Best In-Ear Headphones – Review & Buying Guides

In-ear headphones are headphones that are directly placed in the ears. They are designed so that they can be held at the opening of the ear canal. But not all versions of these headphones enter the ear canal. They lead to the opening of the canal, without actually enveloping the ears.

Anyone who listens to music is looking for great sound quality combined with comfort and many agree that the best in-ear headphones offer the best of both. These headphones are made of a rubberized material that is largely responsible for their comfort.

Best In-Ear Headphones – Buying Guide

Buyers may find it hard to choose which best in-ear headphones to purchase owing to the number of products available. To make the process easier, consider the level of activity you’re into. This can determine the headphone style you must use.

Sometimes the in-ear headphones, which fit very comfortably on one person could be completely annoying to the other.

Durability and Price

As with everything else in the market, you get what you pay for. A high-quality product often means you can expect a durable product. Buying a cheap headphone usually translates to poor sound or breaking down completely after a couple of weeks’ use.

To save some money, you should look for discounts. These days they are pretty common online. If you’re patient, you can wait until the price goes down. Newly released products ofter drop their prices after a while.

Reading Online Reviews.

This is necessary. These review sites provide you with real-life experiences of people who’ve used the product. You can tell from these reviews what the headphone’s limitation is.

Other Things to Consider Include:

• Cord Length
• Comfort
• Accessories
• Noise Reduction
• Build Quality
• Sound Quality

Not only are the best pairs of in-ear headphones ultra-comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, but newer models can be completely wire-free and support Hi-Res audio codecs like LDAC and aptX HD.

While you won’t find any discount-bin earbuds on our list, you can rest easy knowing that the ‘buds you see below are durable, long-lasting, and sound (for the most part) out-of-this-world. As we review more models this list will change, which means you can expect that you’re getting the best in-ear headphones on the market at any point and any time you buy them.

Top 5 Best In-Ear Headphones – Compare Specs & Features

1. Sony WF-1000XM4 Review – Best Noise-Canceling Earbuds

Sony has been winning, when it comes to the best noise-canceling earbuds and headphones… at least in the over-ears. Their last pair of in-ear model Sony WF-1000XM3 left listeners wanting more. Their newest edition of in-ear TWS buds finally has Sonny winning in the luxury category of best in-ear headphones. In my Sony WF-1000XM4 review, I noticed these buds are sleek and slimmer; they sound great and have many upgrades across the board.

Sony WF-1000XM4 Review – Design and build

Where their precursors were somewhat bean-formed, Sony has re-designed its buds to enormous effect. They use a fully redesigned 6mm driver that is insanely stylish. I am a huge fan of industrial design, with the gold-looking circle and brush metal that put a fine design flourish.

They’re 10 percent smaller than their precursors and because of this fit flush in my ear. Couple this with a decently small case and what you’ve is a well-made, smart pair of earbuds.

There’re 3 ear tips thrown into the mix also, with Sony deciding that memory foam ear tips are the way onward when it comes to keeping them in the listening music.

The Charging case

You cannot have TWS buds without lugging around the charging case. Despite being slightly plasticky, the new case is wonderful. It is smaller than many, simple to use, charges with USB type C, and has a wire-free charge.

These wireless earbuds also are small enough to forget about in your pant. Moreover, seems sleek and fantastic with an LED strip, glossy matte finish, and no buttons. However; it is super light but has us a little concerned about its lifespan.

How about Comfort of Sony WF-1000XM4?

The Sony WF-1000XM4 buds are generally quite comfortable, and the new tips certainly help make sure that the earbuds remain in your ears for long sessions. You might need to experiment with various sizes of tips to find the ones that fit your ears. Usually, the mid-sized ear-tips work great, but for these in-ears, I had to go for a smaller one.

It’s slightly unfortunate that there’re only 3 sizes, but those 3 sizes should be big enough for most users. Normally, I found that these buds were more than comfortable for long listening sessions.

