Best Bluetooth Headphones 2022: In-Ear Models

In-ear headphones are also known as earphones or earbuds: their housing sits in the auricle or in the ear canal. With active noise canceling (ANC) or without, with a neckband or true wireless – we present a selection of good models with a wireless connection via Bluetooth.

Sony Linkbuds S

GIGA tip You can simply rely on Sony: Even if the Japanese manufacturer doesn’t always make the best decisions – every now and then it works and then everything just fits. I criticized the WF-1000XM3 at the time because the housings are large and protrude from the ears. In the meantime, some development time has passed and Sony has started with the Linkbuds S (view at MediaMarkt) a pronounced compact and lightweight Pair of true wireless in-ears at the start.

In addition to a practically plastic-free packaging, there is also recycled plastics for the earphones – a small but positive contribution to sustainability. This does not detract from the value, the Linkbuds S feel good and look chic.

The sound is balanced and unobtrusive, but I still lowered the treble a bit and boosted the bass in the equalizer of the associated mobile phone app – that comes a little closer to my personal taste when listening on the go. Not an audiophile experience to jump at, but a solid performance.

Ambient noise is effectively blocked, on the one hand because of the good seat already offers a certain passive shielding in the ear, on the other hand because the electronic noise cancelling helps effectively. The battery life of up to 6 hours is more than sufficient. With the Linksbuds S, Sony has succeeded in creating an almost unconditionally recommendable product from the upper middle class of headphones.

Advantages:

• Compact design, particularly light (4.8 grams)
• High wearing comfort
• Good noise canceling (ANC)

Disadvantages:

• Sound lacks a bit of spatiality

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro

In the list of the best in-ear headphones the Stiftung Warentest is currently the true wireless model Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro (look at Saturn) on one of the top spots. The overall grade is 1.9 (“good”), for the sound there was even a 1.6 (“good”) – see Stiftung Warentest, Edition 11/2021. The suitability as sports headphones is emphasized, as the fit in the ear is very good.

GIGA has also extensively tested the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro model:

Our author Peter Hryciuk comes to the Overall grade 8.3 out of 10 points. He liked the compact design, the successful noise canceling and the balanced sound. However, the battery life (approx. 4 hours per charge) is only average and even as a headset for making calls, these true wireless headphones cannot clearly set themselves apart from the competition. All in all, a solid performance from the Korean manufacturer.

Advantages:

• good sound
• Secure fit in the ears, also suitable for athletes

Disadvantages:

• Battery life average
• Telephony function could be better

Beat’s Flex

Inexpensive Bluetooth headphones are available in unmanageable numbers. The model is from the Beats brand, which belongs to the Apple group Beat’s Flex (view at Amazon) extremely interesting – for both iOS and Android users. Technically, you get a genuine branded product with robust workmanship and solid sound quality, which is definitely suitable for everyday use.

The retail price recently rose to around 70 euros – but if you keep your eyes open, you can find the Beats Flex here and there for 50 euros. A real one at that price price tip.

What I personally noticed: The Beats Flex is very good as Headset for phone calls to use. Even more expensive (true wireless) headphones with a dull sound and poor connection fail in this discipline – but the Beats Flex has proven to be reliable and practical. More on this in our detailed test report:

Advantages:

• Rich sound with deep bass and rounded highs
• Good sound quality when making calls (headset function)

Disadvantages:

• Not dust, water and sweat proof (no IPX certification)
• No noise canceling

Beats Fit Pro

With the Powerbeats Pro (2019), the US brand Beats was able to create a pioneering wireless sports headphones place in the market (see GIGA test). The spiritual successor is much more compact and has been technically updated in many places. the Beats Fit Pro (check it out at Coolblue) live up to their name because they fit extremely well in almost every ear. I only know of a few true wireless headphones that are so secure and so comfortable in the ear cups at the same time. through small silicone wings fast head movements don’t matter either.

