Thanks to advances in battery life, form factor, and sound quality, Bluetooth earphones for sleeping have finally become usable on a nightly basis. And while audio headbands for sleeping are an option, most people find them uncomfortable and hot. Whether you are listening a soothing audio book, or falling to sleep with your favorite music or podcast, wireless earbuds are now a feasible solution.
That said, the wireless earbuds market has become cluttered with cheap Apple knockoffs and dodgy internet sellers. Even well recognised brands are rushing to put out subpar product that just isn’t worth your hard earned dollars. That’s where we come in…
Our team has tested and vetted the absolute best in wireless earbuds for sleeping. Then, we seek out the best price and fastest delivery times in Australia.
Mifo O5 Plus Gen 2: Editor’s pick for best Bluetooth earbuds for sleeping – $129.99 at Mifo.com.au
Where to buy the Mifo O5 Plus Gen 2 earbuds in Australia
The best wireless earphones for sleeping (yes, even if you are a side sleeper like me) come from a brand that is fairly new to Australia. But don’t let that scare you off, as these super low profile earbuds are easily some of the best we have ever tested.
BEST VALUE
- $129.99 at Mifo.com.au – 2-4 day delivery
- OF NOTE: Pro Edition $199.99 at Mifo.com.au – 2-4 day delivery
OTHER OPTIONS
- $146.00 at Shopendive.com – 4-6 day delivery
- Editor’s Note: The Gen 2 is not available on Amazon or other channels at the time of publishing. The original O5 is available for the similar pricing plus tax on Amazon.com here, but does not include USB-C connection, power bank, and upgraded sound quality.
So what makes the Mifo O5 Plus the best bedtime earbuds?
The slimmest profile earbuds, period. The Mifo O5 includes a bevy of cutting edge features that blow away higher priced brands, beginning with their form factor. Weighing in at just a few grams each, the O5 Plus earbuds feel supremely comfortable, and include 7 silicon ear tip shapes and sizes for that perfect fit. Further, once in it’s nearly impossible to get them to fall out. Readers may remember propensity to fall out was a major problem that prevented us from recommending the Apple AirPods Pro in our last wireless review.
Absurd battery life with power bank feature. The O5 Plus Gen 2 earbuds themselves will play continuously for 7+ hours, a feat we tested over several days. Not only that, but the included USB-C charging case offers an additional 100 hours of play time. No, that is not a typo. We were able to use the earbuds without charging the case for an entire week before it gave out. Not only that, but the case allows you to plug a smartphone in to charge your devices on the go. In our test, we were able to charge an iPhone 11 Pro Max from 0 to 100%. That’s stunning, and makes us wonder why earbuds from other brands costing 3-4 times more have just a third of the battery life.
Excellent sound with passive noise (snore) canceling and transparency mode you have to hear to believe. The Mifo O5 packs some of the best noise canceling sound quality in any true wireless earbuds we have tested. That’s particularly helpful to reproduce smooth, consistent sound that won’t interrupt your sleep cycle.
You won’t be able to hear any outside noise, unless you activate transparency mode. Once activated with a tap, you are able to hear ambient noise around you perfectly, including conversations. That means you don’t have to remove the earbuds when you want to order a coffee or have a quick word. We’ve never seen a premium feature like this is sub-$200 earbuds before, and it is truly impressive.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Mifo have now released a Professional edition of the O5 with balanced armature drivers designed for true audiophiles in mind. It carries with it substantial added cost, but offers a more accurate high range for those willing to pay $199.99.
Australia-based customer support. We have been continuously disappointed with true wireless earbuds in the past, even from tech giants like Samsung. Part of that disappointment comes with poor or absent customer service. We tested Mifo on several occasions with questions and every time received proper replies within an hour. That demonstrates commitment to Australian market and contributes greatly to our award of Editor’s Pick.
Jabra Elite Active 65t: Solid but pricey sleep earbuds – $254.99 at Amazon.com.au
Where to buy the Jabra Elite 65t earbuds in Australia
If you aren’t price sensitive, Jabra may be the brand for you. These true wireless earbuds come with fewer accessories than the Mifo O5, but offer a more generalist approach to the format.
BEST VALUE
Why Jabra makes the list of best earbuds for sports
Good overall quality for true wireless earbuds. Since true wireless earbuds were invented, we have lamented at poor signal quality, dropped calls, and pairing fiascos. Jabra has included top quality chipsets and firmware, and we were pleased with the overall experience.
Excellent marks for sound quality. While bass isn’t as rich as the Mifo O5, the overall high and low tones of the Elite 65t are quite good. We’ll leave it to you to determine if they sound $255 good.
Limited sleep-specific features. While Jabra does an excellent job with daily life, there are a few problems when you wear them while sleeping. Though they are small, they stick out far enough to be a bit of an annoyance if you sleep on your side. They also snag once in a while, which may cause need for readjustment, or waking up with one earbud missing.
Bose Soundsport Free: Sports earphones that live up to the Bose name – $268.00 at Amazon.com.au
Where to buy the Bose Soundsport Free 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.
BEST VALUE
Why Bose gets our approval for the gym
Great sound that comes at a cost. While Bose has engineered a product that is indeed worthy of the name, it does come at a cost. Reduced battery life and Bluetooth 4.1 instead of 5.0 hurt the product and age it to the first generation of true wireless product.
Fun, fitness-oriented colours. Of note are the options to pick from a bright, bold, and just plain fun colour scheme. While not strictly to do with features, the Soundsport makes going to the gym just a bit more interesting.
Built for sports, but may not work for sleeping. While the Soundsport is made for active movement, the form factor leaves room for improvement while sleeping. If you have smaller ears, you may experience some discomfort or a feeling that the earbuds may fall out. That’s not particularly comfortable when you are trying to focus on getting a good night’s rest.
Runners-up: Best Wireless Sports Earbuds
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 – $309.99 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 – $209.99 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 – $191.00 at Amazon.com.au
The Galaxy smartphone 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.