How’s well the call quality that Sony WF-1000XM3 can?

The mic has always been a headache for me with Sony. Sony seems to consider people want to hear ambient sound while they are on the phone, I find it annoying and distracting… particularly in noisy surroundings. Ambient awareness is forever the default when you make or take calls, but you can at least turn on ANC once you are connected.

The actual mic is very good. Beam-forming mics are supposed to focus on voice, and they do just that really well. Our voice comes in clear and clean, but I think Apple buds still have better performance.

Sony WF-1000XM4 Review – Great Sound quality

Perhaps the most vital function on offer by Apple Air Pods is how well they connect with your other Apple smart devices. That is not the case with WF-1000XM4 in-ears though. Instead, the most vital thing to consider here’s sound quality. Thankfully, these buds’ sound is excellent.

The bass response on offer by the buds is quite great. They can provide good punchy bass, without being muddy. There’s little bass boost out of the package, but it is not over the top – and if you do not like it, you can easily tweak the EQ in the application.

MIDS are well-tuned, there is enough warmth to go around, and enough bite in the high notes to help make things like vocals and guitars stand out.

The highs are what in truth set apart this Sony WF-1000XM4 from other TWS headphones though.  Highs are detailed and crisp, helping make music responsive and exciting. It is really good to hear, and a definite step up from the last model WF-1000XM3 headphones.

Noise-canceling here is good. Now, it is not quite as great as the over-ear headphones, but it is very good than any other TWS buds we have tested, including Apple Air Pod Pro, which were already decent.

Battery Life & Compatible with wireless Charging

When it comes to battery life, the in-ears can play music for a nonstop 8hrs with ANC and 12hrs without noise canceling. The case will add 16hrs to give you a whopping 24hrs of total listening. Your mobile will even notify you when the case drops below 30 percent. With the fast charge, five minutes of charging gets you an hour of playback. The battery is wonderful and charging options with USB type C and wirelesses charging are also fantastic.

Compare Sony WF-1000XM4 with Other Best In-Ear Headphones

Sony WF-1000XM4 Review – Pros & Cons

Sony WF-1000XM4 Review – Final Words

The conclusion of my Sony WF-1000XM4 review – They might be at the top-end of the wireless buds market in terms of the price tag but the Sony WF-1000XM4 in-ear headphones really do offer the most luxurious experience with astonishingly stunning sound and countless features.

Where to buy Sony WF-1000XM4

2. SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds Pro R190 Review – Best ANC Wireless Earbuds

The Samsung Galaxy Buds lineup has undergone several evolutions in a relatively short period. It grew from the excellent Buds Plus to the forgettable Samsung Galaxy Buds Live. Now, Samsung is back with a bang – Galaxy Buds Pro, and the gel ear tips have made a successful return.

Let’s find out if every change is enough to redeem Samsung’s TWS buds lineup right here in the SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds Pro review.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Review – Design and build

If you have used the previous Galaxy Buds Live, you’ll notice a lot of improvement in the build, and design of the buds Pro over the Samsung Buds Plus and Buds Live. The charging case of the buds pro is a lot pocket-able. It is like a small pebble with a matte touch. You can simply open/shut the case with 1 hand.

Another great feature of Buds Pro is that is better than Buds Live and Buds+ that is water-resistant. The Buds Pro offers a strong waterproof level of up to IPX7, the Buds Live and Buds+ just IPX2.

As for the design, there is again considerable advancement, and none of the Galaxy earbuds in the long ago have been this comfortable.

The buds pro combine a matte and glossy finish. It has an elegant blend of the in-ear formation of the buds plus, and silicon ear tips and some sort of cues derived from the open-air buds live. The Galaxy Buds Pro fits decently into the ears and does not protrude as much as the previous models did.

