BUYING GUIDE 02 · AUDIO · IN-EAR, OPEN AND WIRED
Best earbuds 2026: wireless, noise-cancelling or wired
By Setup nomad
THE SHORT ANSWER
To shut out noise on public transport, choose in-ear earbuds with active noise cancellation: the AirPods Pro 3 with an iPhone, the Sony WF-1000XM5 with Android or multiple devices. If tips bother you, the AirPods 5 simply rest in your ear. For wired, the JBL Tune 310C plug directly into USB-C; the Sennheiser IE 200 and Shure SE215 are aimed at more attentive listening, with a 3.5 mm jack.
There is no single best earbud for everyone, because ear shape matters as much as the spec sheet. A highly rated model can fall out after ten minutes, another barely isolates without the right tip. This selection therefore starts from three questions: do you need to cut out noise, keep your ear open, or never think about the battery again?
BEFORE CHOOSING
The criteria that matter.
Isolate or hear
Tips seal the ear canal and make noise cancellation effective. Open formats let the street through, useful on a bike or running, less so on a plane.
Your phone
AirPods make the most of an iPhone: pairing, switching between devices, spatial audio. With Android, look at multipoint and the codecs your phone supports, such as LDAC or LHDC.
The cable, without shame
A wired earbud doesn't need charging, doesn't unpair and is cheap to replace. Check the connector: USB-C on recent phones, 3.5 mm jack with an adapter.
The fit
Try every tip size before deciding. A poor fit reduces bass, isolation and comfort all at once.
THE SELECTION · 9 MODELS
Our picks, and why.
With an iPhone, on public transport
Apple
AirPods Pro 3
Active noise cancellation, Transparency mode and up to 8 hours of listening advertised, with a MagSafe case in USB-C.
To checkTheir appeal drops outside the Apple ecosystem. Some features depend on the iOS version and the country.
Details, sources & Amazon linkWith Android or multiple devices
Sony
WF-1000XM5
Noise cancellation, Bluetooth multipoint and up to 8 hours advertised: a versatile option whatever the phone.
To checkFoam tips isolate well but don't suit every ear. Try the sizes provided.
Details, sources & Amazon link
For simpler noise cancellation
CMF
Buds 2
Hybrid ANC up to 48 dB advertised and six microphones, in a sober format for everyday use.
To checkThe dB value is a maximum measured by the manufacturer; actual attenuation varies with noises and fit.
Details, sources & Amazon link
If tips bother you
Apple
AirPods 5
An open format, resting in the ear, with active noise cancellation nonetheless and the H2 chip.
To checkWithout tips, isolation remains weaker than that of the AirPods Pro. Choose the version with or without a wireless case.
Details, sources & Amazon link
To keep your ear open
soundcore
AeroFit 2
Open earbuds held by an ear hook, which let you hear your surroundings.
To checkThey isolate very little and leak some sound around you. Not ideal in a quiet open-plan office.
Details, sources & Amazon link
Wired for a USB-C phone
JBL
Tune 310C
They plug directly into USB-C, with an inline remote, microphone and built-in equalizer presets.
To checkCheck that your device accepts audio through its USB-C port, which is the case for most recent phones.
Details, sources & Amazon link
The backup to keep in your bag
Apple
EarPods (USB-C)
Nothing to recharge: the EarPods USB-C, with remote and microphone, get you out of a jam when your wireless battery is empty.
To checkTheir open shape barely isolates. They serve as a stopgap, not as earbuds for a long flight.
Details, sources & Amazon linkFor precise listening
Sennheiser
IE 200
Wired in-ears with a replaceable MMCX cable, with two bass settings depending on tip position.
To check3.5 mm jack plug: plan for a USB-C adapter or a small DAC on a recent phone.
Details, sources & Amazon link
To isolate without a battery
Shure
SE215
Stage monitors worn behind the ear, which isolate through their tips by up to a stated 37 dB.
To checkRunning the cable behind the ear takes some getting used to. 3.5 mm jack, adapter required.
Details, sources & Amazon link
THE QUESTIONS WE ASK OURSELVES
The useful questions.
Answers to choose a gift that finds its place in a real life.
All gift guidesWhich wireless earbuds should you choose for an iPhone?
The AirPods Pro 3 for noise cancellation, the AirPods 5 if you prefer a design without tips. Other brands work perfectly well with an iPhone, without benefiting from all the Apple-specific features.
Do wired earbuds work with a recent iPhone?
Yes, if they have a USB-C plug, such as the EarPods (USB-C) or the JBL Tune 310C, on iPhones equipped with a USB-C port. A model with a 3.5 mm jack requires a USB-C to jack adapter.
Open-ear or noise-cancelling earbuds: which to choose for running?
Open-ear earbuds let you hear traffic, which is often preferable outdoors. They do not guarantee that you will perceive every hazard: stay alert and follow local rules.
Are wireless earbuds tested by Setup nomad?
No. This selection is based on manufacturers' spec sheets and intended use, not on laboratory measurements or personal testing. Each listing cites its sources.
METHOD & SOURCES
Why these choices?
The Setup nomad selection rests on the intended use, the bulk, the compatibility and the care. The characteristics come from the pages below. These are not field tests; the advantages described are editorial choices based on this information.
The Amazon links on the pages are affiliate links. The price, the stock, the seller, the variant and the return conditions are to be checked at the time of purchase. We do not rank products according to a test score or an assumed environmental benefit.
