Best Earphones in the UK

You know what we like in our wireless earphones? No, not audio quality, although that’s a fair guess and you’re not wrong on that one. What we like most is simplicity. At the end of the day, isn’t it the biggest appeal of wireless technologies? No cords, no wires, no hassle. With that idea in mind, let’s talk about ENACFIRE E18. What we have here is a pair of earphones that has simplicity as the cornerstone of its design philosophy. To pair this pair (our deepest apologies) with your mobile phone, you won’t have to press any buttons whatsoever. Just pull them out of the charging case and the device automatically appears as a primary Bluetooth option in your smartphone’s Bluetooth menu.

Speaking of the charging case, we really like how small it is. You can easily fit it inside your pocket. The headphones themselves deliver up to 4 hours of continuous playtime and the case will let you charge them 5 times over, so you’ll have 20 hours of music on the road.

Ra's al Ghul in Batman Begins taught the titular character to always mind his surroundings. The people behind these earphones may not agree with the underlying theme of his philosophies but reckon this particular idea has its merits. That’s where the Single Mode comes in. Using this mode, you’ll be able to take a call or listen to music in one ear, while having your other ear free to listen to your surroundings, a particularly useful mode for riding and driving.

Finally, for what is essentially a mid-range device with a price tag below 50 quid, the audio quality here is superb. The bass is powerful and the HD stereo output is crisp and clear. The model is loud enough to block the background noise and the range of 33 feet (10 metres) is more than you need from a device like that.

Long story short, ENACFIRE E18 serves as a great example of what cordless Bluetooth earphones are all about and what are their biggest strengths and advantages. The sound quality here does not trail behind its wired counterparts, the ergonomics are excellent, and their practicality is practically unrivalled. All in all, these are arguably the best earphones in their class.

Most people only use their earphones outside. But you know what else is outside, apart from people using their earphones? That’s right, loads of background noise coming from all sorts of sources and directions. With this model from TaoTronics, it won’t be an issue. Its active noise-cancellation technology, true to its name, effectively reduces the background noise to about 30 dB, making it practically inaudible. It will allow you to enjoy your favourite music and podcasts without that annoying distracting outside buzz.

By the way, the earphones are corded, so you won’t have to recharge them every time you feel like listening to music. That said, the aforementioned active noise-cancellation technology works off the built-in 140mAh battery. That battery lasts for 15 hours. After that, you’ll have to recharge it using the charging cable that comes with the package.

Other parts of the package include 3 earbuds and 3 hooks. With these little interchangeable components, you’ll surely find the ones that suit you most, allowing you to experience hours of playback in complete comfort.

The bulk of earphones in this price range are made of cheap plastic. With this TaoTronics device, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Comprised of machined aluminium alloy, these things are lightweight, modern, but as sturdy as the next metal gadget. Plus, it the aluminium alloy also reduces battery consumption. On top of that, the model incorporates a gold-plated 3.5mm audio jack, a nice little touch that adds appearance points, and an airplane audio adapter that will definitely come in handy when flying.

We could also mention the 3-button in-line remote control that will allow you to conveniently adjust the volume, select a track, or play/pause the music, but there’s nothing particularly interesting about it.

To rephrase the point we made earlier, these earphones from Taotronics will prove right up your alley if you’re not the type of person who is able to fully enjoy his favourite podcasts or artists with all of those surrounding background distractions. Plus, these things will last you for years to come and keep your ears just as comfortable throughout those years.

With consumer electronics, one of the best ways to determine whether the product’s worth your money or not is to give it the price-performance ratio treatment. If you do that, this model from Anker easily edges out the majority of its budget peers.

When it comes to affordable headphones, heck, when it comes to low-priced electroacoustic transducers in general, the aspect that usually suffers most from the decrease in price is the audio quality. Which is precisely why we’ve added this model to our list. Equipped with precision-engineered 6-mm drivers that are fed via the 4.1 iteration of Bluetooth, these drivers bring forth powerful and skip-free audio.

