Top Earbud Brands: Discover Superior Sound and Style

In the burgeoning market of audio technology, a few brands consistently stand out for their quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction when it comes to wireless earbuds. Leading the pack are giants like Apple with their acclaimed AirPods, known for seamless integration with their ecosystem and stellar sound quality. Close competitors include Samsung with their Galaxy Buds, offering superior noise-cancellation features, and Sony, whose earbuds are celebrated for their exceptional audio clarity and long battery life. For a comprehensive look at the best earbud brands currently available, explore the detailed list below.

Illustration of buds

Best brands of buds in 2025

Apple

Apple remains the undisputed leader in the True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds market, maintaining a significant market share of 24% in Q1 2024, nearly tripling the share of its closest competitor, Xiaomi. In Q2 2024, Apple continued to dominate with a close to 22% market share, almost tripling Samsung's 7.8% share. The company sold 75 million AirPods in 2023, solidifying its position as a major player in the wireless earbuds segment. Apple's strategic pricing and innovative features have helped the company navigate market challenges and maintain its commanding position. The TWS segment, led by Apple, saw a 12.6% annual growth in Q2 2024.

Sony

Sony is a leading brand in the personal audio market, particularly notable for its innovative and high-quality wireless earbuds and headphones. In Q2 2024, Sony maintained a significant market share of 3.7% in the global smart personal audio market, with shipments of 4 million units. The company recently introduced the INZONE Buds, which offer personalized sound, 12 hours of battery life, and low latency, catering to the gaming community. Sony's focus on premium sound quality helps the brand dominate the high-end segment of the market. With a strong presence in various regions, Sony continues to enhance its product offerings through strategic partnerships and technological advancements.

Samsung

Samsung has solidified its position as a leading producer of true wireless earbuds, with the Galaxy Buds Pro and Galaxy Buds 2 driving significant sales growth. In 2021, Samsung's market share in the TWS segment increased from 6.7% to 7.2%, outpacing the market's 24% year-on-year growth. The company's strategic launches and aggressive marketing contributed to its success, particularly in the high-end $100+ TWS segment where Samsung held a 17% market share in Q1 2021. Despite Apple's dominance, Samsung's upward trajectory suggests it could soon challenge Xiaomi for the second spot in the global TWS market. Samsung's innovative products have helped the company narrow the gap with its competitors.

Bose

Bose is a leading brand in the audio equipment market, particularly renowned for its high-quality noise-canceling headphones and earbuds. In 2023, Bose held the 3rd largest market share in the U.S. headphones sector with 12.5% of the market, and it secured a 5th position globally in the smart speakers market with a 16% market share. The company launched the QuietComfort 50 SE in 2023, enhancing sound quality, battery life, and comfort. Bose aims to reduce its carbon and energy emissions by 42% by 2030 and successfully recycled 90% of its waste in 2023. Its online store, bose.com, generated $204.6 million in 2023 and saw 4 million visits in March 2024.

Sennheiser

Sennheiser, a renowned German audio brand, has solidified its position as a leading producer of high-quality audio solutions, particularly in the professional audio market. In 2022, the company achieved a 26% increase in sales of professional audio solutions, reaching EUR467.7 million, and continued this growth in 2023 with revenue of approximately $527.2 million. The Americas region saw the most dynamic growth, with a 41.1% increase in sales to EUR177.8 million in 2022. Sennheiser's focus on professional audio has driven significant growth, especially in regions like Northern and Eastern Europe, where sales rose by 36.4% to EUR63.3 million in 2023. The company's commitment to innovation is evident in its R&D investments, with EUR46 million spent in 2023 and nine new patents registered. For more insights into Sennheiser's achievements, visit their newsroom.

Jabra

Jabra, although exiting the consumer audio market, has been renowned for its high-quality wireless earbuds and headsets, particularly in the professional sector where it holds around 50% of the global market share in professional headsets. Their Elite and Talk product lines, though being wound down, have featured advanced technologies like Spatial Sound and active noise cancellation, with models such as the Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 and Elite 8 Active Gen 2 receiving praise for their performance. Jabra's products have been favored by many Fortune 500 companies, and their earbuds have been noted for their superior microphone performance and call-centric features. Despite struggling in the consumer market, Jabra's technology has enabled seamless connectivity for both work and personal use. The APAC region, which accounts for 37% of the global consumption of earbuds, has been a significant market for Jabra's products.

Beats by Dre

Beats by Dre, founded in 2006 by Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, has established itself as a leading audio brand, particularly in the true wireless earphones market. Following its acquisition by Apple in 2014, Beats has continued to innovate, with its Beats Studio Buds and Beats Fit Pro earphones driving a 553% year-on-year growth in demand in Q1 2022. This significant growth helped Apple secure a combined 31.8% global market share in true wireless earphones, with Beats targeting a broader user base, including Android smartphone owners. Beats products are known for their premium sound quality and stylish design, making them a popular choice among music enthusiasts. The brand's success is evident in its substantial market share and continued innovation in the audio industry.

Google

Google's Pixel brand has been making significant strides in the US smartphone market, despite some fluctuations. In 2023, Google Pixel achieved a market share of 4.6%, up from 3.6% in 2022, placing it in the fourth position ahead of TCL. Although the brand experienced a drop in shipments by 13.6% year-over-year, it still managed to grow its market presence. Recent data shows that Google's market share dipped but then rebounded, indicating ongoing demand for Pixel phones. This growth suggests Google's efforts are paying off, even if it still lags behind Apple and Samsung. For those looking to enhance their Pixel experience, explore Google Pixel Buds Pro to complement your device.

Anker

Anker's SoundCore brand has emerged as a significant player in the wireless audio market, particularly in the true wireless earbuds segment. With a strategic focus on middle and low pricing ranges, SoundCore has successfully tapped into a segment of consumers seeking affordable yet quality true wireless earphones. This approach has helped SoundCore achieve a top 3 market share in their category, notably on platforms like Amazon. The brand's products are favored by consumers and even Grammy-winning artists, contributing to its robust growth. In the broader wireless audio device market, which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.99% from 2024 to 2032, SoundCore's presence is increasingly prominent.

Bang & Olufsen

Bang & Olufsen is renowned for producing high-quality audio products, including the exceptional Beoplay EX wireless earbuds, which excel in sound quality, noise cancellation, and design. Since 1925, the company has been a pioneer in audio innovation, with a century of firsts in home entertainment and audio technology. The Beoplay EX features 9.2mm Neodymium speaker drivers, Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, and support for advanced audio codecs like aptX Adaptive. These earbuds are praised for their immersive sound and effective ANC performance, despite being on the higher end of the price spectrum at $399. Bang & Olufsen's commitment to quality and innovation has made them a leader in the premium audio market. For more detailed analysis, read the TechRadar review of Beoplay EX.