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Home » Earbuds
by Alex. Last Updated On January 5th, 2024.
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Few things are more irritating than having your earbuds constantly fall out of your ears while working out. Most earbuds are not advertised towards adults with small ears, so there is often little information about whether earbuds will fit your small ears before buying them. If over-ear headphones are too big for your needs, then you will appreciate the convenience of earbuds.
The advantages of the best earbuds for small ears are that you will enjoy your listening experience more and you are less likely to waste your money buying multiple earbuds looking for the right ones. Women statistically have smaller ears than men, but some earbuds seem designed with just men in mind. As a result, women’s earbuds fall out often and break, hurt, and the sound quality is poor. Women need earbuds made for small ears.
Read on to find out the best earbuds for small ears. You can’t beat the first three, but there are a lot of earbuds for small ears to go around after those.
Table of Contents
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Comparison of the Best Earbuds for Small Ears
Best Overall Earbuds for Small EarsSee On Amazon | Mifo O5 Plus Gen 2 | See On Amazon | |
Best Technologies at Controlling Devices Earbuds for Small EarsSee On Amazon | Apple AirPods Pro | See On Amazon | |
Best Fit and Sound Quality Earbuds for Small EarsSee On Amazon | Ultimate Ears UE Fits | See On Amazon | |
Best Features Found Earbuds for Small EarsSee On Amazon | TOZO NC9 | See On Amazon | |
Best for Working Out Earbuds for Small EarsSee On Amazon | Firacore True Wireless Earbuds | See On Amazon | |
Best for Office and Outdoors Earbuds for Small EarsSee On Amazon | Jabra Elite Active 75t True Wireless Earbuds | See On Amazon | |
Best Budget Earbuds for Small EarsSee On Amazon | iLuv TB100 | See On Amazon |
Reviews of the Best Earbuds for Small Ears
The Mifo O5 Plus Gen 2 Wireless Earbuds provide superior comfort with seven different ear tip sizes and lightweight earbuds. The small, oval shape conforms to small ears without large ear hooks. Moreover, the updated Gen 2 version of these earbuds has many of the features of much more costly earbuds.
- Playtime
- 7-9 hours plus over 90 hours with the charging case
- Item Weight
- 0.16 ounces
- Item Size
- 1.04 x 0.93 x 0.47 inches
- Ear Tips
- 7 sizes of ear tips included
- Waterproof
- The IPX7 rated earbuds are waterproof
Mifo O5 Plus Gen 2 earbuds are best for small ears because they are quite small, lightweight, and have many ear tip sizes. The seven ear tips ensure that you will find the right size earbuds for your small ears, so they will not hurt or fall out. The Mifo O5 Plus Gen 2 earbuds have small ear hooks that follow the shape of the ear behind the tragus (you know, that pointy part of your ear at the front.)
The earbuds pair to devices like phones and computers through Bluetooth 5.0. The connection is so powerful, you can walk over 50 feet away without the earbuds unpairing from the device. With over 100 hours of playtime and superior sound quality, the Mifo O5 Plus Gen 2 earbuds are one of the best earbuds on the market for small ears.
What We Like
Silicone Ear Tips
The seven ear tips come in both different sizes and shapes, for the ultimate likelihood of finding the perfect size ear tips for small ears.
Battery Life
The Mifo O5 Plus Gen 2 earbuds have over 100 hours of playtime including the charging case.
Pairing Distance
You can be as far as 50 to 60 feet away from the device without the earbuds unpairing.
Know Before Buying
Aluminum Charging Case
The charging case is made of durable aluminum.
Micro USB Charging
The charging case is charged using a micro USB charging cable.
AirPods Pro comes with the reputation of high quality, comfortable, and convenient earbuds. They adapt the sound to the shape of your ears, so the app can detect that your ears are small and let you know if you should use smaller ear tips. This makes these earbuds ideal for people with small ears.
