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Wireless earbuds have become one of the most popular products in 2024, and for good reasons. Advances in battery life, signal strength, and audio quality make now an excellent time to purchase.
However, the Australian market is saturated with inexpensive Apple imitations and unreliable online vendors. Even reputable brands are quickly releasing substandard products that do not justify your investment. This is where we come in.
If you are considering buying new wireless earbuds for running, our monthly updated list will assist you in making the best choice, emphasizing comfort during long workouts, sound and call quality, and overall value for your money.
Read this article written for the Australian market before making a purchase.
Jabra Elite Active 85t: Solid but pricey earbuds for runners – $239.00 at Amazon.com.au →
Where to buy the Jabra Elite 85t earbuds in Australia
If you aren’t price sensitive, Jabra may be the brand for you. These true wireless earbuds offer a more generalist approach to the format for frequent runners.
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Why Jabra makes the list of best earbuds
Overall quality for true wireless earbuds has improved significantly since their inception. Previously, users often faced issues related to signal quality, dropped calls, and pairing challenges. However, Jabra has integrated high-quality chipsets and firmware, resulting in a pleasant overall experience. While this might not matter much to Android users who frequently have their devices nearby and aren’t often on calls, it is certainly noteworthy.
Sound quality is excellent, with the Elite 85t delivering impressive high and low tones. Moreover, the earbuds feature simple and user-friendly controls, allowing you to easily switch tracks or answer calls while running. Whether they justify the price tag is for you to decide.
However, sports-specific features are somewhat limited. Although Jabra excels in sound quality and calls, the Elite 85t is not specifically designed for runners. Users may encounter pairing issues, particularly when the earbuds run out of power or are reset. Additionally, the earbuds come with fewer ear tips compared to competitors, which are essential for ensuring a secure fit during runs.
Bose QuietComfort Free: Lifestyle earphones that live up to the Bose name – $288.00 at Amazon.com.au →
Where to buy the Bose QuietComfort earbuds in Australia
Bose has delved into the true wireless category by focusing on sports. And while the Soundsport Free is an excellent first product, it suffers from an aging Bluetooth chipset and mediocre battery life, costing Bose a higher position in our list.
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Why Bose gets our approval for the gym
Bose delivers great sound quality, but it comes with certain drawbacks. While the product lives up to the brand's reputation, it does so with reduced battery life and making it feel like a first-generation true wireless product.
The earbuds come in fun, fitness-oriented colors, offering a range of bright and bold options that add an element of excitement to your gym sessions. Although this doesn't impact functionality, it certainly makes exercising more enjoyable.
Designed for sports, the QuietComfort may not suit everyone. Despite being built for active movement, the earbuds can be somewhat bulky. Those with smaller ears might experience discomfort or feel that the earbuds are insecure, which can be distracting during workouts.
Sony WF-1000XM5: Great for sitting at home, tough to use on the go – $359.00 at Amazon.com.au →
Where to buy the Sony WF1000-XM5
Sony have spent years of research and development on the WF1000-XM5, but over engineered an expensive and somewhat clumsy product for runners. And while the active noise canceling and sound quality are superb, those little annoyances add up with an otherwise excellent product.
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Why Sony stumbles on features and value
Sony stumbles when it comes to features. While the WF1000-XM5 earned high marks back in 2022, it’s now 2024, and new contenders have emerged, outclassing the WF1000-XM5 in nearly every category—especially battery life, charging options, and the miniaturization of previously bulky components.
You'll get about 3 to 4 hours of playback from the earbuds themselves at higher volumes, with the charging case offering four additional charges. That’s decent, but not competitive with other earbuds in this price range. Adding to this, the WF1000-XM35lacks waterproofing, making them less than ideal for those exposed to regular sweat or moisture.
The larger, heavier design is another drawback. The WF1000-XM5 simply becomes uncomfortable after just 10 minutes of movement. They’re too bulky for smaller ears, even with the smallest tips, and easily dislodged by natural arm movements—often falling out when you least expect it.
We also wish Sony would introduce a newer model that includes key features for athletes, such as full waterproofing, shock resistance, and a sturdier, more resilient charging case as the standard.
While the WF1000-XM5 offers a solid performance, its discomfort and design flaws make it hard to justify the current price. A redesign or a significant price cut would be necessary to keep it in the running.
There are many, many wireless earbuds in the sports market. And while we attempt to test as many as possible for our readers, some units simply don’t make the cut. Here’s a quick peek at sports earbuds that didn’t make the list.
Jabra Elite Sport – $135.99 at Amazon.com.au →
Jabra is well known for call quality and overall aesthetic, so we were surprised to find the Elite Sport fall a bit flat. While the earbuds are just fine in a number of categories, they fail to excel in any one. What we end up with is a jack of all trades priced at absurd levels.
Jaybird Run XT – $304.99 at Amazon.com.au →
The Jaybird Run XT are designed and named for runners. It’s a shame that these purpose-built true wireless earbuds don’t live up to the moniker. Jaybird has the right idea, but falls short in sound quality and Bluetooth signal strength.
Samsung Galaxy Buds – $179.00 at Amazon.com.au →
The Galaxy buds is one of the most popular on the planet, and the pressure to create award-winning accessories is high. But from active movers’ perspectives, the Galaxy Buds don’t quite justify their price tag. Samsung tackled the challenge of an all around true wireless earbud, but failed to address runners and gym goers head on. We look forward to Samsung producing a model made specifically for sports.
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