Shootout: The 12 best flagship true wireless earbuds compared

Note: This feature was first published on 28 March 2024.

Why true wireless earbuds?

For many readers, true wireless earbuds are our preferred choice of headphones. It’s easy to see why: they offer so much freedom and their compact nature means it’s easy to carry them around. And in the past couple of years, true wireless earbuds have improved tremendously, offering features and performance that rivals full-size headphones. As such, there’s never been a better time to buy a set of true wireless earbuds. However, with so many brands available, it can be hard to decide. Fear not, because we’ve rounded up and tested the best that all of the major brands have to offer.  

We have 12 of them and you can skip straight to the model you’re interested in.

To start, here’s a table that compares the key features of all these earbuds that we are testing. For some, this table alone might contain enough information to make a decision. But if you are still undecided, continue reading to find out who our winner is and for a more detailed take on each earbud.

Apple AirPods Pro USB-C

The TL;DR version:



With its wealth of features, excellent ANC, and sound quality, this is the best earbuds for any iPhone user. 

Last year’s iPhone 15 series phones were the first iPhones to feature USB-C ports. At the same time, Apple announced a new version of the AirPods Pro, which now has a USB-C charging port for more convenient charging. Apart from the port, and some other firmware updates, the AirPods Pro are unchanged. This means it remains to be the best earbuds for iPhone users and anyone who has invested heavily in the Apple ecosystem.

Unsurprisingly, it has deep integration with Apple devices, and one of my favourite features is Automatic Switching. This allows the AirPods Pro to connect instantly to any Apple device you are using. It’s amazing how quickly and accurately it can follow you as you move between all your Apple devices. Think of it as a supercharged version of multipoint.

The AirPods Pro nail the basics too. The ANC function is very good and is probably outdone only by the Sony WF-1000XM5. Its transparency mode, even after all these years, remains the best in the business. The new Adaptive Audio mode, which was added via iOS 17, adds a new mode that blends ANC and transparency modes and is very handy for the times when you want a little peace and quiet and still want to be aware of your surroundings.

It sounds good as well. Its sound signature is unabashedly V-shaped with elevated bass and treble, but it's mostly well-judged enough that it’s pleasant and non-fatiguing to listen. There's no question that these are the earbuds to have if you are an iPhone user and heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem.

Check out our full review of the Apple AirPods Pro USB-C here.

Note: You can find the AirPods Pro on Amazon, Lazada, Shopee, and the Apple online store.

Audio-Technica ATH-TWX9

The TL;DR version:



Stylish, nicely packaged, and featuring a sublime sound, the ATH-TWX9 is only let down by its ho-hum ANC and below-average battery life.

From the moment you take it out of its box, you are left with no doubt that the ATH-TWX9 is Audio-Technica’s flagship true wireless earbuds. The charging case is sleek and feels expensive, and it opens in the same way a treasure chest might. And whenever you open the case and close it, bright LEDs show you the amount of charge left not only in the charging case but also in the earbuds. It is this level of attention to detail that separates the Audio-Technica ATH-TWX9 from its peers. 

The sound quality is stellar. Readers familiar with Audio-Technica’s high-end offerings will likely find the ATH-TWX9’s sonic qualities familiar. It sounds lively, dynamic, with very smooth mids, and an airy and well-extended treble. There’s a naturalness and clarity to the way it sounds that is uncommon to find even on high-end earbuds. Its only weakness, insofar as sound quality is concerned, is that it could use a bit of a boost to the bass. 

Where the ATH-TWX9 falters is mostly with its ANC and transparency listening modes. Its ANC is clearly not on the same level as Apple’s or Sony’s, and its transparency mode is only passable. Its total battery life of around 18 hours is also disappointing, especially when you consider most of its rivals can easily manage over 20 hours. Despite all these, for readers who value sound quality and music listening over everything, the ATH-TWX9 is still worth checking out.

Check out our full review of the Audio-Technica ATH-TWX9 here.

Note: You can find the Audio-Technica ATH-TWX9 on Amazon, Lazada, Shopee, and the Audio-Technica online store.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

The TL;DR version:



The ANC is very good and most people should appreciate the way it sounds. However, the lack of features and its rather high price might dissuade some buyers. 

