Best Earbuds for a Windows Laptop and an Android Phone

Among the models checked, for a Windows laptop and an Android phone, pick earbuds with multipoint so both stay connected at once (2 devices). With a Pixel phone, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 is the pick. LDAC isn’t on Windows’ codec list, so use it on the Android side.

• Multipoint: one pair of earbuds connected to 2 devices at once
• LDAC: a high-quality Bluetooth codec, used on the Android side
• Codec: the method used to send audio, such as SBC, AAC, aptX or LDAC
• HFP: the call profile, which is mono
• LE Audio: the newer Bluetooth audio standard
• Fast Pair: Android’s quick pairing. Swift Pair: Windows’ quick pairing

Here is the answer by Android phone. This guide is based on the official pages of the major makers (Sony, Bose, Google, Anker, Technics and Samsung). No earbuds were tested in person.

• With a Pixel: Pixel Buds Pro 2. Turn multipoint on in the app. Google’s multipoint page doesn’t name Windows. The Windows web app supports Pixel Buds Pro, Pro 2 and 2a.
• With a Galaxy: Galaxy Buds work over Bluetooth. The Windows app lists the Buds4 Pro as supported. But the official auto switching list doesn’t include non-Galaxy Windows PCs, and multipoint wasn’t found on the official pages, so for 2 devices at once, pick a multipoint model.
• With another Android phone: check whether LDAC is offered in Developer options. The Technics EAH-AZ80, EAH-AZ60M2 and EAH-AZ100 have official FAQs confirming LDAC with 2-device multipoint.

Model comparison: LDAC, Windows codecs and multipoint

Check three things: whether LDAC works on Android, which codec Windows gets, and whether the model has multipoint. The multipoint column also notes the conditions for using LDAC with 2 devices.

“Not checked” means this guide didn’t look into it. “Not listed” means the official pages don’t say, so it may or may not work. “No LDAC” means it isn’t in the maker’s codec list.

The Windows codec column is the overlap between the earbuds’ codecs and Windows’ list. What you actually get depends on your Windows version and PC.

Android settings: Fast Pair, LDAC and LE Audio

• Pairing: Per Google’s Android documentation as of October 2026, Fast Pair is an Android feature: on Android 6.0 or later with Bluetooth and location on, it offers to pair nearby earbuds. Google’s official pages don’t confirm it on Windows.

• To use LDAC, follow these steps.

  1. Where to pick it: Per Google’s Android documentation as of October 2026, on Android, LDAC is picked under Developer options > Bluetooth audio codec, and a separate LDAC setting offers options such as optimized for audio quality. Menu names can differ by phone
  2. Watch out: Android has supported LDAC since 8.0, but each phone maker needs LDAC certification, so not every Android phone is guaranteed to offer it
  3. Sony example: For LDAC on the Sony WF-1000XM6, set Bluetooth connection quality to Priority on Sound Quality in the Sound Connect app. The default, Priority on Stable Connection, doesn’t play LDAC

• LE Audio: Android has built in LE Audio (the newer Bluetooth audio standard, using LC3) since Android 13, but it needs both the phone and the earbuds to support it, and connections can fall back to classic Bluetooth.

Windows settings: Swift Pair, codecs and calls

• Pairing: Per Microsoft as of October 2026, Swift Pair is the Windows side: put supported earbuds in pairing mode and a notification lets you click Connect. It needs Windows 10 version 1803 or later and a compatible Bluetooth radio. Whether it works with Android wasn’t checked.
• Codecs: Windows lists SBC, aptX, AAC and aptX Adaptive as its codecs, and LDAC isn’t on the list. AAC needs Windows 11 21H2 or later. aptX Adaptive works only on some Windows 11 24H2 PCs.
• Calls: Among the models checked, none was confirmed to keep stereo during Windows calls, so none is recommended for call-heavy use. Per Microsoft as of October 2026, with classic Bluetooth, using the earbuds’ mic switches Windows audio from stereo to the mono call profile (HFP). Stereo during calls is possible only over LE Audio, not classic Bluetooth. The PC needs Windows 11 24H2 or later with LE Audio support from the factory. The earbuds need stereo while the mic is in use. The Sony WF-1000XM5 and Technics EAH-AZ100 lose multipoint with LE Audio prioritized.

