The Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds

In gaming or music, the sound dramatically impacts the overall experience. That is why sound directors and audio engineers in games and movies spend hundreds on providing accurate sound for an immersive experience. High-end studio-grade earbuds are rarely differentiable by an untrained ear. So buying the best cheap wireless earbuds is the right way for an average listener. Even the musicians and audio engineers keep the sound range of a standard earbud in mind while adding sound to their tracks. Ever since they introduced the Bluetooth technology, every manufacturer has leaped toward making wireless earbuds. Recently, wireless earbuds that don’t have a wire running from the right earbud to the left earbud have been the highlight of technology. They come with various technologies alongside new versions of Bluetooth, which significantly improved its transfer capacity.

There are many options to choose from for the best wireless earbuds. The choices can be overwhelming as some sports-oriented earbuds might be the best earbuds for running, and the design might focus more on their ability to remain in the ear canal. Some people prefer the best noise cancelling earbuds that provide isolation from the surrounding by a unique technique of producing sounds opposite of the noise, thus cancelling the noise entirely. Audio codecs like A2DP, AptX HD, LDAC, AAC, and SBC all have their unique advantages over the others. Finding the best sounding wireless earbuds could be difficult. The right balance of sound, battery life, quality, and portability is challenging, but we will elaborate on each earbud in our list to ease your decision-making process.

Our top picks

Quick Shopping Tips:

Our quick shopping tips will provide you with the basic knowledge that is required before finalizing your purchase:

Audio Codec: To make sure that your earbuds are compatible with your device, you need to look for the earbud audio codec and then look for the audio codec support in your device. Among all the stated, AptX is considered the most advanced for Windows and Android, while AAC is suitable for Apple devices.

Noise Cancellation: This is perhaps the most important for many people as they might want to take a walk in a windy area or by the ocean while listening to their music. Maybe you are a gamer who wants the precise location of the enemy while playing. Either case, you will need no background noise to enhance the experience. Earbuds provide unique features to remove background noise we will discuss in each product.

Speaker Sensitivity: It represents the earbud’s ability to produce sound against its energy. Higher sensitivity is always preferred since it will consume less power but produce more sound. You can measure it by providing a speaker with 1-watt power and see how much output dB is produced with the SPL meter. The unit of sensitivity is dB/mW.

Battery Life: Due to the small size of truly wireless earbuds, the battery size in earbuds is limited; thus, the number of hours an earbud can work is bounded. Manufacturers have found a workaround by providing a case that keeps the buds secure and houses a bigger battery that can charge earbuds while sitting inside the case. The earbud and case battery life are essential; we will mention them in the specs.

The Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds: First look

The Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds: In-depth Review

If you are someone who frequently receives calls and requires an audio device that provides you portability with a wide range of options for voice clarity, then Jabra Elite 65t is the way to go. They have rigorous clean-looking aesthetics and are available in 5 color combinations. These IP55 rated best cheap wireless earbuds ensure reasonable price protection against wind and water. It comes with a four MEMS microphone system which picks up noise from all directions for an excellent noise-canceled listening experience. The wind noise has been addressed explicitly for users on the move in outdoor environments.

You can control the output of the earbuds via the Jabra Sound+ app available on Android and iOS. With a simple slider, you can adjust the amount of environmental sound you want to hear through the earbuds. The in-app equalizer can boost specific frequencies to enhance your music listening experience. If you are an iOS user, these best budget earbuds are ideal as they are AAC audio codec based, while android might rarely face streaming issues. Long hours of listening are possible with 15hours of total listening time combining earbud and case battery capacities. Overall the headphones are primarily oriented for communication on the move and support Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri.

JLab has a product for everyone, and the incredible JLab Go Air Pop is a product from their GO Air series for everyday use. The highlight of this product is its incredibly long battery life. Its total time exceeds 32 hours of playback with 8 hours of each earbud battery life. Everything from their price, aesthetics, battery life, and BT version makes them the best budget wireless earbuds. Aesthetically the earbuds come in colors that pop for any person. Rose, Black, Lilac, Slate, and Teal are colors you can choose from. They use the SBC audio codec, which is not ideal for gaming as the codec itself causes 100ms of latency.