It’s easy to mistake Bose’s new QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds for its predecessor – the QuietComfort Earbuds II. That’s because the two are almost identical. Their charging cases are indistinguishable from one another and the earbuds are only subtly different. The way to differentiate the two is that the newer QuietComfort Ultra have a metallic finish on the touch panel.

Actually, the only things that are really new on the QuietComfort Ultra are its support for the newer aptX Adaptive codec and the inclusion of the company’s proprietary Immersive Audio spatial audio mode. We’ll talk about these two new inclusions later, but what it also means is that, like its predecessor, the QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are missing some crucial features like multipoint and wireless charging. The lack of multipoint support is particularly frustrating because it makes switching between devices a hassle.

Bose’s ANC remains to be one of the best in the business. It’s as good as Sony’s WF-1000XM5 in all but the most extreme situations. Its transparency mode was good too and sounded more natural than most of its rivals. These earbuds sound good too. Its sound signature and unmistakably U-shaped, but the impact and cleanliness of its bass are impressive. In fact, the overall clarity of its sound is standout.

More discerning listeners will appreciate the QuietComfort Ultra’s added support for the aptX Adaptive codec, which purports to deliver better-quality sound. That said, this also requires the source device to support it, and it's worth noting that many Samsung phones don’t. 

The new Immersive Audio mode is also genuinely effective. It widens the sound stage and makes it sound as if you’re listening to speakers in a room. But because it’s effectively a blanket DSP setting, it at times makes certain tracks sound strangely hollow and distant. But on the whole, I think this feature hits more than it misses. Sadly, activating Immersive Audio shortens the battery life significantly from 6 hours on a single charge to 4 hours.

Overall, I feel conflicted about the QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, because even though the ANC and sound quality are both very good, the lack of some features – in particular multipoint support – prevents me from giving them a wholehearted recommendation.

Note: You can find the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds on Amazon, Lazada, and Shopee.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2

The TL;DR version:



They sound quite good and you can use the charging case as a transmitter, but it’s pricey, the ANC is only so-so, and it's lacking features high-end earbuds should have.

Let’s address the elephant in the room. The Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 is frightfully expensive. I know B&W enjoys an enviable reputation in the audio space but there’s no getting around the fact that the Pi7 S2 are the only earbuds to have an RRP of over S$700. So what do you get for your money? 

The black charging case is large and users will likely face some difficulty slipping it into pockets. While it feels solid enough, its plastic construction is no match for the lavishness of Montblanc MTB03’s all-metal charging case. Fortunately, the earbuds look and feel more expensive. They also look quite stylish – certainly, they don’t look generic. Given the size of the charging case, you’d think it’ll hold more charge, but the claimed total battery life is just over 20 hours, which is slightly below average.

Speaking of below average, the Pi7 S2 lacks features found in its rivals. For example, it doesn’t support multipoint, so it can only connect to one device at a time. It also lacks a dedicated transparency mode. You can sort of get around this by adjusting the amount of sound that the ANC feature lets through using the app, but then you'll have to turn it back up when you want the maximum amount of noise cancellation. Anyway, the ANC is very average. Its app is also very basic. You can change listening modes and source devices, but you cannot customise touch controls nor is there an EQ function.

One nifty feature that it has that none of its rivals has is wireless audio retransmission. If you connect the charging case to a source, you can use it to transmit audio to the earbuds. This is useful if the source doesn’t have Bluetooth, like the in-flight entertainment system of a plane.

The Pi7 S2 has a dual driver setup made up of a 9.2mm dynamic driver and a balanced armature. Such setups have a tendency to cause imbalances in timbre, but thankfully that’s not the case here. Its overall sound signature is undoubtedly dark with elevated bass that suffers from too much bloom and rolled-off treble. Fortunately, the mids are smooth and forward, and it has a wide soundstage. But even so, I don’t think it quite lives up to the reputation that Bowers & Wilkins enjoys.

Note: You can find the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7 S2 on Amazon, Lazada, and Shopee.

