The 6 Best Budget Wireless Headphones - Summer 2022 Reviews

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless are the best budget wireless headphones we've tested. If you prefer an over-ear fit, these headphones are comfortable and lightweight. They also have decent built quality, although their hinges feel a bit plasticky. They also have an active noise cancelling (ANC) system. Overall, it 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.

These over-ears have a v-shaped sound profile that delivers intense thump, punch, and boom to audio, while vocals and lead instruments are bright and sparkly. This sound is well-suited for genres like pop and rock, but they don't have any sound customization features to help you tweak their sound. Their 32 hours of continuous battery life easily last through long days on the go, and you can use them passively with their 1/8" TRS cable.

If build quality matters to you, the most durable budget wireless headphones we've tested are the Razer Opus X Wireless. They're not normally found at this price point, but a couple of their colorways are on sale, making them worth checking out. They have a good build, thanks to their metal-reinforced headband, while their physical control scheme is easy to use and provides clicky feedback. They're also comfortable enough for long listening sessions.

These headphones have a somewhat neutral sound profile out of the box. A touch of extra bass adds a bit of warmth to audio, but if you prefer a different sound, their companion app offers EQ presets to help you customize them. They're equipped with an ANC system to help block out background sound too. They have difficulties blocking out commuter-related noise, like bus engine rumbles, but they do a better job reducing typical office noise like ambient chatter. Although the manufacturer advertises them to last 30 hours with their ANC on, we measured significantly over that amount, and they even have an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life when you're not using them.

The best budget truly wireless headphones we've tested are the Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless. These headphones have an outstandingly long total battery life of almost 100 hours. Although one charge lasts 7.3 hours continuously, the case supplies 12.5 additional charges. While they're otherwise simple in design, they can passively isolate you from a good amount of ambient noise like office chatter. They have a stable as well as decently comfortable fit and are rated IPX5 for resistance against direct water contact.

These buds have a slightly bass-rich sound profile, so your mixes have a touch of extra thump, rumble, and boom. Vocals and lead instruments sound present and accurate in mixes, but they lack an EQ if you want to adjust their sound to suit your needs. If customization is important to you, it's worth considering the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless instead. They have a companion app with a graphic EQ and presets to help you adjust their sound. Unfortunately, their total battery life is shorter, and they lack a standby mode to conserve battery life when not in use.

The best cheap Bluetooth headphones we've tested are the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless. If you're on a tight budget, these buds come in a couple of eye-catching colors and, unlike most buds at this price point, have three built-in EQ presets so you can tweak their sound. Using the 'JLab Signature' EQ, which produces the flattest response, they have a bass-rich sound with extra punch and warmth that should please fans of EDM and hip-hop. They also last over nine hours continuously, and their carrying case supplies an additional three charges if you need it.

While they can't effectively reduce the bus and plane engine noise, they do a better job of blocking out ambient speech, which is good if you work in a noisy office. They also have a decently comfortable fit and feel well-built. Their charging cable is integrated into their carrying case, though, so if it gets damaged, you'll need to replace the entire unit.

The TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless are the best noise cancelling wireless headphones we've tested. Unlike most headphones on this list, these in-ears have an ANC system. It does a great job of blocking noise, reducing commuter noise like the low rumble of bus engines as well as passenger chit-chat. They're also well-built and certified IPX6 for resistance against direct water contact. They have a stable in-ear fit, making them a solid choice for use at the gym.

If you're a fan of genres like pop and rock, they have a v-shaped sound profile that delivers extra thump and rumble to mixes while sibilants like cymbals are bright. Some users may find they sound a bit piercing, and they lack sound customization features to help you adjust their sound to your liking. They have over eight hours of continuous playback time, though, and their carrying case supplies an additional two charges if you need it.

The best budget-friendly Bluetooth headphones for running that we've tested are the JBL LIVE 300TWS. These buds have a comfortable fit, good build quality, and are even rated IPX5 for resistance against direct water contact. Thanks to their stability fin design, they'll also stay in place during tough workouts. Their bass-rich sound profile can also help keep you pumped up at the gym. Vocals and lead instruments are still clear and present in your tunes, though, and you can tweak their sound to your liking using their companion app's parametric EQ and presets.

If you like to crank up your audio, they don't leak much sound, even at high volumes. Unfortunately, their battery life isn't very impressive as they last over four hours continuously. Luckily, their carrying case holds roughly two charges, and they have an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life when you're not using them.