It features the latest Bluetooth 5.1, capable of transferring large amounts of data with its HSP / HFP / A2DP /AVRCP protocols. The 6mm driver can produce deep bass and treble, which is ideal for music listening. Their loudness is significant with 103dB amplitude. Even the case is easy to carry with rounded edges, and it’s made slender with less thickness. However, the case comes with an integrated USB-A cable which in any case gets damaged and will require a complete case replacement, unlike others where charging cable is easy as they are port-based. Overall it’s an excellent value for money product.

An earbud with high-fidelity sound and noise cancellation is ideal for music listening. Calling with the EarFun Air is a flawless experience with no glitches. This product has been users’ favorite ever since the company released it. CES has awarded the best budget earbuds for their innovative design. The use of wires has been made obsolete by using wireless charging earbud cases. With a single rapid charge of 10 minutes, you can enjoy 2 hours of playback time. The capacitive in-ear detection system automatically stops the music when you take one earpiece out of the ear canal and start it again when you insert it back.

Bluetooth version 5.0 and SBC audio codec are used in this earbud, providing a decent sound experience at a reasonable price. Four microphones are used for noise cancellation that you can adjust via the app. These earbuds are also the best overall cheap wireless earbuds on our list. EarFun has tested its designs against thousands of ear shapes using 3d printed models in terms of ergonomics. The secure fit into a wide variety of ear shapes is guaranteed since they supply three different sizes of earbud tips for their users. With an IPX7 rating, it’s a great choice considering its rigorous design.

Being a renowned company, Anker has made powerful drivers for its wide range of products and earned its respect in the music community. Soundcore Liberty Air 2 is no exception to Anker’s high-quality products. The brilliant price to performance ratio makes them the best budget earbuds. They incorporate diamond-inspired drivers that allow the earbuds to be sensitive to broader frequency bandwidth by 15%. It also helps it deliver deeper bass and balanced treble. Two microphones in each earbud with CVC 8.0 ensure that the background noise is reduced and a better voice is delivered. With this item on hand, you will get highly defined audio performance.

The company did an admirable job manufacturing this product. The build quality of this product speaks premium, and the case looks fantastic and feels firm. It also has a HearID Technology that maps the frequency ranges your ear is sensitive to, thus providing a purely customized sounding experience. Anker Soundcore app allows multiple options, including equalizer and firmware updates. The manufacturers offer essential accessories too. It comes with a USB-C cable and uniquely five different sizes of ear tips to ensure that you have your earbuds secured in your ear. They support the powerful aptX audio codec that provides flawless connectivity and streaming.

Skullcandy produces aesthetically pleasing products that speak premium with minimalist looks. The compact design strategy can be seen in their Skullcandy Dime Earbuds. They provide the basic noise cancellation functionality for clear calls on the move. They are great for exercise due to the IPX4 sweat and water resistance. These earbuds are the best compact cheap wireless earbuds on our list. During light rain seasons, you can use it outdoors without any hesitation. It comes with three (S, M, L) ear gel sizes to provide a perfect fit for your ear. The audio codec used is SBC which is not the best for audio quality and connectivity, but the overall sound is decent.

For the size of the driver, the earbuds sound balanced, and the highs are defined delectably even though it’s a difficult task to achieve. The lows are surprisingly deep for a 6mm driver, and they come in funky colors Green, Blue, Orange, and Red. They are also available in a black and grey color for a more subtle look. Both the buds can be used independently for calls and listening. Each is capable of pairing with a phone in a breeze. The battery timing of earbuds is low compared to others on the list, and the charging rate is also slow when placed in the case. However, the complete package is excellent for the price.

Plantronics BackBeat FIT 3100 is an excellent choice for sports as they ensure that the earbuds are firmly secured in the ear for a perfect fit. An earbud popping out of the ear could lead to bud damage as there is a chance of stepping on to one. But this product fits just fine. This item is the best cheap wireless earbuds for runners, and it works well for a long time. The sporty look with the color combination makes them ideal for athletes. The black, pearlescent blue, and red combination with their massive size makes them stand out. We have our leisure time playing sports or doing extensive exercises while listening to music or podcasts.

