Technologies
Best Wireless Earbuds for 2023: Top Picks for Every Listener
Find your wireless earbuds from CNET’s reviews of top true-wireless earbuds from Apple, Beats, Samsung, Sennheiser, Sony and more.

This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas.
If you’re on the hunt for a new pair of earbuds, chances are that you’re actually looking for a pair of true-wireless earbuds. The difference being that truly wireless earbuds don’t have a cord or cable connecting the two buds. Fortunately, you won’t have any trouble finding some right now, as almost every pair of earbuds you see on shelves today will be completely wireless. However, with so many options to choose from, it can be tough to know which earbuds will work best for you. But whether you’re looking to prioritize durability, audio quality or style, you’ll find plenty of great options below on our list of the best earbuds 2023 has to offer.
In terms of style, some wireless earbuds are equipped with ear tips while others have an open design without tips (those are best for people who don’t like to have ear tips jammed in their ears and want to allow some sound in from the outside world). For the most part, only «noise-isolating» earbuds with silicone or foam ear tips offer active noise canceling — or noise cancelling (with a double l), as Bose and Google spell it — a feature that was once a rarity but has now become standard. And when you get a pair of wireless earbuds, many now come with a wireless charging case, too.
Yes, the top true-wireless earbuds can be pricey, but you can get surprisingly good ones for less than $100 — or even less. We regularly update this list as new top true-wireless earbuds hit the market.
CNET’s recommendations for the best wireless earbuds
Honorable mentions
Beyerdynamic Free Byrd: Beyerdynamic may be late to the game, but it’s finally introduced its first true-wireless earbuds, which feature active noise canceling, up to 11 hours of battery life (with noise canceling off) and impressive sound quality. Read our Beyerdynamic Free Byrd review.
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: Bose’s current flagship earbuds have excellent noise-canceling and good sound. A lot of people, including me, love how these buds’ StayHear Max tips create a comfortable, secure fit. They are on the larger side and their voice-calling performance could be a little better. Released in September of 2020, they’re due for an upgrade and have been on sale lately for $200 or even slightly less. Read our Bose QuietComfort Earbuds review.
Sony Linkbuds: The LinkBuds are, in a sense, Sony’s answer to Apple’s standard AirPods. While they don’t sound as good as Sony’s flagship WF-1000XM4 or the Linkbuds S noise-isolating earbuds, they offer a discreet, innovative design and a more secure fit than the AirPods, as well as decent sound and very good voice-calling performance. Like the third-gen AirPods, their open design allows you to hear the outside world — that’s what the ring is all about. Read our Sony Linkbuds review.
Bowers & Wilkins PI7: While pricey, these Bowers & Wilkins noise-earbuds are among the best-sounding out there (the step-down PI5 also sounds good but the PI7 is the flagship for a reason. It’s also worth noting that the PI7’s case transforms into a Bluetooth transceiver, so you can plug it into your laptop for AptX streaming or an in-flight entertainment system. That’s a nice bonus feature (the PI5 doesn’t have it). Read our Bowers & Wilkins PI7 first take.
JBL Live Free 2: Like the Live Pro 2, JBL’s new Live Free 2 buds are surprisingly good. With 11mm drivers, six microphones, oval tubes and oval silicon tips, they combine a comfortable fit along with strong noise canceling, very good sound quality and voice-calling performance. Features include multipoint Bluetooth pairing and wireless charging, and they’re rated for up to 7 hours with IPX5 water-resistance (splash-proof).
Beats Studio Buds: The Beats Studio Buds look a lot like the rumored stemless AirPods some people have been waiting for. Geared toward both iOS and Android users, they are missing a few key features on the Apple side of things (there’s no H1 or W1 chip), but they’re small, lightweight buds that are comfortable to wear and offer really good sound. While their noise canceling isn’t as good as the AirPods Pro’s they do have a transparency mode and they’re decent for making calls. Read our Beats Studio Buds review.
