Top 5 Most Durable Earbuds

Earbuds have come a long way over the last few years regarding upgrades to their Bluetooth, noise cancellation, and voice control capabilities.

They’ve also become a lot more durable by incorporating better materials, improving water resistance, and using higher quality internal components to withstand more significant levels of impact and stress.

But, with so many earbuds to choose from, how do you know which ones to go for?

Well, in this article, we’ve compiled a list of the most durable earbuds on the market right now, based on thousands of reviews, user feedback, and our own unbiased opinion.

All the earbuds we’ve included are ‘true wireless,’ meaning they’re entirely free from wires and cords, as we think these are the best type of earbuds available.

So, hopefully, by the time you’ve finished reading our guide, you’ll be armed with enough information to feel confident choosing your next pair of rugged earbuds!

The earbuds we’ll be reviewing are:

1. Beats Powerbeats Pro
2. Samsung Galaxy Buds+
3. Jabra Elite 75T
4. Apple AirPods Pro
5. Sony WF -1000XM3

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The Most Durable Earbuds On The Market

We’ve researched the most durable earbuds and rounded up information from the most reputable web sources to bring you this definitive guide.

Here’s our list of the most durable earbuds money can buy:

 

1. Beats Powerbeats Pro

If you’re looking for the best durable earbuds for everyday use, including sweating it out in the gym, then the Powerbeats Pros are an excellent choice.

Why Buy These?

Their reinforced design with adjustable, secure-fit ear hooks makes for an excellent pair of lightweight yet durable earbuds.

The beats stay true to their bass-heavy sound; however, they can be described as well balanced, with a slight emphasis on the bass.

The Powerbeats Pros have an IPX4 water resistance rating, which means you’ll be safe if you get caught in the rain or get them a bit sweaty in the gym.

They also come with volume and track controls on each earbud, along with voice capability and auto play/pause, which makes switching between tracks and taking calls an absolute breeze.

Things To Consider

The only issue we’ve discovered is that they can lose their connection to paired devices from time to time, but it’s rare.

Other than that, we still recommend these rugged earbuds as our top pick!

Highlights

• Secure-Fit Ear Hooks
• IPX4 Water Resistance Rating
• Volume & Track Controls On Each Earbud
• Compatible With iOS & Android
• Features Apple’s H1 Headphone Chip & Class 1 Bluetooth

 

2. Samsung Galaxy Buds+

The Samsung Galaxy Buds+ are some of the nicest-looking earbuds on the market. A great choice if the style is essential to you. 

Why Buy These?

They’re designed to fit seamlessly in your ear, isolating you from distracting noises, allowing you to focus on whatever you’re doing.

The adaptive dual microphone technology makes background noise a thing of the past.

But, if you’d prefer to filter in some of the outside world, then switching on Ambient Aware 2 will allow just that.

You’ll receive 22 hours of battery life, which will give you up to 11 hours of music from a single charge.

If you’re running low on juice, pop the earbuds back into their charging case, and you’ll gain 11 more hours.

Because they support fast charging, just 3 minutes in the charging case will give you up to an hour of juice!

Their voice command capability consists of a dedicated internal and external microphone, which isolates outside sound while focusing directly on your voice.

You’ll also be able to set up tap commands to adjust the volume, answer calls, and skip through your playlists.

The Galaxy Buds+ are compatible with iOS & Android and pair seamlessly with mobile operating systems via Bluetooth 5.0.

Things To Consider

The Samsung Galaxy Earbuds+ don’t come with Active Noise Cancelation (ANC).

It’s not the end of the world, but it is a nice feature to have. Ambient Aware 2 does help a little, but it’s no ANC, that’s for sure.

Highlights

• 22 Hours Of Battery Life, 11 Hours On A Single Charge
• Compatible With iOS & Android
• Customizable Tap Commands
• Ergonomically designed For A Comfortable Fit
• Uses Adaptive Dual Microphone Technology

 

3. Jabra Elite 75T

The Jabra Elite Active 75T’s are another great looking pair of earbuds.

