Shure's second-generation true wireless Aonic 215 earphones improve upon the original with a water-resistant design, better on-ear controls, and the best user-adjustable EQ we’ve tested

With the Shure Aonic 215 Gen 2, the manufacturer once again puts together a coherent package with amazing quality. Sound and secure wearing comfort are at their best, and the functionality is absolutely practical. Although the design and the bracket concept may not appeal to every user, this does not detract from the excellent price-performance ratio. The new Shure Aonic 215 Gen 2 are simply worth every penny.

The Shure AONIC 215 Gen 2 headphones have great sound, are comfortable, have great controls, and the app is well done. I think there are other TWS headphones that sound a bit better, but these are one of the top players in this price range, and because they do a few things differently, they’re worth looking into.

You’re after the most convincing sound this sort of money can buy Despite some extremely capable rivals, the Shure are the most talented around

Thanks to Shure’s legendary audio quality these earphones allow me to listen to the music I enjoy without feeling like I’m missing anything or without having to wear larger over-the-ear headphones to get the quality level I want. They’re not the cheapest true wireless headphones available, but if you value audio quality and flexibility, look no further.

Shure's Aonic 215 TW2 Gen 2 might be the best sounding around-the-ear true wireless headphones. After hearing them you'd be surprised that Shure offers a slew of even more expensive models too. Not to worry though, you can actually upgrade the 215 buds while keeping the true wireless adapter and charging case. Unfortunately, there are two caveats: the case is huge and they're not the easiest headphones to pop into your ear.

With the AONIC 215 Gen 2, Shure updates the app, introduces an IPX4 certification, and adds volume controls, but some of us wonder why the case is still enormous and poorly designed. Fortunately, Shure leaves the frequency response basically the same and with aptX, it sounds good. If you don't mind the style and can remain super careful with the buds, this set fits well and sounds good.

I never found the hooks heavy or awkward, but Shure also offers the Aonic Free for anyone that wants the 215’s isolation and sound signature but in a more traditional (read: no ear hooks or cable options) True Wireless Earbuds form. And there are other (admittedly more expensive) choices PopSci recommends, such as the Sony WF-1000XM4, that are better suited for heavy office/conferencing use. However, the 2nd-gen. Aonic 215s are some of the best earphones for a budding audiophile or aspiring musician who might want to get lost in a new song or rediscover an old favorite while ignoring noisy passengers on a journey to audio bliss.

The Shure Aonic 215 Gen 2 aren't cheap earbuds; I don't think they have a mass market appeal. However, those audiophiles who prefer listening to music in its purest form, even when they work out, will love the earbuds, especially if they haven't got too big ears.

There’s not a whole lot of competition for this niche just yet. While other audio companies have built true wireless earbuds, few of them take the audiophile/musician-first approach that these do. Ultimately, if you want the features on offer by these earbuds, and can afford them, it’s worth going for the Shure Aonic 215 Gen 2 earbuds.

The Shure AONIC 215 True Wireless Gen 2 (sigh) are certainly the most interesting TWS earbuds I've tested. The modular design means you could easily upgrade the earbuds in the future while keeping the adapters, something you cannot do with other earbuds.