This thing is the best companion for such times. The prime highlight of these best budget wireless earbuds is their massive 13.5 mm driver that they house. Due to the added weight, they needed the ear hook design for support. They come with touch and physical controls with an IP57 rating, making them more water-resistant than any other earbud we have listed. The rating allows them to be used during swimming; however, due to the low Bluetooth transmissibility underwater, the connection makes and breaks often. That’s primarily due to the SBC audio codec, which relies on heavy compression. Overall they are excellent for sports and rain-associated activities.

There is no need to touch the earbuds and fumble around with your device to increase or decrease volume, change tracks, answer calls, or even launch Spotify. Skullcandy Grind Fuel True Wireless features the all-new Skull-iQ through which you can perform a wide variety of functions with just voice control. The microphone is sensitive and accurately picks up the user’s voice; we have awarded it with the best cheap wireless earbuds with AI titles. They are compact and are secured in a sleek case with an orange and black color combo. The Skullcandy App regularly updates its features.

The earbuds can be custom-tuned via the Skullcandy App. By default, these best budget wireless earbuds are adjusted to provide potent and deep bass with their powerful 6mm driver. The highs and mids do not wrap up when there is electronic deep bass in soundtracks. They are SBC-based audio codecs, so there might be a slight lip-sync issue while watching Netflix or YouTube. The case has multiple LEDs to indicate the 31 hours battery life when it comes to battery life. The earbuds are designed to last 40 hours which is incredible for a compact design. So, in a nutshell, this item is a winner amongst its competitors.

The most loved earbuds with a sound that is liked by millions all around the world are the Anker Soundcore Life P3. Its incredible 11mm sound driver provides the punchiest bass out of all the mentioned products. The comprehensive Soundcore app allows customized frequency response and multimode active noise-canceling options; these earbuds are the best cheap earbuds with active noise cancellation. You can select amongst Transport, Outdoor, and Indoor modes for maximum noise cancellation. They come in a premium-looking material and colors that pop. Navy blue, oat white, coral red, sky blue, and the primary black color are ideal for all ages.

Six microphones in two earbuds, thus providing a flawless active noise cancellation during calls. You can charge the case wirelessly to provide a purely wireless experience; therefore, we call it the best budget earbuds. One of the prominent features that make Anker products sound better and have overall superior connectivity is the use of the AptX audio codec. AptX provides lossless audio transmission to provide high bitrate without compression. You can use the wired USB-C connection for faster charging at a lower time. Overall, these earbuds are the best value for money and quality.

Final Words

Earbuds have been around for a while now and have gained massive popularity due to their inherent noise reduction design. If you have not used an earbud, we recommend buying the best cheap wireless earbuds with an ear tip for complete isolation. Our list included lightweight earbuds and earbuds that were huge due to their driver size, but each has its pros. We mentioned driver size in our earbuds review, but driver size does not overshadow the need for a good design. A big driver doesn’t mean that it will produce prominent bass-like speakers. You would have to rely on our review based on frequency response for a better picture. In our view, the best budget wireless earbuds, in terms of design and value for money, would be the Anker Soundcore Life P3. They are premium built with decent battery life and secure fits with different size ear tips. The charging case has multiple indications for displaying a battery-draining trend.

Noise cancellation is not old technology; it recently gained massive interest from the netizens due to its broad applications. Active noise cancellation is not only great for music and calls; you can use these earbuds with this feature to enhance focus on work if there is a noisy environment. It can completely block our AC or fan noise that is repetitive and static. Voice controls are a bit sluggish to date but are improving rapidly; thus, voice-based controls in an earbud with the capability of firmware update should be your hot favorite. Unique features like capacitive in-ear detection and complete physical music control on the earbud are also gaining attention due to their usability. Overall as a buyer, you must seek what suits you best if sound quality matters most; we recommend going for an earbud with balanced frequency response. We hope you find the right product as per your requirement and our reviews prove helpful.

Frequently Asked Questions