The 6 Best Headphones Under $50 - Winter 2020
Reviews

The best headphones under $50 that we’ve tested so far are the Mpow H5. They don't just look premium for their price; they come with tons of features that we normally find on higher-end headphones. They're reasonably comfortable, with a well-padded headband and earpads, and even have active noise cancelling. While the ANC is somewhat sub-par, they still do a passable job of isolating you from external noises.

If you haven't guessed it, they're Bluetooth headphones. With Bluetooth and ANC enabled, you can expect an average of 12 hours of continuous playback, and they take about 2.3 hours for a full charge. If you do run low, they can be used wired and Mpow has included a 3.5mm cable in the box. What's more, they also provide a hard carrying case. The overall build quality is satisfactory; however, one area of concern is the hinges and yokes, which are a little thin, but otherwise, they feel fairly sturdy.

These headphones aren't just about having lots of features, though; they have an above-average sound too. The V-shaped sound profile lends well to genres such as hip-hop and EDM, with a consistent, punchy bass, an even but recessed mid-range, and a fairly balanced treble. If you're looking for a decent pair of headphones on a budget, definitely consider these.

The best truly wireless headphones under $50 that we've tested so far are the Anker SoundCore Liberty Lite. While if you wanted to get truly wireless headphones, it used to mean you had to spend a good chunk of change; these headphones prove that you can get a decent all-around truly wireless experience for under $50. While they aren't the most comfortable, their fit is still decent, and they come with four different sized tips, as well as three sizes of stability fins to help you get a proper fit. Their overall build quality is surprisingly good for their price point, and they feel more premium than their price would suggest.

Their out-of-the-box sound profile is quite well-balanced, with just a little bit of extra thump that isn't overpowering. They have a mildly excited sound that should please most people and is suitable for a wide variety of genres, but sadly they don't have a companion app, so you can't change their sound profile. While they don't have active noise cancelling (ANC) like some more expensive options, they passively block a surprising amount of ambient noise and should help keep you concentrated at work, as well as help a little with your daily commute.

Unfortunately, their battery is their major weak point at just over 2 hours off a single charge, and only an additional three charges from their case. They also take an hour to charge, which is disappointing considering how low their battery life is. It's worth noting that there's a new version of these headphones called the Anker SoundCore Liberty Neo that are advertised as having a much longer battery life. While we haven't tested the Neo yet, we expect them to perform very similarly. Overall, however, if you want a decent pair of truly wireless headphones that offer a surprisingly good price-to-performance ratio, the Liberty Lite are a good option.

The best earbuds under $50 that we've tested so far are the Anker SoundBuds Curve Upgraded 2019. These Bluetooth headphones are a great option for sports as they feature a stable ear-hook design and even come with stability fins as well. They're quite comfortable and come with five different sized tips to help you find the best fit. They're a minor upgrade over the Anker SoundBuds Curve Wireless, but sport an improved in-line remote, a longer battery, and are now rated IPX7 for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this.

The out-of-the-box sound profile of these headphones is a bit excited, with an overemphasized bass and treble. While it isn't the most accurate, this sound profile is still well-suited to most genres, and their bass doesn't come across as cluttered or overpowering. Their improved 18.5-hour battery life is great, and they should have no problem lasting you through a few full days before needing a charge.

Unfortunately, they don't do a very good job at blocking out the low rumble of bus or plane engines, but they leak almost no sound, so you should be able to turn up your music to cover background noises without bothering people around you. Overall, if you want a pair of wireless earbuds and don't want to spend too much, these are a surprisingly decent option, especially given their price point.