Sennheiser CX: If you can’t afford Sennheiser’s flagship Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds, the CX are a good alternative. They feature very good sound, plus decent noise canceling and voice-calling performance. The only issue is they stick out of your ears a bit and may not fit some smaller ears. This model, which often sells for less than $100 on Amazon, doesn’t feature active noise canceling but the step-up CX Plus does (the CX Plus is also a good value, particularly when it goes on sale).
Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro: Anker makes several earbuds that cost less than $100. But its Soundcore Liberty Pro is its flagship model that features premium sound, as well as support for Sony’s LDAC audio codec with compatible devices (mostly Android phones). Available in four color options with an IPX4 water-resistance rating (splash-proof), they’re frequently discounted to around $100 and are a good value when they’re on sale, though they do stick out of your ears.
Wireless Earbuds FAQs
How we test true-wireless earbuds
We test true-wireless earbuds based on five key criteria, comparing similarly styled and priced models. These criteria include design, sound quality, features, voice-calling performance and value.
Evaluating design, we assess not only how comfortable the earbuds fit (ergonomics) but their build quality and how well the controls are implemented. We also look at water- and dust-resistance ratings.
We evaluate sound quality by listening to a set playlist of music tracks and comparing the earbuds to top competing products in their price range. Sonic traits such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range and how natural the headphones sound are key factors in our assessment.
Some great-sounding earbuds aren’t loaded with features, but we do take into account what extra features are on board. These include everything from noise-canceling and transparency modes (ambient sound mode) to special sound modes to ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off your ears.
When we test voice-calling performance, we make calls in the noisy streets of New York and evaluate how well the earbuds reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear your voice.
We determine value after evaluating the strength of the earbuds against all these criteria and what the buds are able to deliver compared to other models in their price class.
More headphone recommendations
- Best Cheap True Wireless Earphones
- Protect Your AirPods: 5 Cases Under $15
- Best Over-Ear Headphones
- Best AirPod Pro Alternatives That Cost Less
- Best Headphones of 2023
- Best Cheap Earbuds and Headphones
- Best Headphones and Earbuds for Running in 2023
- Best Workout Headphones in 2023
- Best Headphones for Working at Home in 2023
- Best Soundbar for 2023
- 4 True Wireless Earbuds Under $40 Worth Buying
- Best AirPods Max Accessories for 2023
Technologies
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Display Can Be Folded 500,000 Times, According to Testing
The display can be folded more than double the number of times as the previous iteration before it will break.

Fold, fold and fold again. It doesn’t matter how many times you open and close the Galaxy Z Fold 7 phone — it’s highly unlikely to give out on you. Samsung Display (SDC) announced Tuesday that its latest foldable OLED panel «remained fully functional after a 500,000-fold durability test,» more than doubling its previous benchmark of 200,000 folds.
Bureau Veritas, a French leader in testing, inspection and certification, tested the screen with 500,000 folds over a 13-day period at a temperature of 25°C (77°F).
For those of you trying to wrap your head around the math, half a million folds translates to the average user folding their phone 100 times a day for 10 years, or prolific users doing 200 folds a day for 6 years. Samsung Display — a separate company from Samsung — says the durability results prove that «durability is no longer a limiting factor in the lifespan of foldable smartphones.»
«As foldable OLED enters its seventh year of commercialization, we’ve achieved another meaningful breakthrough in both durability and design,» Hojung Lee, EVP at Samsung Display, said in a press release. «This new panel … builds consumer confidence in foldable OLED durability.»
Bulletproof glass technology has helped Samsung Display develop its creaseless screens. SDC borrowed from the concept and increased the thickness of its Ultra Thin Glass, the outermost glass on the screen, by 50%. SDC also added high-elastic adhesive to each screen layer, thereby enhancing fold recovery performance by four times the previous design.
CNET reported last week that Apple has tapped Samsung Display to manufacture screens for Apple’s first foldable iPhone, set to launch in summer 2026.
Despite the hype around foldable phones, a CNET survey published on Tuesday showed 64% of people have no interest in buying one of these smartphones in the next year. 20% weren’t sure if they want one, 13% say they do want one and just 3% said they already own one.
