If you are like us, you are also having a lot of trouble finding earbuds for small ears. When it comes to choosing the best mobile accessories, you always have to think about how comfortable they are. Applying that to “in-ear” earbuds, you should look for a pair that does not just fit perfectly as they also should not make your ears sore. But because of how hard it is to find comfortable earbuds, many have outright given up looking for that perfect pair. They instead choose and picked up a pair of over-ear headphones or a gaming headset instead. While those are certainly good options, nothing beats the easy-to-carry and compact nature of lightweight earbuds. We have looked into and tested out some of the best earbuds for small ears and compiled this handy list for you to choose from!
Inside This Article
- Best Earbuds for Small Ears
- Special Mentions – Bluetooth Modules and Amplifiers
- Things To Look For With Earbuds for Small Ears
- What Next?
Best Earbuds for Small Ears
Before we start counting down the best earbuds for small ears, you should know a few things we considered in coming up with this list. For this list, we put comfortability, weight, and size on the front seat when picking earbuds. That said, our picks also have great sound quality, are solidly built, and come from trusted brands. To help you decide which is the best choice for you, we have also added notes for each device like its brand, form-factor, connectivity, weight (each bud if wireless, whole unit if wired), and its overall performance.
Brand: FiiO
Form-Factor Support: Pure In-Ear
Connectivity: Wired – switchable 2.5mm / 3.5mm /4.4mm
Weight: 0.39 ounces
FiiO FD7 is a pair of flagship-quality earbuds that comes from a brand that is well known for DAPs, DACs, and other high-fidelity music equipment. True to its high-end appearance and price, the FD7 has all the bells and whistles you can expect. Although we can’t say that it’s better than open-back headphones, its semi-open acoustic design combined with a 12mm pure beryllium dynamic audio driver can provide the good sound you’d pay for.
FD7 was also made with comfort in mind. It has angled MMCX connectors, which are also detachable and replaceable. It is also compatible with FiiO’s UTWS3, a pair of wireless amplifiers that makes detachable-cable earphones a true Bluetooth device.
Overall, the FD7 is light, modular (due to its interchangeable sound tubes, silicone tips, and switchable plugs), and is everything even the most demanding audiophile would want with a pair of earbuds.
Pros
- Detachable earbuds with MMCX connectors
- Interchangeable sound tubes
- 16 sets of silicone ear tips for different types of ears
- Switchable plugs with 2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm models
Cons
- It is expensive.
Brand: Earin
Form-Factor Support: Pure In-Ear
Connectivity: Wireless – Bluetooth 5.0
Weight: 0.12 ounces
For our best choice pick, we chose the Earin A-3. While a relatively new company established in 2014, Earin has consistently shown what Swedish engineering can do with Bluetooth earbuds. Their 2021 third-generation true wireless model, the A-3, is possibly the smallest earbuds on the market. Sound-wise, even if it may not have the best sound profile, its 14.3mm speakers can put out some of the best beats for its size.
Talking about its size, while it may not have modular silicone ear tips, its outright tiny earbud design is set to fit small ears. If you want a pair of earbuds for small ears that will automatically fit, the Earin A-3 should be your first and best choice.
Pros
- The smallest earbuds on the market do date
- Left-right ear neutral
- IP52 rated protection
- In-ear detection
Cons
- Underwhelming batteries
- May not fit bigger ears
Brand: KZ
Form-Factor Support: Behind Ear
Connectivity: Wired – 3.5mm
Weight: 3.60 ounces
The KZ ZSN Pro X is probably the best definition of “great bang for your buck” when it comes to earbuds for small ears. While it may be hefty at 3.60 ounces, the ZSN Pro X more than makes up for it with its other features. Not only does it have a great frequency response range of 7Hz to 40000Hz, but it also has a hardy aluminum-zinc alloy earbud casing with a silver-plated braided cable.
Those are not even the best parts of it! While it already gives out “premium” sounds and design choices, it costs less than $30 with a 12-month warranty to boot. The KZ ZSN Pro X can also be turned into Bluetooth wireless earbuds when combined with the KZ AZ09 Pro wireless amplifier.
