Best wireless headphones: TOP 5 true wireless headphones of 2021

The Xiaomi Redmi sub-brand continues to delight with high-quality and at the same time inexpensive gadgets, constantly updating the lineup. This year, the company launched the third generation of the AirDots TWS earbuds with one of the most attractive price tags on the market. If at the start of sales AirDots 3 cost $60, today you can buy them for $40. Let's see what Redmi is going to surprise true wireless connoisseurs this time.

The headphones received a matte plastic case with glossy inserts on the sides. It looks nice, but not practical, since the easily soiled gloss immediately collects all the prints. Otherwise, everything is more than good with ergonomics.

Comfortable fit, light weight, IPX4 splash protection make AirDots suitable even for active sports. They will not fall out of the ears when running, and will not tyre with prolonged use. The LEDs on the case still notify you of the status: blinking while connected to a device or lit while charging.

The case has become a little larger compared to AirDots 2, so it is still inconvenient to carry it in a jeans pocket, but the battery capacity has doubled, to 600 mAh, while the charging time of the case remains the same - 1.5 hours.

Headphones are offered in three colors: white, pink and dark blue, which replaced the classic black, and, in our subjective opinion, very successful.

The model uses touch control. Double tap on the right earpiece starts the track or pauses, and on the left activates the voice assistant. And it can be Miui, Siri or Google Assistant, depending on the device. And everything would be fine, but the sensor sins with false positives. The infrared motion control sensor, which is responsible for autopausing when you take the earpiece out of your ear, also does not work confidently enough. Sometimes it just doesn't happen.

The sound in AirDots 3 is better, but not as much as it could be, given the upgrade. Despite the built-in moving speakers and the Qualcomm QCC3040 processor, you need to tinker with the equalizer settings in your smartphone to achieve good sound. If you leave everything by default, you will not hear any scenes, volume, or emotions.

Don't expect too much from the microphone's noise cancellation either. It is very conditional here, so in noisy places it’s impossible to talk on the phone normally.

Thanks to the latest Bluetooth 5.2 protocol and the aptX Adaptive driver, which improves wireless transmission and synchronization, the connection between the headphones and the sound source has become more stable: even a brick wall does not interfere, and the signal range really corresponds to 10 m.

And another, perhaps the biggest plus of the new AirDots is the increase in autonomy. The charge lasts almost 7 hours at 80% volume. That is, now you are more likely to have to worry about charging your smartphone than headphones. In addition, with a fully charged case, their autonomy grows to 30 hours, which exceeds the performance of many more expensive headphones, such as JBL Live Pro+ or Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro.

Redmi AirDots 3 are definitely added in all respects. Sound quality, connectivity, autonomy have become significantly better, however, and the price has doubled, but still remained out of competition.

FreeBuds 4i is the fourth generation of mid-range headphones from Huawei. The "i" index means that the model has some of the functions of the flagship FreeBuds Pro headphones, but costs much less, namely, twice - $ 75. Let's see what the manufacturer offers for this price tag.

The FreeBuds 4i case is shaped like a slightly flattened egg. It looks nice, fits comfortably in the hand and in the pocket, but has a couple of significant drawbacks. The lid made of thin plastic is loose, and due to the perfectly smooth glossy surface without any notch or hook, it is difficult to open it when holding the case with one hand. The finger just slips off.

Getting headphones out is also not very convenient. Again because of their smooth round shape and strong magnet. But the fit in the ears is quite comfortable. It is not dense, due to which there is no pressure on the eardrum, however, the headphones hold well and do not fall out. I liked that the nozzles have a mesh that additionally protects the main sound guide grille from dirt, and the headphones themselves are not afraid of dust or splashes due to the protection of the housing according to the IP54 standard.

The model is offered in 4 colors, but they are all neutral (white, black, gray, silver). Brighter ones would definitely help.

The sound of the headphones is very simple, not too expressive, but not overloaded with frequencies, with a good transfer of volume and scene. The frequency response is quite flat, with a slight rise in the region of 2 - 5 kHz. For sports, walking around the city is what you need. But definitely not for music lovers.

