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Turn on, tune in

How to pick a pair of wireless earbuds that best suits your needs

by MARC SALTZMAN

Wireless earbuds are one of the trendiest smartphone accessories. And what’s not to love? Most in-ear headphones are compact yet comfortable, stay in your ears during exercise (see “Ensure the right fit”), are completely cable-free and, most importantly, sound great.

Wireless earbuds are ideal for streaming music, podcasts and audiobooks, and if a call comes in, most have a microphone to chat. And these practical peripherals can also be used with tablets, laptops and other Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as smartwatches and some smart TVs, too.

If you’re in the market for a new pair, consider the following features.

Active noise cancellation (ANC)

While earbuds with ANC cost more, they’re ideal for blocking out ambient sounds. They accomplish this through the use of tiny microphones that “hear” incoming noise. The microphones are connected to a processor that generates a sound wave with the opposite polarity to match the incoming noise and cancel it out.

Battery life

The number of hours earbuds last between charges is a key consideration, especially if you use them while working. Be sure they have at least five hours of music playback between charges. Be aware that when earbuds are ANC enabled, they won’t last as long as when the ANC feature is off. Most wireless earbuds include a charging case (with its own battery) to top up the power when you’re out. Some charging cases offer 15 to 20 hours of extra battery life.

Personal assistants

Some earbuds let you activate your nearby smartphone’s personal assistant by saying a “wake word” or tapping one of the earbuds. Then you can ask a question or give a command. This is a feature worth looking into, whether it’s for Siri, Google Assistant or Alexa.

Exercise features

Make sure the earbuds you buy are water- and sweat-resistant in case you’re caught in the rain or you’re working out. Some earbuds also have a handy “aware” or “transparency” mode, which, unlike ANC, lets you hear more of what is going on around you, which is especially useful when walking or running outdoors.

Ensure the right fit


Wireless earbuds may sound amazing and have a long battery life, but that doesn't mean anything if they're not comfortable to wear.

To accomplish this, some companies include various ear-tip sizes that you can swap out; others employ a one-size-fits-all approach.

Be sure to read up on the model before you buy. When the fit is snug, they will not only stay in your ears better, but you will experience better noise cancellation and music will have a richer bass sound.—MS

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