The 7 best wireless earbuds with spatial audio in 2024
If you love to use earbuds to listen to music, play games, or watch movies, spatial audio is a key feature you should seek out. This makes the audio far more immersive, so it sounds like it's happening all around you.
Spatial audio is just as important as noise cancellation is in loud environments, or waterproofing for people who work out a lot. The best wireless earbuds offer all three of these key feature -- and so much more.
- Best wireless earbuds with spatial audio overall: Bose QuietComfort Ultra
- Best budget wireless earbuds with spatial audio: OnePlus Buds 3
- Best wireless earbuds with spatial audio for Apple users: Apple AirPods Pro 2
- Best wireless earbuds with spatial audio for Samsung Galaxy users: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
- Best wireless earbuds with spatial audio for Android: Pixel Buds Pro 2
- Best wireless earbuds with spatial audio for working out: Jabra Elite 8 Active (Gen 2)
- Best wireless earbuds with spatial audio for calls: Sony WF-1000XM5
For more information about the best wireless earbuds, don't miss our coverage of the best wireless earbuds for 2024, but if you're looking for headphones, our coverage of the best noise canceling headphones of 2024 will certainly help.
What are the best wireless earbuds with spatial audio?
Our in-house team of consumer tech and audio experts has done the testing and research to compile this roundup of the best waterproof, wireless earbuds offering spatial audio and noise-canceling tech -- the trifecta of features you want when listening to any type of audio. These top picks all offer a stellar private listening experience for music, podcasts, audiobooks, gaming or audio from TV shows and movies. Or, if you just want to drown out the world around you to enjoy near silence, simply wear any of these earbuds with the ANC feature turned on, but with no audio playing.
Best wireless earbuds with spatial audio overall: Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Battery Life: Up to 6 hours (18 hours with charging case) | Weight: 2.72 ounces per earbud | Driver Size: Not disclosed by Bose | Microphones: Not disclosed by Bose | Case: Wired charging | Special Features: IPX4 rated for water resistance; Offers aptX Adaptive support
The most feature-packed and highest-end wireless earbuds offered by Bose right now, the QuietComfort Ultras offer the superior active noise cancellation the company is known for. But this latest iteration of the earbuds introduces spatial audio support, which is something older models don't feature.
While these earbuds offer onboard touch controls, you can customize your listening experience using the Bose Music app. Instead of just turning active noice cancellation on or off, you can adjust the level of ANC, as well as choose a special audio pre-set based on what you're listening to. We love the sound quality from the QuietComfort earbuds. What's missing, however, is wireless charging via the included case.
What you should understand about Bose earbuds is that the company does not disclose too much detail about technical specifications, like driver size or microphone setup. This is in part because the company relies on its own tech -- which is as good (and often better) than what the competition offers.
While providing remarkable comfort, these earbuds also do an impressive job generating high-quality and clear audio while making full use of spatial audio and really impressive noise cancellation. The earbuds are also ideal for hands-free calls, whether you're using an iPhone or Android smartphone.
Best budget wireless earbuds with spatial audio: OnePlus Buds 3
Battery Life: Up to 10 hours (44 hours with charging case) | Weight: 0.17 ounces per earbud | Driver Size: 10.4mm woofer and 6mm tweeter (in each earbud) | Microphones: 3 per earbud | Case: Wired charging | Special Features: IP55 rated; Hi-Res Audio support; Dual dynamic drivers; OnePlus 3D Audio support; Quick charge feature
Imagine earbuds that offer all of the perks you could possibly want -- long battery life, spatial audio, up to 99.6% noise cancelation, full waterproofing, a quick charge feature that provides seven hours of playback with just a 10-minute charge, Bluetooth 5.3 wireless connectivity, onboard touch controls and a feature-packed app that let's you customize your listening experience. Sounds expensive, right?
Well, for around $80, you get all of these features and more from the OnePlus Buds 3. They work nicely with any smartphone, mobile device or computer. And they're perfect for listening to music or streaming TV shows and movies thanks to their 3D audio feature that provides spatial audio with powerful bass. After all, the dual dynamic drivers in each earbud use both a woofer and a tweeter. This gives you crystal-clear sound with extra rich bass.
