Looking for the best wireless earbuds for phone calls? You’re probably dreaming of making calls without the hassle of a wire connected to your smartphone. Cutting that cord can be a game changer. But if you’re hustling for a living, you want wireless earbuds that make calls crystal clear with no risk of interruption. Thankfully our reviewers are here to provide you with a list of the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds for phone calls. And if battery life is your preferred metric, head over to our roundup of the longest lasting Bluetooth earbuds.
The Best Wireless Earbuds for Phone Calls 2021
The best wireless earbuds for cell phone calls need to meet a few key criteria to make our list. Here’s what we’re looking for:
- Mic and speaker quality. The mic has to be top notch to pick up your voice without background or ambient noise. Sometimes you want to make a phone call without revealing your location. Clients shouldn’t know you’re in a restaurant or on the beach when handling their sensitive matters!
- Ease of use. You have to be able to answer calls quickly and easily, preferably with a simple touch or gesture. If the earbuds aren’t already on, they should be effortless to place on your head.
- Strength of Bluetooth signal. Calls need to be uninterrupted by signal loss, even if your smartphone is across the room. Not all Bluetooth devices are created equal, and signal strength is a huge part of that difference.
Ready to get to the list of best wireless in the ear earbuds for phone calls? Let’s start the roundup!
Mifo O5 Plus Gen 2 Touch Bluetooth 5.0 Earbuds are the best we have ever tested $109.99 Best Price
When it comes to Bluetooth earbuds there are hits and misses. Even the big boys at Apple have lost points for style and usability with Android devices. So when we first got our hands on Mifo’s latest model we could not believe what we were seeing, feeling, and hearing. There is no doubt that this surprising underdog company has created something special using the latest Bluetooth 5 tech and the best all around construction we have seen to date.
Mifo O5 Plus Bluetooth 5.0 Earbuds – $109.99 at Mifo.us
Rock solid hot swappable calls. Need to take a call? Simply open the beautifully machined solid aluminum charging case and lift one – or both – earbuds out. On opening the case the earbuds automatically activate and pair with your device, meaning by the time your hand gets to your ear they are receiving signal and ready to take calls. Take a call with a single earbud or both, and you can add or remove a bud during a call at any time. To top it off during our testing we just couldn’t shake the signal, including when the phone was 20-30 feet from the earbuds.
Stunning design and durability. The thing that surprised us the most about Mifo’s latest product is the Apple-like attention to detail. The smooth, easily pocketable aluminum charging case is machined to perfection, and the earbuds themselves stay comfortably in your ear no matter what activity you do. Want to take a call on the treadmill? These are the earbuds for you.
Ease of use. A plague of true wireless earbuds has been usability. Pairing, activating, and charging. Mifo has thought of everything including visual cues. Note the right earbud has a subtle red line, while the left earbud is blue. Small things like this combined with the above pairing function and battery-included charging case make these one of the hottest items we have seen in a long time.
Somewhat expensive. As a brand new product with the latest tech, we’re actually impressed that the Mifo earbuds aren’t priced higher. After using them for a few weeks they certainly feel like they should be. Thanks to their newness, they are also unlikely to be found for much less any time soon.
Sony WF-1000XM3 are the best completely wireless earbuds for phone calls – Check Price on Alpha XR
When you go completely wireless, you’re typically making a few tradeoffs. Firstly, earbuds are not attached to anything, meaning they can fall out of your ear. There are also engineering challenges with mic placement, signal, and battery life. Sony has solved these issues by implementing the latest Bluetooth 5.0 chipset. Using half the battery power and boosting signal substantially, these earbuds are a dramatic step forward for true wireless phone calls.
Sony Bluetooth 5.0 Earbuds
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Incredible call clarity and signal strength. One of the major failings of Bluetooth 5.0 chipsets is signal strength and distance. The Sony Bluetooth 5.0 earbuds are able to be up to 40 feet away from your phone, meaning you can finally pace when on call without worrying about losing connection. Calls sound crystal clear and in stereo, a huge come up from other models. Bluetooth 5.0 is amazing and once you try it, you’ll never go back.
