Hundreds of readers bought these headphones this year (and they’re not from Bose, Sony, or Apple)

The CMF Buds 2 Plus are one of our favorite true wireless earbuds and the most purchased headphones among our readers over the past year and a half. These earbuds are feature-packed and perform well despite their relatively low price of $80. The CMF Buds 2 Plus are compatible with Sony’s high-resolution LDAC Bluetooth codec, have an IP55 dust- and water-resistant rating, and deliver impressive noise-canceling performance.

Review: CMF Buds 2 Plus

Users with Nothing phones can use Low Latency Mode for mobile gaming and ChatGPT integration with their phone’s voice assistant.

Along with the CMF Buds 2 Plus, the company’s Headphone Pro are popular among our readers, thanks to their affordable $100 price and high performance. For high-resolution wireless listening, these headphones support the LDAC codec for Android users, as well as Google Fast Pair and Windows Swift Pair for seamless device pairing.

Review: CMF Headphones Pro

Apple users can also access Headphones Pro’s impressive audio and noise-cancelling capabilities, spatial audio, and personalized sound profiles for analog listening. Additionally, these headphones boast a battery life of 50 hours, which is almost 20 hours more than its premium competitors.

Bose’s latest flagship earbuds deliver a comfortable yet premium experience with exceptional noise cancellation and comfort, making them a solid choice for frequent fliers. They debuted with a new and improved spatial audio mode, wireless charging, better voice clarity, and an upgraded Bluetooth connectivity standard.

Review: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Generation)

We awarded the QC Ultra Earbuds 2 a ZDNET Editors’ Choice award last October for their impressive AI-powered noise processing, software-ecosystem agnosticism, stable fit, and powerful noise cancellation.

These simple wired Sony earbuds feature 9mm neodymium drivers for clear, detailed sound, low 16 Ohm impedance for easy driving, and an attached microphone for better voice clarity during phone calls.

Despite the $35 price tag, the wires on these earbuds can be delicate and breakable, but with good care, they should last a few years.

These Soundcore sleep earbuds promise effective noise cancellation, comprehensive, barely-there comfort, and intuitive features that help you fall asleep and wake up refreshed. Our testing showed that after a few nights of wear these earbuds provide comfort, but fail to mask loud environmental noises.

Review: Soundcore Sleep A30

Still, if you want sleep earbuds that play binaural beats ideal for deep sleep, block out some outside noise, and have smart features personalized for your nighttime routine, the Soundcore Sleep A30 can help.

Bose’s midrange QuietComfort headphones replace the QC45, offering a simple, reliable Bose experience with less fanfare and added hassle. The QuietComfort headphones have a 3.5mm jack for wired listening, ANC and Aware Audio modes, and 24 hours of playtime.

Review: Bose QuietComfort Headphones

These headphones do nothing more than provide comfortable, reliable audio and noise cancellation, two things Bose does best.

Shokz’s flagship open-ear bone conduction headphones are best for individuals who want to be aware of their surroundings while exercising. They feature a lightweight design, 12-hour battery life, and an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance.

Review: Shox OpenRun Pro 2

Many open-ear headphones sacrifice sound for their open and lightweight form factor, but the Shokz’s sound profile is highly impressive for an open-ear headphone.

Open-ear earbuds let you stay aware of your surroundings without compromising your audio, which can be especially useful for hiking, walking, biking, or running outside. The Soundcore AeroFit Pro offers a true wireless and corded experience depending on your preference.

Review: Soundcore Aerofit Pro

Additionally, the IPX5 durability rating makes them sweatproof, LDAC support is on deck for high-res wireless listening, and 14 hours of continuous playtime means they can last all day.