Rating of the best in-ear headphones 2020-2021: TOP 10 according to customer reviews

In-ear headphones are easy to use and do not exert strong sound pressure on the ears, like, for example, vacuum analogues. They are more hygienic, since they do not penetrate deep into the ear canal, have a natural sound, and are suitable in size for almost everyone. Our rating of the best in-ear headphones 2020-2021 will tell you which model you should give preference to in order to enjoy using the accessory.

TOP 10 best in-ear headphones 2020-2021

Among the best models are headphones from popular manufacturers that have been proven for decades. The rating includes not only premium accessories, but also budget models that are reliable and of good quality. The TOP includes the following manufacturers:

Philips;
Sennheiser;
Samsung;
JBL;
Sony;
Xiaomi;
Apple;
Plantronics.

Philips SHE1350

Simple, but high-quality and inexpensive in-ear headphones, designed for daily use. They have a low cost, but at the same time they have a fairly clean and clear sound. Suitable for all devices with a mini jack 3.5 mm connector.

The rather compact size combined with the rounded shape fits well in the ears. The headphones do not fall out, they can be used not only in a vertical, but also in a horizontal position. Sound deficiencies at different frequencies can be easily corrected in the player’s equalizer.

Price: from 180 rub.

Philips SHE1350 headphones

Low cost coupled with decent sound.
The shape and size are optimal for the ears.
The wire does not bend at the junction with the plug.
The L and R marks are not applied with paint, but are made by stamping.

The wire is short and thin, quickly dulls in the cold.
Bass stands out better than other sounds.
People around you can hear music from your headphones even at medium volume.

Unboxing video:

Sennheiser MX 170

The well-known German manufacturer offers good headphones at a budget price. The model with a comfortable anatomical shape fits perfectly into the ears and does not cause discomfort. The average length of the wire allows you to easily pass the cord under a jacket or put the gadget in a backpack.

The headphones are equipped with replaceable ear pads. They soften the sound and make the seating more comfortable. They look quite laconic, since they do not have reinforcing casings near the plugs and earbuds, but this forces you to use the accessory as carefully as possible.

Cost: from 390 rubles.

Headphones Sennheiser MX 170

Excellent value for money and quality.
Good realistic sound at all frequencies.
The wire does not get tangled or bent.
High quality materials.

There is only one set of ear pads.
The sound isolation is slightly lower than what is usually found with in-ear headphones.

Owner's review:

Samsung EO-EG920 Fit

Stereo headset from a popular brand. The presence of a microphone allows you to use the model not only as headphones, but also as a device for conversation. The earbuds are equipped with dense ear pads, which provide good noise insulation and allow you to listen to music comfortably even in crowded places.

The headphones are very sensitive and cover a wide frequency range, so their sound will delight music lovers and lovers of high-quality sound. A control panel is attached to the wire, with which you can switch tracks, adjust the volume, and receive calls.

From 790 rubles.

Samsung EO-EG920 Fit Headphones

The golden mean between liners and vacuum models.
The line has a wide color palette.
They sit firmly on the ear and do not fall out during sports.
The sound is clear, without extraneous wheezing or hissing.

Prolonged use causes discomfort.
The shape of the earbuds is not suitable for everyone.

Video review:

JBL T205

Model with extended equipment: two additional ear pads and a sports travel case. The headphones are suitable for everyday use, jogging, talking on the phone. The built-in microphone accurately transmits voice and suppresses unnecessary external noise.

The flat cable does not tangle, does not bend, and promises many years of service. The appearance is at a high level - high-quality plastic is combined with stylish metal inserts and rubberized liners.

Price: from 990 rubles.

Headphones JBL T205

High build quality.
The case allows you to safely transport the headphones.
At all frequencies the sound is clear and detailed, without muffling.
Light weight.

Poor sound insulation while listening to music.
The non-standard shape of the protective casing at the plug contributes to the wire breaking.

