The 6 Best Budget And Cheap Wireless Earbuds - Spring 2023 Reviews

The Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless are the best budget wireless earbuds we've tested. These earbuds have a straightforward design but are sturdy, decently comfortable, and fairly versatile. They have a well-balanced, bass-rich sound profile that adds some rumble and punch into your audio while instruments and voices are clear, so it's suitable for most types of music or content like podcasts. They're also a good choice for workouts since they come with stability fins to help keep them in place and have an IPX5 rating for water resistance. They stand out from many other earbuds because their case holds around 12.5 extra charges, giving them a total battery life of just under 100 hours, which is nice for long trips. They last for a little over seven hours off of a single charge.

However, they don't have many extra features. They lack a companion app and sound customization features like a graphic EQ or presets. Like many budget-friendly earbuds, they don't have active noise cancelling (ANC) either. They do a good job of passively isolating you from ambient sound like background conversations but aren't very effective for bass-range noise like rumbling engines. The earbuds also have a fairly deep in-ear fit but are still decently comfortable for most people.

If you're looking for even cheaper buds that still offer solid performance, the best cheap wireless earbuds we've tested are the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless. You might expect to sacrifice build quality or performance at this price point to find something more wallet-friendly. However, these colorful buds are just as well-built as the previous pick and have a few EQ presets to help you adjust their sound to your liking. While they don't have ANC and don't passively block out as much noise as the Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless, they can still help reduce office-type noise like conversations or a computer fan.

Using their most neutral EQ preset, these comfortable buds have a bass-rich sound. They've got a touch of extra thump, punch, and warmth that'll please fans of EDM and hip-hop. Their continuous battery life of roughly nine hours will easily get you through your day, and they come with a case that holds three extra charges. The Skullcandy Jib Wireless are cheaper if you don't mind a shorter battery life. Their sound packs more bass and can even make mixes sound cluttered, but it's still reasonably well-balanced and versatile. They lack sound customization features, aren't very sturdy, and have a neck cable design that isn't for everyone, but they aren't a bad choice if you want the cheapest buds.

At the budget price range, you're less likely to find earbuds with a customizable EQ or presets, so it's important to find a versatile and pleasing sound profile to listen to. Thankfully, the Skullcandy Dime 2 True Wireless have a very neutral sound that complements all kinds of audio content. There's a touch of extra bass to make genres like EDM and Jazz sound warm without overpowering the rest of the mix. Their well-balanced mid and treble ranges also make vocals and lead instruments sound present, detailed, and bright. Feel free to blast your tunes as loud as you want since these earbuds have outstandingly low leakage at high volumes.

On top of sounding great, these earbuds are reasonably comfortable and stable enough to stay in your ear during a brisk run. They also have an IPX4 rating for resistance against water splashes, so they won't get damaged in the rain. However, their biggest drawback is their short battery life. At just over three hours, you'll need to charge these buds multiple times daily to have them last as long as needed. Fortunately, they come with a standby mode to conserve battery life when not in use. They also don't have more premium features like ANC and don't do a great job of passively isolating you from noise during a commute or a busy day at the office.

Most of the picks come with a bass-heavy sound profile, but if you prefer a more neutral sound, the Sony WI-C310 Wireless offer a well-balanced sound profile. They have a bit of extra boom in the bass range, while instruments and vocals are reproduced clearly without being piercing. They're a little different because of their neckband design, making them less compact than truly wireless buds. Unlike most truly wireless buds, though, they don't come with a charging case but have a long 17-hour continuous battery life that helps make up for it.

Unfortunately, they aren't particularly well-built and feel plasticky. While they have a decently comfortable fit for most, the cable connecting the buds is long, and you might find it cumbersome. Since they have a neckband, they're more likely to get snagged on something and get ripped off your head. While you can wear them on the go, they don't keep out much loud background noise, so you'll lose detail in your audio. Chatty coworkers and whiny PC fans aren't an issue, but you'll hear most of the noise coming from bus and plane engines, making these less than ideal for a commute.

The best budget earbuds for sports we've tested are the SoundPeats TrueFree 2 Wireless. Unlike the previous picks, these come with stability fins as well as ear tips in different sizes, so once you can get a good fit, they're less likely to fall out of your ears during workouts. They have a higher IPX7 rating for water resistance, so a bit of rain during an outdoor run isn't much of an issue, and are decently comfortable for most people.

Their bass-heavy sound profile brings out the rumble and punch in music like EDM, which you might like for the gym, but if you're more of a podcast person, voices reproduce clearly. Like most earbuds listed here, they don't have ANC or an app with sound customization features. They only last about four hours of continuous use, so you must charge them up fully before a long workout. On the plus side, their case holds about four extra charges, and they're equipped with a standby mode to help save power.

The best cheap Bluetooth earbuds for sport that we've tested are the JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless. They have good build quality and an IP55 rating for protection against water splashes, making them a great choice for runs outdoors. Their unique stability sleeve and lightweight build also assure great stability for more intense exercise, like CrossFit or aerobics. However, the bulky sleeve, paired with their angled fit, can put undue pressure on your inner ear and negatively affect comfort depending on your ear shape.

Their sound profile is extremely bass-heavy, giving hip-hop and EDM tracks lots of intense thump and rumble. The rest of the mix, which is bright, if not piercing, also sounds muddy due to the overemphasized bass range. There's no app support either, meaning you can't change the sound profile to match your preferences. While these earbuds don't have ANC, they do a decent job of passively isolating you from background noise from chatty joggers and squeaky treadmills, though they don't do much to keep out the rumble of heavy traffic or a passing bus. They only last three hours continuously, so you must charge them between each workout. Thankfully, there are ten additional charges in the case, so you won't run out of extra power too quickly.

Earbuds with ANC are usually more expensive, but you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars for good noise cancelling earbuds. If you're looking for an affordable option, the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless are worth considering. Their ANC feature does a fantastic job of isolating you from a wide range of noise, including bass-range noise like rumbling engines. They also help reduce mid-range noise like rumbling engines. They're sturdy, quite comfortable for most people, and last around eight hours of continuous use with ANC on.

They have a V-shaped sound profile emphasizing thump and rumble in genres like EDM and hip-hop. Instruments and lead vocals can sound veiled or weak; unfortunately, the headphones don't have a companion app or sound customization features. You also can't completely switch the ANC off, which you might find annoying, but they have a 'Transparency' mode for when you want to hear your surroundings without removing the buds.

If you're still looking for inexpensive earbuds and have a little more to spend, you can see more budget-friendly earbuds on the best wireless earbuds for under $50.