Best wireless earbuds with noise cancelling microphone

Best wireless earbuds with noise cancelling microphone

While earbuds and in-ears can be excellent day-to-day headphones thanks to their portable and convenient design, they generally don't have the best microphone quality, especially if they rely on a Bluetooth connection. In comparison, Bluetooth headsets designed for phone calls may have better microphones, but they often only have one earbud, making them less than ideal for listening to music at work or during your daily commute. Luckily, there are more and more earbuds on the market that balance call quality and casual versatility, which is great if you work from home or take calls on the go.

We’ve tested over 245 pairs of earbuds and in-ear headphones with microphones, and below are our recommendations for the best earphones with mic capability to buy. If you’re looking for our top picks for other earbuds and in-ear headphones, check our recommendations for the best earbuds and in-ears, the best truly wireless earbuds, and the best Bluetooth headsets for phone calls.


  1. Type In-ear

    Enclosure Closed-Back

    Wireless Yes

    Transducer Hybrid

    Noise Cancelling Yes

    Mic Yes

    The best headphones with a microphone we've tested are the Sony WI-1000XM2 Wireless. These in-ears aren't completely wireless since they have a cable that goes around your neck, so their style may not be for everyone. However, their in-line mic sits closer to your mouth than most integrated microphones found on truly wireless earbuds. It makes your voice sound clear and understandable over the phone, and it does an okay job of separating it from background noise. Their sound is well-suited for phone calls since voices reproduce clearly and accurately.

    They last about eight hours of continuous use and have a decently comfortable fit, although the neckband can snag longer hair. They also have a good selection of differently-sized ear tips, including foam and silicone options. Their very good active noise cancelling (ANC) feature can block out the low rumble of bus engines during your commute and ambient chatter at work. You can also connect them to your phone and computer at the same time, so you can easily take calls on either device.

    See our review

  2. Best Upper Mid-Range Earbuds With A Mic

    Type In-ear

    Enclosure Closed-Back

    Wireless Truly Wireless

    Transducer Dynamic

    Noise Cancelling Yes

    Mic Yes

    The best earbuds with microphone capability in the upper mid-range category that we've tested are the Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless. As well as being cheaper than our top pick, these earbuds have a smaller, more compact, truly wireless design. It also means they have an integrated mic, so it sits further away from your mouth than the Sony WI-1000XM2 Wireless' in-line mic. Still, it does a good job of capturing your voice, meaning you can be heard clearly over the phone. There's a sensor in each earbud that detects wind, which is meant to improve the mic's noise handling when you're outside.

    They support multi-device pairing, so you can stay connected to your computer while you take a call on your phone. Their neutral sound profile ensures voices sound clear and accurate, but if you prefer a different sound, it can also be customized with a graphic EQ and presets in the companion app. These earbuds also have ANC, but unfortunately, it's not very effective, so these aren't the buds for you if you want to cut out the sound of rumbling engines during your commute. That said, they passively block out a decent amount of mid-range noise like background chit-chat.

    See our review

  3. Best Mid-Range Earbuds With A Mic

    Type In-ear

    Enclosure Closed-Back

    Wireless Truly Wireless

    Transducer Dynamic

    Noise Cancelling Yes

    Mic Yes

    The best mid-range earbuds with a mic that we've tested are the EarFun Air Pro True Wireless. These earbuds don't have an app or features like an EQ or presets, so they aren't as customizable as the Jabra. Still, they have a well-balanced, versatile performance and a decent mic performance. It makes your voice sound clear over the phone, although it won't make you sound as natural as the more expensive options listed here. It has decent noise handling, so your voice won't be drowned out in a moderately noisy place like an office.
    They have a long continuous battery life of about nine hours, so you don't need to worry about recharging in the middle of a workday.

    Their portable case holds a couple of extra charges as well. The buds have ANC and do a great job of blocking out bass-range noise like bus engine rumbles, which is handy if you have to take a call from a busy street. They're also comfortable; however, they don't have onboard volume controls, which is a little inconvenient when you're on the go.

    See our review

  4. Best Budget Earphones With A Mic

    Type In-ear

    Enclosure Closed-Back

    Wireless Truly Wireless

    Transducer Dynamic

    Noise Cancelling No

    Mic Yes

    The best earbuds with mic capability we've tested in the budget category are the TOZO T6 Truly Wireless. These affordable, truly wireless earbuds have an in-line mic that makes your voice sound reasonably clear and natural. It has alright noise handling, meaning your voice isn't drowned out by moderate noise like people chatting. They're well-built and decently comfortable once you find a good fit with the selection of differently-sized ear tips. Both the buds and their portable case feel sturdy and are rated IPX8 for resistance against being submerged in water, meaning they won't be damaged by a few accidental drops or a bit of rain.

