Best earbuds for small ears in 2025
Six earbuds that stay put and feel great
In this article: Our top earbud picks for people with small ears, based on hands-on research and feedback from Crutchfield customers...
- Best multipurpose earbuds with Size XS ear tips — JBL Live Buds 3
- Best for iPhone — Apple AirPods 4
- Best-sounding earbuds for small ears — Technics EAH-AZ100
- Best open earbuds for piercings -- Bose Ultra Open
- Best value — Cleer Ally Plus II
- Best wired earbuds for small ears — Meze Audio Alba
... plus, some advice on fit, comfort, and how to find the right in-ear headphones for you.
Here's a secret I've learned from years of auditioning earbuds: they are only as good as their fit. And I often hear from people with smaller ears who tell me that most in-ear headphones just aren’t for them. They find earbuds are too bulky and uncomfortable.
Crutchfield’s social media director Alexis is in this camp. She tried out several different models of earbuds before she found ones that fit her ears. “Sometimes I just can't keep them in place,” she said, “and other times they’ll stay put for a while, but eventually fall out — or they just hurt.”
Our social media director Alexis found that the ultra-compact JBL Live Buds 3 earbuds stayed in place better than most she had tried.
There’s no such thing as “one size fits all”
Headphones — like ears — come in all shapes and sizes. And when we did our deep dive on over-ear headphone comfort, we learned that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Even the headphones we named “most comfortable” had their detractors.
It's the same with earbuds. Alexis said she tried many in-ear headphones that are almost universally praised for their comfort and they just don’t fit her ears well. But the reverse is also true — just because you’ve tried some earbuds that don’t fit, you shouldn’t give up your search!
Size "S" or "XS" ear tips — a good place to start
Pay attention to the number of ear tips included. Some earbuds come with a generous offering of ear tips, including some small and extra-small sizes.
The Technics EAH-AZ100 wireless earbuds include five sizes of ear tips — including size "S" and "XS."
Just remember, not all ear tips are the same. They are made with all types of materials, that can be more or less malleable, or better avoid pressure points. Plus, just because you get different sizes of ear tips, doesn’t mean you get the right size.
And true wireless earbuds — our most popular and convenient in-ear 'phones — have to pack all their wireless technology, drivers, and acoustic circuitry into a tiny space. Sometimes that increases the overall size of the earbuds. And in that case, the ear tips can only be so small or flexible.
On my visit to Harman Labs (JBL's parent company), senior researcher/engineer Jeff Baker explained how deeply the company studies the shape and physics of the ear.
Good news! True wireless earbuds have quickly evolved and improved since they hit the scene. There are more options for more specific purposes. And forward-thinking companies like the ones featured on this list have been studying in-ear fit and comfort for decades.
Earbuds with an open-ear design
Speaking of, the innovative open earbuds trend has taken off in the last few years. It's become especially popular among people who don't like the fit of traditional earbuds. This style of earbuds can hook, wrap, or latch on the ear in a way that avoids going into the canal. But they still manage to sound clearer and fuller than you might expect.
The hook-style Cleer ARC 3 wireless earbuds sit outside of the ear to keep you aware of your surroundings.
Headphone companies have gotten really creative in their designs (check out the Sony LinkBuds Open for a good example), and just as creative in how they deliver sound. In some cases, you get a halo of sound that seems to surround your head.
Our top picks
Through research and feedback from customers, family members, and Crutchfield co-workers like Alexis, I’ve identified some of the best earbuds available for smaller ears.
Best multipurpose earbuds with size XS ear tips — JBL Live Buds 3
The touchscreen case is the headline feature of the JBL Live Buds 3 — but for Alexis, it's their streamlined design and assortment of ear tips that separate them from the pack. Larger earbuds feel cumbersome and uncomfortable in my ears, especially after any extended use, said Alexis. "The Live Buds 3 fit snugly and securely. I tried the two smallest size options and they stayed in place and stayed comfortable, even after wearing them around the office all day."
These sweatproof earbuds sport a low-profile look and come with four sizes of ear tips, including size XS.
They also feature strong active noise cancellation (ANC) and a "Smart Ambient" mode for awareness, making them a great choice for travel, work, or working out. "I took an afternoon break from work to get outside for a walk," said Alexis. "I swapped from the ANC mode to the Smart Ambient mode, so I could hear the birds singing while I caught up on my podcast."
Oh yeah, and that touchscreen case? "It's handier than I expected," she said. The case lets you control music, calls, and MUCH more even when your phone's out of reach.