But active noise cancellation (ANC) is below average. Worse than in FreeBuds 3i and even more so, FreeBuds Pro. But the transparency mode (talk through) works well, using microphones to transmit external sounds to the speakers. "Transparency" traditionally helps out when you need to quickly answer the question of a cashier in a store, hear an announcement or turn to a passerby on the street.

Another disadvantage was the lack of infrared sensors responsible for autopause. That is, playback does not stop when you remove the earpiece from your ear. And this is strange, because cheaper Xiaomi Redmi AirDots 3, for example, have this option, although it works every other time.

What really pleased me was the high quality of voice transmission. Yes, your interlocutor understands that you are talking on the headset (there is a slight echo, as with a speakerphone), but he hears everything clearly and legibly, even a whisper.

Objectively, 4 hours of autonomy for wireless headphones in 2021 is nothing. Therefore, FreeBuds 4i work on a single charge up to 8 hours with active noise reduction and almost 10 hours without it. And they charge in just an hour. And it's very cool.

As far as call quality goes, Bluetooth 5.2 does the trick. Headphones stably connect with devices running Android and IOS at a distance of up to 10 m, without breaks and out of sync. There is support for the AAC codec, as well as the ability to fine-tune and update software through the Huawei AI Life application, which is available in official markets.

Huawei FreeBuds 4i is the best solution for those who lead an active lifestyle and talk a lot in hands free mode. You will always be in touch with them. And it will always be of high quality. An excellent choice for adequate money.

The Galaxy Buds2 are mid-range in Samsung's TWS lineup, standing between the Buds+ and Buds Pro. From the first they took the cost (about $ 130), and from the second a good half of the filling. As a result, a very interesting model was obtained, in which the manufacturer managed to maintain the very notorious price / quality ratio.

Buds2 received a matte teardrop-shaped case, the same as the Buds Pro, but slightly reduced and not as ergonomic. Headphones are offered in 4 colors: black, purple, white or olive.

The silicone tips and the interior of the case are color-coded, which looks quite stylish. But on the outside, the case is only white, also glossy, as, indeed, the headphones themselves, and this is just a magnet for prints. Nevertheless, the case is pleasant to the touch, fits comfortably in the hand and in the jeans pocket. The lid opens with one hand, with a pleasant effort, and the closer makes opening and closing quiet and smooth.

The fit of the earbuds is average. As soon as you turn your head a little, they begin to slowly fall out of your ears. Of course, they will withstand a light jog, warm-up or calm yoga classes, but no more. In general, the model is not for active sports. But the Buds2 sit quite comfortably and do not irritate even when worn for a long time, the ears “breathe” in them.

Actually, the headphones themselves will tell you how to properly place them in the ear canal so that the use is as convenient as possible and the sound is natural. To do this, they have built-in wear sensors, and in the proprietary Galaxy Wearable application there is a special setting option. The chip is cool, unless you think that due to it you had to save on dust and moisture protection. For, unlike the Buds Pro, which are protected according to the IPX7 standard, the Buds2 only have IPX2 drop protection, so it’s better not to get into them in the rain and, moreover, not to drop them into the water.

The model has multifunctional touch control, in particular, volume control, as well as support for the Bixby voice assistant, but it is not yet available in all countries. There are no false positives, but the high sensitivity of the touch zones sometimes becomes a minus - adjusting the headphones, it is almost impossible not to touch the sensor and pause the track. Infrared motion sensors also work correctly, but only if you remove both headphones at once. However, if you insert them back, playback will not resume.

Passive noise isolation works well, external sounds are heard as if through cotton wool, and if you turn on active noise reduction, they will disappear altogether. At the same time, the “noise reduction” works quite aggressively, sometimes causing fatigue and a feeling of pressure in the head, but you cannot configure its operation, as in the Buds Pro. For those who want to be aware of what is happening "outside", there is a sound transparency mode with three intensity divisions. But it is worth remembering that in this case you will hear the sound with a slight delay.

Voice quality in Buds2 is predictably high, as three microphones, a bone conduction sensor and a new speech purification technology based on machine learning algorithms are responsible for it. Gusts of wind, a busy office and even the sounds of the freeway practically do not interfere with talking, except that your voice may seem slightly unnatural, but these are trifles, you see.

