The 10 best cheap wireless earbuds, tested by audio experts

Flagship wireless earbuds can set you back $250 or more, but some of our favorite buds cost a lot less. By Bethany Allard Bethany Allard Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard is a Los Angeles-based shopping reporter at Mashable covering beauty tech, dating, sex and relationships, and headphones. That basically means she puts her hair through a lot, scrolls through a lot of dating apps, and rotates through a lot of different headphones. In addition to testing out and rounding up the best products, she also covers deals for Mashable, paying an especially obsessive amount of attention to Apple deals and prices. That knowledge comes in handy when she's covering shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, which she's now done for three years at Mashable. Read Full Bio , Samantha Mangino Samantha Mangino Lead Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino, is an e-reader expert. She's tested all the Kindle and Kobo e-readers, diving into the buzziest models. Her love of reading extends beyond the e-reader beat, covering books and authors, too. In the tech space, she covers tablets, smart rings, and headphones. Read Full Bio , and Alex Bracetti Alex Bracetti Freelance reviewer Alex Bracetti is a freelance product reviewer and journalist covering gadgets and men's grooming products. An experienced consumer tech writer, he has bylines at Mashable, Complex, SPY.com, Thrillist, AskMen, CNN Underscored, and Tom's Guide. In addition to writing about the latest tech trends and gadgets, he's also covered men's fashion, sports, and gaming. For Mashable, he primarily covers headphones/wireless earbuds, party speakers, smartphones, and mobile accessories. Read Full Bio on October 17, 2026 Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Flipboard All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable Contrary to what you might think, you don't need to break the bank to get a great pair of earbuds. We spend a lot of time fawning over the latest tech here at Mashable, but new tech is usually expensive tech, especially in 2026. And as much as we love nerding out over the newest Sony headphones drop, we know that not everyone wants to spend $450 on a pair of flagship noise-cancelling headphones. So, that's why we're here to talk about the best budget earbuds. All of the products in this guide have been rigorously tested by a member of the Mashable team, and we've included our favorite wireless earbuds from Beats, Nothing, Apple, and Bose. Overview These are the tech, tools, and products — from laptops to e-readers, from earbuds to robovacs, and more — that Mashable ranks best in class. Table of Contents How we chose these earbudsLet's be clear: Just because these earbuds are affordable, that doesn't mean they skimp on features.Mashable audio experts have tested all of the most popular wireless headphones and earbuds (not to mention some wired options). And the very best noise-cancelling wireless earbuds typically cost $250 to $300 — the Apple AirPods Pro 3 retail for $249 (but often go on sale for $179), and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) come in at $299.Fortunately, you don't need to spend $300 to get a great pair of wireless earbuds; in fact, you don't even need to spend $100. The best cheap wireless earbuds under $100 include some great options from JBL, Nothing, Anker Soundcore, and Beats. And if you're willing to spend a little more, the newest Apple AirPods 5 sound great and include new AI features such as live translation.When reviewing earbuds for this guide, we looked for features such as easy connectivity, rich and balanced sound, active noise cancellation, and a comfortable fit. And among all the earbuds we've tested, which is an extensive list, these are the best budget earbuds for 2026. Our Pick The Good & The Bad Vibrant sound with broad audio customization Noteworthy adaptive noise cancellation Some of the longest playtimes in the category Improved AI integration Attractive colorways Extras upon extras Small touch sensors make input difficult Inferior spatial audio Who it's for Those looking for the best all-around package for their dollar. Anker’s latest mid-range buds have the firepower and functionality of top-performing luxury buds. At $64.99, they’re the true embodiment of getting plenty of features without sacrificing affordability.The P42i pack many of the same features as Anker’s premium models and performs nearly as well in audio, battery life, and noise cancellation — all at a third of the price. If you don't want to drop $150 on AirPods or Bose wireless earbuds, these are a great all-around pick under $100. Why we picked this Anticipate crisp instrument separation, deep bass, and sharp vocals when plugging them into your ears. The Soundcore Signature preset is well-balanced, and there are additional presets and a customizable EQ to personalize the sound. Enabling the LDAC codec boosts fidelity to hear more detail and nuance when streaming music on Android devices. However, you’ll want to set up the HearID feature, as it intuitively creates a sound profile tailored to your hearing.Noise cancellation is also pivotal to sound performance. It provides an uptick in bass that gives contemporary recordings more oomph. Multi-level ANC produces an extra layer of noise reduction to minimize unwanted noise. Standard mode silences low- and mid-frequency sounds with ease, especially when set to Ultra ANC. Adaptive mode scans the environment to achieve stronger noise neutralization. Wind Noise Reduction is great at reducing harsh wind effects. Transparency mode is equally excellent and has a HearGuard setting that protects your hearing by automatically adjusting the amount of loud noise entering the buds.In addition to the aforementioned features, these buds come with a Fit Test, multi-device connectivity, wearing detection, and a Game Mode that reduces latency when gaming. There’s even AI integration (e.g., Live Translation, chatbot capabilities), which is much better than it was on past Anker releases.Fast charging (10 mins=3.5 hours) is some of the best at this price point. A full charge provides up to 12 hours of listening time, depending on how you use the buds, and the wireless charging case provides up to 56 hours of listening time.Flaws are very few. Spatial audio drastically hollows out the midrange, and the small-stem design with tiny capacitive sensors makes tap input difficult. Besides that, these are near-flawless buds at an unbeatable value. Details The Good & The Bad Upgraded sound Longer battery life than