12 best wireless earbuds for sports

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

There are fundamentally important differences in sports headphones, which is why they are distinguished into a separate group, two. A person is moving – which means that the headphones should be light and not cause discomfort. And, since he moves actively, they must also be well protected from moisture: both in the gym a person sweats, and on a street jog they can get caught in the rain.

However, autonomy begins to conflict with compactness: it is difficult to 'make friends' with a built-in high-capacity battery with light headphones. Therefore, when choosing wireless headphones for sports, you must also take into account the battery life: with the same battery capacity, different models with the same power source capacity can demonstrate noticeably different battery life.

And, of course, sound is also important: no matter how reliable and 'long-lasting' wireless headphones are, buying will not bring much joy if the music in them does not sound the way you like.

Rating of the best wireless headphones for sports

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
Best Budget Wireless Sports Headphones	1	Samsung EO-BG950 U Flex	RUB 2,999
	2	Creative outlier sports	RUB 3,315
	3	JBL Reflect Contour 2	RUB 3,015
	4	Plantronics BackBeat FIT 305	RUB 1,999
	5	Meizu EP52	RUB 2,400
	6	Koss BT190i	2 315 rub.
	7	Honor AM61	RUB 1,739
Best high-end sports wireless headphones	1	Beats Powerbeats Pro	RUB 13,980
	2	AfterShokz Aeropex	12 591 RUB
	3	Jabra Elite Active 65t	RUB 7,990
	4	JBL Under Armor True Wireless Flash	RUB 9,990
	5	AfterShokz Trekz Titanium	RUB 6,015

Best Budget Wireless Sports Headphones

Samsung EO-BG950 U Flex

Rating: 4.7

The U Flex headphones are a qualitative step forward compared to previous Samsung models – they have increased mechanical strength (the headset can be bent even more straight without consequences), the sound quality has increased thanks to the use of Scalable technology Audi o, first implemented by a Korean company it is in this model of sports headphones. If the connection is poor, this technology gently lowers the bitrate to keep the connection stable: there will be no audio interruptions ('stuttering'). However, it is worth noting that high quality sound transmission technologies like aptX and aptX HD are not supported here, therefore, in comparison with more expensive and 'musical' wireless headphones, the U Flex will lose – but in their price category they perform well, here we agree with the reviews owners.

The headset weighs only 51 grams, with most of it concentrated at the base, the inserts themselves are light and comfortable. Three pairs of interchangeable ear cushions are included in the set to adjust the ergonomics (and at the same time improve the sound: it depends very much on the correct selection of ear pads for vacuum headphones).

The built-in battery is small, but the manufacturer claims a battery life of up to 10 hours. In practice, at an acceptable volume level, this time will average 8-9 hours, which can be considered a good result: the charge is guaranteed to be enough both for training and for the way home. A USB cable is used for charging.

Advantages

• Convenience, including on the run;
• Good water resistance;
• High battery life;
• Availability of a quick action button programmable through the standard application;
• Strength.

disadvantages

• Lack of aptX support.

Creative outlier sports

Rating: 4.5

Headphones from Creative do not have a 'collar' connecting them – only a flexible cable on which a very compact unit with Bluetooth – module and battery is installed. Thanks to this, the weight was reduced to an extremely small: only 15 grams. The battery capacity is expectedly small – 150 mAh, but the manufacturer claims a battery life of up to 11 hours. What is especially nice – the headphones support aptX.

Efficiency is achieved primarily by limiting the power Bluetooth – of the module: the connection remains stable at a distance of no more than 3 meters from the source. But at the same time, the acoustic path is not cut: there is enough volume, low frequencies are well worked out, which is very pleasant for 6-mm drivers. When listening to music (and support for aptX will be of interest to lovers of high-quality sound), first of all, a weak study of the 'tops' in the sound will be noticeable – this is partly due to the very limitations of the software compression of the communication protocol, and partly to the design of the headphones. But in its price category, the headphones can compete confidently with competitors.

The controls are very simple: two volume control buttons on the edges of the remote control and a pause button (it also allows you to answer a call). It is not difficult to use them by touch, except that the remote control may seem small for the thumbs.

