Not long ago, searching for workout headphones was a real pain. People wanted something that sounded good but could also stand up to the rigors of a fierce workout. Fortunately, times have changed, and it’s much easier to find workout headphones today. In fact, exercise fans have more options than they ever have before.
So, we have a list here of some of the best workout headphones that money can buy. They all have basic features like sweat resistance and good sound quality. There are also headphones in a variety of price ranges. Choose whichever one you want, they can all handle the workout.
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Best workout headphones: Our top picks
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Beats Powerbeats Pro
Best overall headphones
The Beats PowerBeats Pro is an excellent pair of workout earbuds. They feature nine hours of battery life per charge, excellent sound quality, and an integrated Apple H1 chip that helps them work particularly well with iPhones. The earbuds also feature IPX4 water resistance, which is more than good enough for sweat. The charging case holds nearly three additional charges, which should last awhile.
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Sony WF-1000XM5
Second best overall headphones
The Sony WF-1000XM5 is a high-end earbud with sweat resistance, making it a good choice for workouts. On top of its IPX4 sweat protection, the earbuds offer outstanding sound quality and tons of useful features. That includes a built-in AI engine that intelligently cancels outside noise depending on your environment to really help you zone in and get a good workout.
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Beats Fit Pro
Best compact workout headphones
The Beats Fit Pro is another great choice for workout headphones. In addition to solid sound quality and a small form factor, the Beats Fit Pro also includes spatial audio support, three listening modes to customize your experience, and an Apple H1 chip for improved support with modern iPhones. Like the other buds on this list, it’s IPX4, so it can handle sweat as well.
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Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
Best premium workout headphones
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is everything you would expect from Bose. That includes excellent noise-canceling as well as good sound quality. The earbuds are rated for six hours and the charging case holds three additional charges, so it’ll also last you through several workout sessions. Add to that IPX4 water resistance, a sleek look, and two color options, and you have a recipe for success.
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Soundcore by Anker Life A1 True Wireless Earbuds
Best budget workout headphones
The Soundcore by Anker Life A1 is a solid set of wireless earbuds that are great for working out. They cost much less than many of the competitors in this space. However, they still sound good and come with an IPX7 water resistance rating, which is higher than most others. These earbuds will take a beating, even if they don’t have all the advanced features of their more expensive competitors.
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Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation (USB-C)
Best iPhone workout headphones
The Apple AirPods Pro 2nd-Generation are arguably the best choice for iPhone owners. They come with not one, but two chips that are specifically designed to work well with iPhones. They have great sound, good noise-cancelling, and plenty of advanced features. Unlike other AirPods models, they have silicon ear tips that help keep the AirPods Pro in place while you’re doing your thing.
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Google Pixel Buds Pro
Best Android workout headphones
The Google Pixel Buds Pro is your best bet if you have an Android phone. They are water-resistant just like the other workout headphones on the list, while having extra features that work well on Android phones. They feature an even and pleasing sound quality along with a good fit. Plus, they come in six colors, which adds a splash of fun to the workout.
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Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro
Best Samsung workout headphones
$187 $230 Save $43
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are arguably the best workout headphones for Samsung phone owners. They come with an IPX7 rating, which is more than the nearest competitors, while also giving you good sound quality and noise-cancelling. There is also 360-degree audio and three colors to choose from. They pair almost instantly with Samsung phones and are just super easy overall to use.
The bottom line: which workout headphones are the best?
For the money, the Beats PowerBeats Pro is the best option. It has the best combination of battery life, sound quality, and sweat resistance while also supporting iPhones really well. Barring that, the Sony WF-1000XM5 and the Beats Fit Pro are also excellent options. You can’t go wrong with any of those three options, no matter what platform you use.
From there, it’s mostly shopping to best fit your existing gear. The AirPods Pro 2nd Generation works the best with iPhones, the Google Pixel Buds Pro works the best with Pixel phones and most Android phones, and the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro works the best with Samsung phones. If you have any of those types of phones, it’s worth considering those. For anyone on a budget, the SoundCore by Anker Life A1s will get you there on a budget.
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FAQ
Q: How come there aren’t any over-ear or on-ear headphones on this list?
Valid question with a good answer. On-ear and over-ear workout headphones get quite hot during strenuous activities. Thus, while they may be better suited for things like sound quality, the fact is that earbuds offer the best cooling of any style of headphone, which is especially important on hot days and during long workout sessions.
In addition, earbuds tend to stick better in the ear. On-ear and over-ear headphones tend to slide around, especially during aggressive movement. So, between the fit and the cooling, earbuds are the de facto choice for workout headphones. Plus, there aren’t a lot of over-ear headphones with sweat resistance, which makes workouts dicey in terms of long-term reliability.
