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The 5 Best Budget And Cheap Wireless Earbuds - Winter 2024 Reviews

Updated
Best Budget and Cheap Wireless Earbuds

Not too long ago, if you wanted a pair of wireless Bluetooth earbuds, you'd have to spend a lot of money. Now that headphone jacks are becoming less common on phones and Bluetooth headphones are becoming the norm, you don't have to spend a lot to get a decent pair of wireless in-ears. Wireless headphones give you the freedom of not requiring wires, making them more portable and easier to toss into a pocket or bag.

We've tested over 245 pairs of Bluetooth earbuds and in-ear headphones, and below, you'll find our top picks for the best budget and cheap options. If you have a little more to spend, you'll also want to check out the best wireless earbuds under $100 and the best wireless earbuds under $50. For over-ear options, try the best wireless Bluetooth headphones for under $100.


  1. Best Budget Wireless Earbuds

    The JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless are the best budget wireless earbuds we've tested. These affordable buds stand out from the crowd thanks to their feature set. They have a companion app, so you can fine-tune their excited sound. They also support Google Quick Pair, so you can easily connect them to your Android devices. You can use the audio mode to improve audio quality, and video mode decreases latency that can cause sound to go out of sync with video.

    They have a decently comfortable fit and are well-built. They're also certified IP54 for resistance against dust and direct water exposure. However, their carrying case doesn't have a lid. While your buds won't easily fall out, thanks to magnets within the case, some people may still find this design choice a little unusual. If you prefer a more sturdy carrying case, you'll want to check out the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless. They offer a similar performance but have a stem design, and their carrying case has a lid. However, their fit isn't as comfortable or stable, and you get one less charge cycle from the case.

    See our review

  2. Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds

    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 their continuous battery life of roughly nine hours will easily get you through your day. They also come with a case that holds three extra charges.

    These comfortable buds have a bass-rich sound with extra thump, punch, and warmth to please EDM and hip-hop fans. You can use their companion app's customization features to fine-tune the mix to your liking. However, you get less control over their sound than with the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless since they only feature EQ presets rather than a full parametric interface.

    Fortunately, they passively block more noise than the JBL, keeping you better isolated from background noise like office chit-chat and whiny PC fans. If you want an even cheaper option, check out the Skullcandy Jib Wireless. Their battery life is shorter, and their bass-heavy sound profile clutters the mix somewhat. However, they're still a versatile set of earbuds with a neck cable design for added stability and protection from falls during intense exercise.

    See our review

  3. Best Sounding Cheap Wireless Earbuds

    If you're looking for the cheapest buds possible with a neutral sound, consider the Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless. While most previous picks are bassy and boomy, these buds have a flatter, more neutral sound. They have pleasant warmth, and vocals and instruments sound balanced and detailed. While sibilants like cymbals are a little piercing, these headphones have a couple of onboard EQ presets to help you find the best sound.

    These buds have a well-built design and last over eight hours continuously. Their carrying case supplies two extra charges if you need it. They also support multi-device pairing, so you can stay connected to your PC and smartphone simultaneously. They have a deep in-ear fit, so if that's a deal-breaker, consider the Sony WI-C310 Wireless instead. They have a smaller bud design, and their neck cable allows you to wear them on your person when not in use. However, they don't feel as well-built.

    See our review

  4. Best Budget Wireless Sports Earbuds

    The best budget Bluetooth earbuds for sport 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 outdoor runs. 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 the earbuds' 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 active noise cancelling (ANC), they still 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, the case has ten additional charges, so you won't run out of extra power too quickly. You can pick them up frequently at a steep discount.

    See our review

  5. Best Cheap Bluetooth Earbuds For Noise Isolation

    It's uncommon to find ANC buds at such a cheap price point. However, some buds, like the TOZO T6 Truly Wireless, can reduce ambient sound passively. Once you get a good seal in your ear, these buds can block out chatty coworkers very well, and they easily isolate you from the high-pitched hums of computer fans. They struggle to cut down bass range noise, like the rumbles of bus and plane engines.

    These buds have a bass-heavy sound that's well-suited for genres like EDM and hip-hop, as they deliver extra thump, punch, and boom to mixes. However, they don't have any sound customization features. Their fit is decently comfortable, and the headphones are stable enough to wear during moderate exercise. They're also well-built and are certified IPX8 for resistance against submersion in water. While their over five-hour continuous battery life may not be enough to get you through your day without a recharge, their carrying case supplies an additional four charges if needed.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • Anker Soundcore P25i/P20i True Wireless: The Anker Soundcore P25i/P20i True Wireless are cheap truly wireless buds. They're more comfortable than the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless, but they don't block out as much background noise, and their sound isn't quite as balanced. See our review
  • Skullcandy Sesh Evo True Wireless: The Skullcandy Sesh Evo True Wireless are well-built and are similarly rated IP55 for dust and water resistance as the JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless, with slightly longer continuous battery life and an app with EQ presets. They have a less stable in-ear fit and about half the total battery life when you include the case's battery. See our review
  • TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless: The TOZO NC 7 Truly Wireless offer ANC—a rarity at this price—to reduce low-pitched rumbles effectively, and they yield eight hours of continuous playback on a single charge. While both of those features are attractive, these buds are often out of stock. They don't cut out as much midrange and high-pitched noise as the TOZO T6 Truly Wireless and typically cost more. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Feb 22, 2024: Public message: This article was updated to add the Skullcandy Sesh Evo True Wireless and TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless to the Notable Mentions and to check the current picks.

  2. Jan 31, 2024: We've checked to ensure all of our picks are still in stock.

  3. Jan 04, 2024: We've overhauled our picks, replacing the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless with the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless and the Sony WI-C310 Wireless with the Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless, which offer a slight edge over their competitors in their respective brackets.

  4. Nov 23, 2023: We've removed the Skullcandy Sesh ANC Truly Wireless as they're discontinued and no longer available at a cheap price point. We've also added the TOZO T6 Truly Wireless as our 'Noise Isolation' pick. They don't have ANC but can block out a good amount of sound passively.

  5. Oct 27, 2023: Replaced the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless with the Skullcandy Sesh ANC True Wireless because the TOZO are unavailable.

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best budget Bluetooth earbuds at the lower end of that 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).

That said, there are no perfect headphones. If you'd like to make the choice yourself, below is the full list of wireless in-ears and earbuds headphones we've tested. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.