Multipoint and auto switching on Pixel and Galaxy

• Pixel: Per Google as of October 2026, Google says Pixel Buds multipoint works with laptops and Android phones, but doesn’t name Windows. On the Pixel Buds Pro 2, multipoint is off by default and turned on in the app.
• Galaxy: Per Samsung as of October 2026, Galaxy Buds4 Pro auto switching works between Galaxy devices on the same Samsung account; Windows PCs other than Galaxy aren’t covered. A mention of multipoint (2 devices at once) wasn’t found on the official pages, so it can’t be called supported.

How to check your own pair of devices

1. Tap Build number in Settings 7 times to show Developer options, then check whether LDAC is offered.
2. On the earbuds’ official page, look for the conditions for using multipoint and LDAC together.
3. Check your Windows version, and decide whether mono audio on calls is acceptable.
4. Use the comparison tool below to choose your priority.

In the comparison tool, choose LDAC, calls or app settings. It shows the features that apply, the caveats and the models whose official specs fit; for calls, it shows the Windows caveats and a multipoint pick.

Picks by situation

Each pick is the cheapest among the models this article checked that fits the situation. It needs to be sold on Amazon.com with 100 or more ratings, 4.0 stars or higher, and Amazon or the maker as the seller.

LDAC on Android, too

Technics’ FAQ says this model keeps LDAC with 2 devices connected (in the 2-device setting; LDAC doesn’t work in the 3-device setting).

Whether the rating count is shared with other models on the listing wasn't checked.

Just 2 devices at once, on a budget

Multipoint is documented, but turning LDAC on switches multipoint off. None of the models checked was confirmed to keep stereo on Windows calls.

Sold by AnkerDirect (official Anker store).

Pixel Buds settings on Windows too

Google’s multipoint page doesn’t name Windows, and the Windows web app supports Pixel Buds Pro, Pro 2 and 2a. On features, the Pixel Buds Pro 2 fits this pair.

How this was researched, and sources

• Sources: Microsoft Learn: Bluetooth audio, Microsoft Learn: Swift Pair
• Sources: Android Help: Fast Pair, Google Pixel Buds Help

FAQ

Do Galaxy Buds work with Windows?

Yes, once paired over Bluetooth they work as earbuds. The app is separate: The Galaxy Buds app for Windows (Microsoft Store) lists the Galaxy Buds4 Pro and Buds4 as supported models.

What the app can do wasn’t checked.

Do Pixel Buds work with Windows?

Yes, once paired over Bluetooth. The Windows web app supports Pixel Buds Pro, Pro 2 and 2a.

On Windows 11 or later, pair over Bluetooth and then manage the earbuds in the web app (mypixelbuds.google.com) for battery, sound settings and firmware updates. It isn’t an installed app.

Does Windows support LDAC?

Per Microsoft as of October 2026, Windows lists SBC, aptX, AAC and aptX Adaptive as its codecs, and LDAC isn’t on the list. AAC needs Windows 11 21H2 or later. aptX Adaptive works only on some Windows 11 24H2 PCs.

How do I turn on LDAC on Android?

Pick it under Developer options > Bluetooth audio codec. Developer options appear after you tap Build number 7 times.

Menu names can differ by phone. Android has supported LDAC since 8.0, but each phone maker needs LDAC certification, so not every Android phone is guaranteed to offer it.

On the Sony WF-1000XM6, set the app to Priority on Sound Quality.

Why does my sound get muffled on a call, and can I keep stereo?

Among the models checked, none was confirmed to keep stereo during Windows calls. Per Microsoft as of October 2026, with classic Bluetooth, using the earbuds’ mic switches Windows audio from stereo to the mono call profile (HFP).

Stereo during calls is possible only over LE Audio, not classic Bluetooth. The PC needs Windows 11 24H2 or later with LE Audio support from the factory.

The earbuds need stereo while the mic is in use. The Sony WF-1000XM5 and Technics EAH-AZ100 lose multipoint with LE Audio prioritized.

Can I use LDAC and multipoint together?

Among the models checked, the Technics EAH-AZ80, EAH-AZ60M2 and EAH-AZ100 are the ones whose official FAQs confirm LDAC with 2-device multipoint. The AZ80 and AZ60M2 allow it in their 2-device setting and the AZ100 with up to 2 devices.

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 5 claims it only on its product page. The Anker Soundcore Space A40 drops multipoint while LDAC is on.