Creative Aurvana Ace 2

The TL;DR version:



It might not be the best, but the Aurvana Ace 2 ticks many boxes and offers the best value for money.

It’s hard to keep up with Creative’s dizzying array of earbuds, but the Aurvana Ace 2 are the company’s newest flagship earbuds. It stands out for several reasons. It’s the most affordable earbuds in this roundup, and it’s also one of only two to have a dual-driver setup. The driver configuration is quite interesting too, as you’ll see later.

To get the Aurvana Ace 2 to its price, Creative had to cut some corners and nowhere is it more obvious than the charging case. Predictably, the charging case is a plastic affair, but it also feels brittle and the hinge of the cover has some play. Battery life isn’t great. It only gets up to 4 hours of playtime with ANC on and 16 hours in total. Most of its rivals can get up to 6 hours on a single charge and over 20 hours in total. Fortunately, the case is compact enough to slip into pockets and it supports both USB-C and Qi wireless charging.

The ANC mode is quite effective. Using my fan as a source of noise, I could only hear a very slight audible hum. The transparency mode was decent. Voices sound natural and there’s no muffled sensation, but there are some frequencies which are artificially enhanced and therefore sound a bit digitised. 

The dual driver configuration consists of a traditional 10mm dynamic driver and an xMEMs tweeter, which is a silicon-based transducer. The benefit of this configuration is you have drivers dedicated to different parts of the frequency spectrum. As a result, the Aurvana Ace 2 has deep and powerful bass and well-extended treble. This makes it sound extremely detailed. However, I could make out mild timbre differences in the sound – because the sound comes from two different drivers. Even so, it mostly sounded good. Furthermore, the Aurvana Ace 2 is one of the few earbuds to support the new aptX Lossless codec – however, you do need a compatible source device to get it to work.

All in all, the Aurvana Ace 2 is a strong all-rounder. And when you consider it costs significantly less than its rivals, it’s easy to see why it’s the most value-for-money earbuds.

Note: You can find the Creative Aurvana Ace 2 on Amazon and the Creative online store.

Devialet Gemini II

The TL;DR version:



The Gemini II is a much-improved effort over its predecessor, but its problematic tonality means it’s not quite a match for the very best earbuds.

As its name suggests, the Gemini II is French audio company Devialet’s second flagship-class true wireless earbuds. For their second earbuds, they have taken feedback from the original Gemini and tried their best to address its shortcomings in this second-generation version.

The design of the earbuds has been improved. The earbuds are slightly smaller and lighter, which makes them a tad more comfortable to wear. And the charging case is now legitimately compact enough to slip into your pockets. The earbuds and charging case also feel suitably well-made – which is important given that these are some of the most expensive earbuds on the market.

Though its ANC feature is now a lot more effective, it’s still some way off the mark when compared to the likes of Apple and Sony. The transparency mode was average because it sounded muffled and artificial. That said, human voices do sound surprisingly natural.

The Gemini II’s sound presentation is arguably the most interesting because it feels like listening to speakers in a room. The soundstage is wide and the overall presentation has a warm tilt. Its bass will please bass lovers, but it also bleeds into the midrange and can be quite muddy. The mids are somewhat recessed, while the treble, though quite well-extended, can be uneven. However, my biggest problem is how lethargic it sounds, which is uncharacteristic of drivers with metal diaphragms. 

Sadly, Devialet’s reputation for making high-end wireless speakers hasn’t quite fully translated into its earbuds. When compared with the best earbuds, the Gemini II shows room for improvement.

Check out our full review of the Devialet Gemini II here.

Note: You can find the Devialet Gemini II on the Devialet online store.

Jabra Elite 10

The TL;DR version:



They sound good and have above-average battery life. However, the fit is kind of iffy and the overall ANC is only average.

Jabra said it scanned over 62,000 ears to derive the shape of its new Elite 10 earbuds. And indeed, these earbuds have quite an unusual shape. They are remarkably small and the nozzle is shallow so they don’t stick too deep into your ears. Coupled with the soft-touch rubber outer body, the upside to this is that they are light and one of the most comfortable earbuds to wear.

