12 TWS headphones that we can safely recommend. Lifehacker Readers' Choice


Over the past few years, True Wireless Stereo (TWS for short) headphones have gained popularity and are now one of the most popular types of headphones currently on the market. At the same time, as technology develops, headphones of this type will become cheaper, and sound quality will increase. Therefore, we can say with confidence that such headphones will soon appear in the ears of every user. Choosing the best TWS headphones in 2022 is difficult because many tech companies are releasing their own versions of TWS headsets, and it's easy to get confused with the variety of models. We have prepared a rating of the best TWS headphones available for purchase in 2022.

Rating of TWS headphones

The desire of modern users for convenience leads to the abandonment of wires on many devices. Headphones are no exception, and already in 2016, Apple released its own product using True Wireless Stereo (TWS) technology. Later, other well-known electronics brands began to produce. These headphones are completely wireless and communicate with your phone via Bluetooth. They are suitable for any conditions - walking around the city, physical activity, sports, traveling or other places.

Wireless headphones are miniature devices that are installed inside the ear. They come in a case through which they are charged. There are no holes or wires on the headphones themselves; they are equipped only with touch or mechanical buttons for volume control and track switching.

The range of manufactured headphones is wide. They are offered both by brands specializing in the production of smartphones and by renowned companies famous for creating professional audio equipment. They differ in sound, control method and other criteria, which may make it difficult for a new user to choose. To help you decide on a purchase, experts from the VyborExperta.ru team have created their top TWS headphones. Products from many well-known companies were analyzed taking into account the following criteria:

  • Sound quality;
  • Battery life;
  • Functionality;
  • Form factor;
  • Availability of a microphone;
  • Price.

We've tried to find products that are affordable to most people and provide great, full sound for a wide variety of music genres. The rating included models that will quickly communicate with devices based on different OSes. The top does not include headphones from Apple, since they can only work in their own ecosystem.

Soundcore Liberty Air 2

A more affordable model with dynamic emitters coated with diamond. The headphones also support the aptX codec and have decent battery life - up to 7 hours excluding the case. Fast charging will allow you to power up Liberty Air 2 for two hours of listening to music in just 10 minutes. Other highlights include two microphones in each earbud with Qualcomm noise-canceling technology for voice calls.

Price : from 6,199 rubles.

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How to choose TWS headphones

TWS headphones are a separate category of products that have their own requirements. When purchasing, you need to take into account the main characteristics of TWS headphones, which include battery life, sound quality, functionality, and price range.

Sound quality

Sound volume, transmission of all musical instruments involved in the track, detail - these are important criteria for choosing any headphones. This indicator is difficult to quantify, so you need to study reviews of TWS wireless headphones. A good product will provide comfortable listening to any musical genre.

Working hours

Autonomy is an important indicator of any wireless devices. On average, the headphones work for about 5 hours without recharging; the case further extends this time. Based on the operating time on one charge, headphones are selected for specific purposes.

The capacity of the battery built into the headphones varies from 30 to 700 mAh. As the capacity increases, the battery life increases, but at the same time the product becomes more massive. The case also has a built-in 300-500 mAh battery, which is enough for 15-20 hours of operation.

The case is charged from the mains using a power supply via a USB cable. Usually one of two types of connection ports is supported - micro-USB or USB Type-C. They will vary in charging power. On the latest Type-C, up to 100W of power is available, which contributes to faster charging times.

Functional

Headphones can be equipped with the following functions:

  • Active or passive noise reduction. Provides clear transmission of sound or speech (when using a microphone) even on a noisy street.
  • Autopause. It turns on when a person removes one earbud from their ear.
  • Control type. The case may have sensors or mechanical keys. Due to the sensitivity of the sensors, you can accidentally press the track switch or change the speed, so many users prefer mechanical buttons.
  • Automatic synchronization with smartphone. Used in almost all models for ease of use.
  • Support for working with voice assistants.
  • Connect to multiple devices using Multipoint functionality. Then you can listen to music or watch movies while simultaneously receiving incoming calls.
  • Choosing the best audio codec. The amount of data loss during transmission from the phone depends on it.
  • Fast charging function.
  • Possibility of wireless charging. Then you need to purchase the station separately.
  • Splash protection. It is expressed in the IPX index, where the last place is indicated by a number from 1 to 7. The higher it is, the better the product is protected from water.
  • Antibacterial protection. This is a new feature that coats the earbuds with a special antibacterial agent for health safety.

Top 10 rating according to KP

Editor's Choice

Jabra Elite 75t (average price 13 thousand rubles)


Jabra Elite 75t.
Photo: Jabra The Jabra Elite 75t has a very bass-heavy sound out of the box, which is surprising. The bass is increased to such an extent that some may not like it. Luckily, you can customize the Elite 75t's sound signature using a smartphone app. Battery life here is also excellent - up to 7.5 hours of listening on a single charge.

