We're about to enter the final stretch of 2026, and with the Black Friday sales and the festive season looming on the horizon, it felt like as good a time as any to take stock of the headphones we've tested this year, and what has impressed us most. Because we've tested just so many great headphones so far this year, in this article I've narrowed things down to just the earbuds. Below, you can see all the pairs that impressed us enough to score four stars or higher in our tough tests. Sennheiser has produced standouts at both ends of the price spectrum. For those feeling flush, the Momentum True Wireless 5 offer "superb" sound quality with a side order of sustainability, thanks to user-replaceable batteries in both the earbuds themselves and the charge case. Anyone on a tighter budget should take a look at the Sennheiser CX 80U — these wired earbuds deliver stellar sound (our tester noted "clean and agile bass, clear mids, and vivid highs") alongside solid noise isolation, for a price tag that'll give you change from $40 / £30.Another big winner was the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro. Our reviewed noted: "they sound incredible, the noise cancellation really works, they look classy yet understated, and knock it out the park with the array of features offered in the app". There are a few little caveats, though: the battery life could be better, and you need a Samsung phone to really get the best from them. We've also tested plenty of impressive open-ear buds this year. We found the Shokz OpenDots 2 ultra-comfortable and long-lasting, but a little prone to being knocked out of the ear. The affordable Baseus Bowie MC2 also delivered on the comfort front, and are a very solid choice if you're on a tighter budget. Scroll down to take a look at the earbuds we've been most impressed with this year so far — hit the View details button to see each model's overall score, a rundown of the main pros and cons we noted in testing, and a link to read the full review. Note: you'll only be able to see product cards for the earbuds available in your region.Earbud excellence Huawei FreeBuds Pro 5 Read our full review ProsExcellent ANCGreat-looking, comfortable designPacked with featuresConsLossless only for Huawei phonesSlightly chunkier than rivalsNo foam eartips Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 Read our full review ProsSuperb sound quality plus Dolby Atmos spatial audioComfortable and premium design – and finally, user-replaceable batteriesLots of future-proof featuresConsTouch control area is a little smallEver-so-slightly bulkier than rivalsANC still lags a bit behind Apple, Sony and Bose Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Read our full review ProsFantastic soundSvelte lookWonderful noise cancellationConsInsecure fitBattery life could be much betterHard-to-replace ear-tips Shokz OpenFit Pro Read our full review ProsImpressive noise reductionDolby Atmos with head tracking for true-to-life listeningUnbelievably comfortableConsOn the expensive sideTreble a little over eager Cambridge A100 SE Read our full review ProsSpacious, informative and disciplined soundDynamic and punchy presentationImpressive specificationConsNot the most accomplished when it comes to rhythmic expressionDon’t look or feel in any way specialTouch controls could be more reliable Sennheiser CX 80U Read our full review ProsGreat sound quality with impressive detailClassy design at a low priceSurprisingly good noise isolationConsNo volume controlsSome noticeable static when using micLacks the mid-range finesse of pricier rivals Shokz OpenDots 2 Read our full review ProsPowerful, bassy soundGood battery lifeStable enough for runnersCustomizable EQ modesConsProne to dislodging on contactExpensiveNot suitable for helix piercings JBL Live Flex 4 Read our full review ProsSmart charging case is feature-rich and funANC surprisingly effective for open-fit earbudsRelaxed, comfortable fitStrong overall sound quality…ConsOpen-fit designs have drawbacks, sonically speakingSpatial audio could be betterNot the most premium-looking buds JBL Live Buds 4 Read our full review ProsFantastic, detailed audioFeature-packed, handy smart charging caseComfortable, secure in-ear fitConsMiddling ANCCall quality not as clear as expectedSpatial audio in need of improvement JBL Live Beam 4 Read our full review ProsExcellent audio quality with impactful bassComfortable, secure fitSmart case is well-built and fun, even if it’s a bit gimmickyConsDisappointing call qualityANC isn’t quite top-tierPoor spatial audio setting Shokz OpenDots Air Read our full review ProsSecure, reliable fitSvelte carry caseDecent battery lifeConsAudio quality can be beatenCan occasionally pinch your earTouch controls barely work House of Marley Smile Jamaica USB-C Read our full review ProsIncredibly low priceSustainable constructionTangle-resistant cableConsBass not the most refinedNo volume controlsCould include more eartips Baseus Bowie MC2 Read our full review ProsAffordable price pointRefreshingly bass-heavy soundComfortable to wearConsSome charging case problemsNot for audiophilesHard-to-use touch controls Earfun Clip 2 Read our full review ProsVery affordable for open budsComfortable and lightAI translation is a cool featureConsMinor connectivity issuesBudget build and fit won't suit everyoneSound needs EQ tweaking Sony WF-1000XM6 Read our full review Anker Soundcore AeroClip 2 Read our full review ProsUltra-comfortable yet secure fitLightweight with a more compact caseSolid sound quality for open-earsGreat features with personalized EQConsPricier than their predecessorsOpen-ear architecture has its sonic limitationsSound a bit unexciting out of the box Nothing Ear (3a) Read our full review ProsFun, upfront audio qualitySlight ANC uptick (and it was no slouch before)Curvier case and useful LED lightsConsStill no wireless charging support or flagship hearing testsBattery life has taken a hitWe need to talk about Call Recording