Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Best earbuds for making phone calls for 2023

Someone once said that life moves pretty fast, and if you don't have a good pair of earbuds that sound great when making phone calls on the go, you might miss something important. Or something like that. The point is, if you work at home, at the office, or from coffee shops or airports while traveling, you need a great set of earbuds with a mic that do an excellent job of capturing your voice clearly during phone or Zoom calls while blocking annoying background noise with decent active noise cancellation (ANC).

No matter your usage levels, budget range, and style preferences, there's something for every user in the market. From the high-end $249 AirPods Pro 2 for Apple users to the budget-but-excellent$80 Earfun Air Pro 3, there's a lot to pick from.

Want to avoid confusion and quickly narrow down the best earbuds for phone calls? We've rounded up a list of the top picks, with pros and cons for each. And if you decide that earbuds aren't right for you, we also have a roundup of the best headphones for making phone calls.

AirPods Pro 2
Apple AirPods Pro 2
The best for iPhone users
Jump to details
Jabra Elite 7 Pro
Jabra Elite 7 Pro
The best for noisy or windy conditions
Jump to details
Sony LinkBuds
Sony LinkBuds
The best for hearing yourself and those around you
Jump to details
Google Pixel Buds Pro
Google Pixel Buds Pro
The best for Google fans
Jump to details
Sony WF-1000XM4
Sony WF-1000XM4
The best for sound quality and battery life
Jump to details
Galaxy Buds2 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
The best for Samsung Galaxy owners
Jump to details
EarFun Air Pro 3
Earfun Air Pro 3
Best for call quality on a budget
Jump to details
apple airpods pro 2 review 00025
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Apple AirPods Pro 2

The best for iPhone users

Pros
  • Excellent noise cancellation
  • Top-notch transparency
  • Very good sound quality
  • Great call quality
  • Fun charging case features
Cons
  • Not ideal for Android
  • Still no EQ adjustments

Apple's latest offering, the second-generation AirPods Pro, offer some of the best noise cancellation and calling features of any pair of earbuds on the market. The AirPods Pro line has always featured excellent active noise cancellation and transparency mode, but the second-generation model takes it one step further with improved ANC and a new Adaptive Transparency mode that adapts to the sounds around you.

This means your calls will be crystal clear, and you don't have to worry about traffic noises or background sounds disturbing your important discussions. Our in-depth review found the call sound quality has improved, too, and hardly any background noise was heard, especially in indoor settings. Loud, outdoor settings may muffle your voice slightly, but it's still clear enough to understand.

Apple has also improved the battery life on the second-gen AirPods Pro, now offering up to six hours per charge. This will be lower if you use ANC continuously, with our reviewer getting a solid five hours during a noisy motorcycle trip, so you know it'll be sufficient for most calls on the go. Plus, a quick five-minute charge will give you back an hour of listening time.

The biggest issue, however, is that Android users miss out on many of the cool features, limiting the AirPods Pro 2 largely to iOS users. They're also a bit on the pricier side compared to other earbuds with decent calling functions, but if you love Apple, this is the best pick for you.

AirPods Pro 2
Apple AirPods Pro 2
The best for iPhone users
jabra elite 7 pro review 00018
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Jabra Elite 7 Pro

The best for noisy or windy conditions

Pros
  • Super comfortable
  • Great sound quality
  • Excellent call quality
  • Very good ANC and transparency
  • Good battery life
  • Wireless charging
  • Tons of customization options
  • Excellent water/dust protection
Cons
  • None

The Jabra Elite 7 Pro offer everything you need in earbuds but at a lower price tag. They're comfortable to wear, so you avoid those itchy, irritating ears after long phone calls. The best part is the MultiSensor Voice technology, which uses an extra set of bone conduction mics. When conditions get windy, these mics kick in, giving the Elite 7 Pro a way to avoid all of that extra wind noise.

This is further boosted by the excellent ANC that you control through the Sound+ app. The customizable settings are a huge plus for users who like their calls to sound a particular way. You don't have to worry about noise either. The ANC works well even in the loudest of settings, but like most other earbuds, you get the best call quality in relatively quieter environments.

One of the biggest differentiating features is the microphone-mute option, which almost no other popular earbuds have. This lets you mute your sound for a while if there's a disturbance while continuing to hear what the other person is saying. This unique feature can come in handy during meetings where everyone takes turns to speak.