Along with this superior collection of features, the OnePlus Buds 3 support hi-res audio (using LHDC 5.0) and provide easy-to-use touch controls. Plus, you can fully customize your audio soundstage using the OnePlus mobile app. The Buds 3 offer the sound quality and features you'd expect from wireless earbuds costing three times as much. The only popular feature that's missing is that case does not support wireless charging. If you're looking for inexpensive wireless and waterproof (IP55 rated) earbuds for everyday use, these are the ones we recommend.
Best wireless earbuds with spatial audio for Apple users: Apple AirPods Pro 2
Battery Life: Up to 6 hours (30 hours using the charging case) | Weight: 0.19 ounces per earbud | Driver Size: 11mm | Microphones: 1 per earbud | Case: Wireless charging | Special Features: IP54 dust and water resistant; Wireless charging case; Uses Apple's H3 chip; Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking
Ideal for Apple enthusiasts, the AirPods Pro 2 represent the most powerful earbuds in the AirPods lineup. Key features include spatial audio with dynamic head tracking and support of Dolby Atmos. Their noise-canceling technology also works exceptionally well.
The design of the Apple AirPods Pro 2 is fairly similar to the previous generation, but Apple has introduced touch controls to the stems of these earbuds. These earbuds now come with a USB Type-C wireless charging case.
These are powerful, general-purpose, wireless earbuds that offer spacial audio with dynamic head tracking to make music and audio from TV shows and movies that support it sound truly immersive. The audio instantly adapts when you move your head, too.
This fall, Apple will be releasing a free update for the Apple iPhone and AirPods Pro 2 that will allow these wireless earbuds to serve as FDA-approved, over-the-counter hearing aids. This will make them some of the least expensive, yet most versatile OTC hearing aids on the market. Plus, because millions of people wear AirPods, onlookers will not be able to tell when someone is using these devices to overcome their hearing impairment.
For help choosing which Apple AirPods model is best for you, be sure to read our comprehensive 2024 Apple AirPods buyer's guide.
Best wireless earbuds with spatial audio for Samsung Galaxy users: Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro
Battery Life: Up to 7 hours (30 hours with charging case) | Total Weight: 0.31 ounces per earbud | Driver Size: 10mm driver plus planar tweeter | Microphones: 3 per earbud | Case: Wireless charging | Special Features: Active noise cancellation, HD audios support, adaptive noise control, adaptive EQ, IP57 rated for water resistance
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro offer a more sophisticated design than the previous model, but looks aren't everything. With these redesigned wireless earbuds, you get adaptive noise control, enhanced sound, better overall performance, access to Galaxy AI using voice commands and more.
The stems of these earbuds now feature a pinch control and swipe option for controlling them locally. You also get an enhanced wind shield built into each earbud that makes hands-free calls sound even clearer. And by offering an independently controlled woofer and tweeter in each earbud, they're able to provide a broader spectrum of sound that can showcase even the most minute detail in music and other audio content.
While wearing the earbuds, if someone approaches you and starts to speak, the noise cancellation and audio that's playing will automatically adapt, so you can interact with those around you. At the same time, the earbuds will greatly reduce unwanted sounds, so you can focus on the audio you're listening to. And because these earbuds support Galaxy AI, they can be used for hands-free and real-time language translation. Plus, they respond to a greater selection of voice commands related to playing audio and managing calls.
If you already use any Samsung Galaxy products, whether it be a smartphone, tablet or smartwatch, or even a Samsung TV, these earbuds will work flawlessly with that equipment. Of course, they're compatible with all Android and Bluetooth devices, too. They're available in your choice of silver or white.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro retail for $250, but Samsung and Amazon are both offering deals on the new earbuds. Get them at Samsung for $220 and get a Clip Case included free ($30 value), or buy them at Amazon for $250 bundled with a $30 Amazon gift card and two years of warranty coverage (an Amazon exclusive).
