8 Of The Best Spatial Audio Earbuds You Can Buy In 2026

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What is spatial audio, exactly? Simply put, it’s sound whose individual components can be perceived as having specific positions in 3D space via multiple audio channels. Stereo sound is the most basic form of “spatial” audio; when we went from mono to stereo recording, with it came the concept of a “soundstage” that allowed audio engineers to place sounds on a virtual plane. With two-channel stereo sound, audio producers and mixing engineers could make any sound seem like it’s coming from the left or the right (rather than just dead center).

Now, we have spatial audio that leverages far more than just two channels. Dolby Atmos is a good example — the format allows for up to 128 audio “objects” to be placed anywhere within 3D space around you, including in vertical space. You can even use Dolby Atmos on Bluetooth headphones to simulate surround sound using just two channels. But today’s headphones with spatial audio processing come in a few different flavors.

Many of the wireless buds herein lock their spatial features behind a specific platform. Some of them can process real 5.1 and 7.1 surround audio mixes, while others simulate it in a stereo mix. Apple, for instance, offers head tracking with its own Spatial Audio feature, which makes sound sources seem fixed in place when you turn your head. Ultimately, the type of spatial audio feature you should get depends on your personal preferences, but as long as you ensure the feature set on your chosen buds will work with your hardware, any pair here will deliver an excellent spatial audio experience.

In our AirPods Pro 3 review, we noted these buds were “better in every way” than their predecessors, and that’s a tall order for a product range that has come to represent the gold standard for premium earbuds at a reasonable price. You can buy the Apple AirPods Pro 3 for $250, or even less if there’s a good sale on. $250 isn’t cheap, per se, but it’s reasonable given the quality and features on offer.

Apple’s spatial audio technology is excellent, but like so many things Apple, you only get the most out of its features if you’re in the Apple ecosystem. If you want to hear spatial audio, you need to use an Apple TV, a MacBook with Apple silicon, select newer iPads, or an iPhone 7 or later. It’s also not enough for the content you’re playing to be in surround-sound format; the app you’re using to play content also has to support Apple’s spatial audio. That said, if you enable Apple’s Spatial Audio with a regular stereo audio device, it does seem like the sound is coming from your device speakers rather than from your headphones.

Wired also called the third-generation Pros “better than ever,” adding that the model had “much-needed improvements like increased battery life joining nice-to-have additions like twice the sound reduction (according to Apple) … and software extras like real-time translation.” The buds’ noise cancelling is top-tier, and although you’re able to tweak the tuning on the buds, their default settings are balanced. Apple also leverages some of the best transparency mode tech on the market right now. If you own an Apple iPhone or any compatible Apple device, these are among the best buds you can get for spatial audio and beyond.

Bose didn’t add much to its second-generation QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds ($299) compared to its predecessor. Design-wise, the main difference is the addition of an earwax guard — a welcome update, albeit unexciting. Another notable perk is the case’s wireless charging ability. The most important upgrade, however, is the improved noise-cancelling technology on the QuietComfort Ultra buds. In fact, many reviewers consider them to feature some of the best noise-canceling tech on the market. On the spatial audio front, Bose’s aptly named Immersive Audio mode and Cinema Mode are two spatial audio features that every Bose headphones user should try out at least once.

Immersive Audio expands the soundstage of a stereo sound source, making it sound like there are two speakers in front of you (rather than speakers playing directly into your ears). Cinema Mode, which was designed specifically for TV shows and movies, was specifically designed to emulate sitting in a movie theater. Unlike Apple’s Spatial Audio, both Immersive Audio and Cinema Mode apply to stereo mixes, not to 5.1 or 7.1 multi-channel audio. The upside is that it does get applied to any audio played through the headphones, though, and you don’t need a specific app or device to enable it. If you don’t own an iPhone or Samsung phone, these Bose buds are one of the top all-around choices and a great option for a spatial audio experience.

