The 6 Best Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds Under $100 – Summer 2019
Reviews

Earbuds and in-ear headphones are great for people on the go who value versatility and are looking for a convenient way to enjoy their favorite media anywhere, anytime. Compared to over-ear headphones, in-ears and earbuds offer unbeatable portability and are generally a better option for sports since they tend to be more breathable. Sometimes they can even provide pretty good isolation performance, which is great if you don’t want to shell out big bucks for headphones with active noise cancelling (ANC).

We’ve tested 118 earbuds and in-ear headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best wireless earbuds under $100 to buy in 2019. If you’re looking for our top picks in general or are curious about different features, check out our recommendations for the best headphones under $100, the best wireless earbuds, the best wireless headphones under $100, and the best earbuds under $50.

1. Best Wireless Earbuds Under $100: Anker SoundCore Liberty Air Truly Wireless

   

   Anker SoundCore Liberty Air Truly Wireless

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com
   Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

   7.1

   Mixed Usage

   7.3

   Critical Listening

   7.5

   Commute/Travel

   8.1

   Sports/Fitness

   7.4

   Office

   5.6

   TV

   4.6

   Gaming
   Type : In-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Truly Wireless

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   The best Bluetooth earbuds under $100 that we’ve tested so far are the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air. These truly wireless in-ear headphones have a low-profile design that resembles the Apple AirPods but with a glossier finish. Their build quality is decent, and they’re rated IPX5 for sweat and water resistance, but their glossy finish tends to attract fingerprints. They’re decently comfortable and come with 4 silicone tip sizes to help you get a nice, stable fit.

   These are the best-sounding wireless earbuds under $100 we’ve tried so far. They have excellent audio reproduction and a balanced sound that is well-suited for a wide variety of music genres, from EDM, to jazz, to even classical. They isolate quite a bit of noise passively and hardly leak any sound at all, which is good for office use.

   Unfortunately, they don’t have a companion app to let you customize your listening experience. They also only provide about 4 hours of continuous playback on a charge, but this is about average for truly wireless headphones. Since their charging case provides a couple of extra charges, they should stay charged for most of the day if you keep them in their case when not in use. Overall, the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air are the best true wireless earbuds under $100; they offer pretty good value for their price and are easy to recommend.

   See our review

2. Neckband Alternative: JBL Live 200BT Wireless

   

   JBL Live 200BT Wireless

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com

   Type : In-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you like the neutral audio reproduction of the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air but prefer something you can keep around your neck at all times, then get the JBL Live 200BT. Their neckband design makes them more challenging to put away in your pockets when not in use, but is better if you like always having your music at arm’s reach. They have a very well-balanced sound, so they’re suitable to wide a range of music genres like the Anker. They can connect to 2 devices at the same time, like your smartphone and work PC, and have a good 10-hour battery life to help get you through your workday.

   On the downside, they can’t be customized like some of JBL’s more recent over-ear models. Although they sound decent, it’s a bit disappointing you can’t customize them like the over-ear JBL Live 650BTNC. That said, if you don’t mind the lack of customizability, they’re still well-performing wireless in-ears that provide good value overall.

   See our review

3. Best Wireless Earbuds For Sports Under $100: Jaybird Tarah Wireless

   

   Jaybird Tarah Wireless

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com
   Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

   6.9

   Mixed Usage

   7.0

   Critical Listening

   7.4

   Commute/Travel

   8.0

   Sports/Fitness

   7.2

   Office

   5.2

   TV

   4.8

   Gaming
   Type : In-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   The best wireless earbuds for sports under $100 that we’ve tested so far are the Jaybird Tarah. They’re well-designed with an earbud-like fit that makes them a bit more comfortable than many in-ears we’ve tested. They’re rated IPX7 for waterproofing and feel like solid headphones, so you shouldn’t have to worry too much about them when powering through a challenging workout.