    Unlike the EarFun Air Pro True Wireless, they don't have ANC but aren't bad at passively isolating you from office-type noise like ambient chatter. They have a bass-heavy sound profile, which makes them well-suited for genres like EDM and hip-hop. Voices also reproduce clearly and accurately. Their continuous battery life of about five hours isn't great, but their case holds four extra charges, so you can always top them up during your workday or a long trip.

    See our review

  5. Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds With A Mic

    Type In-ear

    Enclosure Closed-Back

    Wireless Truly Wireless

    Transducer Dynamic

    Noise Cancelling Yes

    Mic Yes

    The best noise cancelling earbuds with a mic we've tested are the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3. These headphones have an ANC system that blows all the other picks on this list out of the water. These headphones can block out all frequency ranges very well, which is great if you want to focus on your call. However, the trade-off is that their microphone performance isn't as good as the Sony WI-1000XM2 Wireless. Since they have an integrated mic that sits further away from your mouth than an in-line mic, your voice can be easily drowned out by ambient sound. Luckily, your voice sounds intelligible, although lacking depth and body.

    These premium buds have a decently comfortable fit and last over eight hours continuously. Their carrying case also supplies roughly three additional charges, which is handy in a pinch. Their bass-heavy default sound profile doesn't overwhelm vocals, but you can finetune their sound to your liking using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. Unfortunately, they don't support multi-device pairing, so you can't quickly switch between your smartphone and PC as audio sources.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless: The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds Truly Wireless are premium, truly wireless in-ears with a highly effective ANC system. Their integrated mic doesn't perform as well as the Sony WI-1000XM2 Wireless, and the mic especially struggles to separate your voice from ambient noise. See our review
  • JBL CLUB PRO+ TWS True Wireless: The JBL CLUB PRO+ TWS True Wireless are truly wireless earbuds that feel more premium than the Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless. However, they don't support multi-device pairing, and their continuous battery life isn't as long-lasting. See our review
  • Logitech G333: The Logitech G333 are wired earbuds meant for gaming. Their integrated mic doesn't perform as well as the Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless', but you might prefer them if you want a latency-free connection for gaming or don't want to worry about battery life. See our review
  • Turtle Beach Battle Buds: The Turtle Beach Battle Buds are wired gaming headphones that stand out from other earbuds because they have a small detachable boom mic. The mic's noise handling rivals the Sony WI-1000XM2 Wireless', but the buds seem cheap and aren't very comfortable. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Nov 04, 2022: Added the Logitech G333 to Notable Mentions.

  2. Aug 26, 2022: We've restructured this article to provide a better selection of picks that align with the market. The Jabra Elite 65t have been discontinued, and we've replaced them in this article with the Sony WI-1000XM2. We've also added the Jabra Elite 7 Pro True Wireless, which are designed with calls in mind, and the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 as a noise cancelling option.

  3. Jun 06, 2022: Added the EarFun Air Pro True Wireless as the 'Best Noise Cancelling Earbuds With A Mic'. Made the Jabra Elite 65t Truly Wireless the top pick instead of the Sony WI-1000XM2 Wireless. Moved the SteelSeries TUSQ to Notable Mentions.

  4. Apr 07, 2022: We've removed the Bose QuietComfort 20/QC20 as they've been discontinued by the manufacturer, and we've replaced them with the 1More Triple Driver.

  5. Feb 07, 2022: Checked that picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock.

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best earphones with microphone capability to buy for most people. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all earphones we've tested with a mic. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.

Which wireless earbuds have the best mic quality?

Apple AirPods Pro are the best earbuds with a quality microphone for most people. Check the AirPods Pro microphone test: AirPods Pro have a balanced sound quality throughout the frequency range, with minor elevation in the upper midrange to boost vocals.

What is the best earbuds that eliminates my background noise for the person on the other end of the call?

The Discover D714U Wired Earbuds come with a detachable noise-canceling mic that isolates your voice from the background noise. These earbuds are also specifically designed to reduce the loss in sound transfer during calls, making them the best earbuds for conference calls.

Which is the best earbuds for voice calling?

Best earbuds for phone calls at a glance:.
Sony WF-1000XM4 - best earbuds for calls overall..
Apple AirPods and AirPods 2 - solid all-around performers..
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro - best for Samsung users..
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live - most comfortable..
Jabra Elite Active 75t - best for sporty people..

Which buds have the best mic?

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro. The Galaxy Buds Pro combines great audio quality, long battery life and solid build quality in a compact package. ... .
Apple AirPods Gen 2. ... .
Sony WF-1000XM3. ... .
Bose QuietComfort. ... .
OnePlus Buds Z2. ... .
Realme Buds Q2. ... .
OnePlus Nord Buds. ... .
boAt Airdopes 441..