Expert Reviews noted that “Immersive Audio works a lot better with certain tracks than others, so it’s not something you’ll want engaged the whole time,” which is “just as well, given the impact it has on battery life.” Indeed, per Bose’s own specifications, Immersive Audio cuts battery life down from six hours to four, so that’s one required trade-off for this particular spatial audio feature.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds4 Pro ($249.99) are, roughly speaking, Samsung’s equivalent to the Apple AirPods Pro 3. The Buds4 Pros offer a similar feature set, and Samsung also limited their 360 Audio feature to Samsung devices, just as Apple did with AirPods on Apple devices. However, the Samsung buds are not as limited on non-Samsung phones as AirPods are on non-iPhones. You can still install the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app on other Android phones and adjust settings and features, but 360 Audio won’t be available with this method.

The Buds4 Pro feature 360 Audio with Direct Multi-Channel support for immersive sound, and they also support hi-res 24-bit/96kHz audio — but only on select Samsung phones, such as S-series devices from the S23 and up and various Z Fold and Z Flip models. When we compared the AirPods Pro 3 and the Galaxy Buds4 Pro, we noted that both of those premium bud options traded equal blows when it comes to ANC, audio quality, and features. Ultimately, the choice that makes sense for you depends in large part on whether you’re already in the Apple or Samsung ecosystem.

If you have a Samsung phone, consider buying the Buds4 Pro to unlock all their features; as Wired said, “[no other buds] pair better with Samsung devices.” The publication also highlighted the overall value of the buds themselves, stating they are “comfortable, intuitive, and sound better than most.” That said, those using other Android phones are likely better off opting for Bose’s brand-agnostic QuietComfort Ultras, which offer spatial audio on any device.

When it comes to spatial audio performance, the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 ($229) are an even closer match to the Apple AirPods Pro 3 than the Samsung buds are. Like the AirPods, Google’s Buds work with multi-channel audio mastered for surround sound — that includes audio from apps like Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, or HBO Max. However, you don’t need a Google Pixel phone to use this feature. If your Android phone supports Android’s spatial audio framework, you can likely get the same surround sound functionality with these buds. Just be sure to confirm compatibility before you place an order.

Wired loved the buds’ design, comfort, size, battery life, and “excellent noise canceling.” The outlet also claimed the buds “have long enough battery life to last an entire workday,” making them “worth the extra cash” and “probably the best high-end earbuds for Android,” at least at the time the review was written in 2024.

While Samsung opted for a redesign that mirrors the look and feel of Apple AirPods, Google used its own distinct design language in the Pixel Buds Pro 2. As a result, the relatively tiny Google buds stand out visually in a sea of AirPods copycats and knockoffs. Google’s buds are slightly less expensive than both the AirPods Pro 3 and the Samsung Buds4 Pro, and it’s why we recommend them as a cheaper alternative to AirPods Pro. However, when it comes to spatial audio, these Pixel buds won’t work with an iPhone. If you have an Android phone that supports the right spatial audio technology, these are a cheaper (but still functional) alternative to the Bose buds.

Apple owns the Beats brand, so buying Beats headphones gives you some of the same Apple ecosystem benefits that AirPods do without having to buy AirPods themselves (one being wireless audio sharing). The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 ($249) earbuds are sports-focused, so they were designed with large ear hooks that prevent them from coming off, no matter how vigorous your movement gets.

Compared to the AirPods, the first-generation Powerbeats Pro buds were rather incomplete. They lacked any sort of ANC or transparency modes, but they did present consumers with an AirPods alternative with longer battery life, a distinct sound mix, and a water-resistant design (which, per Wired, “could be better” — but your sweat is unlikely to mess up these earbuds). With the updated second generation, Beats by Dre not only reduced the size of both the buds and the charging case, but also implemented effective ANC, transparency mode, and spatial audio with head tracking.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 have the same Apple H2 chip that the AirPods Pro 2 buds have for processing audio and handling head-tracking. The key difference, though, is in the buds’ audio tuning and overall character, given they’re meant for different audiences and use cases. Expert Reviews praised the buds’ head-tracking and spatial audio performance, but noted a downgrade in sound quality compared to regular Apple earbuds and other brands like Bose, stating that “most people don’t require earhooks” and that “there are better-sounding options without them for the money.” With this option, the choice is really all about whether you want buds that are easier to wear during workouts.