Advantages

• Compactness and very light weight;
• AptX support;
• Hard case included.

disadvantages

• Small radius Bluetooth;
• Insufficient detail of the high frequencies in music;
• Poor attachment of ear pads to the sound guides.

JBL Reflect Contour 2

Rating: 4.4

Structurally, JBL headphones are in many ways similar to Creative: only slightly heavier (18 grams versus 15), the drivers are slightly smaller in diameter (5.8 mm). The battery life is comparable, fast charging is supported (15 minutes of charging per hour of operation). However, one should immediately note the lack of support for aptX for transmitting sound with a minimum of loss of quality, as well as a thin connecting cable – unlike Creative, which uses a thick silicone shell, JBL headphones will require more careful handling.

The headphones are focused on background music and use as a headset – with a more attentive listening to the sound, an overabundance of high frequencies and a lack of lows becomes obvious. To improve the reliability of the fastening, earhooks were used, so we can advise you to try on headphones if possible: not everyone will be comfortable with such a fastening.

Advantages

• Secure fit on the ears;
• Good water resistance;
• Long battery life.

disadvantages

• Average sound quality;
• Thin connecting cable.

Plantronics BackBeat FIT 305

Rating: 4.3

The creators of these headphones have not forgotten about the clothespin for the cable – strange, but neither Creative nor JBL has this, although the cost of this piece of plastic is not high. But they made it weak: according to reviews, many owners quickly break down. The headphones themselves surpassed both competitors in weight: 14 grams against 15 and 18, respectively. However, the struggle with weight also led to a significant decrease in the operating time on a single charge: up to 6 hours.

The remote has three control buttons offset to one of the edges. Because of this, it is convenient for people with thin fingers, for large people it is more difficult to control.

The headphones do not support modern high quality audio technology (aptX, aptX HD). The sound spectrum is accentuated at low frequencies, high frequencies are poorly detailed and are relegated to the background of the sound stage. This will appeal to lovers of simple electronic music, for more complex instrumental compositions the sound elaboration is insufficient.

The set includes three pairs of silicone ear pads of different sizes. Midsize are already installed. With the correct selection of the size, the level of noise isolation of the headphones is good, they are held securely in the auricles.

Advantages

• Good moisture protection;
• Light weight.

disadvantages

• In comparison with competitors, short battery life;
• Insecure wire clamp.

Meizu EP52

Rating: 4.2

The Chinese manufacturer traditionally offers good features at an affordable price: it supports the transfer of music in high quality via the aptX protocol, with a weight of 22 grams, the headphones provide autonomy up to 8 hours. Headphone drivers are ten-millimeter, although in more expensive models, as we indicated above, six-millimeter are often used. The battery for 130 milliampere-hours of capacity is built into the thickening of the rubber bow, the control panel is located symmetrically on the other side of the thickening. There is also a microphone, which is why, according to the owners, the quality of voice transmission during a conversation is average, but friction on clothes is clearly audible.

Replaceable ear pads – four pairs. The outer part of the headphone cases is made of brushed aluminum – although this slightly raised the weight, the headphones look more expensive. Under the pads, neodymium magnets are hidden, which allow the headphones to be interlocked between them.

The sound of the headphones can be called interesting: a good balance of frequencies, a decent level of detail for budget headphones. Everything spoils the build quality: many reviews point to reliability problems – so we can't give a high rating for this model.

Advantages

• Sounds good;
• Decent battery life.

disadvantages

• Reliability problems;
• Poor location of the microphone and remote control.

Koss BT190i

Rating: 4.1

Headphones from a well-known American brand attract attention with their design in the style of the eighties cosmooper, but their balance of characteristics cannot be called successful: they weigh 65 grams (more than any of the models listed above), but at the same time they have a low-capacity battery. for which the declared operating time of 6 hours, according to the owners, is really not maintained: at normal volume, a maximum of one and a half to two hours.

The excess weight is concentrated in the remote, which is installed asymmetrically on the cable – because of this, the same owners point out that the headphones have a problem with the 'overweight', which is well felt. This is especially unpleasant, given that the model is positioned as a sports model – during active movement, the remote control will dangle (there is no clothespin for the wire), trying to pull the earphone out of the ear.

