2023 offered plenty of new TWS earbuds options at varying prices. It wasn’t easy to single out the very best earbuds that passed through our office but we believe the following options impressed us enough during our reviews to deserve a spot on the list.
We only included models that were launched in 2023 and which we reviewed so you’ll notice that buds from Samsung, Apple and some other big names are absent. We’d also like to hear which TWS buds impressed you in the past year, so feel free to share your opinion in the comments section.
Sony WF-1000XM5
Apart from their absurdly long name, we could not find many faults with Sony’s latest flagship earbuds. The XM5s bring phenomenal audio quality, class-leading noise canceling, an extensive set of features in a package that’s noticeably more compact than their predecessors.
The price of entry into Sony’s flagship audio products is always high but we believe that it’s justified in this case and you can occasionally find the XM5s on sale which makes them an even better deal.
Sony WF-C700N
Sony also has some more affordable options and we believe the C700N are one of the best TWS earbuds in sub $100/€100/£100 category. These in-ear buds offer a lightweight comfortable fit, dynamic sound output, and potent ANC all wrapped in a premium feeling design.
Battery life leaves a bit to be desired and you don’t get support for high-bitrate codecs but other than that you’d be hard-pressed to find a better overall package in the price category.
Nothing Ear (2)
Nothing delivered a solid sequel with the Ear (2) which carries over the signature bold design with plenty of flagship features including support for the LHDC 5.0 audio codec, multi-device pairing and improved microphones for voice calls. Following some well-needed software updates audio quality and ANC performance are up to par with other flagship buds.
The level of control within the Nothing X app is quite vast and allows for fine-tuning of the sound output, ANC and touch controls.
CMF Buds Pro
Nothing also has a new subbrand called CMF and the CMF Buds Pro are a great low-budget offering a decent sound stage, up-to-par ANC, and great battery life.
We were impressed by the level of features at this price point and considered them arguably the best audio product in Nothing’s expanding ecosystem of audio devices.
Huawei FreeBuds 5i
Huawei’s FreeBuds 5i are another excellent pair of wireless buds with ANC that don’t break the bank. We were impressed with their ability to drown out unwanted noise, quick connectivity and stylish speckled case design.
These were one of the first buds we reviewed in 2023 and they held up the test of time enough to warrant a spot in this ranking.
Tozo Golden X1
Tozo may not be a household name in the audio sphere but its Golden X1 flagship earbuds impressed us with their premium sound quality, Hi-Res audio with LDAC support, solid ANC, and outstanding battery endurance. The buds bring a lightweight and ergonomic design that was comfortable during longer listening sessions and even during workouts.
These earbuds also come with an excellent companion app for your phone with menus for tweaking their sound equalizer, ANC and transparency modes.
We may get a commission from qualifying sales.