Pros
- Affordable
- Detachable connectors
- Compatibility with wireless amplifiers
- 4 sets of silicone ear tips
- 12-month warranty
Cons
- It’s small, but it’s also heavy
- Behind-ear wear
Brand: Audeze
Form-Factor Support: Behind Ear Wings
Connectivity: Wired – 3.5mm
Weight: 0.74 ounces
You may think of planar magnetic earphones as bulky and heavy, but the Audeze iSINE 20 is different. It combines the technology with a light form factor, so people with small ears can also experience the best sound technology.
iSINE 20 has some of the clearest audio profiles on this list. It has a lot going for it due to Audeze’s patented LCD planar magnetic technology that gives its audio a low distortion rate with superior bass. It also offers a comfortable modular experience with 4 sets of silicone ear tips and wings each so you can pick which one fits best.
Those who want a wireless experience can also detach the earbuds and attach them to the Audeze CIPHER Bluetooth Module or any other 0.78mm compatible 2-pin Bluetooth module.
Pros
- Planar magnetic audio drivers
- Compatible iOS control and mixing app
- 4 sets of silicone ear tips and wings out of the box
- Detachable earbuds with 0.78mm connectors
Cons
- Not everyone can afford
- Behind ear wings
Brand: Sony
Form-Factor Support: Pure In-Ear
Connectivity: Wireless – Bluetooth 5.2
Weight: 0.17 ounces
One of the newer devices on this list, Sony released LinkBuds S in May 2022 to compete with the Apple AirPods Pro and Samsung Galaxy Buds. Not to be confused with the bigger Sony LinkBuds, the LinkBuds S is an improved version that adds superb automatic noise canceling and transparency modes. Its best feature, though, is the Sony 360 Reality Audio which gives you a fully immersive experience. To use it, you will need to link your LinkBuds S to the Sony app and take a picture of your ears. Although it’s a bit of a hassle, the 360-directional sound is definitely worth it.
While it does not have a lot of modular features, it does have 4 sets of silicone ear tips with an XS option that is perfect for those needing earbuds for small ears.
Pros
- Lightweight
- IPX4 certified protection
- Sony 360 Reality Audio
- Automatic noise canceling and transparency mode switching
Cons
- Underwhelming battery like
- No wireless charging
- Cheap-looking case
Brand: Meze Audio
Form-Factor Support: Behind Ear
Connectivity: Wired – 3.5mm
Weight: 0.35 ounces
The Rai Solo is from a rather niche brand called Meze Audio, a Romanian company founded in 2011 that specializes in high-end and high-fidelity audio devices. Putting their dreams of what an IEM should be into practice, Meze Audio have managed to make a more affordable version of their Rai Penta, which usually sells in the $1000+ price range.
Compared to the Penta, the Solo has a similar build and sound quality by using its in-house UPM balanced piston membrane dynamic audio driver to give the Solo a clear and balanced mid-range sound. While it does not have noise-canceling or a microphone, the Rai Solo is one of the best earbuds for small ears in terms of comfortability and music quality.
Pros
- Detachable MMCX connectors
- 8 sets of silicone ear tips
- Silver-plated copper braided wire
- Ergonomic sinter-hardened steel shell
Cons
- Expensive
- No noise canceling
- No microphone
Brand: Apple
Form-Factor Support: Pure In-Ear
Connectivity: Wireless – Bluetooth 5.0
Weight: 0.19 ounces
A stereotypical pair of earbuds and the one that started the whole wireless earbud trend, the Apple AirPods Pro is also a good pair of earbuds for small ears. While we have a more in-depth review of both the AirPods and the AirPods Pro, there are a few features of the Pros that we should make note of. The first feature is its wireless Qi and MagSafe charging. Aside from the usual Type-C wired charging, Qi and MagSafe capability give you a lot more options when charging these earbuds.
Its biggest feature, though, is its integrated W1 chip which allows for full compatibility with other iOS devices. This chip allows the Pro to have quick-set device pairing and set-up and automatic device switching, among other things. If you already own iOS devices, the AirPods Pro should be your pick as earbuds for small ears.