Technologies
Microsoft Will Wipe Out Your Passwords on Aug. 1. What to Do Now
The clock’s ticking to find a new password manager other than Microsoft Authenticator.

Microsoft is getting rid of passwords in less than two weeks.
On Aug. 1, the Microsoft Authenticator app will no longer store or manage passwords, which could be a problem for a lot of users. Microsoft Authenticator has been one of the best password managers for years. You were able to save passwords, enable two-factor authentication and auto-fill. This change means that if you’re using the Authenticator app as a password manager, you’ll need to look for another option soon.
At the same time, Microsoft will move to passkeys instead.
Using a passkey as a login means you’ll use PINs, fingerprint scans, facial recognition or a pattern on a device’s lock screen. It’s a safer option compared to the risky password habits. A CNET survey found that 49% of US adults have bad password habits. Having an insecure password can put you at risk of having your information exposed.
If you’ve been using Microsoft Authenticator, now’s the time to start making changes. Here’s what to know about the switch and the best password managers CNET recommends.
When will Microsoft Authenticator stop supporting passwords?
Microsoft Authenticator houses your passwords and lets you sign into all your Microsoft accounts using a PIN, facial recognition like Windows Hello, or other biometric data like a fingerprint. Authenticator can be used in other ways, such as verifying you’re logging in if you forgot your password, or using two-factor authentication as an extra layer of security for your accounts. In June, the company stopped letting users add passwords to Authenticator.
Starting this month, you won’t be able to use the autofill password function. And next month, you’ll no longer be able to use saved passwords.
If you still want to use passwords instead of passkeys, you can store them in Microsoft Edge. However, CNET experts recommend adopting passkeys during this transition. «Passkeys use public key cryptography to authenticate users, rather than relying on users themselves creating their own (often weak or reused) passwords to access their online accounts,» Tomaschek said.
Why are passkeys a better alternative to passwords?
So what exactly is a passkey? It’s a credential created by the Fast Identity Online Alliance that uses biometric data or a PIN to verify your identity and access your account. Think about using your fingerprint or Face ID to log into your account. That’s generally safer than using a password that is easy to guess or susceptible to a phishing attack.
«Passwords can be cracked, whereas passkeys need both the public and the locally stored private key to authenticate users, which can help mitigate risks like falling victim to phishing and brute-force or credential-stuffing attacks,» said Attila Tomaschek, CNET’s software senior writer and digital security expert.
Passkeys aren’t stored on servers like passwords. Instead, they’re stored only on your personal device. More conveniently, this takes the guesswork out of remembering your passwords and the need for a password manager.
How to set up a passkey in Microsoft Authenticator
Microsoft said in a May 1 blog post that it will automatically detect the best passkey to set up and make that your default sign-in option. «If you have a password and ‘one-time code’ set up on your account, we’ll prompt you to sign in with your one-time code instead of your password. After you’re signed in, you’ll be prompted to enroll a passkey. Then the next time you sign in, you’ll be prompted to sign in with your passkey,» according to the blog post.
To set up a new passkey, open your Authenticator app on your phone. Tap on your account and select «Set up a passkey.» You’ll be prompted to log in with your existing credentials. After you’re logged in, you can set up the passkey.
Other password manager alternatives
Since Microsoft will get rid of all of your passwords in two weeks, you’ll need a new place to store your passwords safely. Tomaschek has a few of the best password manager recommendations after testing and reviewing several.
The top recommendation is Bitwarden for its transparency. It’s open-source and audited annually. From a price perspective, the free plan lets you store infinite passwords across unlimited devices. The free plan also includes features most password managers would charge for, including password sharing and a username and password generator.
Bitwarden’s upgraded plans have other upgraded features that could be worth the cost, too.
Personally, Tomaschek has been using 1Password for a while, and he likes the interface and family plan. Even though it’s second on the list, Tomaschek says it’s just as good as Bitwarden.
Technologies
This New Free Mobile Pokemon Puzzle Game Lets You Weave Digital Plushes
Here’s how to get started in Pokemon Friends.