The Beats Fit Pro has already been described in the trade press as “the better AirPods Pro” – I agree with this assessment in many respects. That noise cancelling is very good, the sound quality is convincing, as is the battery life (up to 6 hours with ANC). There are also Apple features such as 3D Audio (Dolby Atmos) and the on-the-fly changes between players (similar to Multipoint Bluetooth) – the only argument against a purchase is that these two functions are not available under Android. It’s also a pity that the case is comparatively clumsy. Otherwise, it is certainly one of the best models in the Beats portfolio.

Advantages:

• Consistently designed for sport with a secure fit
• Useful functions (ANC, 3D audio etc.)

Disadvantages:

• Full range of functions only on iOS, some features are missing on Android
• Relatively large transport case

Sony WF-1000XM4

If compromises aren’t an option when it comes to sound quality, then they are Sony WF-1000XM4 the right choice. Rich bass, natural mids and crystal-clear highs – everything is just right here. In addition, there is very good noise canceling, so that the Sonys are the ideal companions on train and plane trips.

The fiddly touch operation and the somewhat clumsy wearing comfort didn’t quite convince me. More on this in the detailed test report:

Advantages:

• Fantastic sound quality
• Very good noise canceling (ANC)
• Useful app

Disadvantages:

• Comfort is mediocre

Nothing Ear (1)

In the run-up to the new product from OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, a hype was sparked that could be written in a marketing textbook. We now know that the mysterious gadget is a true wireless headset, like there are already hundreds on the market – at least from a purely technical point of view. But a small unique selling point catches the eye as soon as you unpack it: the housing of the “Nothing Ear (1)“ (view at Amazon) are partly transparent.

That alone extraordinary design might be a legitimate reason to buy. Where the Beats brand once stood for the ultimate lifestyle headphones, over the years there has been space for new and fresher designs. The Nothing with the Ear (1) confidently jumps to exactly this point. Sound and functions are just standard fare – neither audiophiles nor technology enthusiasts will jump for joy. But when it comes to a fashion (techwear) statement, there is hardly a way around the futuristic Nothing Ear (1).

Advantages:

• Good value for money
• Useful noise canceling
• Successful design

Disadvantages:

• Sound just average
• Ambient sound mode is noisy

Nura Nuratrue

There are only a few headphones that make use of the latest technology and take into account the individual hearing ability of the user with clever functions. A good example of the use of modern software is the Nuratrue by Nura (look at Cyberport). In a few seconds, via smartphone app personal hearing profile created – completely automatically and without question-answer game (“Do you hear this sound?”).

Specifically: If headphones and speakers often sound too dull for you, your hearing at high frequencies could deviate from the average or be impaired in some way. The Nuratrue recognizes such “handicaps” and compensates for them through calibration – the (constant) use of the equalizer is no longer necessary, everything just sounds much clearer now.

The smartphone app (for iOS and Android) is well made and allows not only the creation of several sound profiles but also the free assignment of the touch buttons. I find it incomprehensible that it is necessary to register with Nura – this is also possible with other manufacturers without a login.

But you shouldn’t do without the app, because without an activated sound profile, the Nuratrue’s sound seems tinny and lifeless, but with (m)a personal profile it’s clean and musical. The highs are a touch overemphasized, which can become tiring over time – on the other hand, this characteristic gives the music one strong presence and liveliness. The immersion mode, which raises the bass, is great – always well integrated into the overall situation. Nothing special to report when it comes to noise canceling and headset use: Good average, but no place at the top. Conclusion: Striking design and in the truest sense of the word unique sound – the Nuratrue might be the headphone you’ve been looking for forever.

Advantages:

• Individual sound measurement
• Versatile app

Disadvantages:

• Large housing
• Compulsory login to the app

This is how we selected the recommendations

I’ve been passionate about headphones for over 20 years, and I’ve tried almost all of the Bluetooth headphones discussed here extensively myself. For some of the products you will also find detailed test reports on GIGA, which are linked to the respective model. The test samples were made available to us by the manufacturers. Current and popular headphone models are also presented here, which have received special praise from the press and customers and are therefore recommended for purchase.

How we test at GIGA and why you trust our judgement we have explained here:

General tips and answers to the most frequently asked questions about headphones can be found in the guide:

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