Whoever told you that you need hundreds of dollars in order to get a solid pair of earbuds, then you can get back to them with an update: that's no longer the case.
Worldwide manufacturers have made great strides in the past several years with improving sound quality on earbuds. Nowadays, you can get an awesome pair of buds that can give you an almost studio quality of sound.
But can you do that for less? Like, way less money? Yes. Especially if you know how to set up your buds properly. Good buds are more accessible than ever! So if you want to explore your options and see if you can save some cash, then you've come to the right place.
Now, “cheap” is very subjective but we’ll try to keep our entries below the $100 mark. And we won’t start with the cheapest ones, too. That’s why seeing the Sennheiser moniker among the best cheap wireless earbuds is not such a surprise.
The Sennheiser CX model wins hands down when it comes to bang for the buck, it’s the best deal you can get on budget wireless earbuds at the moment. It’s worth noting that these earbuds are normally $129 but you can always find a deal to drag them below $100.
Most of you have probably heard of Sennheiser. The German brand specializes in professional audio equipment and musicians and audio pros swear by its products. Now back to the CX. These are truly wireless earbuds, and they deliver amazing sound through their 7mm drivers.
There is support for a bunch of Bluetooth codecs onboard, including SBC, AAC and aptX, touch-sensitive controls, Siri and Google Assistant integration, 9 hours of battery life (+18 from the case).
The Sennheiser CX earbuds are in another league - we can’t award them with the best budget wireless earbuds stamp, because normally, well… they’re not cheap. But these earbuds are getting our “best deal” award. So get them while you can.
Pros
Great sound quality
Touch controls
Lightweight case
SBC, AAC, and aptX support
Cons
No ANC
Expensive outside of deals
Audio-Technica ATH-CKS5TW
Another entry in the sub-100 category, not strictly "cheap" but at the top of the food chain if you value sound quality. Audio-Technica is another popular name among musicians and audiophiles, so the inclusion of the ATH-CKS5TW is not surprising (what IS surprising is the price).
These puppies don’t have the most catchy name in the history of earbuds but they deliver on so many levels. They have big 10mm drivers that deliver one of the most powerful bass responses in a pair of in-ear headphones.
The ATH-CKS5TW is a truly wireless earbuds model that also comes with an IPX2 rating, meaning you can sweat in the gym all you like while wearing those. The battery life is just amazing at 15 hours on a single charge for the earbuds, and 45 hours if we count in the case.
There are physical buttons on each bud, which is a strange choice but a useful one nonetheless. These are the best budget wireless earbuds for people who like their bass heavy and powerful.
Pros
Amazing battery life
Big drivers deliver clear sound
Good build quality
Cons
A bit chunky
No ANC
Jabra Elite 4 Active
The Jabra Elite 4 Active is the newest model from the company, and it's aimed at the budget market. These earbuds are still pretty amazing for their listed price of $119.99 (you can find them for well under $100 when there's a deal around).
Not only do they retain the great ergonomics of the company's more expensive models, but these earbuds also offer Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), adjustable equalizer, and HearThrough technology.
The Jabra Elite 4 Active model is a part of the "Active" line, which means that along with the secure fit (these earbuds won't fall off during your workouts), you're getting IP57-rated water and sweat proof protection - perfect for all kinds of workouts.
There are other bells and whistles onboard, such as the Jabra Sound+ app with a great equalizer to finetune your sound, the Spotify Tap integration, and up to 28 hours of playback (7 hours in the earbuds and up to 21 hours in the case).
There’s not much else to be said here - the Jabra Elite 4 Active earbuds are the best choice for the active person on a budget. But if you're looking for a dedicated pair of earbuds for running and working out, you should check out our piece on that, too.
Pros
Tight fit
Sweat resistant
Good sound quality
Great battery life
Cons
A bit pricey
Bulky charging case
Samsung Galaxy Buds+
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 are official and they're pretty affordable - actually cheaper than the Buds Pro model. However, even at $149.99, these wireless earbuds don't make the cut. Fret not, though because the Galaxy Buds+ model meets our sub-100 criteria.
These are great budget wireless earbuds that come equipped with lots and lots of features. They’re comfortable, the Bluetooth connection is absolutely amazing (up to 30 meters), they sound great, there are touch controls onboard, the battery life is decent.
The Galaxy Buds+ model supports QI wireless charging and can work with smart assistants such as Siri, Google Assistant, or Bixby. The only downside is that the price is discounted - outside of deals and promos, these earbuds are not that cheap.
Pros
Very long battery life
Good sound quality
Ambient Aware works well
Light and comfortable
Wireless charging case is convenient
Very strong connection and range
Cons
Not great for phone calls
Touch controls aren't comfortable
No high water-resistance rating (only sweat-resistant)
Sony WF-C500
Not all Sony earbuds cost an arm and a leg. The newly released Sony WF-C500 model for example can be found at around $70, which is a real bargain. Granted, this model won’t dethrone your top-of-the-line WF-1000XMs but it offers great features for the money.