- Playtime
- 4.5 Hours
- Item Weight
- 0.19 ounce each
- Item Size
- 0.94 by 0.86 by 1.22 inches
- Item Shape
- In-ear earbuds with a vertical bar extending down
- Ear Tips
- Three sizes: small, medium, large
- Active Noise Cancellation
- Included
The best feature of the AirPods Pro for small ears is that the Airpods Pro app has a fit test to let you know if you are using the right size ear tips for your small ears. Proper fit is important for sound quality in addition to comfort. If the earbuds are too big, they will not fit fully inside the ear, so the Adaptive EQ will not work right.
Siri is the Apple virtual assistant. Siri is one of the best technologies at controlling devices, including these earbuds. All it takes is saying “Hey Siri” to change the volume, skip songs, make calls, and otherwise use the AirPods Pro.
The AirPods Pro is water-resistant and sweat-resistant to survive the gym and run in light rain. Moreover, they have a transparency mode, so you can run while wearing them and still hear dangerous conditions like cars approaching. They also have active noise cancellation to block out noises during other activities, like studying or riding a noisy bus.
Airpods also has a very helpful feature. Their Find my AirPods can be installed on your device to help you find your Airpods case or AirPods in case you lost them.
What We Like
Fit Test
The app performs a fit test to ensure the earbuds properly fit into your ear.
Adaptive EQ
AirPods Pro adapt the sound to suit your small ears.
MagSafe Charging
The October 2021 release supports MagSafe charging.
Know Before Buying
Playtime
The AirPods Pro have a shorter than average playtime and the charging (see if you can charge airpods without a case here)case only provides 24 hours of playtime.
Power Adapter
A power adapter is not included with the Airpods Pro.
UE Fits earbuds are custom molded to your earprint. Through what seems like magic, the earbud tips somehow light up and form to match your small ear shape exactly. Although they initially look quite large, the ability to shrink to fit your ears means the most comfortable possible fit for earbuds.
- Playtime
- 8 hours plus 20 hours with the case
- Item Weight
- Not specified
- Item Size
- Larger than average ear tips
- Ear Tips
- Custom-fit that mold to your ears with Lightform Technology
- Active Noise Cancellation
- Noise isolation
The UE Fits earbuds form to your ear shape using light, so it is shipped in light-blocking packaging. You will need to mold them immediately after opening. You use the app to start the process. You then hold the earbuds in place for 60 seconds while they use light to mold to your ears.
Some users report that the earbuds get quite warm while molding to your ears. One YouTuber that tried the earbuds said they fit so well that it feels weird removing them. However, users love the custom fit and sound quality of the UE Fits earbuds.
The manufacturer of these earbuds, Ultimate Ears, publishes reviews on its website and does not seem to censor the bad ones. Some negative comments include that the earbuds do not have as many features as other brands of earbuds and occasional connectivity issues.
What We Like
Custom Fit
The UE Fits earbuds will fit any ears, no matter what, through the custom molding process.
Independent Listening
You can use either earbud without using the other one.
30 Days Return Policy
If you are skeptical about the ability of the earbuds to mold to your ear shape, you have 30 days from the date of receipt to return them.
Know Before Buying
Molding Eartips
The ear tips can only be molded once, but replacements are available.
Long Shipping Time
The UE Fits earbuds can take a month or longer to ship and are not sold through websites like Amazon.
The Tozo NC9 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds are best for small ears because of the shape of the outer portion and the multiple size ear tips included with them. These are great quality, affordable earbuds for small ears.
- Playtime
- 8 hours plus 24 hours from the charging case
- Item Weight
- 1.73 oz
- Item Size
- 1 x 0.7 x 1 inches
- Ear Tips
- Six ear tips are included
- Ear Hooks
- Small ear hooks that sit behind the tragus
- Active Noise Cancellation
- Hybrid 3 layer active noise cancellation
The Tozo NC9 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Wireless Earbuds are best for small ears because of the shape of the outer portion molds to the outer ear. Also, the earbuds come with six different sizes of ear tips. Although they are about twice as heavy as the top three best earbuds for small ears, they are still comfortable and stay put in small ears.
The earbuds offer both Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode so you can also use these earbuds when riding your motorcycle or when cycling. Moreover, they recharge with the included case and are water-resistant. So, they have many of the features found in other best earbuds for small ears.
What We Like
Ear Tips
The Tozo NC9 earbuds come with six sizes of ear tips, making it more likely to find a size that fits small ears.