The Jabra earbuds are not as popular as the AirPods Pro, Pixel Buds, or Galaxy Buds but offer excellent call clarity with highly functional ANC for even the noisiest settings, so if you frequently make calls in loud public places, these are a great option for you.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro
Jabra Elite 7 Pro
The best for noisy or windy conditions
sony linkbuds review 00008
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Sony LinkBuds

The best for hearing yourself and those around you

Pros
  • Unique, sound-permeable design
  • Very good "open" sound quality
  • Excellent for voice and video calls
  • Wide Area Tap feature
  • Wear sensors
  • EQ and control customization
  • IPX4 water resistance
Cons
  • Poor battery life
  • Not good for noisy environments
  • Not very secure and may not fit some ears
  • No wireless charging
  • No Bluetooth Multipoint

The Sony LinkBuds sport one of the most unique designs around: having a hole right in the middle of them. This is designed to let the outside sound seep in so you can remain aware of your environment without having to remove your earbuds every time. It helps with overall situational awareness, but it's also geat for calls because you can hear your voice without any of the muddiness that typically comes with earbuds that seal your ear canals.

The open design delivers an "airy" sound that feels more natural than earbuds with a closed design. The biggest wow factor, however, is the automatic volume control. The earbuds adjust to the noise outside and raise your volume when it's loud, then reduce it when the noise subsides. This way, you don't have to fiddle with the volume controls for every little change in the environment.

The unique design is cool but it can also become a downside as you hear every noise in the environment without an option to turn on ANC. The earbuds also don't work too well in loud environments so they're best suited for indoor calling.

Sony LinkBuds
Sony LinkBuds
The best for hearing yourself and those around you
google pixel buds pro review 00012
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Google Pixel Buds Pro

The best for Google fans

Pros
  • Compact and comfy
  • Very good sound quality
  • Very effective ANC/transparency
  • Wireless charging
  • Bluetooth Multipoint
Cons
  • No real EQ adjustments
  • No high-quality/low-latency codecs
  • Still no iOS Pixel Buds app

If you're an Android user, the Google Pixel Buds Pro are a good option for calling and overall use. Along with a gorgeous look in vivid colors, the Pixel Buds Pro impress with great ANC and clear sound quality, especially when you're indoors. They aren't excellent in super noisy conditions but still maintain decent sound clarity.

The Pixel Buds Pro are always compared to the AirPods Pro and do fall short in terms of noise cancellation and overall sound quality, but this doesn't mean the Pixel Buds Pro are bad. The transparency features are top-notch, and switching the ANC on and off is fairly easy. Android users also get Bluetooth multipoint connection and Google's renowned voice assistant features that make both calls and music easier and more enjoyable to listen to.

The biggest plus point here may be the battery life that beats the better-sounding AirPods Pro 2. You typically get seven hours of use with ANC and an impressive 11 hours with ANC off, making the Pixel Buds Pro an ideal pick for people making calls on the go.

Google Pixel Buds Pro
Google Pixel Buds Pro
The best for Google fans
sony wf 1000xm4 review featured
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Sony WF-1000XM4

The best for sound quality and battery life

Pros
  • Great sound quality
  • Good battery life
  • Great noise cancellation
  • LDAC Bluetooth codec
  • Wireless charging
  • IPX4 water resistance
Cons
  • May not fit small ears
  • Slightly lacking in high-end detail
  • No Bluetooth multipoint

The Sony WF-1000XM4 have featured prominently in our best earbuds list owing to their rich sound quality and high-quality LDAC Bluetooth codec. This ensures you enjoy smooth calling as well as hearing the finer details when listening to music.

The noise cancelation and transparency mode also work well, letting you seamlessly switch between paying attention to the call and being aware of your surroundings. In fact, the earbuds automatically detect when you begin speaking and pause the music so you don't need to remove the earbuds if a friend stops by. Moreover, all of these settings are also easy to customize through the app, making these one of the most easy-to-use pairs of earbuds for calls you can find.

The charging speed and battery life don't disappoint either. They run for eight hours with ANC on and 12 hours with ANC off, putting them quite ahead of competitors like the AirPods Pro 2. The fast charging takes it even further, giving you an hour of playback after just five minutes plugged in.

The downside is the price. They're the most expensive earbuds on this list, setting you back $50 to $100 more than other popular models. The XM4 are also the biggest buds on the list and that may prove to be a deal-breaker for anyone with small, or hard-to-fit ears.

Sony WF-1000XM4
Sony WF-1000XM4
The best for sound quality and battery life
samsung galaxy buds 2 pro review 1
Phil Nickinson/Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro

The best for Samsung Galaxy owners

Pros
  • Excellent fit and feel
  • Plenty of features
  • They look great
  • Acceptable battery life
Cons
  • "360 Audio" is not good
  • Head tracking isn't great

If you're a Samsung Galaxy user, this one's a no-brainer. Going with the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro will give you good call quality and easy pairing with Galaxy phones. The Galaxy app also makes everything easy to adjust, giving you full control over the noise cancellation and transparency mode, which is ideal for making sure your call sounds right.

