The Truly Wireless Earbuds (TWS) segment has gained massive popularity among the masses in India, and 2023 has been buzzing with new releases left and right, offering excellent options in every price segment. We’ve gathered the top contenders to vie for the coveted title of Best TWS of 2023 at the Indian Gadget Awards in the Mainstream and Premium segments. With over 35 categories, 35+ jury members, and over 200+ nominations, the competition is fierce. Now, let’s look at the winners for the Best TWS Earbuds of 2023.
Best TWS Earbuds of 2023 (Mainstream)
Winner: OPPO Enco Air 3 Pro
The OPPO Enco Air 3 Pro clinches the title of the Best Truly Wireless Earbuds of 2023 (mainstream) category. The earbuds come encased in a glossy, compact round case and exude a premium feel. Wearing them is a comfortable experience, and they deliver an authentic audio experience with minimal disturbance. Features like ANC and spatial sound perform as intended, offering satisfactory performance considering its price. This device stands out as a compelling offering in its price range, punching above its weight in terms of performance.
In terms of specifications, the earbuds are equipped with 12.4mm dynamic drivers and provide ANC of up to 49dB. The device offers Hi-Res LDAC audio output and features Bluetooth 5.3 for enhanced connectivity. The earbuds have an IP55 rating for resistance against water and dust
Best Truly Wireless Earbuds of 2023 (Premium)
Winner: Sony WF-1000XM5
Sony’s WF-1000XM5 claims the top spot in the Best Truly Wireless Earbuds of 2023 (premium) category. The brand’s latest TWS offering delivers a stellar audio experience, complemented by convenient features like head tracking, head gestures, spatial audio, speech tracking, and more. The earbuds boast one of the best Active Noise Cancellation in the TWS segment, making them an ideal choice for users seeking a device that not only provides premium sound quality but also excels in quality of life features and effective ANC.
Coming to the specifications, the earbuds pack a 8.4mm audio driver which works in tandem with Sony’s integrated processor V2 and HD noise cancellation processor QN2e. The device features Bluetooth 5.3 for connectivity and carries an IPX4 rating for water resistance.
Take a look at the rest of the nominees for the Best TWS Earbuds of 2023 in the Mainstream and Premium categories.
Best TWS Earbuds of 2023 (Mainstream) nominees
CMF Buds Pro
The CMF Buds Pro features 10mm dynamic bass-boosted drivers, IP54 water and dust resistance, active noise cancellation of up to 45dB, and a battery life of up to 6.5 hours with ANC turned on. This makes the Buds Pro an excellent value-for-money option.
Realme Buds Air5 Pro
The standout feature of the Buds Air5 Pro lies in its spatial audio capabilities. The earbuds come equipped with an 11mm bass driver and a 6mm tweeter, an IP54 rating and ANC of up to 50dB.
OPPO Enco Air3
The Enco Air3 is equipped with 13.4mm audio drivers and boasts an IP54 water resistance rating. With the OPPO Alive Audio technology, it enhances the audio experience, delivering immersive surround sound output.
OnePlus Nord Buds 2
The Nord Buds 2 feature 12.4mm dynamic drivers with Dolby Atmos support , ANC of up to 25dB, and include IP55 water resistance.
Zebronics Zeb-Pods 1
The ZEB-PODS 1 pack numerous features at a very reasonable price point. The device is equipped with 13mm drivers, ANC, a low-latency gaming mode, and offers a battery life of up to 6 hours with ANC turned on.
OnePlus Nord Buds 2r
The Nord Buds 2r shares many features with its elder sibling, with notable exceptions being a prolonged battery life of up to 8 hours and the absence of a dedicated ANC mode.
Fast Track FPods FZ100
The FZ100 offers a plethora of features at a competitive price point. These include a 10mm bass driver, a low-latency mode, IPX5 water resistance, and a quad mic with ENC for enhanced call quality.
Redmi Buds 4 Active
The Buds 4 Active delivers a well-rounded ensemble of features at a competitive price, with 12mm dynamic drivers, AI noise cancellation, Google Fast Pair, and an IPX4 water resistance.
Noise VS102 Pro
The VS102 Pro stands out as one of the better value-for-money options in its price range, featuring a dedicated ANC mode of up to 10dB. It comes equipped with 10mm drivers, an IPX5 water resistance rating, and a low-latency mode.
![TWS nominees mainstream 1]()
Noise VS102 Plus
The VS102 Plus earbuds flaunt a design and feature similar to the pro variant. However, the device lacks an ANC mode and, instead, offers a quad microphone with ENC for enhanced calling.
