Holiday Gifting 2020: 5 Great Wireless Earbud Options

7 min readNov 29, 2020

Wireless earbuds are going to be on many wish lists this year. Even more so than usual after Apple released the new iPhone 12 series in the fall without even including a set of cheap EarPods as a free pack-in. There are plenty of options to choose from. I’m going to skip the obvious AirPods/AirPods Pro for iPhone owners. If someone really wants these, it’s likely because of the tight integration with Apple hardware and Siri — or the look. Either way, those who have their heart set on AirPods are probably not going to be happy with anything else, even if other wireless earbuds offer better sound or battery life.

I’ve evaluated many wireless earbuds options over the past several years, and I have some recommendations. Any of these would make a great gift.

I am one of those people who has difficulty finding earbuds that fit properly. That’s a problem because poorly-fitting earbuds means discomfort, risk of popping out, and compromised audio performance.

I’ve spent the past few weeks trying out a set of UE 18+ CSX custom-molded earbuds from Ultimate Ears, and the experience has been incredible. For the first time — after testing many dozens of earbuds over the years — this is a pair that fits, perfectly.

The price and need to send custom molds back for processing means these probably aren’t a realistic holiday gift option. But… The company has incorporated the advances used for the custom molding used in the CSX series in a new offering: UE FITS. These $249 earbuds are gel-filled and use Ultimate Ear’s LightForm technology to custom-fit to the ear in just 60 seconds.

Big Wins For BTS & Co. As Big Hit Entertainment Goes Public & Prices Fluctuate Big Hit Entertainment To Acquire Label Founded By Korean Super Producer-Rapper Zico Why Connected Fitness Tech Popularity Will Outlast Covid-19.

Clearly there is a big demand for earbuds that fit perfectly, because the first batch sold out. However, you can still order UE FITS wireless earbuds for January 2021 delivery.

I reviewed 1More’s excellent True Wireless ANC In-Ear Headphones in April. With their unique O-hooks, aluminum charge case and carbon fiber-appearance shells, these are premium looking earbuds.

1More packed them with the latest technology, including enhanced two-level active noise cancellation, Bluetooth 5.0, an infrared sensor with auto-pause, and Qi wireless charging support for the charge case. They sounded fantastic, thanks to 1More’s custom-tuned hybrid dual driver setup (including a dynamic driver with 10mm Titanium composite diaphragm).

I was particularly impressed with the solid bass and high energy performance of these award-winning earbuds. They were well worth the $199.99 MSRP. Since that review, the value proposition has gotten even better (thanks to firmware updates), especially for video enthusiasts. The 1More True Wireless ANC In-Ear Headphones are now the world’s first THX-certified true wireless earbuds.

I use earbuds for listening to music. Some people use them for talking on their phone. If you’re shopping for earbuds for someone who spends a lot of time on calls, Jabra is a name you should watch for. The Danish brand has a long history of designing high performance telephone headsets for professional and personal use. The company puts that experience to effective use in its wireless earbuds.

The Jabra Elite 85T are the company’s latest offering. They deliver premium quality audio and 11-level active noise cancellation.

Call quality is outstanding, thanks to three professional-quality MEMS microphones in each ear bud. In addition, Jabra uses an algorithm to cancel out wind noise. Callers can hear their own voices as well (without having to shout) thanks to the sidetone feature that plays their voice in the earbud.

Jaybird’s Tarah Pro wireless earbuds have been around for a while. I reviewed them back in January, 2019.

However, despite being a little long in tooth so far as earbuds go, these $159.99 earbuds remain a top pick that would be ideal for many people who find traditional earbuds lacking.

There is a wire connecting the buds (they still connect wirelessly to a smartphone or smartwatch), and this offers big advantages. Controls and battery move from the buds themselves to an inline module. That means smaller and lighter buds, easier operation, and a whopping 14-hour battery life. On a single charge. And no risk of losing a bud if one pops out.

These earbuds are extremely comfortable (Jaybird was a pioneer in silicone fins and tips), they remain securely in place during vigorous activity and they are virtually indestructible. That includes an IPX7 water resistance rating and a rugged, braided cable. They also sound good, and the audio can be customized using Jaybird’s mobile app.

For nearly two years now, the Jaybird Tarah Pros have remained the earbuds I use whenever I’m working outdoors. Finally, a second option from 1More. I reviewed the company’s ColorBuds just a few weeks ago. The name comes from the range of colors these true wireless earbuds are offered in. If someone is sick of white or black, the ColorBuds include other options like Twilight Gold or Sakura Pink. You can also get Midnight Black…

The color selection isn’t the big draw for the 1More ColorBuds, though. The real reason to consider these is the value proposition. At $99.99 these are budget true wireless earbuds that are simply way better than they should be for that price.

Audio quality is excellent, thanks to 1More’s use of a custom-tuned, full range balanced armature. Battery life is rated at six hours, the charge case has fast-charging and USB-C and the earbuds are IPX5 water resistant. The tap controls can be customized, including support for digital assistants.

There is no shortage of cheap wireless earbuds out there from brands you’ve probably never heard of. Picking any of these can be a real roll of the dice. However, the 1More ColorBuds prove you can pay under $100 for a pair of true wireless earbuds from a reputable company and still get a great experience.

Holiday Gifting 2020: 5 Great Wireless Earbud Options

Written by Sunday