One of the best headphones for working in 2025

Connectivity: Wi-fi | Fashion: In-ear with wingtip | Assistant help: Google Assistant, Siri | Water resistance: IPX4 | Energetic noise cancellation: Sure | Battery life: As much as six hours

Learn our full evaluation of the Beats Match Professional

The Beats Match Professional got here out on the head of the pack due to their snug, safe design, good sound high quality and transparency mode and basic ease of use, amongst different issues. As Billy detailed in his evaluation, the Match Professional’s wingtip design units them other than different Beats earbuds and makes them significantly good for working and different exercises. The buds are pretty small and light-weight, and the wingtip on every is versatile sufficient to hug your ear snugly with out an excessive amount of stress. This helps them really feel safer if you’re shifting round lots, be it throughout a morning jog or whereas taking a HIIT class. The buds are additionally rated IPX4 — not the best degree of safety out of every little thing I examined, however sufficient for even my sweatiest periods.

Because it had been, the Beats Match Professional stayed put throughout each single run and exercise. Nevertheless, adjusting their place on the fly can result in certainly one of my few gripes: unintended presses of the onboard controls. There have been numerous occasions once I went to maneuver a bud and I ended up pausing my music within the course of as a result of the buttons are really easy to set off. Whereas I do choose the tactile suggestions of a bodily button versus the contact controls on different earbuds, Beats ought to have modified their place on the buds or made them a bit tougher to totally have interaction.

Sound high quality is stable and, due to its punchy bass and general steadiness, is particularly appropriate for exercising. Spatial audio help is nice to have, and whereas Adaptive EQ means you possibly can’t tweak the EQ your self like you possibly can with different buds, it does make for constantly good audio high quality. It’s additionally one much less factor to play with out of the field, which I count on many individuals will admire; these earbuds are a real unbox-and-go possibility.

ANC can be nice on the Beats Match Professional, however transparency mode is what actually shines. Like I stated, full ANC will be harmful if you’re working outdoors, whether or not you’re in the midst of a metropolis or on a path. It pays to have the ability to hear what’s happening round you, at the very least somewhat bit, and the Match Professional’s transparency mode was one of the best out of the earbuds I attempted. Much like Apple’s AirPods Professional, it sounded extra pure than on our runner-up choose, and it’s straightforward to activate or off both with onboard buttons or from the management panel in your iOS or Android smartphone.

Talking of, the Beats Match Professional works significantly effectively with iPhones due to the built-in H1 chip, however Android customers can obtain the companion app to entry issues like fast pairing, management customizations and a battery standing indicator. I didn’t get into element in regards to the setup course of as a result of, effectively, there isn’t a lot of 1. As quickly as you unbox the Match Professional and open the case, the H1 chip communicates with iPhones and different iOS gadgets to virtually immediately pair the buds and get them prepared to be used.

I’ll say, although, that I used to be shocked by one factor once I unboxed the Match Professional: how low cost their charging case feels. Whereas it supplies an additional 21 hours on high of the buds’ promised six hours of life, the construct high quality of the case itself appears like an actual step down in comparison with the buds themselves. Some charging instances on a lot cheaper options felt extra substantial than the Beats Match Professional’s, however I acknowledge that it gained’t deter most individuals (together with me). Apart from that and the contact controls, the Beats Match Professional provides a whole package deal for runners and different athletes alike, one which can be utilized all day, not simply throughout coaching periods. Plus, their customary $200 worth isn’t too cost-prohibitive, and so they can usually be discovered on sale for much less.

Connectivity: Wi-fi | Fashion: In-ear| Assistant help: Siri, Google Assistant | Water resistance: IP68 | Energetic noise cancellation: Sure | Battery life: As much as eight hours

The Jabra Elite 8 Energetic virtually bested the Beats Match Professional, however in the end the latter gained due to their wingtip design and extra natural-sounding transparency mode. However except for these two issues, the Elite 8 Energetic are simply pretty much as good, if not higher than, the Match Professional.

