(Pocket-lint) – Most smartphones will come bundled with a pair of free in-ear headphones, but more often than not they’re not exactly high-quality. For occasional music listeners, they’re fine, but if you want to get the most out of your tunes then an upgrade is in order.

When looking for a new pair of in-ear headphones, you’ll want to make sure they’re comfortable, fit snugly in your ears to provide a tight seal and thus better bass and improved noise isolation. 

You will also need to decide if you want a wired or wireless pair. Wired pairs tend to sound slightly better on the whole, but wireless offers convenience. So what are your options if you want to upgrade? Read on to find out.

Pocket-lint

Beats Flex

squirrel_widget_3491164

Beats has revamped the tried-and-tested Beats X, slashing its price and upping its battery life for a package that’s seriously impressive for its price.

They’re comfortable in the extreme, massively lightweight and sound really good, making them an easy choice for anyone operating on a budget and hoping for all-day audio performance. 

• Beats Flex review: Brilliant if you’re on a budget

Pocket-lint

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

squirrel_widget_352481

Bose specializes in comfortable headphones and this true wireless set is no different. It’s a great package that also brings really impressive noise cancelling to the table. 

You get decent battery life and solid connectivity, but it’s the sound quality that really stands out and makes the Earbuds easy to recommend if you’ve got a higher budget. 

• Bose QuietComfort Earbuds review: The in-ear noise-cancelling king

Pocket-lint

Beats Powerbeats Pro

squirrel_widget_148688

If you’re looking for a pair of completely wire-free earphones, the Powerbeats Pro is probably the most versatile pair going. Not only are they cheaper than most of the big-name rivals, but they last longer on a full charge, they sound great and they’re super comfortable to wear. 

Of course, a big draw will be for the performance during exercise. The lightweight, cable-free feel is perfect for long runs and hard sessions in the gym. What’s more, the redesigned shape makes them a lot more comfy than previous Powerbeats models. 

Add that to the fact that the sound is very enjoyable, and they have that H1 Chip found in the AirPods, and you have a very well rounded pair of in-ears. 

• Beats Powerbeats Pro review: Perfect workout companions

Pocket-lint

V-Moda Forza Metallo Wireless

squirrel_widget_141026

V-Moda’s recent offering of headphones has been fantastic, and that includes the latest wireless version of the Forza Metallo in-ears. They follow a similar design path to others, with their neckband form factor, but V-Moda – as always – took it in a slightly different direction. 

Rather than have a chunky collar, the electronics and battery are all kept in plastic housing at the back of the neck, while semi-rigid thick cable leads around the front to the earbuds themselves. This design means they’re very light and easy to wear all day, and that you can hide them easily under your collar if you want to. 

More importantly, the V-Moda’s sound fantastic. There’s plenty of bass and mid-tones, creating a very enjoyable listening experience. They’re not for the audiophile, but there’s a great balance to them. 

• V-Moda Forza Metallo Wireless review: Jaw-dropping sound from new neckband earphones

Pocket-lint

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay E8

squirrel_widget_145367

Bang & Olufsen’s first pair of in-ears within the Beoplay lineup stands out from a lot of the rest, by not just being a piece of plastic tech in your ears. Attention was paid to design, in the form of the leather coated carrying/charging case as well as the construction and feel of the in-ears themselves. 

With the respectable battery life and the smartphone app that lets you customise the audio experience to suit you, these are a truly fantastic pair of wire-frees for the discerning music lover. 

• B&O Play Beoplay E8 wireless in-ear review: Premium styling and sound

Pocket-lint

Apple AirPods 2

squirrel_widget_148285

The AirPods did what other Apple products have typically done in the past; take something that’s already out there, evolve it, and make it popular. They’re not the first completely wireless pair of in-ear headphones, but they were the first to introduce the W1 chip which allows for instant pairing with iOS devices. Now in its second generation, that’s been replaced by the smarter H1 chip. 

The look of them may divide opinion, but they’re unmistakably Apple. Sound quality is decent, although we wouldn’t say it’s the best in this list. However, for the majority of on-the-go listening, they’ll do the job well.

• Apple AirPods 2 review: Small improvements spell second-gen success?

Pocket-lint

Master & Dynamic MW07

squirrel_widget_145803

Master & Dynamic took its time to get into the wire-free market, but that time was really well spent. In the MW07, the manufacturer has some of the best sounding in-ears available, and not just in the wire-free category. Sound is full and detailed with plenty of bass and mid to keep you enjoying your music for hours on end. What’s more, the design is unlike everything else in the category, especially those tortoiseshell patterned finishes. 

Add that to the unique, but very comfortable approach to in-ear fins for a secure fit, plus that awesome shiny charging case, and you not only have one of the most visually distinctive pairs of earphones around, but also the most impressive sounding. 

• Master & Dynamic MW07 review: Wire-free wonderment

Pocket-lint

Audeze iSine10

squirrel_widget_140948

If you want a pair of in-ear monitors unlike any other, the Audeze iSine10 will suit you down to the ground. Particularly if you’re happy with the “TIE Fighter docked in your ear” look. The planar magnetic drivers mean they can achieve balance and clarity that you just don’t normally get from tiny in-ears. They also mean that the outer housing is much bigger than most, and that they need internal or external ear hooks to keep them on your ears. 

For iPhone users, there’s a version that ships with a Lightning connector, which also has a built-in 24-bit DAC/amp processing system to make your music sound even better than it would through a 3.5mm jack. What’s more, it also means it can be controlled by the Audeze app to adjust EQ presets using a 10-band equaliser. 

The long and short of it is that they look weird, but sound amazing, and are surprisingly comfortable to wear.

• Audeze iSine10 review: In-ears unlike any other

Pocket-lint

RHA CL2 Planar

squirrel_widget_146224

Every now and then you pick up a product in a category and it completely ruins every other product for you. In the case of neckband or wireless in-ears, the CL2 Planar from RHA is that pair. The only issue is, they cost a lot of money. 

In every way, this is a premium pair of earphones that offers sound and versatility by the bucket load. Its performance predominantly comes from a tiny planar magnetic driver within an impossibly small case built from very high end cermic materials. This is then delivered into your ear via virtually any choice of tip you can think of. 

What’s more, with the MMCX connector, you can decide to use the Bluetooth neckband or switch for a traditional 3.5mm jack-equipped oxygen-free copper cable or silver coated cable and 2.5mm jack. 

It’s a simply sublime pair of earphones, but one that will leave your wallet hurting once you’ve ponied up the cash for them. 

• RHA CL2 Planar review: Chic and unique in-ears come with a hefty price

Pocket-lint

Audio Technica ATH-LS70iS

squirrel_widget_141275

For the price, you’ll be hard-pushed to find something sounds as well-balanced as the Audio Technica in-ears. They don’t quite live up to their promise of sounding like “live sound”, but that doesn’t mean they’re not impressive. 

The ear hook design means they sit securely on your ears and offer a nice, isolated fit, passively killing off noise from the outside to leave you in a lovely bubble of music. 

Crowd screams and claps on live songs are conveyed incredibly well to help you feel part of the audience and vocals are presented right at the fore. They’re punchy, clear and, in some instances during our testing, goosebump-inducing.

• Audio Technica ATH-LS70iS review: Exceptional detail at an affordable price point

Writing by Cam Bunton. Editing by Max Freeman-Mills.