Buy Jabra Elite 75t at Amazon – $150

Runner up: Sony WF-1000XM3

Billy Steele/Engadget

Sony’s stellar WF-1000XM3 are still near the top of our list, but the true wireless earbud industry has changed a lot since their introduction. The M3s offer powerful ANC that automatically adjusts based on your activity, or thanks to a recent update, your location. The sound is also excellent and touch controls work reliably. Heck you can even find these on sale for well under $200 if you keep an eye out. However, they are big and bulky — sticking out of your ears like antennae. They lack the comfort of some of our other picks. While Sony packed in a ton of features here, the M3 has a lot more competition now.

Buy WF-1000XM3 at Best Buy – $230

Best budget: Anker Soundcore Spirit Dot 2

Billy Steele/Engadget

Sure, there are cheaper options, but for $80, it’s hard to beat the Anker Soundcore Spirit Dot 2. These true wireless earbuds are smaller than a lot of the competition which makes them more comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. Anker also delivers ample bass here, which means they can handle hip-hop, electronic and other genres that rely on low-end. They’re also IXP7 rated, so they’ll easily double as your new workout partner.

Buy Soundcore Spirit Dot 2 at Amazon – $80

Best for iOS: AirPods Pro

Billy Steele/Engadget

There’s no denying that AirPods are extremely popular among iPhone owners. And there’s a good reason. The earbuds integrate seamlessly with iOS. Plus, the more recent models offer hands-free access to Siri, on top of core features like quick pairing. In addition to active noise cancellation, the AirPods Pro have one very important thing the “regular” AirPods don’t: comfort. And when you factor in the spatial audio improvements in iOS 14, the Pro model is well worth the extra investment at this point.

Buy AirPods Pro at Amazon – $250

Best for Android: Pixel Buds (2020)

Billy Steele/Engadget

Google’s first set of Pixel Buds were largely a bust. They weren’t true wireless, and overall, they felt incomplete. The company went back to the drawing board for its 2020 model — ditching the cord entirely and further integrating with Google Assistant. The Adaptive Sound feature that’s meant to be a stand-in for ANC isn’t great and you can find several options with better battery life. However, for the price, Pixel Buds offer solid sound quality, a comfy fit and direct access to Assistant the Android faithful will find useful.

Buy Pixel Buds at Best Buy – $180

Best overall sound quality: Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2

Billy Steele/Engadget

Sennheiser made quite the leap from its first true wireless earbuds to version 2.0. The company figured out the touch controls, extended the battery life and added active noise cancellation. The Momentum True Wireless 2 is also the best sounding set of true wireless earbuds we’ve tested. As we noted during our review, Sennheiser consistently creates an audio profile that highlights minute details of songs, from the subtle attack of acoustic guitar strumming to the deep sub of synths and drum machines. The company’s trademark tone is warm, pleasant and inviting. The downside is these are pricey at around $300 and you can find better battery life (and wireless charging) elsewhere. In terms of pure audio quality though, this is the clear top pick.

Buy Momentum True Wireless 2 at Best Buy – $300

Honorable mention: Samsung Galaxy Buds+

Billy Steele/Engadget

The Galaxy Buds Live might be the hot new thing, but the Galaxy Buds+ are actually Samsung’s best option. The company went all-in with iOS integration this time around, which means iPhone owners are privy to the many of the same features and customization options as users with Galaxy devices or Android phones. The tiny size of the Galaxy Buds+ makes them comfy to wear for hours, and the affordable price won’t break the bank.

Buy Galaxy Buds+ at Amazon – $130

Buy Nest WiFi (2-pack) at Best Buy – $199

Buy Nest WiFi (2-pack) w/ accessories at BuyDig – $199

Buy Nest WiFi (2-pack) at B&H Photo – $199

Sony true wireless earbuds

Billy Steele/Engadget

Two of our favorite true wireless earbuds from Sony remain on sale: the WF-1000XM3 wireless earbuds are on sale for $170 at Best Buy and Amazon, and the new Sony WF-SP800Ns are down to $150 at Best Buy and Amazon, too. The WF-1000XM3s (score: 89) hold the top spot as our favorite wireless earbuds right now thanks to their solid ANC, great audio quality, good wireless connection and their six to eight hours of battery life. The WF-SP800Ns (88) are a bit sportier as they offer more sweat resistance than the other earbuds, and they also have good sound quality and ANC capabilities.