Sound quality is not bad considering the headphones don't support aptX. But, nevertheless, we definitely cannot give these headphones a high rating: the problem, first of all, is not even with ergonomic mistakes, but with reliability: there are too many negative reviews about breakdowns.

Advantages

• Good moisture protection;
• Decent sound processing.

disadvantages

• Ergonomics problems;
• Low reliability;
• Short operating time on a single charge.

Honor AM61

Rating: 4.0

The manufacturer, indicating the technical characteristics of the headphones, cheated: the weight of only an individual earphone (5 grams) is indicated, and not the entire structure as a whole. The battery was able to fit a good capacity (135 mAh). However, the design is symmetrical (so it does not cause the same overbalance problems as the Koss), the drivers are 11mm, which can potentially give decent sound.

However, Honor has a lot of shortcomings – both in the characteristics themselves and in the reviews of the owners. The manufacturer honestly points out the level of dust and moisture protection IP52 – and this is not so much: for the models listed above, it is at the IPX4-IPX5 level. The 11mm drivers actually, alas, cannot produce good bass – on the contrary, the owners note overly accented upper frequencies. One could assume that the characteristics are simply biased towards using headphones as a headset, but talking with them is not particularly convenient because of the quiet and noisy microphone.

To the credit of the manufacturer, there are fewer problems with the reliability of the headphones according to reviews than those of the more famous and expensive Koss, and the battery life is longer – up to 10 hours.

Advantages

• Good build quality for this price
• Long work on one charge.

disadvantages

• Low moisture protection;
• The sound is poorly worked out.

Best high-end sports wireless headphones

Beats Powerbeats Pro

Rating: 4.9

Powerbeats Pro are true wireless earbuds, no external battery or connecting lead. For use in sports with such a design, the reliability of fixation in the ears is important – after all, the earpiece that has jumped out will not stay hanging on the wire, but will inevitably fall. Owners of AirPods, the first true wireless headphones to hit the market, have already become familiar with this. Therefore, Beats has a well-developed design of the temples: they reliably cover the ear, with the correct selection of ear cushions, the headphones are fixed firmly and do not cause discomfort.

We remembered AirPods for a reason: the Beats headphones use the same Apple H1 chip. Hence the understandable similarities: focus on Apple technology (even the charger uses a Lightning connector), lack of support for aptX: the fact is that this protocol is being developed and supported by Qualcomm, which works in a competitive Apple area (Android – devices).

Despite the small weight of the headphones (20 grams each), they managed to achieve high autonomy: the charge in the batteries is consumed economically, and with their small capacity, the headphones can work up to 9 hours. The charge of the case (which, in turn, charges the headphones when they are stowed there) is enough for 24 hours.

Despite the same electronic 'stuffing' as the AirPods, Powerbeats Pro sound noticeably different: the mids are better worked out, the sound is perceived more convex. The bass (which is unusual for Beats) is not overly accentuated – as a result, we can recognize the headphones as universal in terms of genre preferences, both electronic and instrumental music sound good in them.

Advantages

• Long working time on one charge;
• Sound quality;
• Secure fit in the ears;
• Full integration with devices Apple.

disadvantages

• Large dimensions of the charging case;
• Using the Lightning connector.

AfterShokz Aeropex

Rating: 4.8

These headphones can be safely called structurally unique: instead of conventional vacuum inserts with dynamic drivers, they use bone conduction technology, transmitting sound directly to the inner ear. Accordingly, thanks to this, AfterShokz headphones can be recommended to people with hearing problems – where ordinary headphones will not justify themselves, this model will allow you to fully hear music and talk on the phone. People with normal hearing will retain full perception of surrounding sounds: headphones will not interfere with communication, while running on the street they do not create an 'acoustic vacuum' effect, which could become unsafe (it is more difficult to hear approaching vehicles). If you need just isolation from external sounds, which the headphones themselves cannot provide, then ordinary earplugs are included in the kit for this case. However, due to the specificity of sound transmission in headphones and the peculiarities of human hearing, the accentuation of sound changes greatly: the proportion of low frequencies rises, high frequencies are lost. Therefore, we will advise listening to music exactly as the manufacturer intended – with open ears.

