The perfect headphones for working in 2024

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

Learn our full assessment of the Beats Match Professional

The Beats Match Professional got here out on the head of the pack due to their comfy, safe design, good sound high quality and transparency mode and normal ease of use, amongst different issues. As Billy detailed in his assessment, the Match Professional’s wingtip design units them aside from different Beats earbuds and makes them significantly good for working and different exercises. The buds are pretty small and lightweight, 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 once you’re transferring round quite a bit, be it throughout a morning jog or whereas taking a HIIT class. The buds are additionally rated IPX4 — not the very best degree of safety out of all the pieces I examined, however sufficient for even my sweatiest classes.

Because it had been, the Beats Match Professional stayed put throughout each single run and exercise. Nonetheless, adjusting their place on the fly can result in one in all my few gripes: unintended presses of the onboard controls. There have been plenty of instances after 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 desire 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 more durable to totally interact.

Sound high quality is stable and, due to its punchy bass and total steadiness, is very appropriate for exercising. Spatial audio assist is nice to have, and whereas Adaptive EQ means you may’t tweak the EQ your self like you may 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 anticipate many individuals will recognize; these earbuds are a real unbox-and-go possibility.

ANC can also be nice on the Beats Match Professional, however transparency mode is what actually shines. Like I stated, full ANC could be harmful once you’re working exterior, whether or not you’re in the course of a metropolis or on a path. It pays to have the ability to hear what’s occurring round you, a minimum of slightly bit, and the Match Professional’s transparency mode was the perfect 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 simple 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 nicely 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 concerning the setup course of as a result of, nicely, 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 nearly immediately pair the buds and get them prepared to be used.

I’ll say, although, that I used to be stunned by one factor after I unboxed the Match Professional: how low cost their charging case feels. Whereas it supplies an additional 21 hours on prime of the buds’ promised six hours of life, the construct high quality of the case itself seems like an actual step down in comparison with the buds themselves. Some charging instances on a lot inexpensive 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 affords a whole package deal for runners and different athletes alike, one which can be utilized all day, not simply throughout coaching classes. Plus, their customary $200 value isn’t too cost-prohibitive, and so they can usually be discovered on sale for much less.

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

The Jabra Elite 8 Energetic nearly bested the Beats Match Professional, however finally the latter gained due to their wingtip design and extra natural-sounding transparency mode. However other than these two issues, the Elite 8 Energetic are simply nearly as good, if not higher than, the Match Professional.

Before everything, the Elite 8 Energetic has one of many highest sturdiness scores of any earbuds we examined. Rated IP68, it’s protected in opposition to every kind 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’ll probably give some folks peace of thoughts to know that these buds can take a beating. For runners, you gained’t have to fret if you happen to get caught in a sudden downpour throughout your last mile.

That further safety doesn’t make the Elite 8 Energetic cumbersome or unattractive as one may assume. These buds are a number of the most comfy 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 nicely, and so they’re not as susceptible to unintended presses as these on the Beats Match Professional.

As one in all Jabra’s dearer gadgets, the Elite 8 Energetic have an awesome sound profile out of the field however if you happen to desire, you should utilize the corporate’s app to tweak the EQ utilizing a line graph that spans bass, mid and treble. You too can save personalized presets. The app affords six preconfigured settings, and I discovered myself utilizing Bass Increase and Energize most whereas exercising (they’re fairly related 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 prime of all that, Jabra’s buds assist spatial sound with Dolby Audio.

The Elite 8 Energetic provide adaptive noise cancellation, and so they do a great job of analyzing your atmosphere and blocking out interferences. “HearThrough” is Jabra’s model of transparency mode, and it’s helpful when working exterior in a metropolis or an space with a lot 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 may hear your podcasts irrespective of how gusty the atmosphere. 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 complete use if you happen to’re not utilizing ANC, which is outstanding. The case additionally feels extra substantial than that of the Beats Match Professional, and you may wirelessly cost it (a characteristic that’s not noted on Beats’ buds).

Finally, the Beats Match Professional and the Jabra Elite 8 Energetic are neck and neck in our prime picks record. However whereas the Jabras provide a bit extra customization and extra sturdiness, not everybody will want these bonuses. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re an athlete who likes to mess around with sound profiles otherwise you need a number of the most sturdy wi-fi earbuds out there as we speak, the Jabra Elite 8 Energetic are those to get.

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

The Jabra Elite 4 Energetic provide the perfect 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 a number of 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 finished.

Just like the Elite 8 Energetic, the Elite 4 Energetic is tremendous comfy and Jabra has actually gotten the onboard controls proper on this sequence. The buttons are usually not really easy to press that you simply unintentionally set off them everytime you regulate the match, and so they present satisfying suggestions once you truly 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 assumed to myself, hey, you may need to prime 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 score, spatial sound assist with Dolby Audio, an extended total battery life (56 hours with the charging case), voice steerage and that satisfying soft-touch end. The IP score and prolonged battery life are the 2 principal options that might compel some to splurge on the Elite 8 Energetic as a substitute. Additionally, spatial audio is sweet you probably 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 fantastic options with these $120 earbuds.

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

If in case you have lower than $50 to spend, you may’t go incorrect 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 lot of gadgets billed as workout-friendly headphones have this hook that wraps across the prime of your ear, and on the Go Air Sport it does assist preserve 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 comfortable (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 if you happen to’re new to it, however it’s a surefire option to get slightly further stability throughout intense exercises.

Sound high quality is fairly good on these buds as nicely, though not almost as balanced because the Jabra Elite 8 Energetic or the Beats Match Professional. I additionally recognize you can cycle by 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 principally testing buds with some type of software program controls.

You’ll be able to anticipate 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 (it’s the 12 months 2024, in spite of everything). The case can also be on the cumbersome facet; you may nonetheless throw it right into a backpack or purse simply, however it’s not as svelte as instances you’ll see with dearer buds.

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

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

The buds themselves nearly float over your ear cavern and Shokz’s soft-finish “dolphin arc” hook is versatile sufficient to securely wrap across the prime 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 types of actions together with working, energy coaching and indoor biking. Granted, none of these workout routines contain shaking your head an excessive amount of; perhaps don’t put on the OpenFit to hearken to head-banging loss of life metallic (if you happen to can’t management your self).

Sound high quality is stable contemplating the design, and the OpenFit will get fairly loud as nicely. These buds have Shokz’s Direct Pitch know-how, which makes use of reverse sound waves to optimize the gap and angle to your ear canal. The corporate claims this helps cut back sound leakage. In my testing, I discovered that true to a sure extent. The OpenFit had the perfect sound high quality and total quantity out of all the open-ear gadgets I attempted, however if you happen to crank the amount as much as the max (or shut), the individual subsequent to you’ll positively hear what you’re listening to.

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