   They sound decent out-of-the-box, but really shine when paired with the Jaybird MySound app, which provides access to lots of customizable features. You can manage the auto-off timer, assign specific playlists to the multi-purpose button, and customize the sound of the headphones using a great parametric EQ. You can even share your favorite playlists, EQ settings with the public, and browse other community presets and playlists.

   On the downside, their battery performance isn’t as good as that of other sports-oriented wireless earbuds we’ve tested. They provide 6 hours of continuous playback, which isn’t bad, but is only half that of the much cheaper Anker SoundCore Spirit X. That said, these headphones have an auto-off timer to help save power, so they’ll last you a bit longer if you’re not using them for hours on end.

   See our review

4. Alternative With A Longer Battery Life: JBL Reflect Mini 2 Wireless

   

   JBL Reflect Mini 2 Wireless

   SEE PRICE

   B&H

   Type : In-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you like the stable, secure fit of the Jaybird Tarah Wireless but wish their battery lasted longer, then go for the JBL Reflect Mini 2 Wireless. They’re not customizable like the Jaybird, but their battery lasts significantly longer. You’ll get just over 10 hours of continuous playback with these headphones, which is pretty good, and they even come with a small rubber carrying pouch.

   Although they have a decent battery life, they don’t have any power-saving features, so you’ll need to make sure to remember to turn them off when not in use or else they’ll continue draining the battery. Their lack of customization can be disappointing when compared to the Jaybird, but thankfully they have great audio reproduction with a neutral sound profile that’s balanced enough to handle any track you might throw at them.

   See our review

5. Best-Designed Wireless Earbuds Under $100: Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless

   

   Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com
   Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

   6.9

   Mixed Usage

   7.3

   Critical Listening

   7.0

   Commute/Travel

   8.1

   Sports/Fitness

   6.9

   Office

   5.7

   TV

   5.3

   Gaming
   Type : In-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If you’re looking for stylish, well-designed earbuds, the best Bluetooth earbuds design-wise are the Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless. Not all colors are available for less than $100, so you might have to do some digging, but it’s possible to find them for a good price. They have a stable ear-hook design that helps secure the earbuds in place without putting too much pressure on your ears. They’re very portable, lightweight, and come with a rubberized carrying pouch.

   They feature Apple’s W1 chip, which means they pair seamlessly with iOS devices connected to your iCloud account. They have deep, powerful bass that brings out the thump and rumble of bass-heavy music like hip-hop and EDM without drowning out the vocals and lead instruments over other genres. They have a pretty good battery for wireless in-ears too, lasting nearly 12 hours of continuous playback on a single charge.

   Unfortunately, they may not be the best for commuting, since they don’t isolate very much noise. That said, this means they might be suitable for outdoor runners who need to be able to remain aware of their surroundings. Overall, they’re well-designed, comfortable in-ear headphones that will work for many.

   See our review

6. Budget Alternative With A Similar Design: Anker SoundCore Spirit X Wireless

   

   Anker SoundCore Spirit X Wireless

   SEE PRICE

   Amazon.com

   Type : In-ear

   Enclosure : Closed-Back

   Wireless : Yes

   Noise-Cancelling : No

   Mic : Yes

   Transducer : Dynamic

   If the Beats Powerbeats3 Wireless are out of your price range and you prefer a more understated look, get the wireless Anker SoundCore Spirit X Wireless. They might not have the same build quality as the Beats, but they’re significantly cheaper for a very similar design. They’re actually quite comfortable for in-ear headphones; they don’t enter the ear canal as deeply as other in-ears and have a nice soft ear-hook. They have a bass-heavy sound, similar to the Beats, but aren’t as well-suited for vocal-centric music.

   Like the Beats, these headphones don’t isolate all that well. They also don’t have as good a wireless range as other Bluetooth headphones either. That said, they still provide great value for their price and are a solid alternative to the similarly-designed Powerbeats3.

   See our review