Pros
- Active noise cancelation and transparency modes
- Automatic adaptive EQ
- Wireless Qi-charging and MagSafe capable
- In-ear detection
Cons
- Battery capacity
- Feels overpriced
Related: How to Spot Fake a Apple AirPods Pro
Brand: 1MORE
Form-Factor Support: Pure In-Ear
Connectivity: Wired – 3.5mm
Weight: 0.63 ounces
The 1MORE Triple Driver wired earbuds is a pair of earbuds for small ears that sits perfectly in the middle of this list in terms of sound quality, build quality, and price. Nothing can be a better example of this than its own cabling, which changes in the middle from a hardy braided fabric cable to a flimsy and cheap-looking plastic cable. That said, 1MORE has had a pretty good idea with these earbuds by going with quantity instead of size. Because of its triple audio drivers (two tweeters and a speaker), the Triple Driver can put out some decent audio with highs, mid-range, and bass split between the three.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Triple audio driver per bud
- Balanced sound profile tuned by Grammy-winning sound engineer Luca Bignardi
Cons
- Flimsy plastic cable (braided fabric near the 3.5mm plug)
- Non-detachable earbuds
Brand: Anker
Form-Factor Support: Pure In-Ear
Connectivity: Wireless – Bluetooth
Weight: 0.32 ounces
Another good pair of earbuds for small ears is Anker’s SoundCore Life P3. Perfect for daily use, it features 6 integrated microphones for crystal-clear voice quality for calls. It also has multi-mode noise canceling, gaming, as well as transparency modes, which you can calibrate through the SoundCore app. While it may not put out the best sounds, the SoundCore Life P3 is the perfect day-to-day workhorse and can handle the worst things a daily commute can throw.
Pros
- Multi-mode noise canceling
- 11mm composite dynamic audio drivers
- IPX5 certified protection
Cons
- Underwhelming batteries
Brand: Sabbat
Form-Factor Support: Pure In-Ear
Connectivity: Wireless – Bluetooth 5.0
Weight: 0.32 ounces
A pair of fairly average wireless earbuds for small ears, Sabbat’s X12 Ultra checks off a lot of important boxes. It is reasonably priced at just below $60 with a good sound performance and a great 14.2mm pair of dynamic audio drivers. The Sabbat X12 Ultra also has a good battery life capable of 6 hours of continuous use combined with a Bluetooth transmission distance of 10 meters. Aside from these features, the Sabbat X12 Ultra is perfectly average and fits just about any size of ears with its 6 different sets of silicone ear tips.
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Good battery life
- Available on different colors
Cons
- Build quality issues
- Bass-heavy sound profile
Raycon E25
Brand: Raycon
Form-Factor Support: Pure In-Ear
Connectivity: Wireless – Bluetooth 5.2
Weight: 0.14 ounces
| Pros | Cons |
| Lightweight | Decent price |
| Great battery life | Bass-heavy sound profile |
| IPX6 certified protection | Build quality issues |
| 12 month limited Raycon warranty | |
| 5 sets of silicone ear tips |
While we have a full Raycon Earbuds E25 review, there are a few things we have to highlight with this model. There have been two models of Raycon E25s in the market, the inferior original one and the revamped 2020 model or E25 Pros. For this list, we are only looking at the 2020 model due to its better battery life, more balanced sound profile, and better quality control.
Overall, though, the Raycon E25 is still a mediocre offer for its expensive price tag. Those looking for a pair of wireless earbuds for small ears at a good price should look at the Sabbat X12 Ultra instead.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Great battery life
- IPX6 certified protection
- 5 sets of silicone ear tips
Cons
- Feels expensive considering its performance
- Bass-heavy sound profile
- Build quality issues
Brand: Samsung
Form-Factor Support: Pure In-Ear
Connectivity: Wired – USB Type-C
Weight: 0.63 ounces
Finally, the last and most basic pair on this list of earbuds for small ears is Samsung’s AKG-Tuned Type-C wired earphones. These are the most basic of basic earphones and even came bundled with some Samsung smartphones for free. Even if they are basic, there is no denying that they are pretty good for their price. If you just need something to listen to that will stick to your small ears, these USB Type-C earphones won’t let you down!
Pros
- Great price
- 4 sets of silicone ear tips
- Balanced sound profile
Cons
- Flimsy plastic cable and casing
Special Mentions – Bluetooth Modules and Amplifiers
You may have noticed how a few of our selected wired earbuds for small ears actually have detachable earbuds. While a relatively new innovation, this detachability has two purposes. The first purpose lets you replace worn-out or broken wires with new ones while saving money and reusing your original buds. Its second purpose is similar and lets you connect your earbuds to a Bluetooth module or amplifier instead. Even if it is still limited to high-end and mid-tier earbud models, here are a few Bluetooth modules and amplifiers that can fit specific earbud connectors to make them wireless devices.