At the start, the Elite 8 Energetic has one of many highest sturdiness scores of any earbuds we examined. Rated IP68, it’s protected towards all types of mud and particles and it’ll survive being submerged in water at excessive stress. Jabra additionally subjected the Elite 8 Energetic to military-grade testing, defending them from extreme humidity, excessive temperature, rain and altitude. That is extra safety than most individuals want, however it can doubtless give some folks peace of thoughts to know that these buds can take a beating. For runners, you gained’t have to fret for those who get caught in a sudden downpour throughout your ultimate mile.

That additional safety doesn’t make the Elite 8 Energetic cumbersome or unattractive as one would possibly assume. These buds are among the most snug I attempted, with a light-weight design and a safe match. The soft-touch end on the buds themselves and their charging case provides a degree of luxurious that the majority others I examined didn’t have, too. There are onboard controls as effectively, and so they’re not as liable to unintended presses as these on the Beats Match Professional.

As certainly one of Jabra’s dearer gadgets, the Elite 8 Energetic have an ideal sound profile out of the field however for those who choose, you should utilize the corporate’s app to tweak the EQ utilizing a line graph that spans bass, mid and treble. You can too save personalized presets. The app provides six preconfigured settings, and I discovered myself utilizing Bass Increase and Energize most whereas exercising (they’re fairly comparable with robust bass, however Energize emphasizes highs a bit extra). These personalization choices will give the Elite 8 Energetic an edge over the Beats Match Professional for some. On high of all that, Jabra’s buds help spatial sound with Dolby Audio.

The Elite 8 Energetic provide adaptive noise cancellation, and so they do job of analyzing your surroundings and blocking out interferences. “HearThrough” is Jabra’s model of transparency mode, and it’s helpful when working outdoors in a metropolis or an space with a number of visitors even when it’s not as natural-sounding as the identical mode on the Beats Match Professional. Jabra’s is designed to neutralize wind noise whereas additionally letting you keep conscious of your environment, so you possibly can hear your podcasts regardless of how gusty the surroundings. I ran in some significantly windy climate whereas testing these out, and I had constantly good listening experiences with each HearThrough and ANC activated.

As for battery life, the Elite 8 Energetic will get eight hours on a cost with ANC on, and a further 24 hours within the charging case. You’ll be able to stand up to 56 hours of whole use for those who’re not utilizing ANC, which is exceptional. The case additionally feels extra substantial than that of the Beats Match Professional, and you’ll wirelessly cost it (a characteristic that’s omitted on Beats’ buds).

Finally, the Beats Match Professional and the Jabra Elite 8 Energetic are neck and neck in our high picks record. However whereas the Jabras provide a bit extra customization and extra sturdiness, not everybody will want these bonuses. Nevertheless, for those who’re an athlete who likes to mess around with sound profiles otherwise you need among the most sturdy wi-fi earbuds accessible at present, the Jabra Elite 8 Energetic are those to get.

Connectivity: Wi-fi | Fashion: In-ear | Assistant help: Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant | Water resistance: IP57 | Energetic noise cancellation: Sure | Battery life: As much as seven hours

The Jabra Elite 4 Energetic provide one of the best worth for the cash of any pair of earbuds on our record. For $120, you get an IP57-rated design, stable sound high quality with adjustable EQ, good ANC, the identical HearThrough transparency mode because the Elite 8 Energetic, app connectivity and a complete of 28 hours of battery life. These had been among the best buds for me to “choose up and go” with, whether or not it was for an impromptu stroll across the block, a sweaty HIIT session in my basement or an hour of labor throughout which I actually wanted to dam out distractions and get issues performed.

Just like the Elite 8 Energetic, the Elite 4 Energetic is tremendous snug and Jabra has actually gotten the onboard controls proper on this collection. The buttons usually are not really easy to press that you just by accident set off them everytime you regulate the match, and so they present satisfying suggestions if you really do press them. Sound high quality and ANC are spectacular, and I principally by no means needed to fear about working out of battery earlier than I believed to myself, hey, you would possibly wish to high these up.