Earbuds Shape
The earbuds are shaped to fit snugly in the ear.
Waterproof
The earbuds are coated in IPX6 coating, so they are water- and sweat-resistant.
Know Before Buying
Pairing Distance
Users report that you must be within 10 feet of the device or the earbuds unpair.
Weight
These earbuds are a bit heavier than others on the market.
Firacore has designed high-quality, lightweight, comfortable earbuds that fit small ears. Although they were not specifically designed for small ears, many users with small ears appreciate the included small ear tips and ear hooks that make the earbuds fit small ears.
- Playtime
- 12 hours + 60 hours charging with the case (charges in 3 hours)
- Item Weight
- Not specified
- Item Shape
- In-ear earbud on a horizontal bar that stretches across the ear and ear hooks that go over the ear and around to the back of the ear
- Ear Tips
- 3 sizes included: small, medium, large
- Ear Hooks
- Soft, flexible, but not adjustable
- Active Noise Cancellation
- No
- Waterproof or Sweatproof
- Sweatproof
Ficarore True Wireless Earbuds are ideal for the gym and working out. Using the small ear tips makes them stay in the ear, even when running, jumping, and flipping tires during your toughest workouts. The earbuds have an excellent sound quality and they are easy to pair with your phone.
Women widely report these earbuds are comfortable and lightweight. The charging case is convenient for gym goers who keep their earbuds in their bag and may not think to charge them after working out. You can go a few weeks of workouts without charging the case.
Users who wear these earbuds report that the ear hooks help prevent them from falling to the ground when the earbuds pop out of the ears. Unfortunately, the ear hooks are not adjustable, so they may be too high or wide for your ears. However, few users report this issue.
What We Like
Affordable
These earbuds are on the lower end of the price range for earbuds.
Ear Hooks
The ear hooks prevent the earbuds from falling on the ground and getting dirty or lost.
Charging Case
The case both safely stores the earbuds and recharges them when not in use.
Know Before Buying
Ear Hooks Are Not Adjustable
The ear hooks loop over the top of the ear and are not adjustable for small ears.
72 Hours Playtime
Although the earbuds advertise 72 hours of playtime, this means they play for 12 hours and then have to be recharged by the case, which can happen six times before charging the case.
The Jabra Elite 75t earbuds are designed to be much smaller and lighter than most earbuds. Even the charging case is smaller than most other charging cases. Their unique design to fit into small ears like hearing aids without large ear hooks makes them ideal.
- Playtime
- 7.5 hours per charge, additional 21 hours charging with the case
- Ear Tips
- 3 sizes included: small, medium, large
- Item Weight
- 9.1 oz
- Item Size
- 0.86 x 0.76 x 0.64 inches
- Item Shape
- Small cylinder with a slight hook at the bottom that sits inside the tragus
- Active Noise Cancellation
- Noise isolation
The Jabra Elite 75t earbuds are designed to be smaller than most other earbuds. They fit entirely within the outer ear, so if your ear is smaller, you do not have to worry about uncomfortable bars that extend across the ear. Although they are billed as lightweight, they are still about twice as heavy as the top-recommended earbuds for small ears.
Another key feature that makes these earbuds the best is that you can use the right one without the left one. This is useful in the office and outdoors where you need to hear your environment. Alternatively, you can use both earbuds in the “Hear Through” setting to hear your environment. If you need to block out the noise around you, there is an “Active Noise Cancellation” mode. You use the app to toggle between them.
With “Active Noise Cancellation” mode, the Jabra Elite 75t earbuds only get about 5.5 hours of playtime. You can quickly charge using the case, though. Moreover, they have to be charged with a USB cable. To get wireless charging, you should buy the Jabra 75t Active earbuds.
What We Like
Active Noise Cancellation
Jabra Elite 75t earbuds have both active noise cancellation and hear through modes.
Charging Case
The charging case is one of the smallest on the market, making it easy to transport.
Independent Listening
You can listen using the right earbud without the left earbud.
Know Before Buying
Wireless Charging
The Elites do not have wireless charging, but the Active 75t earbuds do.
Color Options
Jabra 75t earbuds come in many color options, but some are only available for the Active version whereas others are only available in the Elite version.
