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It is difficult to tell what type of sound you can anticipate from these tiny wireless earbuds before you get them because the best running headphones are now more affordable than ever, smaller than they have ever been, and have almost entirely eliminated cables.
Our test pool was divided into three groups so that we could make comparisons that were both meaningful and informative. These categories were totally wireless, truly wireless with ear hooks, and neckband earbuds. When you purchase earphones with a neckband, it indicates that there is not a wire that connects the earbuds to your mobile device; rather.
Best Running Earbuds Comparison Table
| Model | Beats Fit Pro | Shokz OpenRun Pro | JBL Reflect Aero TWS | Jaybird X4 | JLab Epic Air Sport ANC (2nd Gen) | AirPods Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Water Resistance Rating | IPX7 | IP55 | IPX5 | IPX7 | IP66 | IPX4 |
| Noise Cancellation | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 9 hours | 8 hours | 10 hours | 8 hours | 15 hours | 4.5 hours |
| Quick Charging | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Voice Assistant Compatibility | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Price | $199.95 | $159.95 | $99.95 | $129.99 | $99.99 | $249.00 |
Beats Fit Pro True Wireless Earbuds
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Earbud Type | In-ear |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Battery life | Up to 9 hours |
| Sweat and water-resistant | Yes, IPX7 |
| Active noise cancellation | Yes |
| Charging case | Yes, with wireless charging support |
| Compatibility | iOS and Android devices |
If I had to choose just one pair of Apple headphones for running, I’d choose the Beats Fit Pro. They put everything we like about the AirPods 3 and Beats Studio Buds into a small set of earbuds with a wing to help them stay in place. No matter how hot I get, these buds don’t move, and even after an hour or 90 minutes of running, they don’t hurt.It’s easy to use, and you don’t have to look around for tiny buttons.
The coolest thing, though, is something you might not have thought of: spatial music. When you move your head, the sound changes so that it sounds like the band is still in the same place. This is just like how the sound changes when you move your head at a real show. At first, it’s weird, so don’t trip while you’re running, but you’ll get used to it quickly. But this isn’t just about cool sound effects. The sound is really good for such small headphones.
The Good
- Active noise cancellation is an effective way to block out outside noise.
- It can be used for intense workouts because it doesn’t get wet.
- Long battery life lets you listen to music without interruptions
- Fits well and is comfortable to wear
The Bad
- Compared to other wireless earbuds on the market, they are pricey.
- There aren’t many ways to control the earbuds.
Shokz OpenRun Pro
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| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Earbud Type | Bone conduction |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Battery life | Up to 8 hours |
| Sweat and water-resistant | Yes, IP55 |
| Active noise cancellation | No |
| Charging case | Yes, with USB-C charging |
| Compatibility | iOS and Android devices |
AfterShokz has changed its name to Shokz and released new 9th-generation bone-conduction headphones with slightly better bass than the company’s former main model, the Aeropex (now called the Shokz OpenRun). That makes the OpenRun Pro model the best bone-conduction headphones you can get right now, even though they still can’t match the sound quality of standard headphones.
Bone conduction wireless headphones don’t go on your ears. Instead, they send sound to your ear through your cheekbones. The big safety benefit of this technology for runners is that, because it is open, you can hear what’s going on around you, especially road noise, while listening to music or talking on the phone (yes, they work well for voice calls). Also, some race organisers don’t let runners put anything in their ears, so headphones like these are helpful.
The Good
- Bone conduction technology lets you listen to music and still hear what’s going on around you.
- The design is light and comfortable.
- Battery life is okay
- Build that can handle water and sweat
The Bad
- The sound may not be as good as with regular earbuds.
- Bone conduction tech might not work for everyone.
JBL Reflect Aero TWS
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Earbud Type | In-ear |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Battery life | Up to 10 hours |
| Sweat and water-resistant | Yes, IPX5 |
| Active noise cancellation | No |
| Charging case | Yes, with USB-C charging |
| Compatibility | iOS and Android devices |
The JBL Reflect Aero TWS true wireless earbuds have an IP68 rating, which means they are very resistant to water and sweat. The stabilising wings on these small, light earbuds should keep them in place when you run. Traffic or workout equipment won’t bother you as much because the headphones are sealed and have active noise cancellation. If you need to hear your surroundings for safety reasons, you can switch to a natural-sounding “hear-through” mode with just a tap.
The 8-hour battery life is good for truly wireless earbuds, and the 16-hour battery life in the pocket-sized case is even better. The big touch-based controls are easy to learn and use, and they don’t misfire as often as other touch-based controls we’ve tried. Users of both Google and Alexa will like that they can use voice-activated assistants without using their hands. The six-microphone array cuts down on wind noise and makes sure that your voice is clear on phone calls and video chats.
The Good
- Long battery life lets you listen to music without interruptions
- The design is resistant to water and sweat, so it’s good for working out.
