Tired of spending your hard-earned money on expensive earbuds only to find that they stop working in a couple of months?
You’re not alone.
Since the launch of the first truly wireless earbuds, we’ve tried and tested more than 30+ earbuds. The reason for buying new ones was solely because the old ones broke.
We’ve handpicked a list of powerful earbuds that were made to last.
How Long Do Most Durable Earbuds Last?
High-quality earbuds with premium built-quality and medium use will last over five years. An average quality earbud lasts for 3-4 years. But, the shell life reduces if you don’t store them properly and listen to music every day for hours.
Most in-ear headphones stop working because of the weakening battery over time, succumbing to malfunctions. But proper care and maintenance can make them last for a lifetime.
Here are the ingredients for the proper maintenance of your earbuds.
- Regularly clean your earbuds with a damp towel.
- Store your earbuds in a protective casing or pouch.
- Ensure that you detach your earbuds after a full charge.
- Avoid wearing your earbuds after falling asleep.
- Do not share your earbuds as it has the risk of ear infections.
- Avoid constant exposure to moisture.
What Makes Earbuds Durable?
The key aspects that determine durability are:
Quality Materials
The common materials that constitute the build of the most durable earbuds are strong plastic-like polyester and polycarbonate. Some of them have a plated metallic housing, aluminum housing, ceramics, and PVC.
Some brands opt for sustainable materials like PCM (post-consumer materials) and PVC-free earbuds to contribute to environmental preservation. It doesn’t mean any compromise on the build quality.
Water Resistance
Water or moisture resistance ensures the longevity of durable earbuds.
Most earbuds have an IP rating that means they’re certified and tested for water resistance. If you’re looking for earbuds made to last that can withstand water splashes, ensure they come with an IP rating.
Cost
If you buy a cheap pair, chances are it won’t last a year, and you’ll end up buying again and again. Choosing sturdier ones with a little more investment will save your money in the long run and last for a couple of years with proper care.
What Are The Advantages Of Earbuds?
People embrace wireless earbuds because of the several benefits it offers.
Liberation from the wires
The main motive of switching to true wireless technology is wires. It allows you the freedom of enjoying your favorite music from anywhere, from a pool to the market.
Comfortability
Most earbuds have an ergonomic design to provide the best fit and feel secure. This is why It also proves handy for traveling.
Fit for active lifestyles
The compact design and freedom enable their usage for many activities. You can wear them while working out or during a boring lecture. Most earbuds have a sweat and water resistance rating, allowing you to enjoy music while you exercise.
Excellent Sound-quality
Rumor says that wireless earbuds lack sound quality compared to wireless headphones or wired earphones. But, wireless sound is more powerful than ever. Few wireless earbuds provide the best quality sound, even better than wired sets.
Sophisticated Appearance
Wireless earbuds are becoming a new trend and a fashion statement. With added colors and unique designs, they complement your outfits and look stylish.
Added functions and features
Besides the advantages stated above, there are several benefits that earphones offer. Some added features include noise cancellation, ergonomic design, and bass enhancing capability to provide great listening sessions.
What Are the Drawbacks of Earbuds?
Wireless earbuds have proved themselves as worthy companions, but they also have a few downsides. To make the best choice while buying earbuds, knowing the drawbacks is essential.
Easily Misplaced
If you’re a carefree person, there’s a high risk you might lose one or a pair of earbuds. The best solution is to place them in their casing after every use.
Expensive
The price range of most branded, high-quality, truly wireless earbuds is $100-$200. With further advancements, the prices of earbuds are reducing gradually to make them reasonable for the mass market.
Obstructions
Sometimes the sound in the earbuds goes static, or the sound quality drops even when you’re in the range. This issue arises due to physical barriers like walls or other wireless devices riding in the same frequency.
Most true wireless earbuds function through Bluetooth with a limited spectrum from 2.4 GHz to 2.8 GHz. This particular bandwidth has high traffic, causing signal interference, especially in crowded locations.
Battery Life Declines
Wireless earbuds run on non-replaceable Lithium-ion batteries, which are efficient. But the compact size leaves a small space for batteries, decreasing the lifespan.
A crystalline buildup starts to coat the battery’s inside walls with each charge, reducing the efficiency. But the change is minute, so you notice the effects after some time.
Do Earbuds Cause Harm?
