The 5 Best Budget Wireless Headphones - Spring 2023 Reviews

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless are the best budget Bluetooth headphones we've tested. There are fewer budget-friendly over-ear headphones than inexpensive earbuds, so these are a great option if you prefer how over-ears fit. They're lightweight, comfortable, and have a decent build quality, although their hinges are plasticky. They also have an active noise cancelling (ANC) system that does a good job of cutting down sounds like ambient chatter and the high-pitched hum of an AC unit. However, it has some trouble tackling the low rumble of bus engines. Their 32-hour continuous battery life will last through long flights or a couple of workdays.

They have a V-shaped sound profile that adds intense rumble, punch, and boom into the audio, while instruments are bright and sparkly. This sound is well-suited for genres like rock and pop, but you might find the intense bass response overwhelming, and they don't have sound customization features. There aren't many over-ear headphones in the budget range, but if you don't mind spending a bit more, the newer Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless with an app that has sound customization features. They also offer a better noise isolation performance and come with a hard case.

If you're sticking to a tight budget, the best cheap Bluetooth headphones we've tested are the Logitech G435 LIGHTSPEED Wireless. These are intended for gaming but support Bluetooth, so you can connect to your phone or computer, which makes them a solid option for casual use. They were also designed with teens in mind, so they might not fit you well if you have a bigger head. Still, they offer a comfortable fit for most adults and have a lightweight, fairly sturdy build.

They have a warm sound profile that adds a bit of boom to your audio, while instruments are clear but bright. They don't have sound customization features, which isn't unusual for the price, but they support Dolby Atmos, which can help create a more immersive soundstage if you buy a license separately. However, they lack ANC and don't block out ambient sound, so they work best in quiet places. While they don't have an analog port, meaning you won't be able to use them wired, they last around 18 hours continuously and have an auto-off timer to help save power. You can also use them while charging.

If you're looking for headphones for the subway or walking around the city, the best budget commuter headphones we've tested are the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless. These headphones are more expensive than the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless but have an improved noise cancelling performance, so they're worth considering if that's your top priority. You can set their ANC feature to different modes to suit the situation. Set to 'Transport' mode, it does a fantastic job of blocking out a wide range of noise, including rumbling engines and background conversations.

They have a sturdy, comfortable design and a good control scheme that lets you adjust your music and answer calls on the go. They're equipped with a 'Transparency' mode to let you hear your surroundings without removing the headphones. They have a bass-heavy sound profile that adds extra thump, punch, and boom to your audio, but unlike the Q20, they work with an app with a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization. They support multi-device pairing so you can stay connected with your phone and computer simultaneously.

The best on-ear Bluetooth headphones in the budget range are the Skullcandy Riff Wireless 2. On-ears aren't as popular as other types of headphones, and compared to over-ears like the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless, they hardly block out any noise. They aren't as comfortable for most people since they sit on your ears instead of around them. However, these offer a few features that the Q20 don't: they support multi-device pairing, meaning you can stay connected with your phone and computer simultaneously. They also work with an app with sound customization features, so you can adjust their v-shaped sound profile to suit you.

They have a long continuous battery life, and you can also use them wired if you run out of power in a pinch. The integrated mic has a good recording quality, especially for Bluetooth headphones, so your voice sounds clear and natural if you use them for phone calls. Unfortunately, they feel cheaply made, so they might break if dropped or crushed. Still, they have a more portable design than the over-ears listed here, and you can fold the earcups in to fit them in a bag more easily.

If you're still looking for budget-friendly headphones and don't care if they're wireless, you might find what you need on our list of the best budget and cheap headphones.

If you prefer lighter, more portable earbuds, check out the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless. These buds are well-built and are stable enough to stay in place during workouts. They also have a great ANC feature that blocks bass-range noise like rumbling engines and higher-pitched sounds like conversations and computer fans. Their roughly eight-hour continuous battery life can last through a workday, and they come with a case that holds a couple of extra charges, so you can top them up if you're running low on power.

Their V-shaped sound profile adds thump and rumble in the bass range and brightness to instruments and vocals. However, some sounds, like cymbals, can seem piercing. The Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless are another great budget-friendly option. They have a similar continuous battery of around eight hours but come with a case that holds about 12.5 additional charges. They also have a bass-rich sound profile, but it's more balanced otherwise, so instruments and vocals are clear and bright but not piercing. These buds are a better option if you're not looking for ANC, but are currently difficult to find in stock from online retailers.

If you're shopping for earbuds, you can find more options on our best budget and cheap wireless earbuds list.