Whatever you’re going to use them for, there’s a great pair of wireless earbuds out there without breaking the bank. And you might even be surprised at some of the functions and features they offer despite their affordable price.
Features like multipoint pairing, ANC, and high levels of water resistance aren’t just for high-end earbuds.
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Here are the best budget earphones available today.
Sony WF-C500 Auricolari Bluetooth In-Ear
Sony’s WF-C500 True Wireless In-Ear Bluetooth Headphones are an excellent choice of premium, yet reasonably affordable earphones. They are IPX4 water resistant and offer a 10-hour battery life, which can be extended to 20 hours using the rechargeable earphone case. They are light and comfortable to wear and allow for the use of only one earpiece.
So how about the sound? Well, as you’d probably expect from Sony, the sound quality is top-notch. Using a unique Digital Sound Enhancement Engine to restore sounds lost during compression, you can enjoy High-Resolution Audio that truly impresses you. Also, the built-in microphone offers easy hands-free calling with crystal clear sound.
These earbuds are also sweat resistant, making them a solid choice for use at the gym or while running. And if you’re in a hurry, you can get an hour of gameplay with just a 10-minute charge. You won’t get active noise cancellation with these buds, but they tick just about every other box: superior sound, great audio for calls, comfortable to wear, and decent battery life.
EarFun Air Pro 3
If noise-canceling is high on your priority list for a budget-friendly pair of earbuds, then the EarFun Air Pro 3 Noise-Cancelling Wireless Earbuds might be the answer to your prayers. Using Qualcomm aptX Adaptive Audio technology, they deliver powerful sound with minimal distortion. They use six noise-canceling ambient microphones to help block out unwanted background noise, including adverse weather sounds.
With three microphones in each earbud, you can enjoy high-quality voice calls that eliminates up to 90% of all peripheral noise. You can also use these earbuds to connect to two devices at a time for added convenience and further customize your experience with the EarFun app. Here you can change the noise cancellation mode, customize the touch controls, and so on until you have the perfect setup.
They offer a nine-hour playtime, which can be bumped up to a whopping 45 hours using the charging case. They’re IPX5 waterproof, protecting them from sweat damage, and they even have a built-in gaming mode, making them even more versatile. With noise-canceling features, customizable features, and lasting comfort, these are a great pair of budget-friendly wireless earbuds to consider.
JLab Go Air Pop
If you’re looking for a really cheap option, there are still some pleasant surprises out there in terms of what you can get for your money. Take these JLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Bluetooth Earphones for example. With three built-in active sound modes (JLab Signature, Balanced, and Bass Boost), you can tailor your sound to match whatever you’re listening to.
Simple touch control functions let you play/pause, skip tracks, and answer calls with just a swipe of your finger, and you can use both earbuds independently if you wish. There are around eight hours of battery life with the earbuds themselves, which can be further extended to provide another 24 hours using the charging case.
Speaking of the charging case, it is smaller than most and can easily be placed in a pocket without causing too much extra bulk. Six-millimeter dynamic drivers amplify sound, and IPX4 waterproofing protects against sweat and damage from the elements. Lastly, the comfortable fit gel tips make these affordable buds easy to wear all day every day.
Samsung Galaxy Buds2
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 are wireless earphones with noise canceling ambient sound, which filters out unwanted background noise while amplifying the sounds you want to hear. Of the three microphones in each earbud, two pick up the sounds you want, and the ANC mic blocks out the rest.
Using the Galaxy Wearables app, choose from three levels of ambient noise to perfectly match your environment. Reduce background noise for pure immersion in your music or podcasts, or switch modes to hear the world around you in more transparent sound. Clear voice transmission also makes these earbuds a great choice for hands-free calling.
Dynamic two-way speakers mean fat, tasty bass with crystal clear highs to hear here, and simple yet effective one-touch controls don’t take time to master. You’ll get around eight hours of use on a full charge, which you can expect to drop to about five hours or so with ANC turned on. For great sound clarity with adjustable ANC settings, these are some impressive earphones you should consider.
Soundcore di Anker Life P3
The long-distance runner of cheaper wireless earbuds, these Anker Life P3 Noise Canceling Soundcore Earbuds offer ultra-long playtime. On a full charge, the earphones deliver 10 hours of listening enjoyment, but this can be extended to an impressive 50 hours with the charging case. And with a handy quick-charge case, you can squeeze four hours of life out of them on just a 10-minute charge.
