Best wireless earbuds (UK)
The Sony WF-1000XM6 is the best all-rounder, on iPhone or Android. If you'd rather spend about £70, Sony's WF-C710N gets you most of the way there.
Published 17 Oct 2026 · Last updated 14 Nov 2026
Quick picks
- Sony WF-1000XM6 EDIT'S PICK · Anyone who wants the best all-round earbuds and uses either an iPhone or an Android phone · around £250
- Apple AirPods Pro 3 · iPhone owners who want strong noise cancelling and features that work seamlessly with Apple devices · around £219
- Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro · Samsung Galaxy phone owners who want hi-res sound and every feature · around £169
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) BEST PREMIUM · Frequent flyers and commuters who want the strongest noise cancelling · around £300
- Sony WF-C710N BEST VALUE · Most people who want good sound and noise cancelling for well under £100 · around £70
- EarFun Air Pro 4+ · Android owners on a budget who want LDAC or aptX Lossless and plenty of app features · around £90
- CMF Buds 2 · Anyone on a tight budget who wants noise cancelling and long battery life · around £39
No. 1 · EDIT'S PICK
Sony WF-1000XM6
around £250 (price checked 14 Nov 2026)
Sony's flagship noise-cancelling earbuds, launched in February 2026, with LDAC, two-device multipoint, a wireless charging case and an IPX4 rating.
Why we picked it
What Hi-Fi? made it the best overall pick in its earbuds guides and gave it an Award, praising its natural, detailed sound, superb noise cancelling and call quality. Expert Reviews calls the noise cancelling class-leading. Both say the buds are a little bulky, and What Hi-Fi? wishes there were more ear tip options. LDAC only works with Android phones, but Expert Reviews found they still sound very good on an iPhone.
Best for: Anyone who wants the best all-round earbuds and uses either an iPhone or an Android phone
Skip it if: You want the very strongest noise cancelling, or you have small ears and dislike a chunky bud.
| Battery | 8 hours (ANC on), 24 hours with case |
|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Multipoint | Yes (two devices) |
| Water resistance | IPX4 |
Retailer links coming soon.
No. 2
Apple AirPods Pro 3
around £219 (price checked 14 Nov 2026)
Apple's third-generation noise-cancelling earbuds, released in September 2025, with heart-rate sensing for workouts, Live Translation, hearing health features and an IP57 rating.
Why we picked it
What Hi-Fi? calls them a firm recommendation for iOS users, with spacious, dynamic sound and improved noise cancelling, and TechRadar rates the noise cancelling very highly. Battery is the main complaint, at up to 8 hours with ANC on and 24 hours with the case. Most of the clever features need a recent iPhone, and TechRadar is blunt that Android owners should look elsewhere.
Best for: iPhone owners who want strong noise cancelling and features that work seamlessly with Apple devices
Skip it if: You use an Android phone, or you need more than about a working day of battery from the buds.
| Battery | Up to 8 hours (ANC on), 24 hours with case |
|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Water resistance | IP57 |
| Charging | USB-C, MagSafe and Qi |
Retailer links coming soon.
No. 3
Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro
around £169 (price checked 14 Nov 2026)
Samsung's flagship earbuds, on sale since March 2026, with adaptive noise cancelling, 24-bit/96kHz audio on compatible Galaxy phones, head gestures and an IP57 rating.
Why we picked it
Expert Reviews says they're up there with the very best, praising the fit, noise cancelling and sound. What Hi-Fi? likes the clear, refined sound but notes they need a compatible Samsung device to sound their best. TechRadar loves the sound but found the fit insecure and the ear tips hard to swap. They launched at £219, and John Lewis currently has them for less.
Best for: Samsung Galaxy phone owners who want hi-res sound and every feature
Skip it if: You use an iPhone (there's no companion app for iOS), or you've struggled with a secure fit before.
| Battery | 6 hours (ANC on), 26 hours with case |
|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, SSC, SSC UHQ, LC3 |
| Water resistance | IP57 (buds only) |
Retailer links coming soon.
No. 4 · BEST PREMIUM
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen)
around £300 (price checked 14 Nov 2026)
Bose's flagship noise-cancelling earbuds, updated in 2025, with aptX Adaptive for compatible Android phones, multipoint, a wireless charging case and an IPX4 rating.
Why we picked it
TechRadar calls the noise cancelling the best of any earbuds it has reviewed, and Expert Reviews describes it as peerless. What Hi-Fi? rates the sound punchy and full-bodied, and the fit secure. The trade-off is battery, at about 6 hours from the buds and less with Bose's Immersive Audio switched on.
Best for: Frequent flyers and commuters who want the strongest noise cancelling
Skip it if: Battery life matters to you; rivals last longer between charges.
| Battery | 6 hours, 24 hours with case |
|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Water resistance | IPX4 |
Retailer links coming soon.
No. 5 · BEST VALUE
Sony WF-C710N
around £70 (price checked 14 Nov 2026)
Sony's mid-price noise-cancelling earbuds, with two-device multipoint, an IPX4 rating and a wired USB-C case. They launched at about £100.
Why we picked it
What Hi-Fi? gave them an Award and five stars for sound and comfort, praising the controlled bass and detail. Expert Reviews rates the noise cancelling and comfort. Both note there's no LDAC or aptX, and Expert Reviews thinks the case feels a little cheap. At around £70 now, they're the pair we'd point most people to.