Sony STH32

The different color options in Sony's line of in-ear headphones make them suitable for both adults and children who love bright colors. The accessory is protected from moisture, dust and small debris. Thanks to the comfortable shape of the earbuds, you can listen to music for hours on end without the slightest discomfort.

A control panel with a microphone is attached to the wire; for convenience, a clip in the form of a clothespin is provided. The device supports voice control; to do this, you need to hold the center button on the remote control - it launches the voice assistant. Standard L-shaped plug reduces the risk of wire breakage.

From 1490 rubles.

Headphones Sony STH32

Convenient and stylish control panel.
The cord is thick enough to not curl.
Protection from moisture and dust.
Great sound for its price range.

After several months of active use, the central button begins to stick.
The wires from the earbuds to the fork are thin.
The control panel is too low.

Xiaomi Dual-Unit

Good earbuds from the famous Chinese brand Xiaomi are available in two colors - black and white. They look simple and concise, without unnecessary details: plastic bowls and remote control, rubber cable. The L-shaped plug is reinforced with a durable, smooth casing.

The entire surface of the bowls is flat and smooth, has no flaws, and therefore the headphones will not create discomfort or injure the ears. The back of the earbuds is elongated and has metal plugs marked R and L. The sound is clear, light, and sonorous.

Cost: from 1090 rub.

Xiaomi Dual-Unit Headphones

High volume, clear sound.
Laconic appearance.
There is a remote control for controlling the player.
The microphone allows you to use the accessory as a headset for communication.

Bass and low frequencies are practically inaudible.

Review:

Apple EarPods (Lightning)

Apple replaced the standard 3.5 mm connector with Lightning, which, according to manufacturers, provides better sound quality. Because of this, the headphones are only suitable for Apple devices.

They are made of high quality plastic and well assembled. The cable contains a remote control that not only scrolls through tracks, but also can receive calls and call a voice assistant. The sound of the tracks is satisfactory for most people, and the earbuds are suitable for daily use. Due to the design features, they practically do not suppress external noise.

From 2190 rub.

Apple EarPods headphones

High-quality and surround sound at all frequencies.
Solid construction, good materials.
The remote control responds quickly to button presses.
Thoughtful appearance, even the packaging looks stylish.

The wire is twisted tightly.
The accessory does not connect to other gadgets.
Overcharge.

Sony STH40D

One of the best in-ear headphones in our rating, they differ from most others with a special mount that securely holds the earbud on the ear even during active sports activities. The accessory does not block hearing, but external noise is heard much quieter than in other models. Stylish design is another advantage of the model from Sony.

Multifunction keys handle all the necessary functions inherent in headphones of this type. The sound pleases not only while listening to your favorite tracks, but also during a conversation with your interlocutor. Compatible with all devices with a 3.5 mm jack.

Price: from 5990 rubles.

Headphones Sony STH40D

Stays firmly on the ears.
The rubberized wire is not susceptible to creases.
There are 4 colors in the line.
Provides stereo sound.

Very high price for such functionality.

Plantronics BackBeat FIT

A Bluetooth headset designed for active music lovers. The design of the accessory is such that, due to the absence of wires and the on-ear type, the headphones do not fall off, do not get in the way under clothes and are not felt on the head. They have a flexible headband and are covered with reflective elements.

Control is carried out using buttons located on the earbuds. For convenience, voice prompts are provided. The model is equipped with a built-in battery, the capacity of which provides 8 hours of continuous operation. The set includes a compact case for safe transportation of the accessory; it can also be used as a case for a smartphone with a shoulder mount.

Cost: from 6490 rub.

Plantronics BackBeat FIT Headphones

The rubber arms are covered with a material that protects the accessory from sweat, moisture, and dust.
Fits well on the head.
The arms are bent.
One charge lasts for a long time.
Convenient control - both using the phone and buttons on the case.
It doesn't drown out ambient noise, but it hardly interferes with enjoying the clear sound from the earbuds.

