved design — they also pick up less wind noise.

I found the Buds 2 to be very good for voice calling, with excellent noise reduction during calls. They don't have pipes sticking out of them like the AirPods Pro, but their microphones manage to pick up your voice well. They're also IPX2 sweat-resistant.

Over the years, JBL has put out some decent true-wireless earbuds, but nothing that really got me too excited. That's finally changed with the arrival of the Samsung-owned brand's new Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 buds. Both sets of buds — the Live Pro 2 have stems while the Live Free 2 have a pill-shaped design — offer a comfortable fit along with strong noise canceling, very good sound quality and voice-calling performance, plus a robust set of features, including multipoint Bluetooth pairing, an IPX5 splash-proof rating and wireless charging.

The Live Pro 2 and Live Free 2 are equipped with the same 11mm drivers, six microphones, oval tubes and oval silicon tips. Aside from the design, the biggest difference between the two buds is battery life. The stemless Live Free 2 is rated for up to seven hours, while the Live Pro 2 is rated for 10 hours. The Live Pro 2 is available in four color options.

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There are a lot of new gaming earbuds out there, but what makes the Sony Pulse Explore earbuds special is that they feature planar magnetic drivers, a speaker technology typically found in high-end over-ear audiophile headphones but rarely in earbuds. They're missing some other features found in typical premium earbuds (noise canceling and ear-detection sensors), that they're as good as they are for listening to music and making calls is a revelation. They sound clearer and more articulate than Sony's flagship WF-1000XM5 earbuds and have tight, powerful bass. That doesn't necessarily mean they sound better than XM5s, which sound a little fuller, but I wasn't expecting them to compete at all with the XM5s for music listening.

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Alas, for those of you who bought the original Beats Studio Buds, which remain on the market for now, I'm sorry to report that these new Plus buds are significantly improved, with better sound, noise canceling and battery life. Additionally, they now deliver top-notch voice-calling performance.

The transparent version is getting a lot of attention (who doesn't like transparent electronics?), but the big changes are on the inside. Beats says 95% of the components are new and improved, and the buds' "acoustic architecture" has been revised. The speaker drivers remain the same, but the Studio Buds Plus are powered by a new, more powerful custom chipset and have three new microphones in each bud, which are three times larger and more sensitive than the ones found in the Beats Studio Buds.

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Apple's second-generation AirPods aren't as feature-rich as the third-gen AirPods or the AirPods Pro 2. That said, the AirPods 2, which came out in 2019, are down to just $89 on Amazon, or $40 less than their list price. While they don't sound as good as the AirPods 3 and have a longer stem, they fit some people's ears better (those with smaller ears may prefer these older AirPods due to their slightly smaller design).

Before anything else, you'll want to figure out how much you're willing to spend on new earbuds. Value-priced earbuds continue to improve, so you can find good "cheap" buds for not too much money (less than $60). If you're looking for premium buds from Sony, Apple and Bose, be prepared to spend a lot more.

It's key that the earbuds you buy fit your ears well. They should offer a comfortable, secure fit. If you don't get a tight seal with noise-isolating earbuds, sound quality and noise canceling can be dramatically impacted for the worse. Open earbuds don't have that issue, but they should be comfortable to wear and sit securely in your ears.

Because the fit of your earbuds is so important, it's critical to buy your buds at a retailer that has a good return policy, in case the buds aren't a good match for your ears.

We test earbuds based on five key criteria, comparing similarly styled and priced models. These criteria are design, sound quality, features, voice-calling performance and value.

Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS: What makes the Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS buds special is that they sound surprisingly good for open earbuds -- they're pretty close to what you get from Apple's AirPods 3 for sound. On top of that, they support Sony's LDAC audio codec for devices that offer it. Not too many cheap open earbuds have good sound, but these Soundpeats have good bass response and clarity. They're also decent for making calls and have a low-latency gaming mode.

Sony WF-1000XM4: Released in 2021, Sony's WF-1000XM4 earned a CNET Editors' Choice Award. They're still excellent earbuds, but Sony has now released the next-gen WF-1000XM5. They may be a good option if you find them at a good discount.

Beyerdynamic Free Byrd: Beyerdynamic may be late to the game, but it's finally introduced its first true-wireless earbuds, which feature active noise canceling, up to 11 hours of battery life (with noise canceling off) and impressive sound quality. Read our Beyerdynamic Free Byrd review.

Master & Dynamic MW08: These buds may not fit everyone's ear equally well, but they certainly have a distinct look, as well as excellent sound and a great listening experience if you can get a tight seal (I was able to get a secure fit with the largest tip). They deliver more of an audiophile sound profile, with smooth, well-balanced sound and well-defined bass.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX: Bang & Olufsen's $319 Beoplay EX buds are the company's best true-wireless earbuds. They feature a comfortable, secure fit (except perhaps for those with really smaller ears), top-notch build quality, great sound, good noise canceling and improved voice-calling performance over B&O's EQ buds, with three microphones in each earbud they help with reducing background noise while picking up your voice. They're out of most people's price range, but they're arguably the best earbuds out there with stems and offer slightly superior sound to the AirPods Pro 2 with better clarity, deeper more powerful bass and richer, more accurate sound.

Sony LinkBuds: The LinkBuds are, in a sense, Sony's answer to Apple's standard AirPods. They don't sound as good as Sony's flagship WF-1000XM4 or the LinkBuds S noise-isolating earbuds, but they offer a discreet, innovative design and a more secure fit than the AirPods, as well as decent sound and very good voice-calling performance. Like the third-gen AirPods, their open design allows you to hear the outside world -- that's what the ring is all about. Read our Sony LinkBuds review.

JBL Live Free 2: Like the Live Pro 2, JBL's new Live Free 2 buds are surprisingly good. With 11mm drivers, six microphones, oval tubes and oval silicon tips, they combine a comfortable fit along with strong noise canceling, very good sound quality and voice-calling performance. Features include multipoint Bluetooth pairing and wireless charging, and they're rated for up to seven hours with IPX5 water resistance (splash-proof).

Our reviewer David Carnoy testing voice-calling performance on the noisy streets of New York.

More premium earbuds tend to have six microphones (three in each bud), with some dedicated to analyzing ambient noise and others dedicated to capturing your voice. Typically, there's at least one beamforming microphone on each bud to hone in on your voice.

Some earbuds have bone-conduction sensing technology that detects your jaw movement vibrations when you're talking. That helps the earbuds know when you're talking so they can focus on your voice while also reducing background noise. Sophisticated software also plays a role in filtering out background noise while the microphones can focus on your voice.

Sometimes, but not always. With earbuds that have stems like the AirPods and AirPods Pro 2, the microphones are a little closer to your mouth, which can help. Just because earbuds have stems doesn't mean they'll be very good for making calls. Several buds on this list are good for making calls that do not have stems.