- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Best Under $25
- Best Under $50
- Best Under $100
- All Reviews
- Discussions
- Store-bought headphones; no cherry-picked units
- Retest after major updates
- Easily comparable results
- No ads; unbiased reviews
Whether you just got a phone that doesn’t have an audio jack or are simply looking to experience the freedom of Bluetooth audio, there are lots of cheap wireless earbuds out there for you to choose from. From super compact truly wireless earbuds to durable sports headphones that are designed to fit securely in place, you’re likely to find something that meets your needs without breaking the bank.
We’ve reviewed over 75 wireless earbuds and in-ear headphones so far and below you’ll find our top picks for the best budget wireless earbuds divided by price range. Check also our recommendations for the best wireless earbuds overall, the best wireless earbuds under $50, the best wireless earbuds under $100, and the best sounding wireless earbuds.
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Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds: Anker SoundBuds Curve Wireless
Usage Ratings - Version 1.26.8Mixed Usage6.9Critical Listening7.0Commute/Travel7.9Sports/Fitness6.9Office5.6TV5.4GamingThe best cheap wireless earbuds we’ve tested so far are the Anker SoundBuds Curve. They have a versatile ear-hook design that helps ensure a stable fit and are more comfortable than most in-ear headphones we’ve tried. They feel reasonably well-built, especially for the price, and they even come with a small hard carrying case, which is a bonus at this price point. and provide great value overall.
These wireless earbuds have a bass-rich yet still reasonably balanced sound that lends itself well to a wide variety of music genres. They deliver the deep thump and punch of hip-hop and EDM while still reproducing vocals and lead instruments accurately and clearly. Their battery provides nearly 13 hours of continuous playback, which is great if you plan on using them all day.
Although they’re comfortable enough to wear while traveling, they can’t effectively block out the deep rumbles of a bus or plane engine. The AUKEY Latitude Wireless isolate a lot more noise, but they’re also quite a bit less comfortable. Overall, the SoundBuds Curve perform surprisingly well and are among some of the best headphones we’ve tested so far thanks to their comfortable fit, good audio reproduction, and solid battery performance.
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Even Cheaper Alternative: Skullcandy Jib Wireless
If you’re looking for wireless earbuds that cost even less, consider the Skullcandy Jib. They feel more cheaply made than the Anker SoundBuds Curve Wireless and they’re a bit less comfortable, but they’re generally available at a lower price. Like many Skullcandy products, their price varies on the color you choose, but there are a few options available under $20. They have powerful, punchy bass that fans of EDM and hip-hop music are sure to love, but they can also sound boomy and muddy. The Sony WI-C200 Wireless have a more balanced sound and better battery life, but tend to run a couple bucks more.
Get the SoundBuds Curve if you don’t mind going slightly over $25 for better overall performance; however, if you’re looking to spend as little as possible and still want something, then the Jib are a solid choice.
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Best Budget Wireless Earbuds Under $50: JBL Endurance Sprint Wireless
Usage Ratings - Version 1.26.9Mixed Usage7.1Critical Listening7.4Commute/Travel7.7Sports/Fitness7.2Office5.1TV4.7GamingThe best cheap wireless earbuds under $50 we’ve tested so far are the JBL Endurance Sprint. They have great audio reproduction and are among the best-sounding wireless earbuds we’ve reviewed to date. They feel rather premium for their price thanks to their touch-sensitive controls and matte finish. They have rubberized cables and an IPX7 rating for waterproofing too, which is great for sports.
These headphones have a remarkably well-balanced sound, with a rather neutral audio reproduction that’s well-suited for music of virtually all genres as well as podcasts and audiobooks. They also isolate quite a bit of noise, which makes them a decent choice for use during your daily commute. Their 9-hour battery life is decent, and they feature an auto-off timer to help further save power.
Unfortunately, their controls don’t always work as intended and sometimes register unwanted commands, which can be frustrating. They can also be a bit uncomfortable for some, especially those with smaller ears. The Sony WI-C310 Wireless are more comfortable and have an in-line remote that’s easier to use, but they don’t isolate noise as well and feel less durable for sports. If you don’t mind how the JBL fit, they’re a solid choice overall.
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Feature-Packed Alternative For Samsung: Samsung U Flex Wireless
If you use a Samsung device and are looking for customizable in-ears under $50, then go for the Samsung U Flex. They may not sound as good as the JBL Endurance Sprint Wireless right out-of-the-box, but they’re compatible with the Level app on Samsung devices which provides access to a graphic EQ with presets, room effects, volume monitors, and more. Unfortunately, these customization features are only available on Samsung devices, so if you have iPhone or an Android device you won’t be able to experience these earbuds to their fullest potential. The Jaybird Freedom F5 Wireless 2016 can be customized on any Android device or iOS; however, their 4-hour battery life pales in comparison to the 11.5 hours that the U Flex provide.