The Pokemon Company unveiled a host of Pokemon content at its Pokemon Presents event on Tuesday. We saw a new trailer for Pokemon Legends: Z-A, a release date for the second season of the Netflix series Pokemon Concierge and a free, new mobile game you can play now, called Pokemon Friends.
The latest Pokemon mobile game is a puzzle game where you untangle threads of yarn in order to weave Pokemon plushes for your in-game collection. You can play it now on iOS and Android devices for free, or you can buy it for $10 on the Nintendo eShop.
Here’s what you should know to get started with Pokemon Friends.
Puzzles, yarn and Pokemon
To earn yarn, you have to solve puzzles in the game. To get to these puzzles, tap the Psyduck tile with the word Untangle near the bottom of the screen in the main room of the game — poor Psyduck is always tied up in knots. Some of the puzzles include connecting a string of lightbulbs using only one line and rotating a box in order to free Pokemon, like Slowpoke, from the box.
After solving the series of puzzles, you are rewarded with a certain number of inches of yarn. Your reward depends on how quickly you solve the puzzles, so if you want the most yarn to make more Pokemon plushes, you have to be faster than an Electrode.
Once you have your yarn, you’ll stamp your calendar, which shows all the days you’ve solved puzzles for. You can use your calendar to keep track of what days you’ve solved puzzles, and you can use it to go back to older puzzles and try to beat your high score.
When you have your yarn, tap the Plush-O-Matic — the machine that looks like a giant Pokeball — and you’ll be able to make plushes with your yarn. Then tap Make and you can choose which yarn to create a Pokemon plush with. Certain yarns are used to make a handful of Pokemon, but it only took one bundle of yarn to make my first few Pokemon.
However, I can’t see a way to make one particular Pokemon. For example, when you select Fiery Yarn, you can tap Plush Rates in the bottom right corner of your screen to see what Pokemon that yarn can create. I found that my Fiery Yarn could create a Charmander, Charizard, Scorbunny or Fuecoco plush, but I had a 25% chance to make any of those Pokemon — I got a Scorbunny!
After tapping the Plush-O-Matic, you can also tap Catalog to see details of which plushes you’ve created, like their size, how many of them you own and what yarn it takes to create them.
Decorate with your new Pokemon friend
After you’ve woven your Pokemon plush, it’s time to decorate. From the main room of the game, tap the tile in the bottom left corner of your screen that has a Scorbunny on it — it was like that before I got my own Scorbunny. This will take you to your own room, which you can decorate with your plushes.
Once in the room, tap the tile with the Pawmi and Buneary in the left corner of your screen to pull up all the plushes. Tap the plush you want to decorate with and then you can drag and place it anywhere in the room.
You can also tap the green chair under the Pawmi and Buneary tile to add or change furniture in the room. Beneath that tile is an hourglass icon. Tap and hold the hourglass to rewind your room, kind of like an Undo button.
And in the bottom left corner of your screen is a toy chest with Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly Pokemon. This is the Tidy Up button. Tap this and then tap Pokemon plushes or furniture around the room to remove them from the room. And if you accidentally remove something, no worries, tap and hold the hourglass to undo the change.
After decorating, tap the green door in the top right corner of your screen to go back to the main room.
The mobile version is free but…
The mobile version of Pokemon Friends is free up to a point. I could only solve the second series of puzzles the first time I played the game, but that might be different for you.
After you solve your daily puzzles, Pokemon Friends says you can buy DLC to keep playing. To do so, tap Shop in the top left corner of your screen and you can buy different bundles.
The Basic Pack ($10) lets you play puzzles as often as you like. Other packs include new puzzles, wallpapers for your plush room and more, and those packs start at $15.
It’s unclear if you can solve a limited number of puzzles every day without issue, or if you’ll have to buy the Basic Pack at some point to continue playing.
The Pokemon Company did not immediately respond to my request for comment.
For more on the July Pokemon Presents, here’s all the free stuff you can get from the event.
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