CODE: FELIX50

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Best-Rated Earphones

Best earphones and earbuds

Most Satisfied Customers | Apple

The result for the best earphones was loud and clear again in Canstar Blue’s 2023 ratings, with Apple scoring five stars for overall satisfaction along with design. It scored four stars in all other categories except value for money, where it scored three stars.

Fact Checked Fact Checked

How we rate earphones


Our ratings compare a range of earphones based on customer satisfaction as rated by Australians. This means you can find out what other Aussies think about their earphones before buying — it’s like asking your friends and family which earphones they think is best, but all in one place!


Canstar Blue surveyed 920 Australians for their feedback on earphones they’ve purchased in the last two years. This refers to in-ear earphones and includes products such as wireless earbuds. This does NOT include headphones (over-ear or on-ear).

  • The outcomes reported in these ratings are measured via accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics.

Survey respondents are asked to rate their satisfaction with their earphones brand from zero to 10, with zero meaning extremely dissatisfied and 10 meaning extremely satisfied. Earphone brand satisfaction is rated on the following criteria:

  • Overall satisfaction: measures consumer satisfaction with an earphone brand as an individual score, NOT the combined total of all criteria.
  • Value for money: the quality of the earphones are good enough or exceed expectations for the price paid.
  • Durability: the earphones feel sturdy and are able to handle usage and portability with minimal damage to the product.
  • Design: the earphones look and feel good to wear and conform well to the ear.
  • Battery & charging performance: the earphones have a good battery life and are easy and efficient to charge.
  • User friendliness: the earphones are easy to set up and operate.

The winning brand is the brand that receives the highest Overall satisfaction rating. All the scores from the Overall satisfaction criteria are then combined and averaged to determine the overall winner.

  • Overall satisfaction is asked as a specific question and represents an individual measure, not a combined total of all criteria.
  • When we cannot determine a clear winner from the criteria for the Overall satisfaction rating, we will then look at the other criteria measured in the rating.
    • The brand with the highest number of five-star ratings within the supporting criteria will become the five-star recipient in overall satisfaction, and therefore win the award. If a clear leading brand still cannot be determined from the supporting criteria, joint winners will be declared.

To qualify in the ratings results, brands must have received a minimum of 30 responses to be included. Therefore, not all earphone brands in the market will be compared in this survey. Brands rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.

  • Apple
  • Samsung
  • JBL
  • Sony
  • Kmart
  • Beats by Dre

Find more information on our Most Satisfied Customers ratings.

Shop earphones and earbuds

Top Earphone Brand — Apple

It’s back-to-back wins for Apple in our best earphones ratings, with five stars for overall satisfaction and design. It took out four stars for durability, battery and charging performance and user friendliness, while it scored three stars for value for money.

Coming in second was Samsung with four stars in most categories, including overall satisfaction, while it scored five stars for durability — the only brand to do so in this year’s ratings. In third was JBL with four stars for overall satisfaction, durability and battery and charging performance, while it scored five stars in the remaining categories.

In fourth was Sony with four stars for overall satisfaction, followed by Kmart and Beats by Dre respectively, both with three stars for overall satisfaction.

What do Aussies think of their earphones/earbuds?

When purchasing earphones or earbuds, 30% of our survey respondents ranked price as the main deciding factor — with an average price paid of $149 — followed by 20% ranking the earphone brand as their main deciding factor. While 23% had tried multiple brands of earphones, 14% wish they had purchased better earphones.

Of those surveyed, 43% purchased earphones/earbuds with wireless/Bluetooth capabilities and 34% chose wireless earphones specifically because they’re easier for using while active. Only 8% regretted not buying earphones with Bluetooth/wireless capabilities.

38% of respondents used their headphones daily, while 25% use their headphones multiple times a day and 24% use them a few times a week. The most popular place to use earphones (56%) was while on public transport/commuting, followed by just under half (49%) using their earphones/earbuds at the gym or while exercising, while 43% use their earphones while doing housework.

Other earphone brands

Not all brands that produce earphones have qualified for our ratings (based on the minimal sample survey size) but that doesn’t mean that these brands aren’t also worth considering. Many tech brands — including brands that specialise in smartphones — tend to produce earphones/earbuds, so there are plenty of choices. If you’re looking for a new pair of earphones, here are some other brands you might want to look into.

  • Audio Technica
  • Bose
  • Google

  • Huawei
  • Jabra
  • Sennheiser

Compare more products featured in our Most Satisfied Customers Awards

About our technology experts


Emma Bradstock: Senior Telco Specialist

Emma-Circle

Emma Bradstock has been an authority on consumer phone, internet, technology and streaming markets in Australia for the last 4 years, with a dedication to providing Aussies with all the information they need to make better purchasing decisions. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Media from Macquarie University and has a decade of professional writing experience in print and digital media.

Meet the Editorial Team

 

Samantha Howse: Consumer Research Specialist

Sam Howse Research Specialist

Samantha Howse is Canstar Blue’s Consumer Research Specialist, coordinating the consumer research program behind our customer satisfaction awards across Canstar and Canstar Blue in Australia and New Zealand. Sam has earned a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) from Griffith University and, with seven years in market research and 2 years in marketing, she is experienced in survey design, implementation and analysis, coupled with an understanding of marketing principles and best practice.

Meet the Research Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Canstar Blue surveyed more than 3,000 Australian adults across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who have purchased new earphones in the last two years – in this case, 920 people.

Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criteria.

Here are the previous winners of Canstar Blue’s earphone ratings:

  • 2022: Apple
  • 2021: Sony
  • 2020: Apple
  • 2019: JBL
  • 2015: Bose

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