The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro aren't the best in the market, but you get some cool features like 24-bit audio, 360 Audio (its version of spatial audio), and head tracking for an improved listening experience. The automatic voice detection is also quite useful, turning the transparency mode on and lowering the volume if you start talking to someone in front of you. The five-hour runtime with ANC on won't last you through long journeys, but it's more than enough for everyday calls during your commute or at the office.

The extra features like 360 Audio aren't top-notch, but they don't really affect the call quality that much, so you're fine. They are a bit expensive, though, considering some of the features are subpar compared to other similarly-priced earbuds.

Galaxy Buds2 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
The best for Samsung Galaxy owners
earfun air pro 3 review 00014
Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Earfun Air Pro 3

Best for call quality on a budget

Pros
  • Very comfortable
  • Big, dynamic sound
  • Customizable controls
  • Bluetooth Multipoint
  • Great battery life
Cons
  • No wear sensors
  • So-so noise canceling
  • Imprecise touch controls

At just $80, you'd be hard-pressed to find a pair of wireless earbuds that sound this good, have decent ANC, and will more than do the trick when it comes to making calls.

The Earfun Air Pro 3 are a stem-based pair of true wireless earbuds that are the continuation of its previous Air and Air Pro line, which are also great. Sound quality for listening to music and podcasts is great, thanks to some pretty sophisticated Bluetooth features for a pair of sub-$100 earbuds, including multipoint connectivity, support for aptX Adaptive, and the newest Bluetooth LE and LC3 audio codecs. This means better sound quality, lower latency, and the ability to stream higher-quality music at 24-bit/48kHz (lossy) hi-res audio from streaming services such as Tidal or Apple Music. There's even onboard EQing via an app.

In our review of the Air Pro 3s, we found the ANC and transparency mode to be good but not great, which is totally fine for the price and the other features you get. And, as they've made our list, the call quality is great. The mics do a great job at picking up and reproducing your voice, even in noisy backgrounds.

Battery life of the Earfun Air Pro 3 is good as well, at up to nine hours per charge (45 hours with the case with ANC off), and up to seven hours with ANC on (37 with the case).

EarFun Air Pro 3
Earfun Air Pro 3
Best for call quality on a budget

Editors' Recommendations

Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 true wireless earbuds are $40 off
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 and their case sitting on the ground with earbuds sitting in front.

If you're thinking about getting wireless earbuds but you're not sold on Apple's AirPods, you may want to consider the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2. They're currently on sale from Samsung for a discounted price of $110, following a $40 discount on their original price of $150. This offer is only available for a limited time only, so you should hurry with your purchase if you don't want to miss it.

Why you should buy the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 offer well-balanced audio, with two-way dynamic speakers enabling excellent bass and treble so that you can immerse yourself in whatever you're listening to. They also come with one of the most popular features among the best wireless earbuds -- active noise cancellation. When activated, two microphones detect sound from your surroundings and blocks them, which will allow you to focus on your music, streaming content, video game, or podcast. To get the best possible noise cancelling experience, there are three sizes of silicon tips that you can choose for the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, with the Galaxy Wearable app helping you determine the best one through a fit test.

Read more
Best AV receivers 2023: top sound for your home theater
The Denon AVR-X1700H 1 receiver.

There are more ways than ever to beef up the sound of your movies, TV shows, and sports — from soundbars to powered speakers to Sonos. But sometimes, nothing can beat the superb cinematic sound and power that one of the best AV receivers can deliver.

Additionally, these often hulking pieces of sophisticated electronics can allow a whole range of devices to be connected to them so you can tailor make the best setup for your needs, including streaming devices, DVD players, network music players, turntables, projectors, smartphones, computers, and more.

Read more
“A pleasant surprise” — These AirPods-style Anker earbuds are $35 today
The Anker Soundcore Life Note E Earbuds on a white background next to their case.

Headphone deals are rarely cheap but if you're looking for some earbuds that offer surprisingly good value for money, you're in luck. Over at Best Buy today, you can buy the Anker Soundcore Life Note E Earbuds for $35. A saving of $15 off the regular price of $50, while these aren't the best around, they're a fraction of the price of Apple AirPods and garnering great customer reviews. Let's take a look at what you need to know.

Why you should buy the Anker Soundcore Life Note E Earbuds
Check out the customer reviews for the Anker Soundcore Life Note E Earbuds and you'll notice they're great. One review calls them "a pleasant surprise" thanks to their amazing battery life, easy-to-use touch controls and the ability to use one or both earbuds at a time. Across the 800+ reviews on the site, the earbuds have achieved an average score of 4.4 out of 5 so they're well-received. Looking a lot like AirPods, the Anker Soundcore Life Note E Earbuds offer three different EQ modes to cater for varying tastes. Their triple-layer 10mm drivers provide 50% more bass than previous models with the addition of a bass booster mode as well as a podcast mode for listening to voices more clearly. The earbuds' mic also uses an AI algorithm to enhance voice pick-up so you're heard more clearly by others.

Read more