Unfortunately, the passive isolation leaves much to be desired. Partly it’s because Jabra said the Elite 10 has a semi-open design. But you can’t help but think that things might be better if the nozzle extended deeper into your ears. At any rate, what this means is that I could still hear my fan whirring away in the background even with ANC turned on. If absolute silence is what you seek, these aren’t the earbuds for you.

But there are reasons to like the Elite 10. Those concerned about battery life will be happy to know that they are one of the longest-lasting earbuds. Jabra claims up to 6 hours on a single charge and 27 hours in total with the charging case. This is surprising, considering how small the charging case is. At any rate, I found these claims to be believable because I could go an entire week before I had to charge the case.

The Elite 10 also sounds good. Its tonality is markedly neutral, so some listeners might find its bass to be lacking and the overall sound to be flat. However, the mids are quite rich, and the treble is quite well-extended, even if it suffers from some sizzle. The sound stage is also wide.

The Elite 10 is also one of the few earbuds to support Dolby Atmos spatial audio, which you can turn on and off using Jabra’s Sound+ app (check out our colleague's early impressions on Tiktok). However, its implementation is not as impressive as Apple’s because it neither takes into account the shape of your ears nor does it require special spatial audio tracks to work. In short, the Elite 10’s implementation of spatial audio is more akin to an old-school virtual surround sound mode than actual spatial audio.

Unless you absolutely love the comfy fit and better than expected battery life of the Elite 10, I think there are more compelling earbuds at its price point.

Note: You can find the Jabra Elite 10 on Amazon, Lazada, Shopee, and the Jabra online store.

JBL Tour Pro 2

The TL;DR version:



The charging case is probably the highlight for most people, but these are actually supremely solid earbuds with strong ANC, good sound quality, and long battery life.

You cannot talk about JBL’s new Tour Pro 2 earbuds without mentioning the charging case because it has a tiny 1.45-inch display on it. And it isn’t a gimmick either. The display is honestly useful because you can use it to quickly check battery life, switch between listening modes, control playback, change the EQ, adjust the volume, and more. Check it out in action:-

However, having a display does mean that the charging case is quite large. You can slip it into pockets, but barely, and doing so will leave a noticeable bulge in your pants. One upside to this is that the Tour Pro 2’s battery life is really long. JBL claims up to 8 hours on a single charge and up to 32 hours in total with the charging case – and that’s with ANC activated. These numbers feel entirely credible because I could go an entire week before I had to charge the case.

The Tour Pro 2’s ANC is excellent. I think Sony’s WF-1000XM5 were a little better, but the Tour Pro 2 were not far off. The transparency mode, however, could be improved because some noises still sound digitised.

Sound quality is good too and fully demonstrates JBL’s pedigree and mastery of sound. Even though its overall tonality is best described as neutral and balanced, it somehow manages the difficult trick of not sounding dull. The bass is a tad on the light side but shows good extension. The mids are smooth and the treble is well extended. Its sound stage lacks width, but the flip side is that it sounds intimate. Taken as a whole, I think these sound fantastic and are only bested by the Technics EAH-AZ80.

All things considered, the Tour Pro 2 earbuds are a successful sequel to last year’s Live Pro 2. The charging case may be clumsier to carry around, but you cannot deny the added utility that the LCD display brings. As for the earbuds, they continue to offer excellent ANC and sound quality. And seeing that they are slightly more affordable than its rivals, I consider the Tour Pro 2 an all-round win.

Note: You can find the JBL Tour Pro 2 on Amazon, Lazada, Shopee, and the JBL online store.

Montblanc MTB03

The TL;DR version:

The ANC is not very good and it’s lacking certain features, but the Montblanc MTB03 redeems itself with its lush sound and luxurious build.

The MTB03 earbuds are Montblanc’s first stab at the true wireless earbuds scene. Though they are not a name commonly associated with personal audio, it’s worth remembering that the company actually made a pair of over-the-ear wireless ANC headphones back in 2020, so this isn’t their first rodeo.

Unsurprisingly, given Montblanc’s pedigree, the MTB03 are unquestionably the most luxurious earbuds in this roundup.  The charging case is aluminium and it opens and closes in the same way the doors of a luxury sedan might – with a satisfying clunk. The earbuds are made of lightweight resin and have a glossy black piano finish that makes them look like ear jewellery. 