Hot swappable. You can pick up a call on either earbud if you don’t want to use both, which is particularly handy when you’re not wearing them and need to quickly pick up the phone. The included charging case has a portable battery as well, so grabbing the earbuds and setting them back in also keeps them charged.
Touch controls allow you to tap and gesture to answer calls, send to voicemail, or adjust volume. Once you get used to using these quick hand motions doing anything while on the phone is super simple.
Materials could be better. When comparing Sony against the new Mifo option currently at the top of our list it’s clear that the components in Sony’s offering could be a bit more premium feeling. Plastic is used throughout the entire earbud and case design. And while that’s fine, we would love to see the next iteration include some metal or more premium looking (and durable) surfaces.
Plantronics Voyager 5200 is the best Bluetooth headset with boom mic for phone calls – Check Price on Alpha XR
If a professional ear piece style headset is your preference, the Expanse Bluetooth wireless headset with boom mic offers the best in class solution. With a perfectly engineered mic and simple one touch controls, a day of calls in the home office, car, or conference room will fly by. It’s a pro talker’s match made in heaven.
Plantronics Bluetooth Headset with Boom Mic
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Top quality boom mic. Not only does the boom mic pivot and rotate from two different joints, it also offers enhanced voice clarity and modulation. The effect? You don’t have to raise or lower your voice to achieve an even tone, and background fuzz is effectively reduced.
Speaker tuned for voice calls. The Plantronics headset is made for calls, period. Everything from the mic position to battery life is built for professionals that need to be on the phone constantly or over long periods, but don’t want the hassle that comes with wires.
Comfortable over long wear times. A form fitting ear piece with soft silicon coating stays firm without being annoying or uncomfortable even over long wear sessions. Simple on ear controls offer one touch solutions to answer calls and adjust volume without looking.
Not great for music or podcasts. Thanks to engineering toward one purpose, we don’t recommend using the Voyager 5200 as your daily driver for music or podcasts.
Apple AirPods are the best wireless earbuds for iPhone users – Check price on Alpha XR
The best true wireless earbuds for phone calls and music are Apple’s iconic white AirPods. No surprises here, and what you see is what you get – the top quality Apple name and a top of the pile Apple price to match.
Apple AirPods – Check price on Alpha XR
They just work. Apple AirPods work right out of the box. iPhones and Android phones will pair effortlessly. The two independent earbuds are also perfectly synched to each other, so sound from calls is correctly distributed. Apple is always good at these little details. After all, the best completely wireless earbuds for phone calls have perform above and beyond to hold down our top spot.
Bluetooth signal is strong for 4.1. Apple spared no expense on hardware, though an older Bluetooth 4.1 chipset has been eclipsed by 5.0. The AirPods are some of the best truly wireless earbuds for iPhone calls thanks to software that helps keep signal strength up. They nearly feel like you are using a wired solution, though occasional hiccups happen.
The mic isn’t perfect. True wireless earbuds face a design challenge when making calls. The lack of a mic that’s directly by your mouth means ambient noise will sneak into your phone call. There’s really nothing you can do about it, and it’s not something that is truly the fault of Apple. It’s just a minor annoyance you’ll need to live with.
No charging case. Though the AirPods have a decent battery life, they aren’t as strong as some of our contenders in the best battery life category. While Apple includes a case, the case does not have a battery inside, meaning you’ll need to plug in to charge. Newer products have a battery inside for charging on the go.
BeatsX are the best wireless earbuds for phone calls and music – Check price on Alpha XR
It’s not all about phone calls. Music aficionados want call clarity and oomph when they aren’t on a conference. That’s a different product qualification entirely, and it’s not without tradeoffs on the call side. Not surprisingly, a brand with a fairly legendary musical pedigree slides in to take the top spot. The best wireless earbuds for music and phone calls are from Beats by Dre. The brand brings musical pedigree to the table without skimping on call quality.
