The 6 Best Budget Wireless Headphones - Winter 2023 Reviews

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless are the best budget wireless headphones we've tested. There aren't as many budget-friendly over-ear headphones as there are inexpensive earbuds, so these are a great option if you prefer how over-ears fit. They're lightweight, comfortable, and have a decent built quality, although their hinges feel a bit 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 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. Their v-shaped sound profile 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.

If you want a better-built or more customizable pair of over-ears, check out our list of the best over-ear headphones under $100.

There are plenty of options for budget-friendly earbuds and in-ears, but the Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless stand out from the pack for their extremely long total battery life. Although one charge will last you for roughly seven hours of continuous use, the case supplies 12.5 additional charges, giving them a total battery life of nearly 100 hours.

They're otherwise simple in design and don't have an ANC feature, but 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 if you like to adjust your headphones' sound profile, they don't have an EQ.

If customization is important, you might want the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless. Unlike other in-ear headphones on this list, their app features a graphic EQ and presets, so you can tweak their sound to suit your taste. Out of the box, they have a bass-heavy sound profile that adds more thump and rumble to your audio than the Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless. Elements like voices may sound pushed to the back of the mix, but you can change that thanks to the app's sound controls. There's also a feature to create a custom EQ, and you can also use the app to customize onboard controls.

Otherwise, they have a decently comfortable fit and good build quality. They're rated IPX5 for water resistance and have a stable enough fit to stay in place during workouts. They can passively block out a good amount of ambient sound, like background chit-chat at the office or a humming computer fan. Unfortunately, their roughly 6.5-hour continuous battery life is shorter than the Life Dot 2, and they lack a standby mode to conserve battery life when not in use.

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. They can block out more noise than the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless' ANC, reducing commuter noise like the low rumble of bus engines as well as passenger chit-chat. With a stable in-ear fit and an IPX6 certification for resistance against direct water contact, they're a solid choice for use at the gym and outside.

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 Βluetooth headphones for running that we've tested are the Jabra Elite 3 True Wireless. These earbuds have a comfortable fit with easy-to-use physical controls. They have a bass-rich sound profile with lots of rumble and punch to help keep you pumped up during long runs. If you prefer a different sound, their companion app has a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization.

They don't have ANC but passively isolate you from a good amount of mid-range noise, like background conversations at the gym. They aren't ideal if you want to block out low-pitched noise like rumbling engines. That said, they do have a 'Ηear Through' mode to help you stay aware of your surroundings when running outside. They're also well-built and rated IP55 for dust and water resistance, so a little bit of rain during a jog in the park won't be a big deal. They don't have stability fins, unlike some sports earbuds, but they'll stay in place during a run. If you're looking for a pair of running earbuds with better stability, check out the Skullcandy Push Active True Wireless. Their sound profile is slightly less neutral than the Jabra, and their controls aren't as intuitive.

For the truly frugal, the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless are the best cheap wireless headphones we've tested. These buds come in a couple of eye-catching colors and, unlike most buds at this price point, have three built-in EQ presets to 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'll 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 them.

While they can't effectively reduce noise coming from a whole plane engine, 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, so if it gets damaged, you'll need to replace the entire unit.

If you're looking for the and want to see more options, you might find our list of the best cheap earbuds helpful.