Samsung says the new design of the galaxy buds pro also helps decrease contact among the buds and the ears and decreases the clogged-up feeling. Though, for people who love to wear the buds to bed or lie down on aside to read a book, the galaxy buds pro can feel uncomfortable.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro – Sound quality

Galaxy Buds Pro provides extremely accurate output, which makes them the best Samsung wireless earbuds. The frequency response shows a major bump in bass reproduction and a spike in the treble range, but everything else comes in as expected.

This frequency response means that music should sound excellent pretty much every time. You might occasionally notice a few auditory masking on especially bass-heavy music, but not often.

In fact, the bass boos are softly common in consumer-friendly buds, so you might want that more oomph to start with.

• Lows, mid, and highs

I put classic War Pigs to the test on the Buds pro, and it sounded remarkable. The early notes of bass come through clearly, and they remain perceptible even as Tony IOMMI’s guitar takes over all through the song. Samsung managed to reproduce perfect mid-range performance, as heard in One day we will be OK from Modulo Geek. The piano does not overwhelm the gentle tones. Though, the clapping that comes in late in the track is slightly very loud, to the point of unpleasantness.

The Galaxy Buds Pro’s ANC Performance

The Buds Pro gives an improvement in ANC over the flawed buds live, but they do not compete with the better noise cancellation you get in TWS buds from Bose and Apple. The earpieces efficiently isolate sound profile that allows ANC to work; unlike the non-ear sealing, buds live.

The noise cancelation circuitry is efficient at blocking out lower frequency noises just like the rumble of trains, and a few extremely consistent sounds like PC fans.

Microphone performance

Samsung packed an extremely good microphone into buds pro, at least as fair as TWS buds are concerned. The microphone is extremely accurate, providing neutral output throughout the vocal range. There is some muffling due to the embedded design, but it is still significantly superior to several options on the market.

In fact, the mic does remarkably well at dampening background sound, provided the distortion is far enough away.

Battery life

The buds last for up to 5hrs with ANC active and can be charged 2.6 times in the charging case for a total of 18hrs. Turn of ANC and buds last up to 8hrs and up to 28hrs with charging case, which is a great performance. Just 5 minutes of charging will add up to 1hr of playback. The charging case is charged through a Qi wire-free charging coil in its base or with a USB type C socket. A wire is included in the package but not a power adaptor.

Compare Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro with similar items

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Review – Pros & Cons

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Review – Final Words

The conclusion of my SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds Pro review – If you want to buy “best in-ear headphones” with feature ANC for less than 200, absolutely consider the Buds Pro. They are an excellent Bluetooth earbud. The sound is great and they are comfortable to wear, and ANC performance is good for the money.

Where to buy Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro R190

3. SHURE SE215 Review – Best In-Ear Monitoring Haadphones

The Shure SE215 is good critical listening in-ear headphones that perform much better than premium models in a similar lineup. They’ve almost an identical look to the Shure SE315 and SE425 but do not come with multiple accessories. On the upside, they have a well-balanced sound, and they isolate sound slightly more in noisy surroundings.

They also have good stable ear-hooks and a soft fit, which makes them the best in-ear headphones for under $100 and commuting. Let’s jump into the Shure SE215 review for further details:

Shure SE 214 Review –  How are they well designed?

Stunning, simply outstanding! That on both the design and build quality, I mean come on look at design if that is just elegant I do not know what is. The build quality is also astral, gone are the wire issues of the old that utilized to annoy earlier Shure in-ears, and here we have the better stock wire in the business.

It’ll last for a long I am sure and is also covered under the wonderful two years warranty. In case something goes wrong after the warranty period the wire is detachable so feel free to add your wire worth several times the price of the smartphones themselves.

Comfort and Better Secure In-Ear Fit With Shure SE215

The Shure SE215 in-ear headphones have a comfortable and soft fit. They come with a couple of tip sizes to help you find the correct fit, and they have an angled design to greater fit the contours of your ears. This makes them more comfortable than typical in-ear designs, though they do not come with as many ear tips sizes as the Shure SE315 and SE425.