Low volume of notifications and sounds.
The case only fits players or small phones.

Owner's review after a year of use:

Apple AirPods

Wireless in-ear headphones for comfortable listening to music or talking on the phone. Each earphone has a small built-in battery, which ensures autonomous operation. Recharging is done using a docking station: the headphones are inserted into the compartments of the station. Thanks to magnets, they sit firmly in the charger.

Apple AirPods look stylish and unusual, do not bother you with long thin wires and fit well in your ears. The sound quality is not as voluminous as in the wired analogue, but, nevertheless, it is highly rated even by music lovers.

Price: from 11,190 rubles.

Apple AirPods headphones

They have proximity sensors that recognize when they are inserted into the ears and when they are pulled out.
Double knocking on any earphone calls up the voice assistant.
A full charge of the docking station is enough to charge a couple of headphones.
Compatible with other devices.

Battery life 4-5 hours.
High price.

Types of "drops"

In order to provide the consumer with maximum choice, the devices offer their product in various variations, the most popular of which are:

cable vacuum headphones (plugs), providing high-quality surround sound transmission with an emphasis on low frequencies (bass);
in-ear headphones, which are the most budget-friendly wired accessory option and have a primitive average sound;
wireless earbuds, which are considered a good option for people who prefer high sound quality along with the absence of constraint due to the presence of an accessory cable.

When making a decision to purchase a certain model of “drop” headphones, it is best to rely on the basic (defining) characteristics, which are mostly the same for all types of “ears”:

The range of reproduced frequencies or frequency response (amplitude-frequency response) is an indicator that maximally illustrates the possible level of frequency transmission by headphones. The range from 18 Hz to 20 kHz is considered to be the most suitable for high-quality reproduction of an audio stream by the type of “ears” in question. It is important to understand that numbers significantly lower or higher than those mentioned are not perceived correctly by the human body and are nothing more than a marketing ploy on the part of the manufacturer.
Sensitivity, coupled with the characteristics below in this list, allows you to select headphones with the highest volume. In the case of a “drip” accessory, ideally its level should be no lower than 90-100 dB.
Devices intended to be used with portable electronics with average input signal power should have a resistance of no more than 64 Ohms, for example, they are ideal for a telephone, mp3 player, and so on. Higher impedance headphones will require powerful hardware to drive them for maximum performance.
The best type of attachment when choosing earbuds is considered to be foam. Compared to silicone (more commonly found on the consumer market), free-flowing and hybrid types, foam tips provide the greatest seal and, as a result, better noise insulation and sound cancellation along with surround sound.
The cable length required for comfortable use of “drop ears” should be from 80 to 120 centimeters. This size of the accessory wire will not hinder movement, which is most likely if the headphones are not long enough, and will minimize the likelihood of the device cable getting tangled.
When choosing a wireless device, you should give preference to “ears” with a Bluetooth connection that is not inferior in playback quality to a cable device. It is worth emphasizing the convenience of its operation compared to its wired counterpart, however, as a rule, it also has a higher cost.
The contact of the headphone connector of the “droplets” located in the top is, as a rule, covered with a special coating, which allows for maximum protection of the device from corrosion and oxidation. This feature guarantees long-term service of the purchased “ears” and high-quality reproduction of the audio stream.

In addition to the technical characteristics, it is important to pay attention to the presence of additional functions offered by many features, such as:

extended warranty period;
waterproof;
dustproof housing;
storage case;
additional adapter,

will help you extract the maximum amount of pleasant emotions from using the selected headphones.

Comparison table with prices and characteristics

The difference in technical parameters, price and appearance of the in-ear headphones from our rating is quite noticeable. But there are basic parameters that are worth evaluating before purchasing, they are shown in the table below.