On a single charge, the earphones work up to 5 hours with noise reduction turned on and up to 7.5 hours without it. Add here three charges from the case and we get an average day of autonomy. Not bad, although not the best result. The same cheaper Huawei FreeBuds 4i last 3 hours longer on a single charge. But I was pleasantly impressed by the fast charging mode. In just 10 minutes, the headphones can be charged up to 40%. In addition, like the Buds Pro, the Buds2 support Qi wireless charging.

The sound does not amaze with detail, but it is well balanced and does not have a pronounced "genre orientation". With the same pleasure, you can listen to dance music, and jazz, and classics ... LFs are a little highlighted, but at the same time they are devoid of boominess, the middle is even, and the HF is bright, but without "sand" and ringing.

Of the Buds2 codecs, they support the standard SBC, a slightly more advanced AAC and the proprietary Scalable Codec, which, according to Samsung, is better than aptX, and pulls the bitrate up to 512 Kbps, but it naturally only works with the manufacturer's smartphones.

In general, Samsung turned out to be very good headphones. The Galaxy Buds2 definitely has a lot to praise, and almost nothing to criticize. Is that for IPX2 and not a very confident fit. If these are stumbling blocks for you, consider the Galaxy Buds Pro, but keep in mind that you will have to pay a good extra for them.

JBL releases headphones so often that you already start to get confused in them. Live Pro+ is another TWS model that hit the market this spring. Let's see what kind of beast and whether it is worth the money.

It is impossible to confuse Live Pro + with headphones of another brand. They are made in a corporate style, unlike any other. Available in four colors: beige, white, pink and black. The set includes a USB C charging cable, an ergonomic case made of matte plastic and as many as 5 pairs of ear pads so that the landing is guaranteed comfortable.

The case supports wireless charging and has a three-bar indicator light. Although at first glance it may seem that there are seven of them, but two from each edge is a props. The case of the headphones is protected according to the IPX4 standard, so you can not be afraid to get into them under a light rain.

To access all features, it is recommended to install the My JBL Headphones app. This offer will immediately appear on the screen of your smartphone as soon as you try to establish a connection with the headphones. The connection, by the way, is very fast, Dual Connect is supported, and thanks to Google Fast Pair technology, the headphones are immediately linked to your Google account if it is configured on your smartphone.

In My JBL Headphones , you can remap control gestures, set up a very flexible graphic equalizer, select sound and active noise canceling profiles, and check whether the headphones fit correctly in your ears. The application will prompt you to rotate the earpiece in your ear until the optimal position is found. The function is really useful, as it significantly improves the comfort of fit and sound transmission.

There are three profiles for noise reduction: everyday, road and active. Paired with three microphones, it works very well, wind noise does not interfere with calls, the interlocutor hears your speech quite clearly and without interruptions. 2 modes of amplifying external sounds are also available - TalkThru and Ambient Aware. The first makes sense to use when you need to hear sounds from nearby sources, the second lets through and amplifies louder sounds, for example, car horns, train horns, etc.

Equally interesting is the "Smart audio and video" setting, which allows you to choose between playback quality and delay. That is, with a large desynchronization, it is enough to reduce the sound quality and the problem will be solved.

All this goodness can also be controlled using the Google voice assistant and Alexa. For example, enable / disable noise reduction and adjust the volume.

In terms of sound, everything is traditional for Harman products. Despite the lack of aptX (only SBC and AAC codecs are supported), JBL Live Pro + sound quite legible and without any critical frequency inflections. But there is one “but” - the nature of the sound changes with and without noise reduction turned on. Of course, this is a drawback of all ANCs, but in JBL Live Pro + this is clearly too much.

With active noise cancellation, the middle falls through, low frequencies stand out noticeably, and highs sound inexpressive. If the function is turned off, the mid and high frequencies will prevail. Of course, there is an equalizer that will help you “steer” a comfortable sound, but I wanted it to be like that already out of the box.

Headphones work up to 7 hours without ANC, and up to 6 hours with it. The battery capacity of the case is enough for three full charges. A full charge takes about 2 hours. The indicator is above average among competitors, but definitely not the TOP.