BeatsX Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds – Check price at Alpha XR
Music and calls sound booming. All Beats headphones have been engineered and tuned to make music sound better. BeatsX are no exception. The high and low frequencies are particularly loud, cutting through noisy environments. You can hear callers easily, and that goes doubly for music. Your favorite tracks will have richness and depth not found in other wireless earbud products.
Color options offer personalization. Form can be as important as function. Bring a bit of personal style to your wireless calls by selecting from one of six colors. Beats has a history of releasing special colorway editions. So chances are by the time you read this there will be new color options to choose from. Why not own the best Bluetooth wireless earbuds for phone calls and music while looking good too?
BeatsX have a lanyard. The two earbuds are connected by a wire meant to go around your shoulders wrapping behind your head. It’s not totally obtrusive, but you will know it’s there. The mic and remote rest on this cord. The silver lining? The lanyard makes it easy for you to reach and for callers to hear you speak.
Voice calls aren’t that great. Unfortunately music and calls require different skillsets. That loud, booming base for music we listed as a plus can also be a major negative depending on your personal preferences. Calls sound a little unnatural and can actually go from soft to ear-piercingly loud under certain circumstances.
Jabra Elite Active 65t are the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds for Android for phone calls – Check price on Alpha XR
Android users have the opportunity to take advantage of robust OS features. Devices tuned for Andriod go beyond call quality to greater utility. The latest true wireless earbuds from Jabra achieve this and more thanks to quad microphone technology and workout specific features that offer no compromise to call quality.
Jabra Elite Active 65t True Wireless Earbuds – Check price at Alpha XR
Built in Android features. Jabra has wisely included an integrated motion sensor to communicate movement and track workout progress. Native support for Google Now allows hands free commands to control just about anything. Top it off with simple out of the box pairing and maintenance. The entire package can be fine tuned by an Andriod app for additional sound customization.
Durable and secure in your ear. The Jabra Elite Active 65t earbuds are made for people on the move. You can use them to make calls or while working out. Don’t worry about getting them wet either, as a waterproof coating will mitigate moisture issues. The included ear attachment helps the earbuds conform neatly to the shape of your ear without being painful.
Music quality is somewhat lacking compared to similar-priced products. While call clarity is top notch, music is a bit lacking. Tones are not as rich as BeatsX, and higher range tones are a weak when compared to Apple AirPods. If call quality is your number one priority you will be very happy with the Jabra Elite Active 65t.
Bose SoundSport are the best wireless earbuds for loud phone calls – Check price on Alpha XR
It may not be a surprise that Bose makes the best wireless earbuds for phone calls on iPhone. Bose has always been known for sound quality. But what about phone calls? It turns out the Bose SoundSport line is one of the best quality Bluetooth wireless earbuds for phone calls.
Bose SoundSport Bluetooth Earbuds – Check price at Alpha XR
Call quality is astounding. The best Bluetooth wireless earbuds for phone calls have to be crisp and clear. Bose SoundSport earbuds are the solution you’ve been craving. Though they do not have active noise canceling, ambient noise is significantly reduced thanks to a well designed product. You won’t be left wondering what is the best kind of earbuds for wireless phone calls with noise cancelling capabilities.
Comfortable, firm fit. The SoundSport line is built for working out. That means intensive movement, sweat, and dust won’t bother them. The StayHear+ technology offers a unique solution to keeping a tight but comfortable fit. The fit also enhances call sound quality by keeping the speaker close to your ear drum.
Pricey when compared to other options. Bose will not be the best cheap wireless earbuds for phone calls. But we never promised cheap. That’s almost always been the case with Bose products. They say you get what you pay for, and that rings true when it comes to the best wireless earbuds for making phone calls. Bose offers a comprehensive warranty in addition to excellent customer service should anything come up.
