To help you choose, here's a review of the best in-ear headphones -

Dean Drobot

The editorial staff of 20 Minutes did not participate in the production of this article.

While classic headphones can be bulky and sometimes expensive, in-ear headphones fit easily in a jacket pocket and are most often inexpensive.

However, as this type of earphone has a very strong insulating power against external noise, it can be dangerous if you are not attentive to your surroundings.

We must therefore remain vigilant.

Everything you need to know before choosing your in-ear headphones

Wired or Bluetooth headphones?

Whether everyone prefers wired or Bluetooth headphones, both solutions have their advantages.

Wired headphones have the particular advantage of functioning without a battery, are directly connected to the music source and are less easily lost.

However, a Bluetooth headset can avoid the clutter of a cable, while being more discreet and elegant.

Is the sound quality poorer than with standard headphones?

Despite their small size, headphones often offer sound of equivalent quality or even better than that offered by conventional headphones.

Due to a small diaphragm, it is more responsive and allows very precise sound reproduction.

The power of these headphones should not be underestimated either, but be careful not to damage your eardrums.

The importance of comfort and insulation

The great advantage of in-ear headphones is that they are light and do not present any discomfort to the head.

On the other hand, sometimes the rubber or foam tips do not always fit properly inside the ear.

Most manufacturers offer insulating tips of different sizes, so that the comfort of use and especially the insulation are suitable for everyone.

The selection of the best in-ear headphones of the moment

Sennheiser IE 40 Pro: the best value for money in-ear headphones

Sennheiser IE 40 Pro in-ear headphones - DR

The German manufacturer has long had a reputation for offering excellent in-ear headphones.

This is still confirmed today with the Sennheiser IE 40 Pro.

Offering a sound that is at the same time rich, balanced and precise, its power is also astonishing and the distortion is particularly well controlled.

Better yet, it is comfortable to use, sits comfortably on the ear and effectively isolates external sounds, after a short period of adaptation of the foam ear tips.

The pros and cons of the Sennheiser IE 40 Pro in-ear headphones:

Most :

  • Very comfortable and very well insulated;

  • Excellent sound quality;

  • Almost non-existent distortion;

  • Quality manufacturing.

The lessers :

  • Slight over-representation of treble.

Find here the Sennheiser IE 40 Pro

OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2: the powerful Bluetooth in-ear headset

OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2 In-Ear Headphones - DR

OnePlus offers here a headset combining the advantages of wired and Bluetooth.

The OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2 is particularly well suited for telephone use, while providing decent sound quality.

The bass is there, the midrange well defined and the treble a little too obvious without being corrosive.

It's also powerful and the distortion is handled very well.

The hands-free kit is effective most of the time, with the exception of very noisy places.

Finally, its autonomy of almost 15 hours makes it a very durable model.

The pros and cons of the OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2 in-ear headphones:

Most :

  • Impactful and powerful sound rendering;

  • Low distortion;

  • Comfortable, light and with good support;

  • Very good autonomy.

The lessers :

  • Perfectible treble.

Find the OnePlus Bullets Wireless 2

Plantronics BackBeat Fit 350: the in-ear headphones for athletes

Plantronics BackBeat Fit 350 In-Ear Headset - DR

For many athletes, traditional headphones or wired headphones are often unsuitable for many reasons.

Fortunately, there is the Plantronics BackBeat Fit 350, which offers excellent support in all circumstances, while delivering very decent and fairly balanced power.

Although it has insulating membranes, exterior sounds remain perceptible, which makes it suitable for indoor and outdoor sports.

Rather resistant to perspiration, rain and shocks, it is however not resistant to immersion.

Finally, its autonomy of 6 hours is sufficient for several sports sessions without being exceptional.

The pros and cons of the Plantronics BackBeat Fit 350 in-ear headphones:

Most :

  • A fairly powerful and balanced sound;

  • Robust and well maintained;

  • Simple and efficient controls.

The lessers :

  • Just correct autonomy.

Find here the BackBeat Fit 350

Apple AirPods Pro: the high-end in-ear headphones

Apple AirPods Pro In-Ear Headphones - DR

If the first Apple AirPods had a mixed reception, including among fans of the Apple brand, the AirPods Pro correct the problems of previous models brilliantly.

In addition to crystal-clear and precise sound, noise reduction is effective through the action of both active and passive reduction.

The headphones are maintained in exemplary fashion, the controls are intuitive and efficient, and the finish to IPX4 standards makes them resistant to splashing water.

However, and this is expected with Apple, these headphones are much less efficient with a device from another brand.

The same goes for the price, which is quite prohibitive.

Pros and cons of Apple AirPods Pro:

Most :

  • Exemplary ergonomics;

  • Effective active and passive noise reduction;

  • Exemplary sound quality with an Apple device.

The lessers :

  • Audio quality far behind with a device from another brand;

  • Very high price.

Find the AirPods Pro here

JBL Tune 120TWS: the inexpensive wireless in-ear headphones

JBL Tune 120TWS in-ear headphones - DR

For those looking for quality headphones,

true wireless

and at an affordable price, the JBL Tune 120TWS meet all these criteria.

Offering a balanced, clear and precise sound, the highs even boast of being present without being aggressive in any way.

Comfort is also at the rendezvous, thanks to a light design and suitably hugging the hollow of the ear.

The only downside: their autonomy does not exceed 4 hours at full charge, although the case allows the headphones to be recharged 3 times maximum.

The pros and cons of the JBL Tune 120TWS in-ear headphones:

Most :

  • An affordable price;

  • A very well balanced and precise sound;

  • Lightweight and comfortable.

The lessers :

  • Very limited autonomy;

  • High latency, unsuitable for video.

Find here the JBL Tune 120TWS

In-ear headphones have certain advantages and retain a prominent place among the nomadic audio solutions available.

Often offering excellent sound quality, we must also underline the rapid progress of Bluetooth or

true wireless

.

Better still, the prices remain very accessible, including for recent models and equipped with the last technologies.

Purchase guide

What are the best on-ear headphones?

Purchase guide

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Content offered by our expert tips, partners of 20 Minutes.

The editorial staff did not participate in its realization.

The prices mentioned in this article are indicative and are subject to change.

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