The output of Bluetooth earbuds is one milliwatt. This proves that they’re safer than direct calls from smartphones and wired earphones. Also, it reduces the exposure of the human body to radiation by keeping away smartphones.
With the rising popularity of wireless technology, people are often concerned with safety.
Earbuds cause hearing impairment only when you listen to a volume higher than 85 dB for a prolonged time. If you use earbuds in moderation, hearing loss is 100% preventable.
What You Should Consider
Here are a few things you should consider before purchasing durable earbuds.
Comfort And Fit
Since our ears and comfort levels are different, we will outline a few factors that will help you choose the best one for you.
Most branded in-ear headphones come in different ear-tip sizes to ensure you get the right fit and comfortability.
- For casual listeners: go for AirPods look-alike earbuds.
- If comfort is a priority: opt for earbuds with a memory foam tip, silicone tips, or rubber ear tips.
- For occasional workouts: go for a pair of earbuds with fins
- For active lifestyles: buy earbuds with ear hooks. It will ensure that your earbuds won’t ever fall off.
Charge
A good pair of headphones should offer a day’s battery backup with the USB Type-C cable charging option.
A good pair should have a playback time of 4-6 hours. The charging case should hold enough backup to charge your earbuds at least three times.
Connectivity
Pairing your earbuds with your smartphone or laptop should be easy and swift. They should automatically sync to the device once turned on. Also, they should offer a good range (around 10m) and transmission speed.
To experience seamless connectivity, the earbuds should have at least Bluetooth 4.2 or Bluetooth 5.0.
Sound Profile
The sound profile is the overall sound quality of the earbuds. To test the best quality sound in earbuds, these are a few parameters used:
- Bass (0-256 Hz): The low notes make the music fun and enjoyable.
- Mids (250-2000Hz): It is the natural sound presentation. Vocals and voices fall in this category.
- Treble (2048-20000Hz): This category encompasses the highest notes that give clarity and details.
Active Noise Cancellation Vs. Passive Noise Isolation
Passive noise cancellation means blocking the ambient sound with earbuds by isolating the ear canal. On the other hand, active noise cancellation neutralizes noises through noise cancellation technology.
Here are a few distinctions that will make it more straightforward.
| Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) | Passive Noise Isolation |
| Needs batteries for noise cancellation | It doesn’t need batteries for sound isolation |
| The sound quality isn’t as good as noise isolation. | The sound quality is better, and earbuds are more comfortable. |
| Fit isn’t important | A good fit is significant for sound isolation |
| Suited for lower frequencies | Not suited for lower frequencies |
| Not suitable for high frequencies | Suited for Mids and high-pitched sounds |
Aesthetics
The TWS earbuds aren’t only for freedom and comfort. They have become the new trend and an item of sophistication. Besides functionality and features, earbuds come in various designs and colors that you can choose.
Sweat and Water Resistance
Several earphones will advertise as water-resistant, sweat-resistant, or workout earbuds. But to know the pressure exactly they can bear, lookout for IP rating.
What is an IP Rating?
Short for Ingress Protection, it determines the durability of earbuds against dust, water, and salt. If the earbuds don’t specify the IP rating, even working out while wearing them is risky.
The dust resistance ranges from 0-6, and water resistance ranges from 0-7. An ’X’ after IP shows the absence of dust resistance.
IP ratings don’t specialize in activities like scuba diving. If you’re buying earbuds that you will wear to the gym, go for at least IPX4.
These are few generalized ratings in earbuds.
| IPX4 | Splashproof | Fit for working out |
| IPX5 | Low-pressure water spray; | handles light showers and rains |
| IPX6 | High-pressure water spray; | you can shower with these on |
| IPX7 | Waterproof; submersible up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. | You can use it in the shower, in the gym, and for sports |
| IPX8 | Like IPX7 water-resistant rating; submersible up to 3 feet for 30 minutes (the manufacturer determines the exact specifications) | You can go for shallow swimming with marine-grade IPX8 rating. |
Codecs
Codecs show the transmission of Bluetooth from the source, like your laptop or tablet. It encodes and decodes data in a precise format for faster transmission speed. The standard codecs in earbuds are:
- Sub-Band Codec (SBC)– default; most basic codec
- Qualcomm’s APTX, APTX HD, APTX adaptive, APTX LL– (For Android Users) Lessens the streaming latency.