Wireless headphones have a lot of obvious advantages over their wired counterparts but sound quality and playback time are seldom one of them. But, as we’ve just covered earlier, the sound quality isn’t an issue here and, fortunately, neither is playback time. On a single charge, this thing gives you up to 7 hours of continuous playback, nothing short of impressive for a budget model.

The built-in microphone, equipped with the CVC Noise Suppression technology, will ensure a virtually crystal-clear audio transmission. On top of everything else, these earphones are great for aspiring athletes and fitness enthusiasts. The IPX5 water-resistant shell, along with the internal nano-coating, delivers a double layer of water protection. The whole thing weighs just 15 grams, so you'll forget this tiny black durable device is even there.

Bottom line, these budget wireless in-ear headphones from Anker are easily one of the best options on the market right now as far as the price-performance ratio goes. For less than 20 quid, you get a pair of earphones that more or less delivers in just about every category, from the audio quality to the overall convenience.

We were raving about Anker AK-A3235011 as one of the better options that the budget wireless earphones market has to offer but, honestly, the same can be said about Mpow Flame. It has its flaws, sure. For one, the over-ear clips are not shapeable, so there's a decent chance some may find them a tad uncomfortable. But the model definitely has its strengths too.

To start with, this little device is ridiculously good at conserving energy. Equipped with an improved lithium polymer battery, the model gives you up to 10 hours of continuous playback on a single charge, a number that's probably unmatched by any other pair of earphones that costs less than 100 pounds.

Two things make Mpow Flame great for fitness enthusiasts. First, it complies with the IPx7 code, meaning that the whole thing isn't just sweat-resistant but full-on waterproof. You can completely submerge it in water for 5 minutes and the device will come out unharmed. Apart from that and in addition to 3 regular tips, the model comes with memory-foam ear tips. They adapt to your ear canal and ensure a practically flawless seal and a snug fit, so they'll never feel uncomfortable nor will they likely fall out.

Though clearly not the target audience the manufacturers had in mind, the earphones may even satisfy that always demanding audiophile crowd. As long as they remember that this is a below 20-pound model, they'll be likely impressed with the high-definition stereo sound and surprisingly robust rock-solid bass.

In conclusion, if you would willingly describe yourself as a fitness enthusiast and need a pair of affordable wireless headphones to support you through the most rigorous workout sessions and long jogs, Mpow Flame may just prove your cup of tea. Furthermore, the earphones are great for frequent travellers.

Truth be told, Betron B25 isn't the greatest thing since sliced bread. But it definitely has its moments, as long as you keep in mind that, with a price tag way below 10 quid, this is a super budget model. For a price that will get you 2 or 3 cups of coffee, these are easily the best earphones and not just because you could count all of them on your fingers.

For one, the wires incorporate a braided design, so they'll never tangle up inside your pocket. The 3.5-mm connector features 24k gold-plated coating, making it rust- and corrosion-resistant, not to mention that, thanks to the coating, you're not running the risk of electromagnetic interference and sound distortion.

Again, this is an exceptionally affordable model, so you can't really expect out-of-this-world audio performance from it. But, for their price, the 9-mm drivers are superb. The bass they give you is deep and rich and the acoustics are surprisingly clear and crisp.

The fact that earphones like that deliver a solid audio performance is fairly impressive in the first place. Add to the unusually effective noise-isolation technology and you're literally left to your own devices, enjoying your favourite music regardless of the environment and its surroundings.

Sure, the model comes without a microphone. But the package does include a cable clip and a storage pouch, which is always a plus. By the way, with their sweat-resistant, IPx4 class protection, they aren't bad for running either.

To sum it all up, Betron B25 is a great replacement model. It is an even greater temporary solution. Even the most demanding audiophiles will be pleasantly survived by what these earphones offer in return for a price of a couple cups of coffee. If you really need a pair of headphones but have very little money to spare, this is the device to go for.