- Fits well and stays in place
- Sound quality isn’t too bad
The Bad
- Not having a noise-canceling feature that works
- The charging case might not be as strong as those of other models.
Jaybird X4 Earbuds
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| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Earbud Type | In-ear |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 4.1 |
| Battery life | Up to 8 hours |
| Sweat and water-resistant | Yes, IPX7 |
| Active noise cancellation | No |
| Charging case | No |
| Compatibility | iOS and Android devices |
The Jaybird X4 wireless Bluetooth headphones manage to outdo both the preceding Jaybird X2 and Jaybird X3 wireless Bluetooth earphones, with an increased IPX7 water-resistance rating. Jaybird has now committed to a yearly refresh of the popular mid-range model. The X4 will be able to keep up with you regardless of whether you are jogging through the pouring rain or sweating buckets while doing so.
During our tests, the Jaybird X4 running headphones sounded unexpectedly nice, and they were on par with the sound quality of many earbuds that cost significantly more. The superb Jaybird app allows for simple adjustment of the equalisation curve (EQ), as well as the creation of a personal sound profile, and additionally offers a selection of ear tip sizes. A fantastic all-around option for runners who don’t want to compromise on sound quality and don’t want to worry about the elements.
The Good
- The design is resistant to water and sweat, making it good for intense workouts.
- Secure fit with a range of sizes for the ear tips and wingtips
- Sound quality is okay, and the EQ settings can be changed.
- Easy to wear for a long time
The Bad
- There is no charging case.
- Compared to other models, this Bluetooth version is older.
JLab Epic Air Sport ANC (2nd Gen)
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Earbud Type | In-ear |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Battery life | Up to 15 hours |
| Sweat and water-resistant | Yes, IP66 |
| Active noise cancellation | Yes |
| Charging case | Yes, with USB-C and wireless charging |
| Compatibility | iOS and Android devices |
The JLab Epic Air Sport ANC (2nd Gen) are excellent headphones for brand loyalists who are looking for an upgrade, as well as for cost-conscious athletes who require dependable earbuds in order to power through strenuous workouts. The overall battery life is still quite good, which means that you can use them for a significant number of workouts and then put them away in your gym bag without worrying that they will need to be recharged.
The vibrant sound of JLab and its powerful transparency mode have been maintained. Features that are included but not required, like as wireless charging and connection with Tile, are very much appreciated. The main drawback is that the ANC performance, as well as call quality and comfort, are not as good as those offered by industry leaders. However, while taking into consideration the price point of $99, one can only ask for so much.
The Good
- The battery has a long life and can be charged quickly.
- Active noise cancellation blocks out outside noise very well. The design is water- and sweat-resistant, so it’s good for intense workouts.
- There are different sizes of ear tips and wings for a secure fit.
The Bad
- Can be uncomfortable to wear for a long time
- There aren’t many ways to control the earbuds.
AirPods Pro Earbuds
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Earbud Type | In-ear |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Battery life | Up to 4.5 hours (with active noise cancellation) |
| Sweat and water-resistant | Yes, IPX4 |
| Active noise cancellation | Yes |
| Charging case | Yes, with wireless and lightning charging support |
| Compatibility | iOS and Android devices |
If you have small ears, your running earbuds should either come in smaller sizes or come with tips for different sizes. There are four types of tips for the Apple AirPods Pro Earbuds: small, medium, large, and extra large. When you have that many options, your chances of having a fit problem go down. Apple has put a lot of technology into these earbuds, like Bluetooth 5.3, so that they can be used for more than just running.
AirPods also have active noise-cancelling (ANC) and Adaptive Transparency technology that lowers noise while still letting some environmental noise in for safety reasons. Even though they’re expensive, you’ll get extras like Personalised Spatial Audio, which changes the sound to your head shape and position. There are also more features that come as normal, such as microphones, touch controls, and a six-hour listening time.
The Good
- Active noise cancellation is a good way to block out noise from the outside.
- Apple devices are easy and quick to pair.
- With different sizes of ear tips, they fit comfortably and securely.
- Design that doesn’t absorb sweat or water
The Bad
- Compared to other models, the battery life isn’t very long.
- Compared to other wireless earbuds on the market, they are expensive and have few controls.
FAQs
Running earbuds are earbuds that are specially made to be worn while running or doing any other kind of physical exercise. They are made to stay in place when you’re moving around, fit comfortably, and prevent sweat and water.
When looking for earbuds for running, look for ones that are comfy, can handle sweat, and fit well. Other important things to think about are the battery life, the sound quality, the ability to join wirelessly, the ability to cancel out noise, and the ability to work with your mobile device.
Wired running earbuds are linked to your phone by a cord, while wireless running earbuds connect to your phone through Bluetooth technology. Wireless earbuds let you move around more and are usually easier to use while running, but their battery life may be shorter than that of wired earbuds.