WIRED just updated its definitive wireless earbuds buying guide for 2025, showcasing the latest from Apple, Sony, and Bose. With monthly product launches pushing battery life and features forward, the publication's experts curated picks across every price point, from budget-friendly options under $100 to premium models exceeding $300.
The wireless earbuds market keeps evolving at breakneck speed, and WIRED's latest comprehensive buying guide reflects just how crowded the field has become. Every month brings new models promising longer battery life, advanced features, and more compact designs, making it increasingly difficult for consumers to navigate their options.
Parker Hall's updated guide doesn't just focus on the obvious choices. While Apple's AirPods Pro remain a standout for iPhone users, the guide digs deeper into alternatives that deliver comparable performance at various price points. The Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 earns an 8/10 WIRED Recommends rating for its "fantastic vocal definition," though Hall notes they lack the superlative qualities of top-tier picks.
Budget-conscious buyers get serious consideration too. The Soundcore Space A40 at $60 still delivers "good features, clear sound, and excellent noise canceling for their price class," according to the review. It's a reminder that premium audio doesn't always require premium pricing.
Samsung's Galaxy Buds ecosystem gets mixed treatment in the guide. While the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro ($100-200) remain "among the best buds to pair with a Samsung phone" despite their aging five-hour battery life, the newer Galaxy Buds 3 receive harsh criticism. Hall calls them "a Cybertrucked pair of AirPods clones" that "work worse than they already look," earning just a 5/10 WIRED Review score.
The guide also tackles the YouTube influencer favorite Raycon Everyday Earbuds, which surprisingly earn a 7/10 WIRED Review despite their association with sponsored content. "They are small and light, and they come with an IPX6 rating, which makes them great for workouts," Hall notes, suggesting that even heavily marketed products can deliver genuine value.
Sony's Linkbuds Fit represent the kind of specialized approach that's becoming more common. Positioned as a "wear anywhere" solution with "rich and punchy sound" and "naturalistic transparency mode," they skimp on battery life with just 5.5 hours per charge. It's the kind of trade-off that reflects how fragmented the market has become, with manufacturers targeting increasingly specific use cases.
At the luxury end, Montblanc's MTB 03 earbuds command $395 but deliver what Hall calls "a luxury experience worthy of the brand." The company "has called in some heavy hitters from the audio industry to design and voice these buds," resulting in what the review describes as impressive sound quality wrapped in flashy design.
The guide's "Earbuds to Avoid" section offers particularly pointed advice. Apple's standard AirPods get dinged for fit issues and limited noise canceling effectiveness. "Since they don't have ear tips or wings, you're out of luck if they're loose," Hall explains, recommending users spend more on the AirPods Pro Gen 2 instead.
Behind all these recommendations lies a broader shift in how consumers approach audio purchases. The guide emphasizes technical specifications like Bluetooth 5.0 support and minimum six-hour battery life as baseline requirements. "Batteries in wireless headphones degrade over time, so the better your battery life is at first, the more tolerable it will be in two to three years," Hall notes.
This buying guide reflects how the wireless earbuds category has matured beyond simple wireless connectivity. Features like multi-device pairing, spatial audio, and advanced noise canceling are becoming standard expectations rather than premium add-ons. The monthly product refresh cycle means today's cutting-edge features become tomorrow's baseline requirements.
WIRED's comprehensive 2025 earbuds guide reveals a market that's both more competitive and more specialized than ever. With monthly product launches pushing boundaries on battery life, features, and design, consumers have more choices but also more complexity to navigate. The guide's emphasis on avoiding certain popular models while highlighting lesser-known gems like Beyerdynamic and Soundcore options shows how expertise matters more than brand recognition in this rapidly evolving category.