Montblanc turned to renowned audio engineer Axel Grell (of Sennheiser fame) to tune the sound of the MTB03, and the overall sound signature is decidedly dark and smooth. The bass hits strong and has just the right amount of bloom. The mids are forward and intimate, and the treble is rolled off. Consequently, the MTB03 doesn’t sound particularly detailed but it has an easy and non-fatiguing sound. It sounds like you are in a cosy and dark jazz bar.

Sadly, the MTB03 misses the mark in a few key areas. We begin with the ANC, which is quite poor. When it was activated, I could still hear the hum of my fan. The transparency mode also sounded muffled. The lack of multipoint support means it can only connect to one device at a time. The touch controls are also a little finicky to use, and you can’t customise it using the Montblanc Sound app.

Ultimately, it’s hard to recommend the MTB03, especially when there’s no shortage of more affordable and more competent earbuds. They are very pretty and they have an alluring sound, but unless you need your earbuds to match your Meisterstück pen and Star Legacy watch, you should consider other options.

Note: You can find the Montblanc MTB03 on Lazada and the Montblanc online store.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4

The TL;DR version:

These are Sennheiser’s best true wireless earbuds yet. Sound quality is top notch and its ANC isn’t far off from Sony. In short, it’s one of the best earbuds in the market.

Sennheiser has been making earbuds for years now but their previous attempts have been let down by shortcomings that prevented us from wholeheartedly recommending them. “They are good, but…” is often what we’d say about them. But with the latest Momentum True Wireless 4 earbuds, it seems like they have finally nailed it.

The general design hasn’t really changed, but there’s a new colourway called Black Copper. Wearing comfort is good mostly because it isn’t quite as intrusive as some of its rivals. The charging case continues to have a fabric outer and charges both wirelessly and via USB-C. Battery life is above average at up to 7 hours on a single charge and up to 30 hours in total with the case.

The ANC function of the Momentum True Wireless 4 is good. It’s a big step up from its predecessor. I could barely hear my fan even though I was seated just over a metre away. That said, I still think Sony’s WF-1000XM5s are marginally better in this regard. The Sony’s ability to cancel out noise is just uncanny. 

Where the Momentum True Wireless 4 shines is in its sound. Its sound signature is better judged and its technical capabilities are a step above. The overall tonality is spot on – the bass is tastefully elevated, the mids are rich, and the treble sparkles without being grating. The earbuds also sound clean and responsive; the soundstage is impressively wide and the imaging is precise. If I were to nitpick, I’d say it could do with a tiny bit more bass energy and detail. 

Connectivity is a bit of a mixed bag. The on-paper specifications are impressive with support for Bluetooth 5.4, Auracast, and the newer aptX Lossless codec, but in actual use, the earbuds were prone to random glitches where the audio would cut out for a split-second. It doesn’t happen all the time and it only happens when I'm listening on my Macs, but it’s frequent enough that I think it warrants a warning. Hopefully, this problem will be fixed in a future firmware update.

Other than this minor shortcoming, the Momentum True Wireless 4 are easily the most accomplished earbuds that Sennheiser has ever made. But perhaps more important is the fact that Sennheiser finally has earbuds that can go up and fight tooth and nail against the likes of established players like Apple, Bose, and Sony. 

Note: You can find the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 on Amazon, Lazada, Shopee, and the Sennheiser online store.

Sony WF-1000XM5

The TL;DR version:

The WF-1000XM5 has astoundingly good ANC and is a solid all-rounder. If you can’t make up your mind, buy these, you won’t regret it.

The WF-1000XM5 is a major rethink of what flagship earbuds should be by Sony. It has a completely new design that’s more compact and comfortable, and Sony took feedback from users and tweaked its touch controls. The end result is an earbud that excels in many areas. 

However, its strongest suit is arguably its ability to cancel out unwanted noises. You see things happening around you and you don’t hear them, and that’s a very uncanny feeling. If being in silence is your priority, there’s no question that these are the earbuds to have. The transparency mode is much improved over its predecessor too. It sounds more natural and less digitised. It’s so competent that I didn’t have any problems using it to have conversations.