Boat Airdopes Flex 454
The standout feature of the Airdopes Flex 454 is that it offers multipoint connectivity, a feature rarely present in this price segment. The device also comes with 10mm drivers, ANC up to 32dB and IPX5 water resistance.
Boult Astra
The Boult Astra flaunts one of the most unique designs in this list. The futuristic design is complemented by 13mm drivers, a quad mic with ENC technology, a low-latency mode, and IPX5 water resistance.
Truke Buds Vibe
The Truke Buds Vibe is equipped with 13mm drivers and boasts features such as ANC of up to 35dB, quad mic ENC, a low-latency mode, and IPX5 water resistance, all at a budget-friendly price.
POCO Pods
The POCO Pods feature a sleek dual-tone design and come with 12mm bass drivers, a low-latency mode, ENC, Google Fast Pair, and IPX4 water resistance.
Truke BTG Neo
Next up is another offering from Truke, the BTG Neo, featuring 13mm drivers, ENC, a low-latency mode, and multi-point connectivity, all at a very reasonable price.
Truke Clarity 5
The Clarity 5 earbuds share many specifications with the BTG Neo, with the notable exceptions being the absence of a low-latency mode and an improved battery life.
Inbase Elite
The Inbase Elite packs a 10mm audio driver designed to deliver balanced sound with loud beats. It incorporates Bluetooth 5.0 for seamless connectivity, features IPX5 water resistance, and claims a battery life of up to 5 hours on a single charge.
JBL Vibe Beam
The JBL Vibe Beam is equipped with 8mm drivers, delivering JBL deep bass sound. Ideal for outdoor use, the earbuds feature IPX54 water resistance, while the case boasts an IPX2 water resistance.
Portronics Harmonics Twins S9
The Twins S9 showcases a unique design with a digital display on the case, indicating the battery status of both the pods and the case. Additionally, the device is equipped with 13mm drivers and offers quick pairing.
Mivi Commando X9
The Commando X9 are gaming earbuds with a distinct design featuring RGB lights. The device is equipped with 13mm drivers delivering enhanced bass output, a low-latency mode, and IPX4 water resistance
BeatXP Wave XPods
The Wave XPods come with 11mm drivers and stand out as a great option, offering features such as a quad mic with ENC, a low-latency mode, and IPX5 water resistance.
Best Truly Wireless Earbuds of 2023 (Premium) nominees:
OnePlus Buds Pro 2
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is equipped with 11 + 6mm dual audio drivers, delivering Hi-res audio output and spatial audio capabilities. It offers a range of premium features, including ANC of up to 48dB, a low-latency mode, and IP55 water resistance for the earbuds and IPX4 resistance for the case.
LG TONE Free fit TF7
LG justifies the premium price of the TONE Free fit TF7 through a combination of capable hardware and software. It features a 6mm driver unit with support for ANC and other notable features, including IP67 water and dust resistance, multi-point and multi-pairing connectivity, and UVnano technology that ensures the earbuds stay clean.
Samsung Galaxy Buds FE
The Galaxy Buds FE are equipped with a single-driver audio system that delivers robust bass and high-quality sound. Other notable features include IPX2 water resistance, ANC, ambient sound modes, and a triple mic setup for enhanced audio quality.
Nothing Ear (2)
The Ear (2) follows Nothing’s design philosophy and flaunts a transparent audio unit that is quite eye-catching. The device is equipped with an 11.6mm driver delivering Hi-res audio output and features like ANC of up to 40dB, dual connectivity, Google Fast Pair/Microsoft Swift Pair, IP54 rated, and an IP55 rating for its case.
Marshall Motif II A.N.C.
The Motif II ANC features a 6mm audio driver with Marshall’s signature sound technology. The earbuds also boast a slew of premium features, including ANC, multi-point connectivity, IPX5-rated earbuds, and an IPX4 rating for the case.
Jabra Elite 10
Jabra’s Elite 10 premium earbuds pack a 10mm driver with Dolby Atmos support to ensure immersive 3D audio output. It incorporates Jabra’s Advanced ANC and comes with features such as, multi-point connectivity, IP57-rated earbuds, and an IP54-rated charging case.
Jabra Elite 8 Active
The next entry from Jabra is Elite 8 Active, designed for active users with a knack for outdoor adventures. The device is equipped with a 6mm driver with Dolby Audio support. Other notable features include adaptive ANC, multi-point connectivity, IP68-rated earbuds, and an IP54 rating for the charging case.
Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW
The last item on the list is the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW, which relies solely on its audio output quality, omitting features such as ANC and multiple Bluetooth codecs commonly found in this segment. It boasts a 5.8mm driver, a low-latency mode, Google Fast Pair, and IPX4 water resistance.