JBL Live Pro + without a doubt demonstrate a high level of user comfort. But there are questions about the sound and autonomy of the model, given its cost.

In 2019, Sony launched the WF-1000XM3 wireless earphones, which almost immediately became the gold standard for the quality of active noise cancellation in TWS format. The updated version of the WF-1000XM4, released this year, has become more interesting in every sense, however, and almost twice as expensive. The price of the headphones is premium - $ 350, let's see how it is justified.

Headphones and case are made of matte plastic and are offered in two colors: black and silver (for some reason, more like ivory). The surface is pleasant to the touch and almost does not collect fingerprints. Not everyone will like the design, but you definitely can’t refuse originality. The case is still quite massive, but not as huge as the XM3. The headphones themselves are also rather big, and in addition heavy, 7.3 g each, and it is felt in the ear.

If the previous model was equipped with both silicone and foam nozzles, then the XM4 has only the latter, and this is a minus. Foam nozzles are not convenient for all users, they can fall out, create a feeling of discomfort during prolonged use, etc. Fortunately, the mount is standard and you can choose more suitable ones. In this case, the wearing sensor will be very useful, which will help you find the correct position of the earpiece in your ear.

The XM4s are IPX4 sweat and splash resistant, but for the price they could have been more ruggedized.

The model supports Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair for quick pairing with Android and Win 10 devices and automatic account linking. But there is no support for Multipoint. Communication stability can be very different and depends on the codec used (SBC, AAC and LDAC can be selected) and the selected priority mode. There are two of them: “Sound Quality Priority” and “Stable Connection Priority”. That is, if you observe interruptions or out of sync with the video, you should choose the second option or the “easier” codec.

This and other useful settings are offered in the Headphones Connect app. With it, you can select noise reduction and transparency profiles. For example, almost completely eliminate wind noise, or vice versa, enhance the audibility and quality of external sounds. By the way, ANC works very well, no complaints.

For calls, the Speak-to-Chat mode, which uses a bone conduction sensor, will be useful. It automatically stops music playback when there is an incoming call and turns on the transparency mode for a more comfortable conversation. When the call ends, playback resumes. The same thing happens if you take the headphones out of your ears or put them back in, in which case the proximity sensor is triggered.

The sound in the WF-1000XM4 caused mixed emotions. Very pleased with the low-frequency range. The bass sounds quite neutral, but at the same time is clear and with good attack, which is usually a rarity for TWS. The middle is a little off. But in general, it is served well, sometimes even pleasant in its own way, if you do not try to concentrate on the nuances. But the high ones sound indistinct, the sound of hi-hats and cymbals is muffled and “smeared”. This is where DSEE Extreme technology can come in handy. It noticeably improves the transmission of high frequencies in compressed digital audio, but in general, the high-frequency register leaves much to be desired.

An interesting solution is 360 Reality Audio technology. When it is applied, the sound really acquires volume, but it is still far from full-fledged sensations. In addition, you need special content that can only be found on streaming services so far.

Not particularly impressed with the quality of voice communication. Surprisingly, it is "slightly below average." The interlocutors complain about the unnaturalness and illegibility of the voice. Moreover, in a noisy environment, the situation deteriorates significantly.

The duration of the headset is highly dependent on the codecs and modes used. For example, on a standard SBC with noise canceling and DSEE turned off, you can achieve 12 hours of autonomy, but with LDAC and ANC, the headphones will work for only 3.5 hours. In any case, 12 hours in economy mode is very cool. For a TWS headset, the result is just fantastic. In addition, fast charging is supported. In just 5 minutes, the headphones can be charged for 1 hour of work. The case charges in 1.5 hours, both by wire and by air, and its battery capacity is enough for two full charges of the headphones.

Of course, the Sony WF-1000XM4 has already received a lot of accolades, so ours may look a bit strange against their background. Nevertheless, let's be honest, the model turned out to be very ambiguous. With obvious pluses, there were no less minuses - the lack of a multipoint, a controversial sound, not always a reliable fit, “unfinished” technologies. At the same time, the price of the headphones is quite high, and the potential buyer has a lot of more profitable alternatives.