The Beats Studio Buds resemble the reported stemless AirPods that some people were hoping for. They’re aimed at both iOS and Android users, and while they lack a few critical features on the Apple side (no H1 or W1 chip), they’re compact, lightweight earbuds that are comfortable to use and provide excellent sound. While their noise canceling isn’t as strong as the AirPods Pro’s, they do offer a transparency option that allows ambient sound in and is adequate for making calls. Finally, their fit and sound quality are their main selling features – and they’re around $50 less expensive than the AirPods Pro.
Number 5. Bose Sport Earbuds ($179)
Because of their StayHear Max tips and snug fit, Bose’s QuietComfort Earphones and Sport Earbuds both make terrific workout earbuds, but the Sport Earbuds are more compact and lighter, as well as cheaper.
They have the same IPX4 water resistance rating as the QuietComfort Earbuds, Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, and a comparable design style, with three color options. They lack active noise cancellation, have 5 hours of battery life rather than 6 hours, and do not support wireless charging. While they do protrude from your ears, they are substantially smaller and lighter than the QuietComfort Earbuds, and their casing is around 30% to 40% smaller.
