Top wireless headphones and earbuds worth buying this Autumn
Best Wireless Earbuds and Headphones Worth Buying This Autumn
Small disclosure, this post has affiliate links in it and we might earn a bit if you buy through one, at no extra cost to you. Prices were checked in October 2026, audio prices move around a fair amount so have a quick look before you buy.
Not every pair of wireless earbuds or headphones is trying to do the same job. Some just need to sound good without costing three figures, some are built to survive a sweaty workout, some are built to shut the world out on a commute without the flagship price tag, and then there's the one pair that's simply the best you can buy right now, if you want to pay for it. Here are four genuinely well-regarded picks across the categories that matter most: a proper budget earbud, a workout pair built to actually stay in, a noise-cancelling headphone that skips the flagship price, and the current class-leading earbud if you want to go all in.
Sony WF-C510: proper sound without the premium price
No noise cancelling and no case-based wireless charging here, but the driver Sony uses is shared with pricier models in the range, which is why the sound quality punches above the price. Worth it for anyone who wants a genuine backup pair or a first pair of wireless earbuds without spending big.
Soundcore Sport X20: built to actually stay in during a workout
Soundcore Sport X20, Black
Buy it now→
Secure ear hooks, adjustable active noise cancelling, and IPX8 water and sweat resistance make this a training-first design rather than a pair that happens to work at the gym. Worth it for anyone whose regular earbuds keep falling out mid-session.
Sony WH-CH720N: noise cancelling without the flagship price
Sony WH-CH720N, Black
Buy it now→
Active noise cancelling, up to 35 hours of battery life, and a lightweight over-ear design built for daily commuting rather than a dedicated studio session. Worth it for anyone who wants genuine ANC without paying flagship headphone money.
Sony WF-1000XM6: the one to get if money isn't the deciding factor
Sony WF-1000XM6
Buy it now→
Sony's flagship earbuds pair adaptive noise cancelling with a larger driver than the outgoing model, built to hold up in noisy environments like trains and open-plan offices. Worth it for anyone who wants the current reference point in the category and doesn't mind paying for it.
If you only take one thing from this list, it's that the "best" pair depends entirely on the job. For the gym, the Soundcore Sport X20 is built for that specifically and general-purpose earbuds aren't. If budget is the main constraint, the Sony WF-C510 and Sony WH-CH720N both prove you don't need to spend big to get something reviewers actually rate. And if money genuinely isn't the deciding factor, the Sony WF-1000XM6 is the current best-in-class pick, reviewers rate it above everything else here, it's just a considered purchase rather than an impulse one.
Updated October 2026. Worth checking the live price before you commit, especially around sale weekends.