FiiO UTWS3
Brand: FiiO
Connectivity: Wireless – Bluetooth 5.0
Weight: 4.4 ounces
Compatible with our premium pick earbuds for small ears, FiiO’s UTWS3 (MMCX model) turns the FD7 into a pair of behind-ear winged Bluetooth earbuds. Featuring aptX and AAC codec support and IPX4 water protection, the UTWS3 is one of the better Bluetooth modules out there.
KZ AZ09 Pro
Brand: KZ
Connectivity: Wireless – Bluetooth 5.2
Weight: 0.53 ounces
Another Bluetooth module for detachable earbuds is KZ’s AZ09 Pro which is compatible with KZ’s own ZSN Pro X. It supports aptX, AAC, and SBC codecs through Bluetooth 5.2 and turns any 0.78mm 2 pin compatible earbuds into a pair of true wireless earbuds.
Brand: Audeze
Connectivity: Wireless – Bluetooth 5.0
Weight: 5.3 ounces
Audeze also has its own Bluetooth module called the Audeze CIPHER. Compatible with all Audeze iSINE and LCDi models, it features 24-bit high-resolution audio, 8 hours of continuous use, and is specially tuned for Audeze earbuds.
Things to Look For With Earbuds for Small Ears
Now that we have gone through our list of the best earbuds for small ears, let us talk about how to pick the ones that best suit you. There are a few big things to keep in mind when choosing your go-to in-ear earbuds. The first thing to note is its size and weight, followed by its form-factor or shape and its included silicone ear tips. Other important points include whether your earbuds are wired or wireless, their battery capacity and charging time, and finally, how comfortable it is and if it has additional features.
Size and Weight
An earbuds’ size and weight usually equates to how sore your ears will be after using them. Since you will probably be wearing your pair for hours at a time, bulky and heavy earbuds will usually leave your ears sweaty and sore. When choosing your earbuds for small ears, make sure your ears can handle the load of the earbuds, and it fits your ear’s intertragic notch (the area outside your inner ear canal where most in-ear earbuds rest.)
Shape and Ear Tips
A follow-up to the size of an earbud and weight is its shape or form factor and its included silicone ear tips. Form factor, in this case, refers to how the earbuds are secured or rest in your ear. While most in-ear earbuds secure themselves by resting in your ear, there are other form factors. The most common form factors include winged tips that rest behind your ear and an attached headband.
Silicone ear tips are also important factors when picking your earbuds. This is mostly because these are in charge of having a “vacuum seal” with your inner ear canal. A proper seal not only creates better noise suppression but also lets your ears be more comfortable with your earbuds. This is mostly because a good pair of ear tips will conform to your ear shape instead of forcing your ears to change their shape.
Wired or Wireless
Another important factor in picking a pair of earbuds for small ears is whether they are wired or wireless sets. Wireless sets will generally be bulkier and heavier than their wired counterparts. That said, there are exceptions like our best choice pick, the Earin A-3, which are smaller than other Bluetooth earbuds.
While they may not end up as multipoint Bluetooth earbuds, devices in our special mentions category may convert your wired detachable earbuds into true wireless earbuds depending on compatibility.
Charging and Battery Capacity
This section only applies to wireless earbuds since they are the only ones that have a built-in battery. When choosing the best wireless earbuds for small ears, you should know the battery capacity of your chosen device. Generally, a larger battery capacity means a longer use time for your earbuds. You should also know how your earbuds can charge. While most are meant for wired charging, some are also capable of wireless Qi-charging or MagSafe wireless charging.
Comfortability and Additional Features
One of the most important things to look for in earbuds for small ears is their comfortability. As we explained earlier, size, form factor, and silicone ear tips are major factors to determine how comfortable a set of earbuds would be. That said, there really aren’t any equivalents to trying your chosen pair out before buying them. While you could try on sets of sample models in brick-and-mortar stores, those buying online are out of luck. Online buyers can only rely on published device specifications, pictures, and user reviews for their chosen devices.
Finally, you should also look at other additional features your chosen pair of earbuds might have. Some of these features include its Bluetooth model (for wireless sets), active noise cancellation (ANC), compatibility with your current devices, and warranty guarantees.
What’s Next?
There you have it — a list of the best earbuds for small ears to choose from. While these may be great earbuds, no audiophile’s sound experience is complete without a proper digital-to-audio converter (DAC) to accompany them. You should also look into getting a free Spotify Premium account for your music and Amazon’s Audible for audiobooks to complete your listening experience.