If you appreciate style, compare them to the Samsung Galaxy Buds+, and see which ones you prefer.

Why Buy These?

They’ve been ergonomically engineered and tested to fit securely inside your ears for long periods.

This makes for a comfortable listening experience and the added peace of mind that the earbuds won’t fall out from sudden movements.

They use Jabra’s 4-microphone call technology, which filters out wind and disruptive sounds so that you can enjoy crystal clear calls in a variety of different scenarios and locations.

The Elite 75T’s come with Jabra’s 4th generation true wireless connection and use Bluetooth 5.0, which means you can expect to listen to your music and have conversations with minimal interruptions.

Also, if you like your apps, Jabra’s “MySound” app is pretty cool as it allows you to tweak your music to suit your unique profile, which is excellent if you prefer more bass or treble in your music.

You’ll receive up to 7.5 hours of battery life from a single charge and up to 28 hours using the charging case.

Things To Consider

The 75T’s don’t have the best water resistance rating compared to others on the list, which means they’re only splashproof and sweat-resistant, so you’ll need to make sure you don’t get them wet.

They’re also a little bass-heavy, but you can play around with the levels in the “MySound” app.

Highlights

• 4-Microphone Call Technology For Filtering Noise & Unwanted Sound.
• Ergonomic Design To Fit Any Ear Shape Comfortably
• Customize The Listening Experience With MySound App
• 28 Hours Of Battery Life Using The Charging Case
• 2-year Extended Warranty For Protection Against Dust & Water Damage

 

4. Apple AirPods Pro

If you’re already heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, adding a pair of AirPod Pros to your lineup might not be a bad idea.

Why Buy These?

Apart from syncing seamlessly with all your Apple devices, the AirPod Pros come with Apple’s powerful H1 chip, active noise cancelation, Bluetooth 5.0, transparency mode, and wireless charging.

Transparency mode allows you to continue listening to your music while connecting with what’s going on around you.

The force sensor enables you to control your music and calls with ease and switch between active noise cancellation and transparency mode by holding the force sensor on the stem of either AirPod.

You’ll receive up to 24 hours of listening time using the wireless charging case and 4.5 hours from a single charge.

If you’re in a hurry, stick the AirPods in their charging case for 5 minutes, and you’ll get up to an hour of listening time.

The AirPods come with three sizes of silicone tips: small, medium, and large, to ensure you get the perfect fit.

Their adaptive EQ automatically tunes your music to the shape of your ear, meaning you’ll receive a more tailored listening experience compared to a lower-grade pair of earbuds.

The AirPod Pros are also sweat and water-resistant, with an IPX4 rating.

Things To Consider

The only thing we can say about the Airpod Pros is that increasing the battery life and improving their water-resistance level would be nice.

However, the AirPod Pros are enjoyed by thousands of users worldwide without any significant complaints, so these are just minor things to consider, and they’ll more than likely keep getting better as time goes on anyway.

Highlights

• Includes Three Sizes Of Customizable Tips To Ensure A Perfect Fit
• Wireless Charging Case
• Active Noise Cancelation (ANC)
• 24 Hours Of Battery Life Using The Charging Case
• Transparency Mode Helps Connect With The Outside World

 

5. Sony WF-1000XM3

If you’re looking for truly wireless earbuds with active noise cancelation outside of the Apple ecosystem, then the WF-1000XM3s are a great choice.

Why Buy These?

The earbuds utilize Sony’s HD Noise Canceling Processor QN1E and Dual Noise Sensor technology, which provides you with industry-leading noise cancelation.

The 24bit Audio signal processing power delivers excellent sound quality. The smart listening function will automatically switch you between ambient sound mode and active noise cancelation based on your current activity.

You’ll be able to use hands-free calling by double-tapping an earbud to take a call, and Alexa is already set-up for voice access to your music and information online.

You can expect up to 24 hours of battery life, or “All-day battery life,” as Sony puts it, and you’ll get up to 6 hours of power from a single full charge.