The multi-mode noise canceling features give you three different noise-canceling modes to choose from, including transport, outdoor, and indoor. These are fairly self-explanatory when it comes to selecting the right model to suit your environment, but they make a noticeable difference in sound clarity. And for an extra kick, you can activate BassUp mode for a more bass-heavy sound.
For voice calls, a handy AI algorithm detects the sound of your voice and filters out background sound; making it easy for you to be heard no matter where you are. The controls can be further customized with the Soundcore app, and extra sound modes can be found here including game, sleep, and ambient sound. Comfort in sound, whatever your preference.
Jabra Elite 3 In Ear
While not a true ANC option, the Jabra Elite 3 in-ear wireless Bluetooth headsets offer the means to reduce the sound around you. An intelligent noise control function can be activated to isolate ambient noise, attenuating its effect. HearThrough technology goes the other way, acting as the equivalent of a transparency mode to let you hear the outside world.
Mono mode lets you enjoy the use of a single earbud while the other charges, allowing you to continue listening indefinitely if you wish. However, if you prefer stereo sound, both earbuds together will give you seven hours of playback, which increases to 28 hours with the charging case. Dual six-millimeter drivers deliver a decent bass punch, and your sound can be further customized using the Sound+ app.
These earphones are IP55 water resistant, making them a safe choice for bad weather. Four built-in microphones and precision touch controls make them more than adequate for voice calls too. Mid-priced among the cheapest options out there, the only downside is slightly shorter battery life than some rivals.
JBL Tune 130NC TWS
The JBL Tune 130NC TWS wireless headphones are another mid-range option with ANC. Noise-canceling technology uses dual microphones to filter out everyday background distractions, so you can focus on your music. Ambient Aware Mode lets you turn things around so you can experience your sounds while still being able to hear the world around you.
JBL’s pure bass sound is delivered by 10-millimeter drivers, which give things a good deal of feel and let you enjoy every thumping beat. Six built-in microphones let you make hands-free calls in stereo with perfect clarity, and TalkThru technology lets you stop for a quick chat without having to remove your earphones.
There are some great quality-of-life features here that make these earphones a very enticing prospect. Battery life is pretty good too, at around eight hours on a full charge and boosted to nearly 40 hours with the charging case on. IPX4 water resistance and sweat resistance are the icings on the cake, giving you a solid, all-weather option.
Razer Hammerhead True Wireless X
For gamers who prefer earphones over bulky over-ear headphones, it can be difficult to find a pair that enhances the sound of the game to the desired level. However, for anyone looking for a dedicated pair of gaming headsets, you’ll thank yourself for taking a look at the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless X Earbuds. Designed by gamers for gamers, these are the real deal.
With a 60ms Low Latency Gaming Mode, you’re rewarded with a lag-free experience as you kick back with your favorite titles. Great news for those who like to play on Bluetooth-enabled devices, as this ensures much greater synchronicity. These earphones are incredibly simple and comfortable to use thanks to Bluetooth 5.2 with automatic pairing, which means all you have to do is plug them in and go.
Compatible with your smartphone’s voice assistant and with touch-enabled controls, the Razer Hammerhead earphones are versatile and easy to use. The Razer Audio app lets you remap touch controls, customize EQ, and so on to further elevate the experience. And the backlit Razer logo on the charging case adds a little extra excitement that gamers everywhere will love.
Auricolari Skullcandy Sesh Evo True Wireless
The Skullcandy Sesh Evo True Wireless In-Ear Bluetooth Earphones offer good value for those who may be limited by their budget but still want to explore the options available. And in terms of what they have to offer, they’re pretty solid all-rounders.
With five hours of battery life in the buds themselves and another 19 hours from the case, you’ll get 24 hours total. Six-millimeter drivers deliver punchy sound that nonetheless impresses, even if it doesn’t blow you away. There are three EQ modes to choose from (music, movies, and podcasts), and you can use each earbud separately if you like.
Rated IP55 for water, sweat, and dust, they’re a decent pair of everyday earphones that will provide a multitude of uses. Hands-free calling is happily accommodated here, and touch controls let you accept calls, adjust volume, and skip tracks with ease. And for the asking price, any minor issues with battery life or sound power are easy to mitigate.
