Entertainment
The 11 best wireless earbuds weve ever tested
The best wireless earbuds range anywhere from $10 to $1,000, especially if you’re going for professional-grade studio earphones. And if you care about active noise cancellation, you can easily spend $300 — that’s the price of peace and quiet. You can also get hyperspecialized models like sleep earbuds, bone-conduction earbuds for working out, and open earbuds for transparency.
In 2026, our top picks for earbuds are the Sony WF-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen), and Panasonic Technics AZ100s, which provide outstanding sound quality and ANC. But keep in mind that these models will run you $299 to $329. While we stand by the value of everything on this list, we know that spending over $300 on a pair of earbuds is a lot to stomach. That’s why we’ve also included more budget-friendly wireless earbuds under $100 that still deliver excellent performance.
Ready to start shopping now? Here are our favorite wireless and noise-cancelling earbuds as of May 2026.
Types of earbuds
There are two types of earbuds: wireless and wired. While those descriptors are self-explanatory, let’s get into the specifics of both.
Wireless
Wireless earbuds connect to devices via Bluetooth for cordless usage. These earbuds range from $20 budget models to high-end models with active noise cancellation. While they don’t require a wire to connect to a device, some wireless earbuds still have a wire that might go around the back of the neck to connect the buds.
While earbuds traditionally don’t provide the passive noise cancellation of over-the-ear headphones, wireless models often feature ANC, which electronically blocks out background noise. With wireless headphones, you need to consider the battery life. Most models should have an eight-hour or more battery life before they need to be recharged.
Wired
Wired earbuds are the original model: two buds connected by a wire to your audio source. While they once felt high tech, they’re pretty basic now. Wired earbuds with active noise cancellation are basically non-existent, and you won’t find any on our list.
The biggest positive to wired headphones is that they don’t need to be charged. They’re a great backup option to keep in your bag in case your usual wireless headphones or earbuds run out of charge.
New additions to this guide
After extensive testing, Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard rounded up the best sleep earbuds. You can read her full guide, but as of February 2026, we’ve added the Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 Special to this guide, which Allard says are the best sleep earbuds for most people. Also in February 2026, we added the Sony WF-1000XM6 earbuds as our top pick for the best overall earbud, and removed the previous generation, the WF-1000XM5, as the best Sony earbud.
As of August 2025, we also updated the best earbuds for working out to the Powerbeats Pro 2 and added the Shokz OpenDots One as the best open earbuds.
What are the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds?
If you’re just looking for a pair of everyday wireless earbuds, all but one of the models in this guide will check that box. (We formerly included the Marshall Mode earbuds for folks who preferred a wired option, but have since removed them from our guide as the version we tested is difficult to find in stock these days.)
If you’re looking for the highest quality wireless earbuds, you can’t go wrong with the Sony WF-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, Apple AirPods Pro 3, and Panasonic Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds, our most recent recommendation in 2026. Both of these wireless earbuds feature elite noise-cancellation, stellar sound, long battery life, and a comfortable fit for extended wear.
Still, this guide includes several other earbuds we stand behind. Apple users may prefer the AirPods Pro, while shoppers on a budget may prefer buds from Marshall or Anker Soundcore. If you need help picking the perfect pair, read on.
Entertainment
Pay $30 once and own Microsoft Office apps for life with this deal
TL;DR: Upgrade your PC for just $29.97 (reg. $219.99) with this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license, on sale through May 18 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
$29.97
$219.99
Save $190.02
Want to get a deal on something you’ll use every single day? This lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows gives your PC eight new tools to improve your workflow, and right now, you can snag them all for just $29.97 until May 18.
Whether you’ve been paying for Microsoft Office apps or trying to go without them, this lifetime license lets you pay once and enjoy them forever. There’s no cloud connectivity required — just download the apps to your device and work offline as needed.
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Curious what this license includes? You’ll have all the old classics, like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, which can help you create documents, build spreadsheets, design presentations, and manage emails.
You’ll also get newer favorites, too. Stay connected with friends, family, and coworkers on Teams, and manage large databases with Access. OneNote upgrades how you take notes, and Publisher rounds out the suite by helping you create professional documents.
This edition may hail from 2021, but these apps have all been redesigned. They also include a ribbon-based user interface that provides easy access to features, tools, and customizations.
Before purchasing, make sure your device is running Windows 10 or 11 to be compatible.
Mashable Deals
Score major savings this month with this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows lifetime license for just $29.97 (reg. $219.99) now through May 18 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
Score core work tools without any recurring costs thanks to this $90 Microsoft Office deal
TL;DR: Get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC for just $89.97 (reg. $249.99) now through May 17.
$89.97
$249.99
Save $160.02
There aren’t many things you can pay for once and enjoy for life, but this lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for Mac or PC is one of them. This suite of five essential apps gives you tools to tackle both personal and professional tasks, and right now you can get them all for only $89.97 until May 17.
If you’re tired of paying month after month for your go-to apps, you’ll appreciate this Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business deal. It’s a lifetime license, so you pay once and download the apps right to your device for permanent access.
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This edition works on both Macs and PCs, so no matter your device, you can take advantage of these five Microsoft staples. You’ll get access to Word for creating documents, Excel for building spreadsheets, and Outlook for managing email.
PowerPoint is included so you can create presentations, and OneNote will upgrade the way you take notes.
This edition hails from 2024, but don’t worry. These apps feature AI enhancements that provide text, formatting, and design suggestions as you go. You can also let AI summarize text, translate content, and extract key info from your documents for you.
If you’re working in Excel, let AI-powered tools analyze your data, identify trends, and improve your charts and graphics. Need to get things done in Word? There’s also a new Focus Mode available so you can concentrate on your work and get more done.
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Upgrade your computer with a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC for just $89.97 now.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Entertainment
How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup online for free
TL;DR: Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The world will stop this summer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
16 cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada will welcome the best international sides from around the world as they compete for arguably the biggest prize in sport. Huge names like Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Lamine Yamal are likely to steal the spotlight, but new stars always shine brightly in this prestigious competition.
If you’re interested in watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we’ve got all the information you need.
What is the FIFA World Cup?
The World Cup is an international football competition between senior men’s national teams. The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, split into 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams in each group and the eight best third-placed teams progress to the knockouts rounds.
The defending champions are Argentina. They won their third title at the 2022 World Cup after defeating France in the final.
When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The 2026 World Cup is the 23rd edition of this famous competition. This year’s tournament takes place from June 11 to July 19 in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
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How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free
A number of free streaming platforms are offering coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
These streaming services are geo-restricted, but anyone can access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free by following these simple steps:
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Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice
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Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
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Visit BBC iPlayer or ITVX (recommended)
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Watch 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world
$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this tournament before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you’ll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for the FIFA World Cup?
ExpressVPN is the best choice for accessing live sport on free streaming platforms, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
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Fast connection speeds
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Up to 10 simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.
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