If you’re not a huge fan of in-ear models, they might get slight fatiguing after wearing them for a while. They’re monitors after all and over-ear formation combined with ear guide tech to keeps them in one place. They’d be great for the musicians and commuting on a budget who do not want to yet go full custom.

The Stability

They’re stable, wired in-ear headphones. Shure SE215 has a pseudo-ear-hook formation that is flexible and not as hard as other ear-hook models like Anker Sound Buds Curve. This makes them stable enough for outdoor and on the flight since they’ll rarely fall out from your ears unless you physically pull them out or the audio wire hooked on something.

Shure SE215 In-Ear Headphones Review – Sound Quality

The sound signature is great, as the frequency response range among 21Hz-18.5Hz, and very great in offering songs the true sound signature they need. The treble is not in your face in pop or rock music and the bass, while being the Shure SE215’s biggest weakness, but still gives a decent amount of boom in these in-ears.

The Sennheiser Momentum in-ear headphones are comparable to the Shure SE215 in sound reproduction and price. The absence of any in-line controls in these headphones, while not necessarily a deal-breaker, is a strange decision and can turn off a few folks.

Shure SE215 Professional Sound Isolating – Sound Isolation

The noise isolation performance of the Shure SE215 is remarkable. Though these in-ears do not have an ANC feature, they give a great amount of sound isolation. In the bass range, where the rumble of bus engines and airplane sits, they achieve 15dB of noise isolation, which is good.

Comes to the mid-range, good for blocking out speech, they isolate sound by more than 23dB, which is truly outstanding. In the treble range, occupied by pointed sounds like S & Ts, they decrease outside noise by more than 35dB, which is good. Though, like most other passively sound-isolating models, they are not efficient around 200Hz.

Compare Shure SE215 with similar items

Shure SE-215 Review – Pros & Cons

Shure SE 215 Review  – Final Words

The outcome of my Shure SE215 review – Shure SE21 performs admirably in every department, there’s nothing at all I dislike about these, of course, I’ve other preferred phones but I’d quite happily live with Shure SE215.

The build is great, looks are gorgeous, warranty is impressive and sound quality is outstanding as well for those fans of the Shure house sound. To get anything else near to what you buy in this package all things considered you’d be over 200, but these come in under 100 that is a steal if you ask me.

Where to buy Shure SE215

4. HIFIMAN RE2000 Review – Most Expensive Earbuds

HIFIMAN brand was found by Dr. Fang in NY – the United States is one of the most famous personal audio brands in the audiophile world. HIFIMAN has a huge range of Hi-Fi, luxury-class products like excellent portable audio players, desktop amplifiers, planner magnetic headsets, and in-ear earphones such as the HIFIMAN RE2000, which belongs to the wonderful reference series of in-ears and that I’ll now most expensive earbuds HIFIMAN RE2000 review for you.

HifiMAN RE2000 Review – Design and Build Quality

When you get the HIFIMAN RE2000 earphones in your hands there’s one thing that’ll immediately grab your attention. The size, these are one of the largest in-ears I have ever tested and on a pair in girth with the actual campfire audio Solaris.

They’re an over-the-ear monitor designed model for portable use. The big housing is not for smaller ears and even those with medium-size ears might struggle to get them in place rightly.

Build quality of the HIFIMAN RE2000 Gold edition is average despite them being such a costly earphone and plated in 24 karat gold I can name unlimited sub-thousand dollar models that far surpass the design and build of the HIFIMAN earbuds RE2000.

The only redeeming function is the brass body for the main part. Though, this is dragged down several by the average feeling faceplate as well as the decision to use two-pin connectors and a god-awful wire. To be clear I do not think they seem cheap or have any issues about the long-lasting durability of them I just do not feel that this kind of design is befitting of the price tag and if you had handed me them and said they cost 500 I would not have thought doubled.

How are the comfort and isolation that HifiMAN can do?

