These earbuds are the anti-AirPods. That’s not just because the latest generation (the fourth) of Sony’s flagship earbuds boasts good noise cancellation, great sound quality, a battery life of about 7 hours (24 hours extra with the case), and other class-leading features. They’re the anti-AirPods because Sony took a radically different design approach than Apple. While Cupertino has created a product that is as minimalist as possible – the user has to do little or nothing to get the best possible experience –, the Japanese brand has thoroughly broken down the earbuds’ functions and contexts of use to ensure that users can customize even the smallest of details through the dedicated app. You can set the noise reduction level based on where you are – whether you’re walking down the street or riding public transportation – and activate a function that automatically stops playback when you’re talking. Launched in June 2021, the earphones have received continuous software updates, often adding new features.

These earbuds are the anti-AirPods. That’s not just because the latest generation (the fourth) of Sony’s flagship earbuds boasts good noise cancellation, great sound quality, a battery life of about 7 hours (24 hours extra with the case), and other class-leading features. They’re the anti-AirPods because Sony took a radically different design approach than Apple. While Cupertino has created a product that is as minimalist as possible – the user has to do little or nothing to get the best possible experience –, the Japanese brand has thoroughly broken down the earbuds’ functions and contexts of use to ensure that users can customize even the smallest of details through the dedicated app. You can set the noise reduction level based on where you are – whether you’re walking down the street or riding public transportation – and activate a function that automatically stops playback when you’re talking. Launched in June 2021, the earphones have received continuous software updates, often adding new features.

They’re Apple’s state-of-the-art earbuds that coexist with the original model. This new version, launched in late 2022, hardly saw any change by Cupertino in terms of design – both the earbuds and case look just like the first-gen Pro ones. The only noticeable difference is a silver loop on the side of the case to attach a lanyard, which is perfect since that’s how many people carry their AirPods anyway. However, Apple has added some features that are invisible at first glance: when Find My is activated, a speaker located in the case plays a loud sound. Moreover, you can now adjust the volume by swiping up and down the buds. Battery life and noise cancellation are dramatically improved thanks to the new H2 chip. Finally, they are splashproof (IPX4 rated), and, like most products in this range, they come with multi-size tips – the M size is already attached.

AirPods Pro deliver some of the most immersive audio ever and with spatial audio, you’ll be in for a treat. They also provide good call quality, at least in less noisy environments. When used with Apple devices, there’s no beating them – they connect almost instantly to your devices, ensuring a very smooth multipoint transition, and a user experience that requires minimal effort for maximum performance. All key settings, like switching from noise cancellation to transparency mode, can be accessed from the iPhone Control Center, via touch controls, or hands-free by simply asking Siri. There are some advanced settings available in the Settings app, including a test to make sure you are wearing the earbuds properly. But true to Apple’s design philosophy, AirPods Pro make you forget you’re wearing them, so you can focus on what you’re doing, rather than on the tool you’re using.

Bose worked hard on the lines and materials of its new earphones, creating a hybrid shape with flowing contours – an ultra-light, rounded drop that has no stem like the AirPods, but rather looks like a small, thick wedge. Rubber bands – reminiscent of the fins on sports earphones – provide stability and ensure a secure fit in the ear. As is now standard in the high end, the tips come in different sizes – a test in the app will check that they fit your ear just right. The case, which is dramatically smaller than that of the previous generation, looks rather anonymous. However, it offers up to 24 hours of playback thanks to its built-in battery. The earbuds themselves last a little less than 7 hours. They are so smooth and rounded that it can be a little difficult to fish them out of the box.

Compared to when we wrote about them shortly after their debut, the earbuds from Nothing, the new company from OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, have come a long way. The hardware is still the same, but firmware and app updates have raised the price of these earbuds, which were launched with mid-range pricing and flagship ambitions – the philosophy that made OnePlus smartphones iconic. The sound – by Teenage Engineering – is definitely improved, with advanced bass, clear treble, and the whole midrange accurately unfolding to the ear without making you wish you had gone for more expensive products. The same goes for voice. Two aspects of the iOS and Android apps are particularly worthy of praise: the equalizer presets and the excellent graphic work done to make them pleasing in a slightly different way; and the gesture customization options – Nothing Ear’s unconventional but ingenious swipes on the stem expand the range of gestures you can use, so you’ll virtually never need to take your phone out of your pocket.

Urbanista’s earbuds combine solid features and sleek lines and colors with a groundbreaking solar charging function. We wrote about them in detail here.