Model	Sensitivity, dB	Impedance, Ohm	Weight, g	Price from, rub.
Philips SHE1350	100	32	15	180
Sennheiser MX 170	109	32	14	390
Samsung EO-EG920 Fit	101	32	15.3	790
JBL T205	98	16	14.3	990
Sony STH32	110	18	15.3	1490
Xiaomi Dual-Unit	105	32	14	1090
Apple EarPods (Lightning)	109	16	10	2190
Sony STH40D	103	32	18	5990
Plantronics BackBeat FIT	106	16	24	6490
Apple AirPods	118	16	4	11190

Xiaomi AirDots Pro 2

Connection: Bluetooth 5.0
Autonomy: 4 hours
Weight: 4.5 grams

Price: from 3,700 rubles

Xiaomi AirDots 2 wireless in-ear headphones are a TWS model with noise reduction, support for the LHDC codec and the ability to fine-tune through a proprietary application. It’s worth noting right away that the utility is in Chinese, so it’s not particularly useful. In addition, the model received an infrared sensor that understands that the headset has left the ear and pauses the sound. There is the ability to operate only one earphone, simple touch controls and a voice assistant. Autonomy is about 4 hours, together with the case – 14 hours, a Type-C cable is used for charging.

Advantages:

Excellent sound quality.
The microphone conveys voice well.
Comfortable fit.
Possibility to use only one earphone.
Convenient controls.

Flaws:

The proprietary application is only in Chinese.
Average autonomy compared to competitors.
For high-quality sound, you need to update the firmware.

List of the best

Among any product there are the best representatives, headphones are no exception. But since there are several types of this device, we bring to your attention the three best in-ear headphones in their category.

Inexpensive: Panasonic RP-HV094

This model has good parameters and a low price. The headphones connect to any device with a 3.5 mm jack and provide dynamic sound at different frequencies. The average length of the wire is 1.2 meters. There is a movable clothespin on the cable for attaching the accessory to clothing.

Price: from 230 rubles.

Headphones Panasonic RP-HV094

Wireless: JBL T205BT

Wireless in-ear headphones with a microphone have an original design: the earbuds are connected to each other with a small wire, which provides a tighter fit and ensures that the headphones will not get lost. The connection is made using the built-in Bluetooth module. Clear high and low frequencies, ergonomic shape and soft earbuds allow you to fully enjoy your music. There are 7 different colors in the line.

From 1990 rub.

Headphones JBL T205BT

Bluetooth headset: HARPER HBT-1723

Car owners will certainly appreciate the conversational headset. The package includes an in-ear headphone with replaceable ear pads and a charger that connects to the car's cigarette lighter. During a call, just remove the device from the cigarette lighter - this manipulation answers the ongoing call. When talking, the sound is clear, the connection is not interrupted, and the device works for about four hours without recharging. The connection to the phone occurs via Bluetooth in a matter of seconds.

Price: from 1390 rubles.

Headphones HARPER HBT-1723

HONOR AM66 Sport Pro

Connection: Bluetooth 5.0
Autonomy: 18 hours
Moisture protection: IPX5
Weight: 25 grams

Price: from 3,500 rubles

The rating of wireless in-ear headphones continues with a sports model from Honor. She received a neckband with a hidden Type-C plug, which not only simplifies the charging process, but also makes pairing easier. The headphones are waterproof and have good battery life - up to 12 hours of talk time and 18 hours of music. With a quick charge of 5 minutes, the battery will be filled for 4 hours of audio listening. There is a microphone here that suppresses external noise. The magnets that hold the headphones together immediately put them into sleep mode, which is convenient since you don’t need to take out your smartphone and pause the music. In addition, the device produces pleasant sound with good bass and pronounced mids and highs. The device is characterized by low latency in audio transmission, which will appeal to gamers.

Advantages:

Moisture protection.
Smart design with built-in Type-C plug and magnets.
Convenient controls.
Excellent sound quality.
Easy pairing.
Several bright colors of design.

Flaws:

With a magnetic connection, they are disconnected from the device - you need to reconnect.
You cannot connect to two devices at the same time.
Many users did not like the included ear pads.