Details
- 100% wire-free earbuds with LED touchscreen charging case
- low-profile, stemless earbud design
- Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless music listening and calls
- multi-point connection for pairing two devices at once
- IPX55 sweat-resistant design
- four sizes of silicone ear tips for a comfortable, secure fit (including sizes S and XS for smaller ears)
- "True Adaptive" noise-canceling circuitry automatically adjusts to the level of external sound
- "Smart Ambient" mode lets you hear external sounds without removing earbuds
- high-performance 10mm dynamic drivers for clear, accurate sound with strong bass
- 8 hours of battery life with noise cancellation (carrying case banks up to 30 hours of power)
- weight: 0.32 ounces (both earbuds)
Best for iPhone — Apple AirPods 4
These are the everyday headphones for my wife, Meghan. The Apple AirPods 4 work incredibly seamlessly with her iPhone for music, calls, and FaceTime. (She uses the version with noise cancellation, but there's also a lower-priced version without it.)
They rest in the ear, rather than going in too deep, so they’re less obtrusive. And for most tasks they stay in place better than you might think. "When I used to see people wearing AirPods out in public, they looked like they might fall out,” she said. “But they actually stay in pretty nicely, and don't wiggle around at all when I move my head."
And this generation sports a smaller, more ergonomic design to better fit more ear sizes than previous-gen AirPods. Apple says the redesign is informed by thousands of ear scans and millions of data points they've accumulated over the years.
Details (AirPods 4 with noise cancellation)
- built-in Bluetooth® 5.3 for wireless music listening and phone calls
- Apple's H2 chip provides a seamless wireless connection and snappy controls with iPhone and other Apple devices
- streamlined earbud design to better fit more ear sizes
- dual beam-forming microphones with voice recognition for calls and Siri control
- active noise cancellation circuitry adjusts to the level of external sound through the built-in mics
- Transparency mode lets in external sounds and voices without removing your AirPods
- low-distortion, full-range driver with custom amplifier
- rest inside the ear when worn
- 4 hours of battery life with noise cancellation (carrying case banks up to 25 hours of power)
- AirPod weight: 0.15 ounces (each)
Best-sounding earbuds for small ears — Technics EAH-AZ100
It's no surprise that the Technics EAH-AZ100 earbuds deliver sonically — few companies are as ingrained in the history of music and audio. But they are also deeply in tune with modern conveniences and thoughtful design. Even with larger-than-usual 10mm "free-edge" drivers under the hood, Technics streamlined the design of the area that you insert into the ear canal — and includes size XS tips.
Alexis reported that these earbuds fit more comfortably and securely than most. She also thought that the noise cancellation, controls, and phone call clarity were all above average. And the noise-isolating seal helps make for excellent sound quality. "I was taken back when I first pushed play," she said. "I didn't expect such strong bass in earbuds this small."
Technics ergonomically designed the EAH-Z100s and positioned the large drivers (highlighted) just outside a thin tube to properly direct the sound — without stuffing cumbersome circuitry inside your ears.
These earbuds deliver a more “V-” or “U-shaped” tuning than the linearly tuned JBL earbuds. Acoustic tracks fair well with this kind of tuning, where the highs, upper-mids and sub-bass get extra emphasis. Here, it's implemented in a way that doesn't overpower the mids, even though they are relaxed a bit.
Details
- Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio, LDAC, and AAC decoding for high-quality music streaming
- multi-point connection for pairing up to three devices at once
- streamlined design with size XS ear tips included for smaller ears
- dual-hybrid noise-canceling circuitry automatically adjusts to the level of external sound
- 10mm dynamic drivers with "Magnetic Fluid" design helps lower distortion
- lightweight, rigid diaphragms for a smooth presentation across a wide frequency range
- optimized for Dolby Atmos spatial audio
- 10 hours of battery life with noise cancellation (carrying case banks up to 18 hours of power)
- weight: 0.4 ounces (both earbuds)
Best open-style earbuds for piercings — Bose Ultra Open earbuds
You'll notice that the Bose Ultra Open have a fit unlike any other earbuds — they actually hook onto the ears but don't cover them. And yet, Bose manages to deliver clear, spread-out sound with a well-defined sense of space. It's earned them overwhelming love from Crutchfield customers and staff who usually can't stand wearing earbuds.
Our video producer Ana has always run into a specific problem with headphones: they're hard to wear with her piercings. "Over-ear models are a hard out for me," she said. "And I had given up on finding earbuds that wouldn't rub against my piercings and annoy me."
Licensed piercing professional and educator Lynn Loheide warns that when a piercing is new, there's more to worry about than discomfort — you run the risk of irritation, infection, or worse. "Most piercings that would be impacted by [traditional-style] earbuds take about 9-12 months to fully heal," Lynne told me. "So, I recommend waiting about that long before wearing earbuds [in that ear] to be safe."
Many wireless earbuds allow for single-earbud operation, so Lynn says you could wear one in the opposite ear for some tasks. Of course, that negatively impacts sound quality — kind of our thing here at Crutchfield. Plus, depending on the type of piercing you have (or plan to get), Lynn notes that there's a lot to consider even after you heal.
Ana's tragus piercing makes it difficult to wear traditional earbuds — but the Bose QC Open earbuds avoid pain points and deliver "full and well-layered" sound.