From the great build quality to the patented DSEE (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) feature, and the IPX4 protection, these earbuds are a solid choice. They offer great passive noise isolation, and a comfortable fit for your daily run or workout.
The battery life is excellent - you get 8-9 hours from the buds, and another 18 hours with the case. Speaking of the case, it’s tiny and really compact, so you can travel with it with no problem.
Each headphone also has a built-in microphone, and your voice sounds clear when using them making phone calls, or having a chat with your preferred voice assistant. These are also pushing $100 usually, but you can find them at a great discount most of the time easily.
Pros
Solid build, great for the gym
Good passive noise isolation
Strong and reliable Bluetooth connection
IPX4 splash resistance
Sony's DSEE tech
Cons
No active noise cancelation
Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro
Anker is one of those brands that are well known for making excellent bang for your buck products and the Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro is one of these. They have good, clear sound with defined mids and powerful but not overwhelming bass. The battery life is quite decent - especially if you count the charging case into the equation. The buds will give you 7 hours on a single charge but you can triple that with the charging case.
Connectivity is also great with Bluetooth 5 out of the box, and there are some neat little features onboard, too. These also sport active noise-canceling tech onboard - each bud has two separate microphones acting together to minimize the background noise. These are also IPX4-rated against splashes of rain and sweat, so no problem to take them to the gym.
The only thing that's missing is a big brand name stamped on the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro - if you can live with this little detail, you'll be pretty happy with these wireless earbuds, and their price.
Pros
Stylish design
IPX4 rating
Good battery life
ANC
aptX/LDAC codecs support
Cons
Not the tightest fit
Build quality not premium
JLab JBuds Air ANC
If you want active noise-canceling earbuds for under $100 you need to resort to some not-so-well-known brands. The JLab Audio is one of these brands delivering amazing products at really affordable prices.
The JBuds Air ANC model is one of the best budget wireless earbuds with active noise-canceling technology that you can find. People really like these and compare them to the Jabra Elite 65t and the Anker Soundcore series.
There’s a lot to like - from the 40h+ combined battery life (10+ on the earbuds and 30+ on the case) to the aforementioned active noise canceling. Four microphones work together to cancel outside noises and there’s also a Be Aware mode that lets some of the outside jangles for safety purposes.
Pros
ANC!
Amazing battery life
Three EQ presets
Cons
Design is a bit bland
No multi-device pairing
Skullcandy Dime
If you want to get the absolute cheapest truly wireless earbuds, you can’t go wrong with Skullcandy and its Dime model. These earbuds are just $19.99, so any potential drawback we might find will be greatly outweighed by the price.
Of course, for $19.99 you shouldn’t expect miracles - the build quality and the design both reflect the price quite accurately. The Skullcandy Dime will get the job done, though. You get 12 hours of playtime (3.5h on the buds), and a cool charging case.
There are also touch-activated controls and automatic Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. Pretty impressive at $19.99.
Pros
Extremely affordable
Touch controls
Cool charging case
Cons
Plasticky
Not a lot of features
Five things to look out for when shopping for cheap wireless earbuds:
Sound Quality: This is by far the most important feature. Check the audio quality of the earbuds. Some cheap earbuds may have sub-par sound quality, which can be disappointing. Look for earbuds with good bass response, clear mids and highs, and balanced sound. It's very important to be able to try before you buy, but if that's not possible, check out our reviews and the "sound quality" section to be precise.
Battery Life: Check the battery life of the earbuds. You don't want to have to recharge them constantly throughout the day. Look for earbuds that offer at least 4-6 hours of battery life, preferably more. Also, don't forget about the charging case and the extra battery it provides.
Comfort: The earbuds should be comfortable to wear for extended periods. Look for earbuds that come with different sizes of ear tips to fit your ear comfortably and securely. Again, it's best if you can try the fit yourself, as each and every ear is unique in shape.
Connectivity: Ensure that the earbuds have stable connectivity to your device. Check if they use Bluetooth 5.0 or higher, which offers better range and connectivity than older Bluetooth versions. If you have more then one source device, a multipoint connection will do wonders and make your life a lot easier.
Extra features: Some earbuds come with extra features such as noise cancellation, an IP rating or touch controls. Consider if these features are important to you, and if they are worth the extra cost.
Getting a solid pair of earbuds for a very reasonable — even tempting! — price is now a possibility. Not all offerings are equal, some will require some setting up to get the most out of, but most are certainly a significant improvement over what you could get five years ago. If you ever felt like you need to spend tons on earbuds, then you should know that it is definitely no longer the case.
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