Industry-Leading Hi-Res Sound and Smarter Noise Cancellation Make These the Best Earbuds to Buy in 2026
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Whether you need to drown out the cacophony of your commute or find a slice of silence when working from home, earbuds are the more discreet answer to headphones. For the 2026 Men's Journal Tech Awards, I set out to find the best pairs across a multitude of categories, whether you prioritize noise cancellation, sound, durability for workouts, or a budget buy.
While comfort is subjective and most options come with a variety of silicone ear tips to dial in the fit, I still prioritized earbuds that were stable in-ear, comfortable over hours of use, and provided a proper seal to optimize sound. Sound quality was a major point of emphasis, as was sound modes and noise cancellation to adapt to various environments, battery life, and value.
During testing, the pair that reigned supreme, earning top scores across the board, was the Sony WF-1000XM5. They boast superior active noise cancellation, a seamless and subtle design, and high-resolution sound quality. If you're in the market for a stellar all-around pick, here's the case for Sony's powerhouse.
Why Sony WF-1000XM5 Are the Best Wireless Earbuds of 2026
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When Sony was planning out the WF-1000XM5, it’s almost as if it was reading my wishlist for the ideal earbuds. Great sound, solid noise cancellation and a sleek, comfortable design are a given. It’s the attention to detail, both with performance and features that cement these as the buds to buy this year. For an in-ear headphone, the WF-1000XM5 delivers surprisingly rich, characteristic audio, I particularly like it with pop, rock and hip-hop. I enjoy the bass response and vocals sound bright without my ears feeling tired after using them for a few hours in a cafe. During jaunts around town heading to meetings, the unpredictable noise downtown mostly faded away, thanks to a dedicated chip that allows for more reactive real-time noise cancellation.
There’s also a bit of a party-trick called “Adaptive Sound Control”—the headphones are smart enough to know when I’m done with my school run and I’m heading out for a run, automatically turning off noise cancellation and activating transparency mode. Configuring when and how this mode activates in the companion app was simple enough. Though these are not pitched as fitness buds, they’re one of the better-fitting earbuds I’ve tried and come with a good range of tip sizes that should sit tight in most ears. Battery life is a decent eight hours with ANC activated, but I can eke out a bit more when I don't need it and the charging case can extend use to around 24 hours before I need to reach for the charging cable.
Sony WF-1000XM5 Specs
- Noise Cancellation & Audio Tech: Dual processors (Integrated Processor V2 + QN2e) with advanced ANC, 8.4mm dynamic drivers, DSEE Extreme upscaling, 360 Reality Audio support, LDAC high-res codec
- Battery Life: Up to 8 hours with ANC on (12 hours off); ~24 hours total with case; 3-minute quick charge = ~1 hour playback; Qi wireless charging supported
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint pairing; supports SBC, AAC, LDAC, and LC3 codecs
- Durability: IPX4 water resistance; redesigned smaller, lighter buds (5.9g each) with foam ear tips for improved seal
- Smart Features & Controls: Touch controls, Speak-to-Chat, adaptive ambient mode, head tracking, and deep EQ customization via Sony Headphones Connect app
How I Tested the Best Earbuds of 2026
For this story, I aimed to cast as wide a net as possible across multiple audio technologies, form factors, brands, price points, and user needs. To test out everything from detail and instrument separation to bass fidelity and mid-range clarity, I played the same tracks from a number of music genres. Comfort and fit were considered, but everyone’s ears are different, so I didn’t opine too heavily on these aspects.
Why You Should Trust Me
I’ve reviewed consumer products and covered music, movies, and technology, including for Men’s Journal—for more than two decades, including several years focused mainly on earbuds and headphones. I've worked remotely throughout my career on and off and travel constantly for work. As such, I always need quality earbuds and headphones. I’ve followed the progress of audio and wireless technology from the turn of the millennium to today’s magically compressed and decompressed hi-res wireless music.