Buy Sony WF-1000XM3 at Best Buy – $170 Buy Sony WF-1000XM3 at Amazon – $170

Buy Sony WF-SP800N at Best Buy – $150 Buy Sony WF-SP800N at Amazon – $150

CalDigit TS3 Plus docking station

CalDigit

A docking station can help you make your new work-from-home space more efficient. CalDigit’s TS3 Plus has basically every port you’d ever need and it’s on sale for $210 right now. Its 15-port array includes five USB-A ports, an Ethernet port, a dual-bandwidth DisplayPort, an SD card slot and more. It even includes a couple of Thunderbolt 3 ports as well. Not only can you connect up to two displays at once along with any other accessories you need to use daily, but the TS3 Plus will also charge your laptop while it’s connected with up to 87W of power.

Buy TS3 Plus at B&H Photo – $210

TCL 8-series Roku smart TVs

TCL

You can still get a couple of TCL’s 8-series Roku TVs on sale at Best Buy. The 65-inch 4K model is down to $1,000 and the massive 75-inch 4K model is one sale for $1,800. While the latter was $300 lower last week, the current sale price is still a good one as it’s $1,200 off the TV’s normal price. The 8-series came out at the end of last year and these sets have better color performance and more precise backlighting than previous generations thanks to quantum-dot and mini LED technology.

Buy 65-inch TCL Roku TV at Best Buy – $1,000

Buy 75-inch TCL Roku TV at Best Buy – $1,800

Echo Dot bundle

Amazon

Now’s the time to grab an Echo Dot while you can get one for as low as $1. Amazon continues to run a promotion that allows new Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers to buy two months of the service and then add on an Echo Dot for only $0.99 extra, or an Echo Dot with Clock for only $10 extra. These are the lowest prices you’ll see on Echo Dots, so it’s worth giving Music Unlimited a shot for a couple of months if you’ve been eyeing one of Amazon’s smallest smart speakers. Just remember that your Music Unlimited subscription will renew after the two-month period at the normal price of $10 per month unless you cancel.

Buy Echo Dot bundle at Amazon – $21

Buy Echo Dot with Clock bundle at Amazon – $30

New deal additions

Fire TV Stick 4K + Echo Dot bundle

You can get two of Amazon’s most popular Alexa devices for less when you buy them together. Now the Fire TV Stick 4K with Echo Dot bundle costs $65, which is $35 less than its normal price. It was only cheaper last year during the holiday shopping season, so while this isn’t the lowest price ever, it’s a good deal if you have an immediate need for both devices. The Fire TV Stick 4K is one of our favorite streaming devices thanks to its compact design and support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. The Echo Dot is a good tiny smart speaker that’s one of the easiest (and most affordable) ways to start using Alexa more frequently.

Buy Fire TV Stick 4K bundle at Amazon – $65

Anker PowerCore Slim 10,000 PD USB-C power bank

If you need a battery pack that won’t take up too much space in your bag, Anker’s PowerCore Slim is a safe bet — and it’s on sale for $20 on Amazon when you clip the $5 coupon on the product page and use the code ANKER1231 at checkout. It measures just over a half-inch thick and has a 10,000mAh capacity, which is enough to charge newest iPhones and Pixel smartphones twice over. It also has a “rapid charge” feature that lets you power up the bank fully in 4.5 hours when you use a USB-C PD wall charger.

Buy PowerCore Slim power bank at Amazon – $20

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Buy Sony WF-SP800N at Best Buy – $150

Sony has continuously improved its ANC earbuds over the years and the WF-1000XM3s (89) are the best iteration so far. They already start out more affordable than some competing devices, and they have great sound quality and ANC to boot. You’ll hear booming bass and bright highs through these earbuds, and the audio only gets better when you turn on ANC. They get between six and eight hours of battery life depending on how much you use ANC, and we also like the companion Headphones app that lets you tweak the EW, turn up the Clear Bass level, change the Adaptive Sound Control settings and more.