Sonically, these are very dynamic-sounding earbuds. Tonally, it’s punchy and exciting, but it still manages to sound quite balanced, with tastefully elevated bass and treble which have the right amount of air in them. It has a clarity that missing on older Sony earbuds and the soundstage is surprisingly ample. Its only weakness is that it doesn’t sound quite as detailed as the very best-sounding earbuds in this shootout. But even then, these are still easily one of the best-sounding earbuds you will find.

Overall, I think readers will find that the Sony WF-1000XM5 checks many boxes and that it’s handily one of the best earbuds money can buy.

Check out our full review of the Sony WF-1000XM5 here.

Note: You can find the Sony WF-1000XM5 on Amazon, Lazada, Shopee, and the Sony online store.

Technics EAH-AZ80

The TL;DR version:

With its balanced, detailed, and highly textured sound, these are unquestionably the earbuds of choice for discerning listeners. 

Sound quality was clearly a priority for Technics when they designed the EAH-AZ80 earbuds. To start, it has large 10mm dynamic drivers that use aluminium alloy diaphragms for lower distortion. In addition, Technics also talked about having a special “acoustic chamber” that boosts bass, and a “harmoniser” that gives an expansive sound. And they have mostly succeeded.

The EAH-AZ80 distinguishes itself by being, hands down, the best-sounding earbuds. Tonally, it’s spot on. The bass is oh-so-slightly elevated, but also incredibly punchy and clean. The mids are intimate, and the treble is well-extended but never becomes grating. But more that, there’s an impressive clarity to the way it sounds. It’s also highly textured, to the point where you can hear the twanging and reverberation of string instruments on acoustic tracks. It’s also very dynamic. And once you factor in the fact that it’s one of the few earbuds to support the higher bitrate LDAC codec, it’s quite clear that these earbuds were designed for audiophiles by audiophiles.

Apart from its fantastic sound, the EAH-AZ80 also has very competent ANC and transparency listening modes. It’s not quite on the same level as Sony or Apple, but its ANC mode does a good enough job of cancelling out unwanted noises from the environment. The transparency listening mode is above average too. It sounds mostly natural and I could use it to hold conversations without too much trouble. 

If sound quality is your utmost priority, then I think the choice is clear. The price is quite high in comparison to some of its rivals, but I think your ears will thank you for it once you put them on and start playing your favourite tunes.

Note: You can find the Technics EAH-AZ80 on Amazon, Lazada, and Shopee.

Overall best earbuds - Sony WF-1000XM5

This year’s contenders were very strong, but for most people, I think their needs will be best satisfied by the WF-1000XM5. It does so many things well. The ANC is class-leading, it sounds good, battery life is decent, it’s compact and comfortable to wear, and it has all the features that one would expect from flagship-class earbuds. Simply put, it's a very solid all-round performer. For these reasons, it is the winner of this shootout.

You can find the Sony WF-1000XM5 on Amazon, Lazada, Shopee, and the Sony Online Store.

Best sound - Technics EAH-AZ80

Fussy listeners will be best served by Technics EAH-AZ80 because its sound quality is clearly a step above all of its rivals. Tonally, it’s well-balanced and yet engaging; and technically, it impresses with its clarity, resolution, and texture. Enthusiasts will also appreciate its support for the higher-quality LDAC codec. All of this, coupled with its decent ANC and battery life, makes it a compelling option for users who demand the best audio experience out of earbuds.

You can find the Technics EAH-AZ80 on Amazon, Lazada, and Shopee.

Best value - Creative Aurvana Ace 2

Creative’s Aurvana Ace 2 might be the most affordable entry in this shootout by some margin, but that doesn’t mean it gives up on features or performance. Alright, the build is slightly low-rent and its battery life is quite disappointing, but its ANC is more than decent and it sounds pretty good. Furthermore, it’s the only earbuds here to support the new aptX Lossless codec. If you are willing to look past its shortcomings and want the most bang for your buck, the choice is clear. 

You can find the Creative Aurvana Ace 2 on Amazon and the Creative Online Store.

 

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