The iLuv TB100 Wireless Earbuds are the best affordable earbuds for small ears. They have multiple ear tip sizes for small ears and no hook or bar to jab small ears.
- Playtime
- 8 hours plus 12 hours with the charging case
- Item Shape
- Small, egg-shaped buds with no hook
- Item Size
- 2.6 x 1.35 x 1.1 inches
- Ear Tips
- 4 ear tips included: X-Small, Small, Medium, Large
- Active Noise Cancellation
- Environmental Noise Cancellation
The iLuv TB100 Wireless Earbuds are the most affordable option on this list of best earbuds for small ears. They are similar in shape to the more expensive Jabra Elite 75t earbuds. These are on the list of best earbuds for small ears because they come with both extra small and small ear tips to ensure the best fit for small ears. Users compare them to Apple Airpods for their comfort and ease of use.
The eight-hour listening time for the earbuds makes them great for listening during your workday. As with other earbuds, the case rapidly recharges the earbuds. It can provide two additional hours of playtime from just 20 minutes of charging. As a bonus, the charging case has LED indicators to show how much battery life the case has left.
The iLuv TB100 earbuds are waterproof, even in heavy rain, so they are also ideal for exercise like running outside. Users report being able to run, jump, and do any exercise without the earbuds falling out.
What We Like
No Ear Hook
The ILuv TB100 earbuds do not have a hook to poke small ears.
Color Options
The ILuv TB100 earbuds come in 13 color options.
Water Proof
The ILuv earbuds and case are sealed with IPX6 rated protection to make them waterproof.
Know Before Buying
Premounted Eartips
The medium ear tips are pre-mounted on the earbuds, so people with small ears will need to replace them with the small or extra small ear tips.
Default For Calls
Apple iPhones default to the phone for calls, but Android phones default to the earbuds.
How to Pick the Best Earbuds for Small Ears
The best earbuds for small ears provide options like different size ear tips. Look for earbuds with many different shapes and sizes of ear tips or ear caps. You may find that the smallest size is too small, even for your small ears, so try several sizes to be sure you have a good fit.
Some earbuds have ear hooks. The ear hook is meant to anchor the earbud to the ear. Some are small and fit behind the tragus. Others are large and go over the top of the ear. These might be uncomfortable for small ears. Look for adjustable ear hooks or small ear hooks.
Many earbuds have bars that extend across or down the ear. Large ones might be uncomfortable for small ears, so look for earbuds with small or no bar.
How Big are Your Ears?
Several measurements are important when choosing earbuds for small ears. Important measurements to consider are the circumference of the ear, the size of the ear canal, and the distance from the entry of the ear canal to the top point of the ear where it connects to the head.
Studies indicate that your ear size is related to your age, although men’s ears are 4.6 percent longer than women’s ears. In fact, the height of the top of the ear (the pinna) is on average 6.5% larger in men than in women, so over-ear ear hooks are unlikely to fit both men and women without the ability to adjust them. Moreover, men’s ear canals have significantly more volume than women’s ears, so the ear tips of earbuds need to be different for men and women.
Therefore, if you are a woman, you can assume your ears are smaller than others. If you see earbuds advertised to and reviewed by men, that might be a sign that they will not accommodate your ears.
What Should I Do if My Earbuds Hurt?
You can buy replacement ear tips in many different sizes and materials for a relatively small amount of money. Before returning earbuds that hurt, try different sizes of ear tips. If it is the overall design of the earbuds that hurts, you may have to return the earbuds and try another set.
Keep in mind, the earbuds might hurt due to the outer shape of your ear. If this is the case, then smaller ear tips, which go inside the ear canal, will not help. So look at other features like ear hooks and bars that do not fit your ears. Some earbuds give a measurement for these bars and hooks, so you can estimate if they are far too large for your ears before purchase.
You might also be interested in this article about in-ear monitors (IEMs) and earbuds.
Conclusion
The best earbuds for small ears provide many ear tip sizes, including small and extra small. Moreover, earbuds without ear hooks or with smaller ear hooks are best for small ears.
If you want to know headphones is better than earphones, read this article.
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