- Advance Audio Calling (AAC)– Standard codec for audio compression.
- LC3 codec– It is a Bluetooth enabled hearing aid technology
- Samsung’s Scalable Codec– Compatible with Samsung devices only; like aptX adaptive
Controls
Most branded, quality earphones have control options and touch gestures. A few gestures include tap to increase or decrease volume, skipping tracks, voice commands, or answering phone calls. Few best earbuds also pause music automatically the moment you pull an earbud out of your ear.
Warranty
Whenever you’re buying any product, always look for a warranty. It is the legal commitment by the manufacturer to confirm that the product is free from defects.
Most branded earbuds have a standard warranty of one year. A few brands also offer a warranty of up to two years.
Technical Aspects
Impedance
It is the resistance against the current provided by the circuit when voltage is applied. It determines the power of headphones, and it’s measured in ohms. In general, the impedance of earbuds ranges from 8-600 ohms.
- For casual listeners, the impedance is low (20-40 ohms), so that it is compatible with smartphones and portable devices.
- For audiophiles, the impedance is high (over 65 ohms) to use with other ranges of audio equipment.
Sensitivity
It is the measure of maximum loudness of the earbuds in decibels of sound pressure level. The safe range for sensitivity is 75-110 dB.
Drivers
A dynamic driver creates the sound in the earbuds by changing electrical signals to sound pressure. A powerful driver adds to better sound quality. It can also boost trebles, mids, and bass for a fantastic listening experience.
Frequency Response
It is the range of audio frequencies that the earbuds repeat. Frequency response allows you to choose a device based on your music interests. For instance,
- For bass – opt for earbuds that stress low frequencies and fall late into the deep bass.
- If you like trebles, look for earbuds accenting higher frequencies that go flat in that part.
- Go for earbuds emphasizing mids if you need them for singing.
PRODUCTS
Our Recommendation
SAMSUNG Galaxy Buds Pro
With incredible futuristic features, the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro is a flagship.
This premium product has an appealing pearl finish with a rainbow effect with three color options.
PROS
- Exceptional sound performance
- Waterproof, compact design
- Excellent battery life with wireless charging
- Comfortable and stable
- Decent active noise cancellation
- App support
- Excellent microphone
CONS
- Few features are limited to Samsung devices.
Comfort and Fit
The Galaxy Buds Pro is very comfortable, fits securely, and hides in your ears. You can wear it while working out without worrying about it falling out. The silicone ear tips come in different sizes and provide you with the correct size.
Battery
Samsung advertises 28 hours of total battery backup on the Galaxy Buds Pro.
When the active noise cancellation is in use, the earbuds give a battery backup of 4.5 hours. Without the ANC, the earbuds provide a backup of eight hours. It also supports wireless and USB Type-C cable charging.
Ambient Noise Mode
Ambient Noise Mode enables you to hear everything in your surroundings and has four levels that adjust the transparency. The higher levels from 3 get a bit robotic but detect feeble voices.
App Interface
The app has an easy-to-use interface that allows customization options.
- The voice-detection feature allows the earbuds to switch between ambient and ANC mode automatically.
- You can customize the active touch sensors’ tap that enables Bixby, allow volume control, or play music.
- You can personalize the equalizer according to your preferences.
Sound Quality
The sound quality of these dual-driver earbuds proved impressive. It is immersive and punchier. It has:
- Pronounced bass response.
- Great treble filter.
- Watching movies produces an incredible home theater-like effect.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
The active noise cancellation works up to 95%. Unlike several other earbuds, you can adjust the noise cancellation levels, and you won’t feel the sudden vacuum while you put them on.
360° sounds
These dual-driver earbuds 360° sound gives a remarkable, immersive experience and works on all regular tracks. However, you will need to have the Android One UI 3.1 update.
Microphone
The three microphones produce excellent call quality in both outdoor and indoor conditions.
Additional features
- It has the IPX7 rating, which means it is waterproof and sweatproof. You can use them while working out without worries.
- It has Bluetooth 5.0, providing seamless connectivity.
Here’s the link to buy the product on Amazon.
Best Budget Buy
TOZO T6 True Wireless Earbuds
If you’ve got a tight budget, you can go for TOZO T6 TWS. With the price range under $50, they’re an affordable pair with a matte finish case and soft earbuds.
