Hey there folks, we're getting pretty close to the end of the year and that means it's time to take a look at the best true wireless earbuds of 2024. Now, there are some great buds like the Sony WF-1000XM5 that came out last year, 

but this list only features buds that were released in 2024. So, without further ado, here are my top five picks along with a few honorable mentions thrown in at the end. First up, Apple's AirPods 4 with active noise cancelling. Not only 

are they slightly smaller than the AirPods 3 and fit slightly better, but their sound quality has improved and they have top-notch voice calling performance. At $179, they cost $50 more than the entry-level AirPods 4, but it's 

the active noise cancelling that makes these buds true standouts. That's because these are the first open earbuds that feature ANC that's effective. Typically, your ear canals need to be sealed off with silicone ear tips for noise cancelling to work, and that's like with the AirPods 

Pro 2 which do have silicone ear tips and the noise cancelling is twice as good with the AirPods Pro 2. But that it works as well as it does with the AirPods 4's open design is something of a technological feat. In short, these are 

noise cancelling earbuds for those who don't like having ear tips jammed in their ears. My next pick is the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2. Not only are they smaller than their predecessor with a new built-in fin that helps lock the buds in your ears, but Google has 

equipped them with its new Tensor G1 chip, which offers more processing power and enables its new hands-free, eyes-free Gemini virtual AI assistant. Their sound and noise cancelling have also been improved, and I thought their voice calling performance was a little bit better. It is quite good. They're not

cheap at $229, that's $29 more than their predecessor, but as long as you get a tight seal with the included ear tips, these are excellent earbuds and have obvious appeal to Pixel smartphone owners and Android users in general. My

third pick is another Android-centric model, the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. The company's first earbuds to feature stems in their design, or blades as Samsung calls them, and those blades have a thin strip of light embedded in them that is kind of cool. Now, some folks mock Samsung

for creating another Apple AirPods clone in a sea of AirPods clones. There's some truth to that, but ultimately what matters is how well these earbuds fit, sound, and perform, and they get high marks in those departments. The Buds 3

Pro feature dual drivers, a 10 mm dynamic driver paired with a planar tweeter that enhances treble performance. They also have dual amps, which helps reduce wireless hiccups. Noise cancelling performance is good, and I was particularly impressed by their voice calling performance. I also like their

built-in voice controls, and like the Pixel Buds Pro, these aren't cheap at $250, but Samsung frequently offers trade-in deals that make them more affordable. On to number four, the Bowers & Wilkins Pi7, which are the most expensive buds on

This list, with a price tag of $399, simply put, the P8s are fantastic-sounding earbuds that also benefit from having a clearly improved design that helps them fit more ears comfortably and securely. They also have slightly improved noise cancelling and voice

calling performance, along with a case that turns into a Bluetooth transceiver that you can plug into an inflight entertainment system. But the main reason you'd buy these is for their sound quality. These are some of the best-sounding earbuds on the market, if not

the best. My fifth and final pick is my value pick this year. I'm giving it to the EarFun Air Pro 2, which cost around $70 after you clip an instant coupon on Amazon. Not only do they perform better than you'd expect for

their relatively modest price, they have a robust feature set. These buds won't necessarily blow you away with their sound quality, but they do sound good. And while their noise cancelling and transparency fall short of what you get with flagship noise cancelling earbuds

from Apple, Sony, and Bose, the key is that they're not a big step behind those premium buds for both sound and noise cancelling, and they cost a lot less. That's my top five for this year, but I do have a few honorable mentions since

so many good new earbuds came out this year and it's not totally fair naming just five as this year's best. I like Sony's recently released LinkBuds S, which lists for $200 and feature a built-in sports fin. And our Sony's, and the Beats Fit Pro earbuds, the

Soundcore by Anker's Liberty 4i are another good value. They cost around $50 and have a case that converts into a phone stand for watching movies. Shout out to the Shokz OpenFit Airbuds. Several ear hook style open-ear buds hit the market this year

and the OpenFit Air are among the best of them at $120. They're $60 less than the original OpenFit Buds and are arguably more comfortable to wear. Last but not least, I'll finish with JBL's Live Beam 3 buds, which list for $200 but

sell for closer to $150 online. Their sound, noise cancelling, and voice calling performance are all very good and their case has an integrated touchscreen display that acts as a remote control for the buds. That's it for this year's roundup of top earbuds. I fully reviewed

a lot of these models, so check those out on CNET.com. And as always, feel free to let me know what you think about the list and what 2024 models I overlooked. I'm sure I missed a few. I'm David Carnoy for CNET. Thanks for watching.

Best Earbuds of 2024

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Apple AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation: smaller, better sound, top voice calling.

Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: smaller, new Tensor G1 chip, improved sound and noise cancellation.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro: stem design, dual drivers, good noise cancellation and voice calling.

Bowers & Wilkins Pi7: expensive, fantastic sound, improved design and noise cancellation.

EarFun Air Pro 2: value pick, good performance for the price.

Soundcore by Anker Liberty 4i: good value, case converts into phone stand.

Shokz OpenFit Air earbuds: comfortable open-ear design.

JBL Live Beam 3 buds: good sound, noise cancellation, and voice calling; case with touchscreen.