We're about to enter the final stretch of 2026, and with the Black Friday sales and the festive season looming on the horizon, it felt like as good a time as any to take stock of the headphones we've tested this year, and what has impressed us most. Because we've tested just so many great headphones so far this year, in this article I've narrowed things down to just the earbuds. Below, you can see all the pairs that impressed us enough to score four stars or higher in our tough tests.
Sennheiser has produced standouts at both ends of the price spectrum. For those feeling flush, the Momentum True Wireless 5 offer "superb" sound quality with a side order of sustainability, thanks to user-replaceable batteries in both the earbuds themselves and the charge case. Anyone on a tighter budget should take a look at the Sennheiser CX 80U — these wired earbuds deliver stellar sound (our tester noted "clean and agile bass, clear mids, and vivid highs") alongside solid noise isolation, for a price tag that'll give you change from $40 / £30.
Another big winner was the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. Our reviewed noted: "they sound incredible, the noise cancellation really works, they look classy yet understated, and knock it out the park with the array of features offered in the app". There are a few little caveats, though: the battery life could be better, and you need a Samsung phone to really get the best from them.
We've also tested plenty of impressive open-ear buds this year. We found the Shokz OpenDots 2 ultra-comfortable and long-lasting, but a little prone to being knocked out of the ear. The affordable Baseus Bowie MC2 also delivered on the comfort front, and are a very solid choice if you're on a tighter budget.
Scroll down to take a look at the earbuds we've been most impressed with this year so far — hit the View details button to see each model's overall score, a rundown of the main pros and cons we noted in testing, and a link to read the full review. Note: you'll only be able to see product cards for the earbuds available in your region.
Earbud excellence
Pros
- Excellent ANC
- Great-looking, comfortable design
- Packed with features
Cons
- Lossless only for Huawei phones
- Slightly chunkier than rivals
- No foam eartips
Pros
- Superb sound quality plus Dolby Atmos spatial audio
- Comfortable and premium design – and finally, user-replaceable batteries
- Lots of future-proof features
Cons
- Touch control area is a little small
- Ever-so-slightly bulkier than rivals
- ANC still lags a bit behind Apple, Sony and Bose
Pros
- Fantastic sound
- Svelte look
- Wonderful noise cancellation
Cons
- Insecure fit
- Battery life could be much better
- Hard-to-replace ear-tips
Pros
- Impressive noise reduction
- Dolby Atmos with head tracking for true-to-life listening
- Unbelievably comfortable
Cons
- On the expensive side
- Treble a little over eager
Pros
- Spacious, informative and disciplined sound
- Dynamic and punchy presentation
- Impressive specification
Cons
- Not the most accomplished when it comes to rhythmic expression
- Don’t look or feel in any way special
- Touch controls could be more reliable
Pros
- Great sound quality with impressive detail
- Classy design at a low price
- Surprisingly good noise isolation
Cons
- No volume controls
- Some noticeable static when using mic
- Lacks the mid-range finesse of pricier rivals
Pros
- Powerful, bassy sound
- Good battery life
- Stable enough for runners
- Customizable EQ modes
Cons
- Prone to dislodging on contact
- Expensive
- Not suitable for helix piercings
Pros
- Smart charging case is feature-rich and fun
- ANC surprisingly effective for open-fit earbuds
- Relaxed, comfortable fit
- Strong overall sound quality…
Cons
- Open-fit designs have drawbacks, sonically speaking
- Spatial audio could be better
- Not the most premium-looking buds
Pros
- Fantastic, detailed audio
- Feature-packed, handy smart charging case
- Comfortable, secure in-ear fit
Cons
- Middling ANC
- Call quality not as clear as expected
- Spatial audio in need of improvement
Pros
- Excellent audio quality with impactful bass
- Comfortable, secure fit
- Smart case is well-built and fun, even if it’s a bit gimmicky
Cons
- Disappointing call quality
- ANC isn’t quite top-tier
- Poor spatial audio setting
Pros
- Secure, reliable fit
- Svelte carry case
- Decent battery life
Cons
- Audio quality can be beaten
- Can occasionally pinch your ear
- Touch controls barely work
Pros
- Incredibly low price
- Sustainable construction
- Tangle-resistant cable
Cons
- Bass not the most refined
- No volume controls
- Could include more eartips
Pros
- Affordable price point
- Refreshingly bass-heavy sound
- Comfortable to wear
Cons
- Some charging case problems
- Not for audiophiles
- Hard-to-use touch controls
Pros
- Very affordable for open buds
- Comfortable and light
- AI translation is a cool feature
Cons
- Minor connectivity issues
- Budget build and fit won't suit everyone
- Sound needs EQ tweaking
Pros
- Ultra-comfortable yet secure fit
- Lightweight with a more compact case
- Solid sound quality for open-ears
- Great features with personalized EQ
Cons
- Pricier than their predecessors
- Open-ear architecture has its sonic limitations
- Sound a bit unexciting out of the box
Pros
- Fun, upfront audio quality
- Slight ANC uptick (and it was no slouch before)
- Curvier case and useful LED lights
Cons
- Still no wireless charging support or flagship hearing tests
- Battery life has taken a hit
- We need to talk about Call Recording