Whether you’re an avid runner, a gym-goer, a dog walker or an office worker, everyone needs a pair of high-quality earbuds.
Used daily by many of us, these tech gadgets can help improve your working day, keep you connected with friends and family, and offer an incredible listening experience.
But, like all tech products, we’re inundated with options to choose from.
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Whether you’re after a reliable pair for long-distance running, open-ear technology for a more immersive listening experience, or a newly released, state-of-the-art model, we’ve done the hard work for you.
Below, 7You reveals the top-rated earbuds to try in 2026.
Best for noise cancellation: Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro, from $399
It’s no surprise that the tech giant has made the list.
Home to incredible TVs, tablets, smart fridges and phones, Samsung is a best-selling brand for good reason.
When it comes to earbuds, we’re turning our attention to the newly launched Galaxy Buds4 Pro, which offer premium noise cancellation and an incredible listening experience.
Whether you’re listening to a new album on your commute, taking calls between meetings or trying to drown out the noise of a busy office, these buds offer advanced audio technology for anyone who wants to get more out of their everyday listening.
The earbuds are designed to sit securely in the ears, making them suitable for longer listening sessions, while their ergonomic shape is intended to keep them comfortable throughout the day.
With six microphones positioned around the earbuds to capture the wearer’s voice, alongside Samsung’s Deep Neural Network technology, the buds can separate speech from surrounding noise, helping make conversations easier to follow in busy environments.
If you’re on the hunt for impressive noise cancellation, this could be the pair for you.
Best for exercising: Sennheiser ACCENTUM Clip Earbuds, $349
2026 is proving to be a big year for earbuds, with several new models arriving from highly regarded tech brands.
The latest to join the line-up is Sennheiser, which recently unveiled its new ACCENTUM Clip Earbuds — an impressive option for anyone who loves to exercise.
Offering enhanced acoustic performance and an impressive range of features, they deliver natural awareness of your surroundings alongside detailed audio reproduction, all while looking sleek on the ear.
With precision-engineered acoustic tuning and 12mm drivers, they’re designed to deliver clear, detailed sound while running outdoors or working out at the gym.
But the biggest selling point? Their lightweight 6.8g design and barely-there fit.
Sennheiser says the earbuds have been carefully engineered to provide a secure fit to keep them in place during workouts.
Best for travel: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Earbuds, $449
We all know and love Bose’s sought-after QuietComfort headphones, but sometimes the over-ear design isn’t as portable or compact as we’d like.
Earbuds are becoming an increasingly popular choice for Aussies when travelling, thanks to their compact size and the convenience of being able to slip them into a pocket.
Delivering impressive audio in a compact package, Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Earbuds (Gen 2) offer advanced noise cancellation, building on the features of previous models.
Available in five colours, including the crowd-favourite Desert Gold, these earbuds combine impressive noise cancellation with immersive audio and a cinema mode for listening to music or watching content.
So, whether you’re heading off on holiday by sea or air, these buds are designed to keep you comfortable during long listening sessions.
Best for battery life: Shokz OpenFit Pro, $399
Shokz has become known for pioneering open-ear listening technology, using bone-conduction and air-conduction approaches across its product range, which allows you to tune into a podcast while remaining aware of the sounds around you.
Shokz’s new OpenFit Pro earbuds hook over the ears rather than sitting directly inside them, offering an alternative to traditional in-ear designs.
Despite their unconventional positioning, the earbuds deliver crisp, clear audio and are designed to stay in place while exercising, running errands or cleaning the house.
You can also enable Dolby Atmos for an even more immersive listening experience.
But the biggest selling point is the impressive battery life, with up to 12 hours of listening on a single charge and up to 50 hours in total with the charging case.
That means you can spend longer listening on the go without needing to reach for your charger.
Best on a budget: Apple AirPods 5, $219
Earlier this year, Apple announced its impressive 2026 line-up, including the first-ever foldable iPhone Duo and a range of other new tech gadgets.
Many of these products have since arrived on Aussie shores, including the highly anticipated AirPods 5 — a surprisingly affordable pair of earbuds that are easier on the wallet.
The new AirPods 5 feature improved Active Noise Cancellation, while Adaptive Audio combines noise cancellation and Transparency modes according to your surroundings.
Conversation Awareness is designed to automatically lower the volume when you start speaking, which could prove particularly useful when you want to have a conversation without resorting to the universally awkward act of removing an earbud.
There’s also Live Translation, powered by Apple Intelligence, which allows the AirPods to assist with conversations across languages — an impressive feature that has been generating plenty of online buzz.
Retailing for $219, it’s easy to see why these earbuds could appeal to shoppers looking for a more affordable option.