Another fitness-centric bud, the Beats Fit Pro (1st Gen) ($199.95) is a bit of a left-field option. Despite having come out in 2021, these buds are still on sale. Apple refreshed its sports-focused lineup with models like the Powerbeats, which are technically the successors to the Beats Fit Pro buds. However, counter to what one might think, that doesn’t make the Fit Pros totally outdated. When they came out, they were in competition with Apple’s first-generation AirPods Pro. In fact, Wired thought they were better overall: “These new noise-canceling in-ears sound and feel better than the AirPods Pro and have significantly better battery life … for $50 less.”

Apart from being more suitable for use during intense activity, the Fit Pro earbuds are comfortable, have remarkable battery life, sound excellent, and have effective ANC. While the official list price for these headphones is $199, we often see them go for around $125, which puts them head-to-head with the AirPods 5. If you don’t want an open-ear bud, then this would be a better way to spend your earbud budget.

As for spatial audio, you’re getting a full head-tracked experience as you do with other Apple headphones and buds that support the feature. So, if you have an iPhone, iPad, or any other Apple device, this pair should integrate just as seamlessly with your tech as AirPods do. You can also get these buds in either white, black, gray, or pink, unlike AirPods buds, which only come in white. It’s hard to think of a better general-purpose ANC earbud option with spatial audio than the Beats Fit Pros, especially at their sale price.

In our Apple AirPods 5 review, we noticed the fifth-generation AirPods’ Spatial Audio feature was weaker than that of the AirPods Pro 3; it also had a shallower, narrower soundstage. However, they do cost roughly half as much as the AirPods Pro 3 (which retail for $250), and they still include Apple’s premium Spatial Audio feature. The standard AirPods 5 ($129, or $149 with a wireless charging case included) are a better value overall, especially because they’re more comfortable for those who aren’t too tolerant of shoving objects into their ears.

Since the base AirPods don’t form a tight seal with your ear, they naturally come with slightly weaker sound than the buds in Apple’s Pro line. However, these latest AirPods still feature noise cancelling, which is quite a neat trick given their open-ear format. In fact, the biggest differentiator between the base $75 AirPods 4 and the base AirPods 5 is the addition of ANC. There is an upgraded AirPods 4 with ANC, but given its MSRP is $180, it doesn’t offer the best value now that the AirPods 5 with ANC are out. The 5s are a little better in every department compared to the 4s, but you still get spatial audio and all the other features at a significantly lower price. As of this writing, the standard AirPods 4 are going for around $85, which is quite the steal if you’re just looking for buds tailored for use with the Apple ecosystem, whether you’ve got an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac.

Sony remains one of the best audio engineering companies in the world, and its flagship over-ear WH-1000XM series of headphones remain the gold standard for high-quality everyday listening. But what about Sony’s smaller offerings? The Sony WF-1000XM6 buds ($349.99) are not cheap — in fact, they’re among the more expensive ones we’ve covered. But audiophile reviewers like those at RecordingNOW give it high marks in every category. “The Sony WF-1000XM6 takes the crown for the current #1 all-arounder in the wireless earbud class, due to elite noise cancelling performance, mic quality, and audiophile sound quality.”

The spatial audio implementation on these buds isn’t just a filter placed on a stereo audio source. Sony’s 360 Reality Audio is a proper object-based system, where vocals, instruments, and other sounds are placed in a field around you using location metadata. However, for this feature to work, you need to be playing audio that’s been mastered for the standard.

As of this writing, you can get content designed for 360 Reality Audio on Amazon Music Unlimited, Artist Connection, Nugs, Peertracks, and 360 Reality Audio Live. There’s also the interesting “background music mode,” which changes the soundstage so that your music sounds like background music in a restaurant. However, Stuff found the effect to be unconvincing, opining that it made music sound so muffled that it didn’t make for a pleasant experience — so use the feature at your own discretion.

Since headphones have so many individual features that impact the overall experience of using them, it’s difficult to recommend a pair based on a single headline feature. Having some sort of spatial audio feature was the minimum requirement for a pair of earbuds to land on this list, but on top of that, we sought wireless buds that stand on their own as excellent in-ear options that would appeal even to those with no interest in spatial audio or surround sound. To that end, all the wireless buds here have an average Amazon rating of at least four stars and favorable reviews from professional headphone reviewers.