For example, Ana has a tragus piercing in her right ear that makes it nearly impossible for her to wear traditional-style earbuds. But since the Ultra Open earbuds essentially clip on the outside of the ear, she told me it was easier to avoid pain points. And she could manuever them to fit within the lobe, helix, and conch piercings surrounding her outer ear.
As for the sound? "For music, they sounded full and well-layered," said Ana. "And they're super convenient for listening to podcasts or taking calls."
Most earbuds rely on a tight seal in the ear canal to deliver deep bass, and obviously there's no seal here. But the low frequencies that are there feel quick and responsive. They work best for tracks where the bass is there to round out the soundscape, rather than dominate it.
Just be careful — more than one employee has been seen unknowingly wearing them around Crutchfield HQ. They offer a "barely there" fit that can make you forget you still have them on! Good thing they fit in aesthetically with most piercings, too.
Details
- Bluetooth 5.3 with multi-point connection and aptX® Adaptive
- open, wearable design attaches to the outer edge of your ears
- earbuds sit outside the ear and allow in external sounds
- hear external sounds while you listen to music, take calls, and join in video conferences
- miniature drivers are aimed toward your ears to deliver a personal bubble of sound
- IPX4 sweat- and weather-resistant
- 7.5 hours of battery life (carrying case banks up to 19.5 hours of power)
- weight: 0.45 ounces (both earbuds)
Best value — Cleer Ally Plus II
The Cleer Ally Plus II earbuds boast a premium feature set at a competitive price. That includes active noise cancellation and the longest battery life I’ve seen in a set of true wireless earbuds. Cleer also uses 10mm drivers that are physically larger than you find in most earbuds. But they’re housed in the area that sits outside the ear and the weight is well-distributed.
They're designed to sit flush with the ear, so they don’t feel or look unwieldly. And Cleer has honed their soft-gel silicone ear tips over the years to ensure they create a more secure seal.
Cleer includes eight pairs of ear tips — three sizes of angled tips and five sizes of rounded tips (Including small and extra-small). My wife tried them and said she never had to adjust them or put them back in place through long-distance walks and runs. And the larger earbud housings didn’t cause any extra strain.
Details
- Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX® Adaptive automatically adjusts to prioritize audio quality or low latency
- adaptable noise cancellation and ambient mode
- includes 8 pairs of silicone ear tips (5 sizes of rounded tips, 3 sizes of oval tips)
- large 10mm dynamic drivers tuned for clear vocals and deep, punchy bass
- built-in rechargeable batteries offers 11 hours of listening with noise canceling off (case banks 22 hours of power)
- sweat-proof design with touch controls over music and calls
- weight: 0.48 ounces (both earbuds)
Best wired earbuds — Meze Audio Alba
While you can’t beat the convenience of true wireless earbuds, I find that you’ll still get the absolute best sound from old-fashioned wired in-ear headphones connected to a separate headphone amp. Enter the striking Alba in-ear monitors (IEMs) from Romanian design experts Meze Audio.
They have a distinct streamlined design that contours to the ear, with a wraparound cable that secures them into place. Meze uses a CNC process to mold and smooth these zinc alloy earbuds, then finishes them with a glimmering, piano-key white gloss sheen.
Alexis said these IEMs slide in easily and avoid pressure points. And when paired with the portable iFi Audio GO Bar DAC/amp they deliver a sparkling and vivid sound that accentuates high-end detail and provides strong depth and separation.
Details
- high-performance wired in-ear headphones
- designed in Bai Mare, Romania
- zinc-alloy and aluminum earbud housings for stable build and secure fit
- shape contours to ear and avoid pressure points
- includes 4 sizes of silicone ear tips for a customized, comfortable fit
- single 10.8mm dynamic driver in each earbud
- deep, controlled bass impact with balanced mids, and smooth, airy highs
- detachable, wraparound 47" cable with 3.5mm stereo miniplug (3.5mm to USB-C adapter included)
Still have questions?
Get in touch with one of our Advisors for personalized shopping help. They can help you find the right headphones for your ears and listening habits.
Free lifetime tech support is included with your Crutchfield purchase.
Popular questions customers ask
Over half of the true wireless earbuds we carry support single-earbud operation. Most of those models offer music and call controls with just one earbud in.
Many of the true wireless headphones we carry offer some form of protection against water. Some models are IPX4 rated and can survive light splashes of water and sweat. Other models are IPX5 or even IP67 for extra protection.
The earbuds themselves normally have anywhere from 6 to 10 hours of playback time before they need to be recharged. The charging case that comes with the earbuds banks anywhere from 14 to 30 hours of power.
Earbuds offer good passive noise cancelation on their own, but some models have built-in active noise cancelation circuitry to make your world even quieter. The level of noise cancelation can be adjusted either on the earbuds themselves, through an app, or a combination of both.
Some true wireless headphones have voice assistant support built in. You can access Google Assistant or Alexa by using the controls built into one of the earbuds.
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