The WF-SP800Ns are actually newer than the WF-1000MX3s, debuting back in May, and we gave them a score of 88 for their affordable $200 regular price, solid ANC and punchy bass. They’re the midrange version of the WF-1000MX3s, lacking some premium internals but keeping most of important features. They’re also designed to withstand sweat more than the WF-1000MX3s, making them the better choice for those trying to stay fit. Sound quality is similar, ANC quality is just as good, and these earbuds also connect to the Headphones app so you can customize a bunch of settings.

Since both of these earbuds are quite similar, we have similar gripes about them. The WF-1000MX3s and WF-SP800Ns have a similar fit that might take some getting used to (and it’s easy to do so thanks to the different sized ear tips that come with each), and their charging cases are on the large side. Otherwise, either of these Sony earbuds make excellent daily drivers, especially when you can grab them at these discounted prices.

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On top of being more affordable than most flagship true wireless earbuds, the WF-1000XM3 outperforms much of the competition. Sony’s new QN1e noise-cancelling chip blocks out any distractions while using less power than ever to do so. At the same time, Sony brings more sound depth than other true wireless earbuds, with “solid performance across a diverse range of genres,” we wrote in our review. That’s helped by Sony’s “Digital Sound Enhancement Engine” that upscales compressed audio from Spotify and other services, making it more like high-resolution audio.

If the sound doesn’t suit you out of the box, you can always use Sony’s companion app to adjust the EQ, crank the bass and do other tweaks. You don’t have to worry about dropouts, either, as Sony’s latest Bluetooth chip beams sound to both earbuds at once. Finally, battery life is class-leading at six hours on a charge with active noise cancellation enabled, or eight hours if it’s turned off.

The only potential drawbacks are the size, which is larger than Sony’s previous true-wireless WF-SP700N model. However, they should stay put for the most part once you find the right tip. In any case, as long as you’re partial to the silver color, you won’t find them any cheaper.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Buy Sony WF-1000XM3 at Best Buy – $180

For those who want a more sporty pair of in-ear headphones, Amazon and Best Buy have also discounted the WF-SP800N. They’re currently $168, down from their usual $200 price. Here too you two color options, with the black and blue models included in the sale.

Awkward model numbers aside, the WF-1000XM3 and WF-SP800N are two of the best pairs of true wireless earbuds you can buy. Engadget’s Billy Steele gave the two headphones scores of 89 and 88, respectively. Both headphones feature active noise cancellation and long-lasting batteries, which you top up with the included charging case that comes with each model. 

Billy Steele

Sony’s companion app is another highlight. It allows you to tweak the company’s handy Adaptive Sound Control feature to your liking. You’ll also find sound presents, EQ controls and a variety of other adjustable settings.

If you’re unsure which model to buy, the WF-SP800N are better suited for workouts since they’re sweat and splash-proof. The WF-1000XM3, by contrast, are a better match for critical listening with their more neutral sound signature. Depending on your ears’ shape and size, you may find them uncomfortable to wear since they’re both bulky, particularly in comparison to some of the other true wireless earbuds you can buy currently. However, if that’s not an issue, it’s hard to go wrong with either the WF-1000XM3 or WF-SP800N. 

The Headphones app will also allow you to change the Adaptive Sound Control settings, turn off that DSEE HX tech and change the function of the buttons on each earbud. However, your options are super limited there. You can choose between playback controls (play/pause and skipping tracks), Ambient Sound modes (on, off, noise-canceling) and Google Assistant. That’s it. I found it best to have playback controls on one side with the Ambient Sound options on the other. And no, there’s no option for onboard volume control. It’s my main gripe with the WF-1000XM3. Every time you want to change the volume, you have to grab your phone or reach for your laptop. There is, however, a “quick attention mode” that’s super handy. If you cover the left earbud with your hand, the music reduces to a low hum so you can hear what’s going on around you. This is also available on Sony’s XB900N headphones.

In addition to improved ANC and audio, Sony built a new Bluetooth chip for the WF-1000XM3. In addition to the usual connectivity improvements, sound is transmitted to both earbuds simultaneously, rather than beamed to one and then from that one to the other. Indeed, the Bluetooth is reliable, and I never experienced any dropouts. Ditto for video: not once did I encounter a time where the audio didn’t sync up with the visuals.

