To help you find a pair of the best cheap wireless earbuds, we’ve rounded up some great deals that’ll suit your budget, and deliver the freedom you desire.
What to Look for in Wireless Earbuds
Sound quality
No one wants earbuds that emit unpleasant sound, which is why paying attention to the internal drivers is important. This is usually measured in millimeters, so the larger the driver, the better and louder the sound quality.
Design
Wireless earbud designs vary, the most common being the neckband-style type that run the wire behind your neck. True wireless earbuds are completely cordless and sit in your ear canal, which is why they’re more convenient and safer.
Noise cancellation
If you’re going to use wireless earbuds for traveling, then noise cancellation could be your top priority. This tends to increase the price of the earbuds and can affect the battery life.
Battery life
With wireless earbuds, you won’t get as much battery life as you would from wired headphones, but they come with charging cases that sometimes double as a battery pack. A solid pair could run anything between five to eight hours per charge, but they also charge pretty fast.
Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds under $100
1. Jaybird X4 Wireless Sport
Jaybird is synonymous with top-of-the-line headphones, and the X4 wireless sport earbuds are part of that line. They’re rugged and versatile, but deliver high-quality audio and comfort whether you’re a workout buff or are using them for casual listening.
They come with an IPX7 rating, which means they’re fully waterproof and can handle various weather conditions, except you can’t use them for swimming. Battery life lasts up to eight hours if you’re on the move, so you won’t have to worry about them running out of juice. They also charge pretty fast, as you can get an hour’s charge in just 10 to 15 minutes. Using the free Jaybird app, you can adjust and customize your EQ (equalization) preferences for the perfect mix of mids, bass, and high response, and enjoy maximum comfort thanks to the different-sized silicon Comply Ultra Foam tips and interchangeable ear fins. A Speed Cinch is also included so you can loosen or tighten the cable around the nape of your neck, plus you can drape the cable over or under your ear as you wish. They also let you mute the mic, skip tracks, control volume levels, and even manage calls (answer or send) without missing a beat.
2. Anker Soundcore Liberty Air
The Soundcore Liberty earbuds by Anker are one of the best in the true wireless category. They auto-connect to your device when outside the compact case, so you don’t have to keep pairing every other time – they stay connected once and for all.
We had a review on the Liberty Air before, and we really loved them. They’re rated IPX5 for water resistance, so you can use them comfortably in the rain, at the gym, or on a sweaty run, plus they give about 3.5 hours playtime with a single charge. If you have the charging case, you can get another 9 hours battery life. The drivers are graphene-coated and deliver surprisingly good sound quality without overly emphasizing bass notes as other headphones do. Their main problem, though, is the volume controls or previous track functionality don’t work as advertised, but they’re still an excellent pair of earbuds at this price category.
Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds under $50
3. TOZO T10 TWS
This doesn’t sound like the brand names you’re used to, but you also won’t find many of those in the under $50 category, let alone truly wireless earbuds.
TOZO T10 are a pair of true wireless earbuds with solid sound and smaller size than average buds. They also come with an IPX8 waterproof rating, which is about the best certification you’ll find on earphones, and you can submerge them for up to 30 minutes in depths exceeding one meter. These earbuds don’t rely on wing tips or ear hooks to fit snugly in place, plus they have ear tip sets in three different sizes so you can find the right fit. Its drivers are 8mm compared to the average 6mm with comparable earbuds, so you’re assured of louder sound and booming bass. Battery life is a solid 3.5 hours on a single charge, but this reduces as you increase the volume. Thankfully, though, you can charge them with the compact charging case up to three full times, plus, they support Qi wireless charging.
4. Anker SoundBuds Slim
Anker has made a name for itself churning out consistent products that are among the best of the best.
The SoundBuds Slim earbuds are no different. They come with a hooked design for a comfortable and secure fit above your ear, plus you can get them in different shapes and sizes. They’re also IPX5 water resistant thanks to the rubber material and are lightweight, so you won’t feel like you’re wearing them. the drivers are 6mm with solid bass output, though this reduces battery life, which is about 7.5 hours. The earbuds are lightweight, but you can still carry them around in the small travel pouch that’s part of the package and store them away. Other extras you get include easy-to-reach customer support and an 18-month warranty.
5. Skullcandy JIB wireless earbuds
Skullcandy is another popular name in the audio world, producing stylish yet affordable items such as these JIB wireless earbuds.
They not only have the signature skull but are also colorful with comfortable ear tips. They also have controls on the minimal inline remote for pairing, power, answering calls, or playing/pausing tracks, but all this is controlled with one button. This means you’d have to adjust the volume from your phone if need be. The drivers are 9mm, so you’re assured of good sound quality and significantly powerful bass. Skullcandy claims these earbuds deliver six hours of playtime with a single charge, which is way better than Apple AirPods. The battery pack has an LED light to show you the power levels, plus a microUSB charging port and charging cable.
Wrap-Up
Whether you want the freedom of wireless audio, or your device doesn’t have an audio jack, you don’t have to spend a fortune on wireless earbuds like AirPods. There are cheap alternatives you can pick from that’ll meet your needs without crushing your wallet.