PROS
- Budget-friendly
- Decent microphone quality
- Fully waterproof
- Compact, sleek design
- Comfortable and secure
- Supports wireless charging
CONS
- The bass filter isn’t that great.
- Sensitive touch sensors
Comfort and Build
The earbuds have a compact and ergonomic design. It has five silicone ear tips that let you pick the right size with ease. You might not feel so secure while you put them on initially and keep pushing it in your ears for security.
The touch sensors have an incredible response and support multiple taps. But they are too sensitive and respond to slight touches.
Audio Quality
The TOZO T6 earbuds have decent sound quality.
- They emphasize the mids, producing incredible vocals and good sound quality, allowing you to listen to podcasts and high-note music with clarity.
- The trebles proved good.
The bass filter lacked impressiveness. The different layers of audio produced came out a little muddled. Even while watching movies, the intense music got a bit muddled.
Microphone
The microphone in these earbuds is quite powerful, competing with expensive brands. The device doesn’t support ANC.
Connectivity
The TOZO T6 uses Bluetooth 5.0 for seamless speed and supports multiple devices. The range limit is around 15 feet with obstacles and 30 feet without any obstacles.
Battery Backup
The earbuds advertise to have 5 hours of backup on earbuds and 15 hours on the case after a single charge. However, the backup lasted roughly up to 4 hours and 12 hours on the case. It supports wireless and USB-type charging.
IP Rating
The earbuds have the IPX8 rating, which means they’re fully waterproof. You can work out, shower, and play sports with these on. However, we discourage swimming with them.
Here’s the link to buy this product.
Best In-Ear Earbuds
Shure SE215-CL
Shure SE215-CL is a product value for money and built for both professional and personal use.
PROS
- Highly durable
- Very comfortable
- Durable and compact carrying case
- Value for money
- Excellent noise isolation
- Suitable for both personal and professional use
CONS
- No IP rating
Build Quality
These Shure headphones have high durability and can last you a lifetime. The earbuds are lightweight, and the headset is pretty low-profile.
The cables are durable, heavy, and replaceable. It has the gold-plated MMCX connector and comes with buttons on the cable through which you can change the volume, play, and pause.
Comfort
The Shure earbuds are pretty comfortable even after hours and offer a secured fit. You can even sleep with these on and wear them under your helmet.
It has six foam and soft flex ear tips in three sizes for a secure and personalized fit with 360-degree rotation.
Audio Quality
The Shure SE215-CL has a single high-definition driver that offers an immersive listening experience. It has an excellent sound quality for in the under $100 range.
It’s equipped with detailed sound with enhanced bass for personal listening or professional monitoring. It’s suited for on-stage performances, and it’s suitable for video editing.
Noise Isolation
These earphones have the best sound isolating sleeves that block up to 37 dB of ambient noise. They act like earplugs when it comes to noise isolation.
Connectivity
They have Bluetooth 5.0 that connects to multiple devices with quick transitions between devices and with a range of 30 feet.
Battery Backup
They provide 8 hours of battery backup and offer fast charging that gives 2 hours of juice with 15-20 minutes of charge.
Here’s the link to buy this product.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most durable earbuds?
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, Jaybird Vista, Powerbeats Pro, Apple Airpods Pro, Shure AONIC 215, Treblab X5, and RHA T20 IEMs are the most durable earbuds with futuristic features.
What are the longest-lasting Bluetooth earbuds?
The Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro, Jaybird Vista, Powerbeats Pro, Apple Airpods Pro, Shure AONIC 215, Treblab X5, and RHA T20 IEMs are a few longest-lasting audio products with superior built-quality and premium features.
How do you make earbuds last longer?
With proper care and maintenance, you can make your earbuds last longer.
- Regularly clean your earbuds with a damp towel.
- Store your earbuds in a protective casing.
- Detach your earbuds after a full charge.
- Avoid wearing them while sleeping.
- Don’t share your earbuds.
- Avoid constant moisture exposure.
What brand of earbuds last the longest?
Several brands in the market offer durable, high-quality earbuds. You can opt for earbud brands like Apple, Samsung, Sony, Shure, Bose, Jabra, Jaybird, TOZO, and TaoTronics for getting the best earbuds.