True Wireless Headphones Buying Guide

What are true wireless headphones?
The “true” in true wireless earphones means there is no cable connection between the two earbuds, aka the earbuds. Like other headphones, the in-ears come as a pair, consisting of two parts that you slip into your ears to communicate and sync wirelessly. They’re now the industry standard, replacing previous wireless headphone models that used a cable to connect the two earbuds. While you may still see a few, they are far from common as fewer and fewer manufacturers continue to make them.

True wireless headphones use Bluetooth to wirelessly pair and connect to the device you use to stream audio/video content, such as a smartphone, tablet, computer or game console. Since all connections are wireless, there is no need to plug in, which adds convenience and reduces their overall footprint.

The only time you’ll use the cable is when plugged into the charging case, which has its own battery that also charges the earbuds when you put them in. Since the battery in the case has several times the capacity of the headphones themselves, it can be fully charged multiple times before you need to plug the case in again and recharge.

As long as the earphones are in the case, they charge from the battery in the case itself until it’s fully charged. This helps keep the headphones fully charged and ready to play when you need to take them out and put them in your ears.

Why Choose True Wireless Headphones?
We all know that true wireless earphones can make life easier, so let’s take a closer look at the benefits and advantages they bring over wired earphones.

The headphone jack is missing
The headphone jack is still a common interface on laptops and tablets, but less so on smartphones, where it’s largely disappeared from the most popular brands and their devices. However, Bluetooth is a standard feature on all of these devices, making compatibility far less of an issue.

just right
True wireless headphones set you free. No need to untangle tangled headphone cables or deal with wires that get tangled in your stuff. They usually come with different sized ear tips or wings, so you can experiment with whichever is most comfortable and stable. Since the earbuds and charging case are usually small and portable, they’re also easier to slip into a bag or pocket when you’re on the go.

Tuck the earbuds into your ears so they fit seamlessly into your everyday life, whether it’s casual or during activity, like running or exercising. In doing so, you can easily carry the case in your pocket so you don’t have to bundle cables together, and you can also tuck the earphones away when you don’t need to listen to them.

It also means you can be very discreet because they don’t have to interfere with yourself. They will slide under your hair and should not get in the way of your glasses, hat or protective mask. Wear them on your commute, at the office, or at work—their versatility is unmatched by other types of headphones.

Big sound in a small package
Despite their small size, true wireless earphones pack a real punch when it comes to audio quality. They are constantly improving, thanks to innovative improvements that continue to improve sound clarity, and these improvements can come in various forms. One possibility is a Bluetooth codec supported by a pair of true wireless headphones, especially if they include headphones capable of playing high-resolution audio (aptX HD, LDAC, LHDC). But these codecs alone don’t make headphones play well. This comes down to a variety of factors, starting with whether they fit your ears, to how the manufacturer tunes them to play, and where the audio is coming from.

Manufacturers often support their true wireless earbuds with an app that allows you to customize certain settings. This sometimes includes an equalizer (EQ), which adjusts the tuning to produce a sound more suited to a particular genre of music or spoken content, such as podcasts or audiobooks.

Productivity and Multitasking
True wireless headphones can do two things at once: listen to music while you work, and answer calls when they come in. With noise cancellation or ambient mode, you can block out everything to focus and collaborate with colleagues without distractions. Whether on your computer or tablet, keep your headset on during video and conference calls.

There are true wireless earbuds that support so-called “multipoint,” a feature that allows the earbuds to connect to two devices at once. You can use your laptop to listen to music, and use your mobile phone to answer calls at any time.