The principle variations between the Elite 4 Energetic and the more-expensive Elite 8 Energetic are that the latter have a better IP ranking, spatial sound help with Dolby Audio, an extended general battery life (56 hours with the charging case), voice steerage and that satisfying soft-touch end. The IP ranking and prolonged battery life are the 2 essential options that might compel some to splurge on the Elite 8 Energetic as a substitute. Additionally, spatial audio is good if in case you have the buds semi-permanently positioned in your ears always pumping out tunes, whatever the exercise. In any other case, although, you’re getting a ton of wonderful options with these $120 earbuds.

Connectivity: Wi-fi | Fashion: In-ear with hook | Assistant help: None | Water resistance: IP55 | Energetic noise cancellation: No | Battery life: As much as eight hours

In case you have lower than $50 to spend, you possibly can’t go improper with the $30 JLab Go Air Sport. I didn’t have excessive expectations going into testing these, however I used to be shortly impressed by their match and sound high quality. A number of gadgets billed as workout-friendly headphones have this hook that wraps across the high of your ear, and on the Go Air Sport it does assist hold issues securely hooked up to your head. The hooks on these buds particularly are fairly versatile and have a soft-touch end, which makes them extra cozy (I attempted just a few equally designed buds with a lot stiffer hooks that had been a ache in additional methods than one.) Admittedly, a hook design will take some getting used to for those who’re new to it, nevertheless it’s a surefire strategy to get somewhat additional stability throughout intense exercises.

Sound high quality is fairly good on these buds as effectively, though not almost as balanced because the Jabra Elite 8 Energetic or the Beats Match Professional. I additionally admire that you could cycle by way of three totally different EQ modes — Signature, Balanced and Bass Increase — utilizing the onboard controls. There’s no app to fuss with, and that was a pleasant change of tempo for me after largely testing buds with some form of software program controls.

You’ll be able to count on eight hours of playtime on the Go Air Sport, plus one other 24 hours of battery life with its charging case. Whereas the USB-A cable constructed into the underside of the case is helpful, actually must be a USB-C connector as a substitute. The case can be on the cumbersome facet; you possibly can nonetheless throw it right into a backpack or purse simply, nevertheless it’s not as svelte as instances you’ll see with dearer buds.

Connectivity: Wi-fi | Fashion: Open-ear | Assistant help: None | Water resistance: IP54 | Energetic noise cancellation: No | Battery life: As much as seven hours

I used to be apprehensive about making an attempt open-ear headphones, particularly whereas working. However the Shokz OpenFit pleasantly shocked me from the primary time I put them on. Earbuds with open designs like this permit for extra situational consciousness, with the aim being to let noise in reasonably than block it out. The OpenFits do an ideal job of this with out skimping on sound high quality or consolation.

The buds themselves virtually float over your ear cavern and Shokz’s soft-finish “dolphin arc” hook is versatile sufficient to securely wrap across the high of your ear with out placing an excessive amount of stress on it. There’s a bud-like portion on the different finish of the hook that acts as counterbalance, leading to a dependable match that by no means faltered throughout all kinds of actions together with working, energy coaching and indoor biking. Granted, none of these workouts contain shaking your head an excessive amount of; possibly don’t put on the OpenFit to take heed to head-banging loss of life metallic (for those who can’t management your self).

Sound high quality is stable contemplating the design, and the OpenFit will get fairly loud as effectively. These buds have Shokz’s Direct Pitch expertise, which makes use of reverse sound waves to optimize the space and angle to your ear canal. The corporate claims this helps scale back sound leakage. In my testing, I discovered that true to a sure extent. The OpenFit had one of the best sound high quality and general quantity out of the entire open-ear gadgets I attempted, however for those who crank the quantity as much as the max (or shut), the particular person subsequent to you’ll positively hear what you’re listening to.

As I alluded to beforehand, these aren’t for anybody who needs to dam the world out throughout train (or in any other case). However the OpenFit may be the best choice for individuals who stay in cities or anybody who always runs outdoors amongst visitors, pedestrians and different hazards. There’s no query that you just’ll hear what’s happening round you and that may be essential to conserving your self protected on these streets.