Best wireless earbuds with spatial audio for Android users: Pixel Buds Pro 2
Battery Life: Up to 8 hours (30 hours with charging case) | Weight: 0.17 ounces per earbud | Driver Size: 11mm | Microphones: 3 per earbuds | Case: Wireless charging | Special Features: IPX54 rated for water resistance, Bluetooth 5.4 support, Google Find My Device support
Whether you already use a Google Pixel smartphone, tablet or smartwatch, the perfect audio companion for any or all of these devices are the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 wireless eabuds. However, they also work with all Android and Bluetooth devices. These wireless earbuds provide active noise cancellation and an immersive listening experience.
Choose from four earbud colors -- hazel, peony, porcelain or wintergreen. Because these earbuds are powered using Google's Tensor A1 chip, they're able to provide twice the active noise cancellation as the previous model. There's also a conversation detection feature that pauses your music and switches your earbuds to Transparency mode when you start talking, so you don't have to take them out.
Thanks to the beamforming microphones and new wind-blocking mesh covers (plus integrated AI), hands-free calls sound extra clear, even when you're in a noisy environment. The new design of these earbuds is both ergonomic and comfortable.
Best wireless earbuds with spatial audio for working out: Jabra Elite 8 Active (Gen 2)
Battery Life: Up to 8 hours (24 hours with case) | Weight: 0.2 ounces per earbud | Driver Size: 6mm | Microphones: 6 | Case: Wireless charging | Special Features: Multipoint connectivity with up to 10 devices, Waterproof and very durable
For anyone who leads an active lifestyle, spends a lot of time at the gym, or who just wants wireless earbuds that offer adaptive hybrid active noise cancellation, Dolby Atmos support and impressive spatial audio, we highly recommend the Jabra Elite 8 Active. What sets these earbuds apart is their durability.
These earbuds are waterproof and sweat proof (IP68 rated) and take advantage of what the company calls a "SnakeGrip" coating (made with liquid silicon rubber) to hold the earbuds firmly in your ears in a way that makes them very comfortable. After a few minutes, you'll likely forget you're wearing them.
In addition to making audio sound clear and rich, these earbuds do a nice job handling hands-free phone calls. Using the Jabra Sound+ app, you gain a lot of control over your listening experience. And when used with an Android device, they support Fast Pair. Another convenient feature is that with their Siri and Google Assistant support, you can use voice commands to control your audio listening or hands-free phone calls.
Best earbuds with spatial audio for calls: Sony WF-1000XM5
Battery Life: Up to 8 hours (24 hours with case) | Weight: 0.2 ounces per earbud | Driver Size: 8.4mm | Microphones: 6 | Case: Wireless charging case included | Special Features: Quick charge feature, Supports Hi-Res Audio (wireless), DSEE Extreme support
These high-end wireless earbuds from Sony are called the WF-1000XM5s. They offer the best features the company has ever integrated into wireless earbuds. You get exemplary audio quality, combined with Sony's proprietary, AI-based noise canceling tech that relies on the company's advanced QN2e HD noise cancelling processor.
Using Sony's V2 processor, these earbuds offer multipoint connectivity. Battery life is up to eight hours per charge, but with multiple in-case charges, you can keep these earbuds going for up to 24 hours without needing an external power source. Thanks to the quick-charge feature, just a three-minute charge in the case allows for up to an hour of additional listening time.
These earbuds can also upscale digital audio in real time to restore high range sound lost in compression. When it comes to hands-free calling, the WF-1000XM5s use bone conduction sensors to help isolate speech from ambient sounds, so you're heard clearly, even in an environment with a lot of ambient noise.
It doesn't matter what type of audio you're listening to; these earbuds support spatial audio with head tracking, so the sound adjusts based on your head movement. Like the WH-1000XM5 headphones, the WF-1000XM5 earbuds support Sony's "360 Reality Audio" feature, but only when the audio source is supported by Sony. When you can take advantage of this feature, the sound becomes even more immersive, authentic and lifelike. But be warned: Those spatial audio capabilities are limited only to services and devices that Sony supports.
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