The Best Workout Headphones of 2023

• Ambient sound modes: Noise canceling, transparency mode
• Dust and water resistance: IP57
• Battery life: ~7 hours per charge, 28 hours with the case

Jabra’s Elite 4 Active offer plenty of great features at a surprisingly low price. Their snug fit is great for running, and their water resistance can survive your sweat, you rinsing the sweat off, or even a quick dunk. They’re also strong enough at noise canceling to minimize distractions from your workout (or your work).

Features include a 5-band EQ, an earbuds finder, and comprehensive onboard controls, including volume control. You can use either earbud on its own, and access Spotify with one tap. Android users also get Google Fast Pair functionality.

They’re missing a few features here and there, including multipoint pairing, auto-pause, and wireless charging. They also won’t connect to iOS as seamlessly as a pair of headphones or earbuds from Apple.

The noise canceling, call quality, and overall sound are better than plenty of earbuds at their price point. They may not be able to tangle with the top tier, but they also don’t cost nearly as much. In addition to their rugged, workout-ready construction, they also give you some great features and performance at a more reasonable price.

Read our full review of the Jabra Elite 4 Active.

• Ambient sound modes: None
• Dust and water resistance: IPX4
• Battery life: 9 hours per charge, 24 hours with the case

The Beats Powerbeats Pro have been knocked down the ranking a little by the sheer passing of time, but they still offer impressive battery life, great sound, and a durable, sporty design that stays put under duress.

The Beats Powerbeats Pro are available in several colors, and their adjustable ear hooks help keep them in your ears during just about any workout. They offer great water resistance and vastly improved sound quality over previous Beats earbuds. They’re solid earbuds for more than just workouts.

Unfortunately, that ear-hook design can become uncomfortable as time drags on. The charging case will fit in your pocket, but it’s larger than most competitors. (On the other hand, the hefty battery life lets you leave the case at home most of the time, if you prefer.)

They’re also larger, and for the list price, it’s noteworthy that they’re missing noise cancellation and transparency mode. That makes them less-than-ideal for jogging in busy areas, though if you want to keep an ear on traffic, you could use just one bud.

As time goes by, fresher alternatives have arisen at the price point that offer fresh performance and better features. Still, they were top of the line at one point and they’re solid if you can grab them on sale.

• Ambient sound modes: None
• Dust and water resistance: IPX4
• Battery life: 15 hours per charge (no case)

The 4th-gen Beats Powerbeats are similar to the Powerbeats Pro, except they aren’t "true wireless" earbuds. Rather, they have a small cable that runs between the two buds and behind your neck.

That makes them a little less maneuverable and versatile, but significantly reduces the cost. They also feature longer battery playback per charge—which is good news, since they don't come with a charging case to top them off on the go.

The form factor may be different, but the Powerbeats sound just as good as the "Pro" model, and offer similar levels of flexibility, style, and color options. While they do feature the trademark bass-forward sound profile Beats is known for, it’s a little more restrained here, providing excellent audio clarity to help power you through your workout.

While you can’t dunk them in the sink to clean them, the Powerbeats are water-resistant enough to serve as fitness headphones. Their IPX4 rating will survive your sweat and being splashed clean when you’re done.

We do wish Beats included transparency mode to help keep you safe jogging on the road. but if you’re mostly looking for gym buds or don’t mind pulling out one earbud in high-traffic areas while you're on a run, the Powerbeats are a great buy.

Read our full review of the Beats Powerbeats.

• Ambient sound modes: Adaptive audio (semi-open ear)
• Dust and water resistance: IPX4
• Battery life: 5.5 hours per charge, 17.5 hours with the case

Sony's Linkbuds are among the most unique earbuds on the market.They have a distinct "donut hole" design intended to keep your ears open, allowing you to listen to music without sacrificing environmental awareness. The buds form tiny circlets with a hole in the center that allows in considerable noise from the world around you.

That makes these buds fantastic for running, hiking, and biking in places where you need to stay aware of your surroundings for safety’s sake, like public roads. But despite completely sacrificing noise isolation, they still offer relatively clear and full sound. (Although, the bass response suffers some without a tight seal in your ear canal.)

In addition to the unique design, Sony’s Linkbuds stand out for their miniscule four-gram weight and relatively stable fit, though their hard plastic design can wear on the ears after a while. While they don't use ear tips, included ear wings in multiple sizes help create a snug fit, and they feature decent sweat and water resistance.

The Linkbuds offer some solid features through Sony's headphone app, including a five-band EQ to customize the sound. The Speak to Chat feature that pauses sound when you speak, enabling conversations with your gym buddy. Meanwhile Adaptive Audio cranks the volume if the environment around you gets louder.

Their touch controls let you tap the buds themselves, but also specific regions of your face. While it sounds cool, it’s hit or miss in practice. The battery life will see you through a few workouts, but with a measly 5.5 hours per charge (17.5 with the charging case) it’s pretty underwhelming.

Overall, these earbuds are a mixed bag. The main feature—the shape—completely precludes noise canceling, so if your favorite gym is crowded, they may not be a great solution. We also wish that the sticker price gave you smoother operations and some nicer features.

However, if you spend a lot of time doing cardio by biking or jogging on busy streets, these could be the earbuds you’ve been waiting for. They’re definitely for specific scenarios instead of general use, but if you need them, there’s nothing out there like them.

Read our full review of the Sony Linkbuds.