If you’re looking for earbuds that reproduce audio accurately and have a balanced sound without the need for any additional tweaking, get the Endurance Sprint. However, if you have a Samsung phone and like spending time to personalize your listening experience, you’ll want to go for the U Flex.
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Truly Wireless Alternative: SoundPeats TrueFree/True Wireless
If you prefer truly wireless earbuds, get the SoundPeats TrueFree. They don't sound as neutral as the JBL Endurance Sprint Wireless, but they're more comfortable. They have a compact, low-profile design that fits very securely, which is great when you're on-the-go. Their deep, powerful bass is sure to please fans of dubstep or hip-hop, but they lack a bit of detail in the treble range, so some may find their bass slightly overpowering. They also only provide about 3 hours of continuous playback, but their charging case can hold up to 5 additional charges for an estimated total battery life of 15 hours.
Get the JBL if you want a more sports-oriented design that has a more neutral audio reproduction, but if you’re after the freedom of truly wireless earbuds, then you’ll want to go for the SoundPeats since they’re the best cheap true wireless earbuds we’ve tested so far.
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Best Budget Wireless Earbuds Under $100: Anker SoundCore Liberty Air Truly Wireless
Usage Ratings - Version 1.27.1Mixed Usage7.3Critical Listening7.5Commute/Travel8.1Sports/Fitness7.4Office5.6TV4.6GamingThe best budget wireless earbuds under $100 that we’ve tested so far are the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air. They have an ultra-portable form factor thanks to their truly wireless design and compact hard carrying case that easily fits in even the smallest pockets. They’re fairly comfortable for in-ear headphones, sound very well-balanced, and provide great value all around.
These wireless in-ears have outstandingly accurate audio reproduction and provide a satisfactory listening experience overall. They’re well-suited for all kinds of music, along with audiobooks or podcasts. They last for about 4 hours on a charge, which isn’t very much, but their charging case can provide up to 3 extra charges for around 16 hours of battery life in total if you take breaks to charge them in their case now and then.
Unfortunately, like most budget headphones, they don’t have a mobile app. They also have very high Bluetooth latency, but certain apps and devices seem to offer some sort of latency compensation and you may experience different results if you have a Bluetooth 5 source. All things considered; the SoundCore Liberty Air are one of the best budget wireless earphones.
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Customizable Alternative For Sports: Jaybird Tarah Wireless
If you like being able to customize the sound of your headphones, then get the Jaybird Tarah. They’re less compact than the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air Truly Wireless and use a proprietary charger which some may find a bit restrictive, but they’re compatible with the Jaybird MySound app, which has a great parametric EQ for you to fine-tune their sound however you want. You can even have different sound profiles with saved EQ presets that you can share with your friends, which is neat. Unfortunately, their 6-hour battery life isn’t very long, especially compared to the similarly priced yet non-customizable JBL Reflect Mini Wireless. Thankfully they have an auto-off timer to help save power.
If you don’t need the customization and prefer a more compact form factor, you’ll want to go for the Liberty Air, but if you’re all about getting your headphones to sound just the way you like, then get the Tarah.
Notable Mentions
- Sony WI-C200 Wireless: Wireless earbuds that provide decent value overall with a fairly comfortable fit and great battery life. Cables are quite long and feel a bit cheaply made. See our review
- Sony WI-C310 Wireless: Nearly identical to the WI-C200 but with entirely flat cables and more color options. May not be worth the price difference, but could be interesting on sale. See our review
- AUKEY Latitude Wireless: Versatile budget in-ears that have outstanding passive isolation. Less comfortable than Anker SoundBuds Curve but a good option for commuters who need noise isolation. See our review
- JBL E25BT Wireless: A very budget wireless in-ear with a decent sound and overall performance; a good alternative to the Skullcandy Jib, but slightly more expensive. See our review
- Anker SoundCore Spirit X Wireless: Good wireless in-ears for sports advertised to be sweatproof with decent sound, but the Anker SoundBuds Curve offer slightly better value. See our review
- MEE audio X7 Wireless: A cheap wireless headset with a decent design for sports. Mediocre sound and build quality compared to some of the other headsets on that list. See our review
- Jaybird Freedom F5 Wireless 2016: Lightweight and ultra-portable sports headphones with a customizable sound. The proprietary charging clip may be a deal-breaker for some. See our review
- Beats BeatsX Wireless: Wireless in-ears that sound decent and pair easily with Apple devices thanks to the W1 chip. See our review
- Anker SoundCore Liberty Lite Truly Wireless: Budget truly wireless in-ears with a more balanced sound than the SoundPeats TrueFree and a better charging case, but more expensive. See our review
- JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless : Truly wireless in-ears that perform very similarly to the SoundPeats TrueFree but are more expensive. Their charging case has a lid but also an integrated charging cable, which is a bit restrictive. See our review
- JBL Reflect Mini 2 Wireless: Great wireless sports headphones with stabilizing fins. Well-designed with decent battery life, but not customizable like the Jaybird Tarah. See our review
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best budget wireless earbuds to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for wireless in-ear headphones and earbuds under $100. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.
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