When included with the charging case, you get approximately 20 additional hours of listening time, for a total of approximately 28 hours of listening time including the case. Unfortunately, they still don't come with wireless charging, but they do charge via USB-C. The fit in the ears is also good. The Jabra Elite 75t is truly comfortable. Elite 75t has protection against water and dust according to the IP55 standard. Just don't shower or swim with them.

Customizable sound, long battery life, USB-C charging, water and dust resistant

No wireless charging, bass too heavy for some

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Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro (average price 10 thousand rubles)


Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro. Photo: Soundcore

One of the Liberty 2 Pro's strengths is its battery life. They play for up to 8 hours before needing to be charged. The included charging case will also give you an extra 24 hours of battery life, which is quite impressive. The case uses USB-C for wired charging and even supports wireless charging via the Qi standard. In terms of sound quality, the Liberty 2 Pro boasts enhanced bass and treble, providing an enjoyable listening experience for most modern music genres. The Liberty 2 Pro's noise isolation is one of its weak points.

Finally, the Liberty 2 Pro are comfortable, making them easy to wear for longer periods of time than many other true wireless earbuds. They don't physically go into your ear, instead they rest on the outside of the shell, which should help with any form of fatigue or discomfort, especially over long periods of time.

Long battery life, excellent sound quality, USB-C and Qi wireless charging

Sound insulation could be better

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AirPods Pro (average price 21 thousand rubles)


AirPods Pro. Photo: Apple

Despite some limitations on Android (no auto play/pause, Google Assistant, or other features), AirPods Pro have some of the best active noise cancellation for headphones on the market. The AirPods Pro noise reduction has fantastic performance for its class. Sound quality is solid on AirPods Pro. They lack just a little in the bass, but otherwise they have very good sound. The mids are slightly elevated, creating a close-in feel.

The headphones provide 4.5 hours of sound playback with noise reduction turned on and five hours without it. The charging case provides 19 hours of additional listening time. The case is charged via the proprietary Lightning connector. The charging case supports wireless charging, which means you can completely bypass Apple's proprietary cable. The fit in the ears is one of the best on the market. Unlike other headphones that have a plastic “stud” to secure the ear tips, the AirPods Pro ear pad attaches directly to the earpiece speaker.

Long battery life, good sound, wireless charging case

Some functions missing on Android, Lightning for charging

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What other TWS headphones are worth paying attention to?

Sony WF-1000XM3 (average price 16 thousand rubles)


Sony WF-1000XM3. Photo: Sony

Apart from the Sony WF-1000XM3 and AirPods Pro, there aren't many wireless headphones with active noise cancellation. That's why the Sony WF-1000XM3 is an easy choice if this feature is important to you. The design is not the best and they are quite bulky, but in terms of sound, they are impeccable. Battery life is also excellent - up to six hours in standalone mode and up to 19 hours when paired with a case.

Of course, like most noise-canceling headphones, the WF-1000XM3 offers an ambient sound mode that changes the direction of the microphones to allow outside noise to penetrate. The sound quality, as mentioned earlier, is excellent in the WF-1000XM3. The WF-1000XM3 has moderate bass that is only slightly boosted and does not overwhelm other frequencies at all. In terms of water and dust resistance, the WF-1000XM3 has a base IPX4 standard. This means they are splash and sweat resistant, but not recommended for use in the rain.

Great sound, active noise cancellation, ambient sound mode, USB-C charging

Not as water resistant as other options, bulky design

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Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless (average price 18 thousand rubles)


Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless. Photo: Sennheiser

You can't go wrong with Sennheiser when it comes to any audio equipment, and the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless are no exception. These headphones are on the list for those who love dancing, hip-hop or any other bass genre of music. The Momentum True Wireless has a very punchy bass boost. The bass is not super powerful, but the high frequencies fade into the background. This means that instruments such as drum hi-hats and female vocals may sound slightly muffled.

The great news is that the Sennheiser mobile app (available for both iOS and Android) allows you to customize the sound signature to a certain extent. The earbuds offer six hours of battery life and up to 12 hours of use when included with the charging case. They are also one of the largest wireless headphones available. But that's not a big deal since they're still much more portable than any regular in-ear or on-ear headphones. At least they're still in your pocket even with the rather large charging case. Overall, if you have money to spend on Sennheiser earbuds and want great bass, this is the choice for you.

6 hours of battery life, USB-C charging case, iOS and Android app with fine-tuning equalizer

The case and the headphones themselves are bulky, the bass is too prominent

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Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 (average price 8 thousand rubles)


Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2. Photo: Soundcore

Anker's Soundcore brand has been offering Liberty TWS headphones for several years now, and the second version, the Liberty Air, is the best. While the resemblance to Apple's AirPods is undeniable, the Liberty Air 2 has a few handy features that set it apart from the rest. For starters, the sound that comes out of these headphones is absolutely amazing for the money.