Thanks for reading our review of the best wireless earbuds for phone calls. With your new product in ear you can command the board room from the beach, or converse with customers in the middle of a crowded airport. Enjoy the digital nomad lifestyle!
Additional Questions and Answers on the Best Wireless Earbuds for Phone Calls
How do I get my iPhone or Android phone to answer on Bluetooth?
Both iOS and Android operating systems support Bluetooth device calling natively. That means all you need to do to receive or make calls on a Bluetooth headset is pair the headset with your phone. There are specific procedures for pairing for each device, so you’ll need to read your headphones instruction manual for complete pairing instructions. Generally speaking, you will push and likely hold a button to enter Bluetooth discovery mode, then select the device on your phone. Once the pairing is confirmed you will not need to do it again.
What is the best Bluetooth headset for cell phones and making calls?
Most modern cell phones contain a version of Bluetooth chipsets. Most common in 2018 are versions 4.1, 4.2, and 5.0. Those numbers are close together, but represent a big difference. While Bluetooth 4.1 and 4.2 are very similar, Bluetooth 5.0 halves power consumption, doubles transmission range, and doubles data transfer speed. Because phone calls are a set data speed, you won’t notice much difference between the two in that regard. However, the clarity and lack of dropped calls combined with better battery life will have frequent callers thanking the Bluetooth gods.
Can you upgrade Bluetooth for making calls?
When it comes to Bluetooth earbuds and headphones, you cannot upgrade to a new version of Bluetooth. This is because Bluetooth uses a combination of hardware and software to delivery functionality. The hardware component, or chipset, is a permanent part of the Bluetooth device, and cannot be removed or swapped out. The best way to upgrade your Bluetooth earbuds or headphones is to buy a new device with the desired chipset. Pay close attention, because many new earbuds still use old Bluetooth 4.2 chipsets.
Are Bluetooth versions backward compatible with earbuds for makign calls?
Bluetooth 4.2 and 5.0 devices will work with each other with no added difficulties. This is because the Bluetooth standard is a single operating entity, and certifies all Bluetooth chipsets to ensure compatibility. So, if you decide to buy a new pair of Bluetooth 5.0 earbuds, you should not worry about their ability to work with your older smartphones, MP3 players, and stereo systems.
Can you use headphones and Bluetooth at the same time on iPhone?
While you may use headphones and Bluetooth functionality at the same time on an iPhone, you cannot connect to two devices simultaneously via Bluetooth. The Bluetooth 5.0 chipset offers increased bandwidth, and thus may stream to two devices simultaneously. Unfortunately current models of iPhones do not have a true Bluetooth 5.0 chipset. The next update to the iPhone line will likely include an upgrade to Bluetooth 5.0.
How do I pair my iPhone with Bluetooth for making calls?
Pairing an iPhone with a Bluetooth device is simple. Unlock your iPhone and go to Settings > Bluetooth. Once there, find the device you want to pair with in the list under My Devices. If the device does not appear, you must put that device in discovery mode. The method for doing this varies by device, so you’ll need to consult the device instruction manual for pairing instructions. Once a device is paired, you should not have to go through this process again.
How do I connect Bluetooth headphones to my iPhone for making or receiving calls?
Bluetooth headphones are typically simple to connect to any smartphone. Open your iPhone and tap to Settings > Bluetooth. Once there, find the headphones you want to pair with in the list under My Devices. If the headphones don’t appear, you must put them in discovery mode. Typically you can put Bluetooth headphones into discovery mode by holding one of the power or activation buttons until an indicator flashes. This will vary by device. Pairing true wireless earbuds typically means holding each individual earbuds’ button down at the same time until pairing occurs.
What are the best Bluetooth earbuds for truckers?
That’s a great question! The best Bluetooth earbuds for truckers who make calls for extended periods will closely follow this list. You may want earbuds that can be used one at a time to take calls while the other charges. The Sony and Jabra Elite fit that description. Truck on!