Dust and moisture protection class – IP67, headphones are able to transfer not only sweat or drizzling rain, but also a direct drop into water. The built-in battery has a capacity of 145 mAh, the battery life is up to 8 hours. The charging connector is proprietary (which made it possible to provide a high class of water protection), but if the original cable is lost, there will be problems. The manufacturer decided the question simply: there is also a spare charging cable in the kit.

Advantages

• Excellent moisture protection;
• Can be used by people with hearing problems.

disadvantages

• Lack of own soundproofing, which is not always convenient;
• Problems with the reliability of sound emitters (according to reviews).

Jabra Elite Active 65t

Rating: 4.7

After the release of AirPods, the emerging fashion for true wireless headphones led to the fact that they appeared on many manufacturers. But, if the same Beats directly used the element base Apple, then the Jabra model Elite Active 65t became an independent development.

The headphones turned out to be very light (6.5 grams right, 5.8 grams left: in practice, this difference is imperceptible). But because of this, the capacity of the built-in batteries also suffered: they will last no more than 5 hours of operation. These headphones are charged, as befits true wireless, when placed in the complete charging case, which also has less energy reserve than the Beats (up to 10 additional hours).

Each of the headphones uses two microphones (like the Beats) to better filter noise. A useful feature is also implemented – with one click of a button, you can turn on the transmission of ambient sounds from microphones to headphone drivers, they do not need to be removed to answer a question. Another feature is the presence of built-in accelerometers: since the headphones are sports, they are made at the same time and are compatible with fitness tracking in the mobile application.

The protection level is IP56, and the manufacturer gives a two-year guarantee against damage caused by sweat penetration. But, unfortunately, the owners note the weakness of fixation in the ears – and this is a serious miscalculation for sports headphones.

Advantages

• Good sound;
• Noise reduction during telephone conversation;
• Low weight;
• Ability to listen to your surroundings without removing your headphones.

disadvantages

• Unsuccessful mechanism for opening the charging case;
• Weak fit in the ear.

JBL Under Armor True Wireless Flash

Rating: 4.6

Another representative of true wireless headphones, this time from JBL, is made with good moisture protection (IPX7), so it is perfect for sports in this regard: neither sweat nor an accidental fall into the water when running outside after rain is not terrible for the headphones. Autonomy – up to five hours (built-in batteries – 110 mAh each), five more charges are provided by the proprietary case (which, due to the capacious battery for one and a half ampere-hours, however, has become overall and weighty). The headphones themselves, due to their dimensions, look weighty, but each actually weighs only 15 grams: more than two times more than the Jabra, but less than the Beats.

Built-in microphones have provided two useful features. The first one, TalkThru, is similar to that used in Jabra Hearthrough: you can hear the interlocutor's voice without removing the earpiece, and external noises picked up by the microphones will be filtered out. The second, Ambient Aware, transmits the entire spectrum of sounds 'outside' in the background, allowing for a reduced level of sound insulation for safety.

The ear cushions are actually two sets: regular and special 'sports' ones, with an additional protrusion for a more secure hold in the ear.

Advantages

• A good selection of ear pads included;
• Low weight;
• Good moisture protection.

disadvantages

• Large and heavy charging case;
• Tight control buttons.

AfterShokz Trekz Titanium

Rating: 4.5

These headphones, like Aeropex from the same company, use bone conduction technology to transmit sound, so we will not repeat about the pros and cons of the sound itself: they are identical for both models. The models differ in several points. For a start, Trekz Titanium has weaker moisture protection (IP55 versus IP67), so you shouldn't drop them into water. Less capacity of the built-in battery, therefore, the battery life is shorter (up to 6 hours according to the manufacturer's statement).

The sound of the Trekz Titanium is specific – the bass is strong, while due to the very design of the headphones, it is accompanied by a tangible vibration on the 'infrared'. The middle frequencies are worked out normally, but the upper part of the spectrum is no longer enough, and the HF share very much depends on how exactly the headphones are worn on the head: different bone conductivity to the inner ear affects. In this regard, Aeropex are made better – they came out later, taking into account the already gained experience.

Advantages

• Decent moisture protection;
• Suitable for hearing problems.

disadvantages

• Specific sound transmission.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.