Unlike the AirPods, Soundcore equips the Liberty Air 2 with silicone ear tips (five sizes per box) that help with isolation and low ambient noise. The case, which offers three additional seven-hour charges that the headphones offer, charges via USB-C or Qi wireless charging, and the top opens and closes with a satisfying tactile feedback. The sides of each earbud offer customizable gestures for play/pause, next and previous track, and even volume control. And you can even use the earbuds in the rain—they're IPX5 waterproof.

28 hours of battery life with case, really good sound for the price, IPX5 water resistance, great fit in ears

The body materials feel cheap, the call quality is not impressive

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1More Stylish True Wireless (average price 4.8 thousand rubles)


1More Stylish True Wireless. Photo: 1MORE

1More Stylish True Wireless are ideal for those who are looking for superior sound quality, but are not willing to spend a lot of money on it. Bass lovers will love them, but those who love a punchy, slightly unbalanced sound will also love them. The most impressive part of the sound signature, however, is the soundstage. The Stylish True Wireless is on par with some of the more expensive TWS headphones.

In terms of battery life, the 1More Stylish True Wireless perform exceptionally well, lasting up to 6.5 hours on a single charge. When included with the charging case, they have an additional 17.5 hours of battery life, for a total of up to 24 hours of audio playback. The case itself is relatively small and compact. Unfortunately, they still use Micro-USB for charging and don't support wireless charging at all. The fit is good - the earbud fits into the ear without any problems. You are unlikely to feel any discomfort or fatigue, even after a long period of time.

Long battery life, Bluetooth 5.0, superior sound with wide soundstage

Micro-USB for charging, no wireless charging

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Jabra Elite 65t (average price 8.2 thousand rubles)


Jabra Elite 65t. Photo: Jabra

Almost two years after their release, Jabra's Elite 65t is still one of the best TWS earbuds out there. If you're looking for versatile wireless headphones for commuting and working out, these are a great option. They are especially good for receiving calls. You get five hours of battery life, and the case adds another ten.

The design also ensures that the earbuds provide a seal around the ear and you get excellent sound isolation. And their very design is such that they will not fall out when you run or exercise. There is Bluetooth 5.0 and IP55 water resistance. Here are the reasons why the Elite 65t continues to sell so well even two years after its debut.

Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, IP55 dust and moisture protection, thoughtful controls

Outdated, no AptX

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Beats by Dre Powerbeats Pro (average price 16 thousand rubles)


Beats by Dre Powerbeats Pro. Photo: Beats

The best wireless workout headphones, Powerbeats Pro from Beats, combine water and sweat resistance, stylish design and proprietary Apple integration, making them a tempting choice for working out. Beats headphones tend to be bass-heavy, but the Powerbeats Pro have a balanced sound.

Connecting the headphones together and using the controls makes it easy to use. Powerbeats Pro also offers longer battery life than AirPods, with up to 9 hours of listening time. The ear hooks provide a very stable and secure fit. They come with a set of medium sized silicone tips and three additional options in small, medium and large sizes.

Easy setup, long battery life, well-balanced sound

Bulky charging case

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Plantronics BackBeat Pro 5100 (average price 12.5 thousand rubles)


Plantronics BackBeat Pro 5100. Photo: Plantronics

Plantronics makes some of the best calling headsets in the industry, and the BackBeat Pro 5100 is an exemplary example. Four noise-cancelling microphones help minimize background noise and wind interference for clear calls. Despite bass distortion at high volumes on some tracks, Plantronics' 5.8mm drivers handled the audio well, producing clear mids and highs. The ability to use either earbud separately is a great feature that frees up the opposite ear to hear your surroundings. The earbuds' durability and tight fit to the ear are also great for workouts. The Plantronics companion app includes many useful features. Somewhat finicky pairing and controls are the only downsides.

Ideal for calls, elegant and sporty design, many functions via companion app

Complex controls, slightly muddy bass

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Which TWS headphones are better?

Wireless technology is actively used by modern people. This is convenient, the wires will not get tangled, and the product will take up less space. Wireless headphones are supplied in a special charging case, which acts as a power bank, saving energy for several more cycles of operation.

Due to wireless synchronization, different requirements are placed on products compared to wired models. The operating time without recharging, the type of connection, and ease of use are taken into account. High demand has led to a large number of offers, which makes it difficult for a new user to understand the nuances and choose the right model. Therefore, we studied current offers, read reviews, reviews, and technical specifications to create our rating.

What TWS headphones can we recommend:

  • Yamaha TW-E3B is one of the best models in the mid-price segment, providing excellent sound and the best technical characteristics;
  • Inexpensive JBL Tune 215 TWS, characterized by long service life, rich sound, ease of control;
  • For audiophiles who are willing to spend money on good sound, professional Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 with excellent sound transmission will suit them.

The products presented in the rating are accessible to the average user and are the best in their category. They were positively assessed by experts and other buyers.

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