Where can I buy?

Buying gadgets and accessories for them today is not a problem; they can be found both in small departments of shopping centers and in large electronics stores. All the models presented in our rating of in-ear headphones are available in most online stores. We recommend only large retailers that have pick-up points in most cities, for example:

M Video;
El Dorado;
Citylink;
DNS, technopoint;
Online trade;
Ozone.

What are earbuds: design features

Before moving on to the rating, it’s worth understanding what earbud headphones are and how they differ from vacuum models. In droplets, landing in the ear canal occurs not due to the selected ear pads, but due to the drop-shaped shape of the body. In other words, droplets are a transitional type of design from classic earbuds (tablets) to in-canal models.

The peculiarity of the design of earbuds is that each earbud is inserted into its own ear (left or right), whereas in classic models there is no difference.

Apple AirPods 2

Connection: Bluetooth 5.0
Autonomy: 5 hours
Weight: 4 grams

Price: from 10,500 rubles

It would be strange not to include in-ear wireless headphones from Apple in the rating, since they are one of the most popular in the world. The second generation received an updated H1 chip, which extends battery life and provides fast and stable connectivity. AirPods 2 are not just high-quality TWS headphones, but also very well thought out. They received two directional microphones that better recognize voices and filter out external noise, and also provide voice control via Siri. The model has an accelerometer and a gyroscope, which make use more comfortable - the device will understand when the user starts talking, and will also turn the sound on or off if the earphone is inserted or leaves the ear.

In addition, the headset independently pairs with the smartphone after being removed from the box, supports connecting two pairs of headphones to one device with the ability to adjust the volume separately on each. All this is accompanied by simple touch controls, as well as excellent operating time. In music listening mode, AirPods 2 work up to 5 hours, and thanks to the charging box they can last more than a day, while there is support for fast charging - 15 minutes will provide 3 hours of music.

Advantages:

Convenient controls.
Voice assistant support.
Graceful appearance.
Long battery life.
High quality sound.
Fast charging.
Low audio latency - suitable for gaming.

Flaws:

High price.
Flimsy cover on the charging box.
Works only with Apple equipment.

HUAWEI FreeBuds 3

Connection: Bluetooth 5.1
Autonomy: 4 hours
Weight: 4.5 grams

Price: from 7,900 rubles

Huawei also offered its own TWS headphones, which were able to implement many useful options in them. FreeBuds 3 received its own Kirin A1 chipset, which is responsible for a lot of functions - data transmission without delay, filtering interference, eliminating noise during a call with intelligent adjustment of the suppression level. The model is distinguished by high-quality sound, easily connects to any device, and has an ergonomic design that is so thought out that even the wind will not interfere with the conversation. In addition, the headphones are able to offer simple controls, several color options and autonomy for 4 hours + 20 hours from the case. It charges via Type-C and also supports Qi wireless charging.

Advantages:

Great sound.
Easy synchronization.
Minimum latency.
Wireless charging case.
Ergonomics.
Effective noise reduction.

Flaws:

You cannot connect to two devices at once.

Xiaomi Dual-Unit

Frequency range: 20-40000 Hz
Sensitivity: 105 dB
Resistance: 32 Ohm
Connection: mini-jack 3.5 mm / USB-C

Price: from 770 rubles

Headphones from Xiaomi have a beautiful appearance, a microphone and volume control. The cable length is 1.25 meters, the plug is L-shaped. It can be 3.5 mm or USB-C, which is relevant for modern smartphones without a headphone output. Users note that the Xiaomi Dual-Unit is a high-quality headset for the money, but if you tinker with the settings, the sound quality can increase significantly.

Advantages:

Nice appearance.
Good sound.
There are versions with USB-C or 3.5.
Long cord.
By adjusting the sound you can significantly improve.

Flaws:

The remote control is inconvenient - the buttons are quite difficult to find.