Best noise-isolate earbuds, the sheer size, and dense body of the IEM do a great job of isolating you from your surrounding. Comfort is not excellent as the headphones are both huge and heavy I’ve medium-sized ears despite having such a big head.

I found that while I was capable to get a fine seal over time I’d have to take a break due to a contact sport where the plump housing would reset anywhere in my external ear and cause uneasiness. Ear tip selection is being right you should not have too many problems with them staying in place and the wire going over the ears eliminates the presence of microphonics.

Drivability

The HIFIMAN RE2000 headphones have a rated impedance of 60ohm that looks slightly high on paper, but I was capable to drive it to quite loud volume levels with my Samsung Mobile phone. But, I can also confirm that HIFIMAN RE800 advantages form an external amplifier or AMP/DAC, which has beneficially improved the sound, particularly the overall refinement.

The Cable

Wires are made of crystalline platted copper cables for both IEMs. They included extra two-pin sockets and pins, in case the genuine connectors from the supply wire have been broken or damaged. These extra parts can be also utilized when you are looking to get these IEMs a new custom wire.

Ordinary CIEM 2 pin connectors work finely with these, although using the actual connector pins and sockets would give a seamless fit and aesthetics. HIFIMAN RE2000 Gold headphones have an L-formed 3.5mm audio jack while HIFIMAN RE2000 Silver has a straight 3.5 audio jack. I also love that they have matched the shade for the Y-spilt and the audio jack.

HifiMAN RE2000 Review – The Sound Signature

The HIFIMAN RE2000 headphone is an in-ear style monitor with a little V-formed sound profile, which shows a transparent, musical, and somewhat warm midrange, fairly and fast deep bass response, smooth tuned upper midrange, and an energetic treble with fine sparkle.

All these functions make the HIFIMAN RE2000 an in-ear style monitor with a pretty balanced, musical, and smooth presentation!

• Mids

Accurate and detailed, the mid is solid. Perhaps a little less present sounding than the highs and lows, the sound is not bad, but I am still left wanting much more. I also want to call the middle range weak, but it is so much weak as it’s slightly soft or recessed. It is all there, just slightly removed and somewhat overlooked when the highs and lows come in to do their thing. Rest assured, even though, the details stay clean and unsullied here.

• Low End

In the lower end section, the headphones exhibit amazing detail with natural and mature bass. Not over-pronounced, but deep and resolving, these lows run rich but remain coming across as being decently reference-y. The absence of thumping bass looks a little surprised when taking the specification into account, but in this headphone, I find that similar lack to be further appealing – the general even-handed approach of the low-end certainly lends the HIFIMAN RE2000 to focus and considerate critical listening.

• High End

Solid treble and good detail are the hallmarks of these best in-ear headphones. Not too piercing or bright, there is a fine sense of fidelity in the highs. Unlike most high-end phones at this price tag, the sound does not seem marred and colored by excessive emphasis. This is a heady and natural sound profile that simply compliments the mid and lows with finesse.

Compare with similar items

HifiMAN RE2000 Review – Pros & Cons

HifiMAN RE-2000 Review – Final Words

Do not let the gold trim fools you, HIFIMAN RE2000 is complete about delivering sound – it does so with slight panache. Indeed, the immense quantity of detail and great soundstage do much to recommend these in-ear headphones. I would not be so swaggering as to say this headphone is the final verdict regarding the in-ear orientation sound profile. But you’ll be hard passed to find this sound in a superior earphone.

Where to buy HifiMAN RE2000

Best In-Ear Headphones – Final words

Remember to try on the sound quality when choosing the best in-ear headphones in the stores or in the market. Just as other electronic gadgets, the headphones should also provide a warranty.

Hopefully with all this in mind, the questions about the best in-ear headphones buying will be a bit easier to understand. There are of course still other factors in any audio equipment to consider. This should get you started at least on your way to making an informed decision when mulling over which pair of the best in-ear headphones are right for you.