Battery life is another area Sony bests much, if not all, of the competition. The company claims the WF-1000XM3 will last six hours on a charge with ANC turned on, or eight hours with noise-canceling off. I had no problems hitting that mark, and the included charging case helps keep the buds topped off. The case is larger than a lot of the ones I’ve seen, and it won’t fit in your pocket most likely. Despite the added bulk, it does offer three additional charges or an extra 18 hours of total listening time. There’s also a quick-charge feature that will give you 90 minutes of listening after 10 minutes. Handy if you drain them at the office and need to block out your commute with a podcast.

But it’s worth noting, the design isn’t for everyone. The buds stick out of your ear quite a bit, and they’re larger than Sony’s previous true-wireless models — like the WF-SP700N. Unlike that sporty option, the company ditched the fin. Instead, there’s a hump right under the tip that helps them stay in place. Despite the extra heft on the outside, the WF-1000XM3 stays put for the most part, once you find the perfect-sized tips for your ears. Still, these look like you’re wearing two Bluetooth headsets — like you’re someone super important … from 2006. If you’re hoping to be discreet with your true-wireless earbud choice, these probably aren’t the best option.

In terms of alternatives, Sennheiser is probably the closest sound-wise, but I found the Momentum True Wireless frustrating to use, especially the onboard controls. Plus, it costs $300. I also really like the sound of Master & Dynamic’s MW07, but they’re still $299, and the battery life isn’t great. Honestly, with Sony coming in at $70 or less than a lot of “flagship” true-wireless earbuds, it’s hard to recommend any of the alternatives. But hey, they’re out there if you need to shop around. Sony has a super compelling package, and it’s better than the pricier options. The only reason to consider something else is if you want to take your buds to the gym. And in that case, the PowerBeats Pro are the best-sounding alternative that won’t buckle when they get sweaty.

With the WF-1000XM3, Sony has brought its true-wireless earbuds up to the level of its best-in-class headphones. Powerful noise-cancellation, improved Ambient Sound mode and incredible sound quality make these the best option under $300. And really, they’re probably your best bet at any price.

The WF-1000XM3 will last around six hours with noise canceling, and eight hours without the feature. There’s also a new case that provides three additional charges. And if you end up draining them completely, you can juice them up in 10 minutes for 90 minutes for listening time. The case is a bit too large for most pockets, unfortunately. But its magnetic latch means you should be able to toss it into a bag without worrying about the buds spilling out (they’re also held in place magnetically).

Based on my testing with pre-production units, the WF-1000XM3 feel incredibly comfortable and deliver the best sound quality I’ve ever encountered from truly wireless buds. I could clearly hear every element of Blood Orange’s multi-layered tracks and the full weight of Hans Zimmer’s Inception score. For once, I didn’t feel like I was missing key aspects of my music, which is more than I can say for every other pair of wireless earbuds I’ve tried. Jaybird’s Run XT are comfortable, but their sound lacks nuance; Jabra’s Elite Active 65t practically disappear into my ears, but they sound completely flat; and Apple’s AirPod’s 2 sound fine, but slip out of my ears far too easily.

While the WF-1000XM3’s noise canceling isn’t as magical as its over-the-ear siblings, it’s still powerful enough to erase most of the clamor from my subway commute. Even with that feature turned off, they offer a tight enough seal to cut out plenty of background noise. And if you want a bit more situational awareness, you can just tap on the left earbud to turn on its ambient mode, which pipes in external noise.

Throughout my testing, I was surprised to find that they never lost reception. That’s a first for any wireless earbuds I’ve tried in New York City’s electronically chaotic streets. And try as I might, I couldn’t make them budge once I secured them in my ears. They look a bit larger than other wireless buds, but they were easy to wear for hours on end. The only major downside, at this point, is that they’re not water resistant. So you probably won’t want to take them out for a jog on a rainy day.

I still need to put the WF-1000XM3 through their paces to judge them completely, but at this point I’m impressed. Sony has crafted a pair of wireless earbuds that don’t feel like you’re compromising sound quality. And while I’m still left with the problem of where to put them in a pinch, at least now I can appreciate the freedom from cables a bit more.

The WF-1000XM3 will retail for $230, and are available for pre-order on Amazon and Best Buy today. They’ll start shipping to retailers in August.