Best for: Most people who want good sound and noise cancelling for well under £100
Skip it if: You want hi-res Bluetooth on Android or a wireless charging case.
| Battery | 8.5 hours (ANC on), 30 hours with case |
|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Multipoint | Yes (two devices) |
| Water resistance | IPX4 |
Retailer links coming soon.
No. 6
EarFun Air Pro 4+
around £90 (price checked 14 Nov 2026)
A budget pair with LDAC, aptX Lossless, LC3, multipoint, a wireless charging case and an IP55 rating.
Why we picked it
Expert Reviews names it the best value earbuds for most people, praising the balanced, detailed sound, excellent app and stable fit, though it finds the build plasticky and wind noise poorly handled. PC Gamer is impressed by the sound and battery. EarFun's UK store lists it at about £90, but Expert Reviews notes it's often on sale for less.
Best for: Android owners on a budget who want LDAC or aptX Lossless and plenty of app features
Skip it if: You want the best noise cancelling, or you often listen outdoors in the wind.
| Battery | 8 hours (ANC on), 36 hours with case |
|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LC3 |
| Multipoint | Yes (two devices) |
| Water resistance | IP55 |
Retailer links coming soon.
No. 7
CMF Buds 2
around £39 (price checked 14 Nov 2026)
A budget pair from Nothing's CMF brand, with hybrid noise cancelling, Dirac-tuned sound, dual-device pairing and the Nothing X app for iPhone and Android.
Why we picked it
Expert Reviews calls it one of the smartest earbud buys around, with lots of features and excellent battery life for the money. Tom's Guide calls it a total bargain. Both say the noise cancelling is only modest, and there's no LDAC or aptX.
Best for: Anyone on a tight budget who wants noise cancelling and long battery life
Skip it if: Noise cancelling is a priority; it takes the edge off rather than silencing.
| Battery | Up to 55 hours with case (ANC off), 32 hours (ANC on) |
|---|---|
| Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Multipoint | Yes (two devices) |
| Water resistance | IP55 (buds) |
Retailer links coming soon.
How we chose
We started with the true wireless earbuds rated most highly by UK reviewers in 2025 and 2026, using the current buying guides from Expert Reviews, TechRadar and What Hi-Fi? as a shortlist, then read the individual reviews for each pair. We kept only earbuds on sale new in the UK now.
We wanted a spread from around £40 to flagship prices, and a clear answer for both iPhone and Android owners. Apple and Samsung both keep some of their best features for their own phones, so we’ve said where that matters. The Sony pairs work equally well with either.
Sound, noise cancelling, comfort and battery life mattered most. Codecs such as LDAC and aptX came after that, because they only help on some Android phones. Where reviewers disagreed, as they do about the fit of the Galaxy Buds4 Pro, we’ve said so.
This guide is based on manufacturer specs and on the reviews listed below. We haven’t tested these earbuds ourselves. Prices move a lot around Black Friday, so we’ve used typical prices checked on the date shown beside each pick.
Sources
- What Hi-Fi?: Sony WF-1000XM6 review
- Expert Reviews: Sony WF-1000XM6 review
- Sony UK: WF-1000XM6
- What Hi-Fi?: Apple AirPods Pro 3 review
- TechRadar: AirPods Pro 3 review
- Apple UK: AirPods Pro 3
- Apple UK: Buy AirPods Pro 3
- Expert Reviews: Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro review
- What Hi-Fi?: Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro review
- TechRadar: Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro review
- Samsung UK: Galaxy Buds4 Pro
- John Lewis: Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro
- What Hi-Fi?: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review
- Expert Reviews: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) review
- Bose UK: Earbuds
- What Hi-Fi?: Sony WF-C710N review
- Expert Reviews: Sony WF-C710N review
- John Lewis: Sony WF-C710N
- Expert Reviews: EarFun Air Pro 4+ review
- EarFun UK: Air Pro 4+
- PC Gamer: EarFun Air Pro 4+ review
- Expert Reviews: CMF Buds 2 review
- Tom's Guide: CMF Buds 2 review
- Richer Sounds: Nothing CMF Buds 2
- Expert Reviews: Best wireless earbuds
- TechRadar: Best wireless earbuds
- What Hi-Fi?: The best AirPods alternatives
FAQs
Should I buy AirPods if I have an Android phone?
Probably not. They'll connect, but most of the features that make AirPods Pro 3 worth the money, such as heart-rate sensing, Live Translation and quick device switching, need an iPhone. The Sony WF-1000XM6 works well with both.
Do Samsung's Galaxy Buds4 Pro work with an iPhone?
They connect as ordinary Bluetooth earbuds, but there's no Galaxy Wearable app for iOS, so you can't change settings, and the hi-res mode needs a compatible Galaxy phone.
Do I need LDAC or aptX?
Only if you use an Android phone that supports them and listen to high-quality files. iPhones use AAC, which every pair here supports. Expert Reviews heard only a very slight difference between LDAC and AAC on the EarFun Air Pro 4+.
Which pair has the best noise cancelling?
TechRadar and Expert Reviews both rate the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) highest. The Sony WF-1000XM6 and AirPods Pro 3 aren't far behind.
How long does the battery last?
Most pairs here last 6 to 8.5 hours from the buds with noise cancelling on, plus three or so recharges from the case. The Bose and Samsung pairs sit at the lower end of that range.
Last updated 14 Nov 2026.