The charging case will provide you with a further 3x charges, and turning noise-canceling off, will give you up to 8 hours of power on a full charge.

However, if you’re in a hurry, then pop the earbuds into their charging case for 10 minutes, and you’ll receive another 90 minutes of juice.

Overall, the sound quality is excellent, and some of the included EQ presets are fantastic. The earbuds are durable and comfortable, and we’ve not experienced any connectivity issues between devices.

Things To Consider

Unfortunately, Sony WF-1000MX3’s don’t come with wireless charging, which is a bit of a bummer.

There’s also no way to change noise cancelation modes or volume controls quickly without using the app.

It’s not the end of the world, but something to think about.

Highlights

• Uses Active Noise Cancelation Technology
• Made With An Ergonomic Design
• Up To 24 Hours Of Battery Life Using The Charging Case
• Alexa Enabled For Voice Access To Music, Calls, & Information
• Utilizes Adaptive Sound Control To Switch On Ambient Sound When Appropriate

 

FAQs About Most Durable Earbuds

Still not sure which earbuds are right for you? Check out our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about earbuds.

 

Q: What Makes Earbuds Durable?

There are many contributing factors to the durability and longevity of earbuds.

For example, they need to be made from quality materials, have strong water resistance, and ideally have no weak points in their design, like being prone to crack or having poorly fitted connectors.

Also, you should choose a brand of earbuds that comes with a strong warranty, so if you do encounter any issues, you’ll be able to get them taken care of as long as it’s within your warranty period.

 

Q: How Long Do Earbuds Last?

It depends on how well you take care of them, but in general, earbuds last between 3-4 years before they become outdated.

However, they can last a lot longer if you choose a pair made from high-quality materials and components.

 

Q: Are Earbuds Comfortable?

Yes. As long as you choose a well-made pair of earbuds that come with various tip sizes, then you shouldn’t have a problem with comfort.

But, everyone’s ears are different, so you might need to try all the ear tips before you find what works well for you.

 

Q: What Are The Advantages Of Earbuds?

Compact & Portable: There’s no question that one of the main advantages of using a pair of durable earbuds is the fact that they’re so easy to carry around.

All the true-wireless earbuds on this list will easily fit in most pockets and take up hardly any space at all.

Built-In Microphone & Handsfree: Having the option to take calls on the go, record voice messages, and navigate tracks using the earbud’s built-in microphones is a great perk of using a pair of earbuds.

Excellent Sound & Noise Cancelation: Most quality earbuds come with some kind of noise cancellation and good sound quality.

This is subjective, but most earbuds on the market give you some options to customize your audio experience.

Simple & Stylish: Earbuds keep things simple and don’t interfere with your hair or anything you might be wearing on your head.

They also look great, depending on which ones you choose, and might even compliment your style.

 

Q: What Are The Disadvantages Of Earbuds?

Lower Sound Quality Compared To Headphones: Even though a good quality pair of earbuds produce great sound compared to over-the-ear headphones, earbuds will always fall short.

This is because over-the-ear headphones have more room to play with, internally speaking, and can, therefore, include higher quality premium components, which give them an edge over earbuds.

Can Be Expensive: The price of true-wireless durable earbuds can be relatively high; however, so can over-the-ear headphones, so it’s worth taking your time to think about which style you’d prefer to spend your money on.

 

Summary

We hope you enjoyed our list of the most durable earbuds.

As you’ve seen from the list, there are many factors to consider when deciding which earbuds to go for.

So, hopefully, we’ve presented you with enough information that you’ll feel comfortable when choosing your next pair of rugged earbuds.

If we had to choose a pair of earbuds to use all the time, then we’d go for the Beats Powerbeats Pro because their ear hooks keep the earbuds locked in place, and they’re so light that you don’t even realize you’re wearing them.

Here’s a quick recap of the most durable earbuds:

1. Beats Powerbeats Pro
2. Samsung Galaxy Buds+
3. Jabra Elite Active 75T
4. Apple AirPods Pro
5. Sony WF-1000XM3

What are your favorite earbuds? Leave a comment below.