previous version Versatile audio codec support App offers customization similar to luxury models Light and comfortable Downgraded ANC Inadequate mic performance Who it's for Audio nerds on a budget who want extensive sound customization and hi-res streaming over Bluetooth. While they retail for $99.99, you can typically buy them on sale via Amazon for $79.99, making them a solid alternative to AirPods. Why we like it Our previous top pick for the best cheap earbuds under $100, the EarFun Air Pro 4, didn’t need a director’s cut. Nonetheless, we received one in the Air Pro 4 Plus. EarFun’s new dual-driver acoustic system with balanced armature enhances bass response and treble for terrific low-mid presentation. Drums and synths sound pleasant and punchy. Mids and lows also receive proper attention. EarFun spared no expense, blessing the Plus version with top-tier Bluetooth audio codecs. AptX Adaptive/Lossless and LDAC provide dynamic scaling and higher streaming quality. Other wireless audio perks like Auracast and LE Audio are appreciated.Battery life isn’t significantly higher; you’re only getting 1 hour more per charge and 2 hours more from the charging case. That works for us, as do other retained hallmarks, including a comfortable fit, instantaneous multi-device pairing, and serviceable EQ functions. ANC performed well on the previous model. The same can’t be said here. While electronic humming and loud voices are silent, everything else is audible and disruptive. The multiple AI noise-cancelling modes do little to suppress external sounds. Even the two ambient listening modes perform unevenly. Default produces clear vocals, but it also makes environmental noises sound harsh. Natural softens ambient noise and drastically decreases vocal presence simultaneously.It’s hard not to fault EarFun for mishandling noise cancellation on a next-gen release. At the same time, the company overdelivered on audio performance in ways we never expected. Details The Good & The Bad Engaging sound Companion app support with generous feature set XBass technology has been refined Antibacterial protection Chic charging case Weak noise cancellation and spatial audio Left bud requires extra effort to dock in the charging slot Who it's for Bargain-bin shoppers who prioritize substance over style; anyone looking for the best cheap earbuds under $50. Much of the FlyBuds C3’s charm is exhibited through wonderful sound performance that receives a nice boost from Tribit’s impressively engineered music presets. Why we picked this Aesthetically, there’s nothing appealing about the FlyBuds C3. Their plain, long-stem design with a trite matte finish screams off-brand mediocrity. Yet what they lack in physical appeal, they vastly make up for in sound.Are we talking Anker or JBL quality? No, but the buds still produce solid audio, and Tribit keeps the listening experience simple with user-friendly features in the mobile app to easily tweak performance on the fly.Proprietary 10mm NdFeB drivers pump out satisfying frequencies. XBass technology sounds more balanced than ever on a Tribit product; the extra thump felt on bass-centric tracks is impactful and doesn’t bloat up the soundstage. It’s worth toying around with the EQ and presets for optimized sonic presentation with select music genres.Niche features like antibacterial coating and Hearing Protection mode are overlooked. They help extend the buds’ lifespan and preserve your hearing, respectively. Multipoint technology also comes in clutch to seamlessly switch between two audio sources.We'll be honest: ANC and spatial audio don’t contribute anything positive. Deluxe features like these aren’t necessary for $35. Great sound is, and the FlyBuds C3 guarantee it at a highly attainable MSRP. Details The Good & The Bad Elite ANC for under $100 Stocked with premium Sony features Dynamic, punchy audio that can be customized in the Sound Connect app Lengthy playtimes (per charge) Outstanding touch controls Uncomfortable after 2 hours of wear Spatial audio isn’t as refined as it is on Sony’s pricier buds Who it's for Brand enthusiasts who want Sony audio quality and the best noise neutralization available for under $100. The fact that these buds come with nearly every Sony proprietary sound technology should make them cost double their sale price, which is consistently around $80. These were a popular pick in our guide to the best Sony headphones as well. Why we picked this If the $328 Sony WF-1000xM6 are out of your financial reach, which is reasonable considering the current economy, then pick up the WF-C710N. They offer nearly everything their flagship counterpart does, from adjustable ANC to fidelity upscaling to multipoint technology.You’re essentially getting a stripped-down version of the WF-1000xM5’s noise cancellation, which is still superior to most options in the budget and mid-range categories. It eliminates up to 85 percent of unwanted sounds. Most high-frequency noises are audible, but they end up sounding like background effects on most tracks. Then there’s the 20-level Ambient Sound mode that vastly increases awareness in all surroundings. The mics can pick up conversations from across the street and high-frequency noises from several blocks away.Sony’s 5mm dynamic drivers dish out booming lows, expressive mids, and crisp highs, resulting in a well-balanced mix that complements most music genres and video content. Audiophiles have a plethora of sound features at their disposal, including a customizable multi-band EQ and various well-engineered presets. DSEE enhances the quality of compressed low-quality audio files to pull more detail from recordings. The WF-C710N also come with 360 Reality Audio, but the feature is underwhelming on these buds and limited to a handful of streaming services. The long playtimes (up to 12 hours) allow for lengthy listening sessions, though your ears will need occasional breaks due to the buds’ uncomfortable oval design. Listeners with high pain thresholds shouldn’t experience any fatigue. Details The Good & The Bad Practical and comfortable earhook design Adrenaline-inducing sound Great sports-ready features Lengthy playtimes Plenty of audio personalization tools Large charging case Finicky touch controls Who it's for Fitness buffs in need of high-performance sports buds that sell for nearly a third of what Apple’s top models cost. They’re a much cheaper alternative to the AirPods Pro 3 and Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 and offer far more upside for the price. Why we picked this It’s been several years since we’ve tested budget sports buds this great, but the Endurance Peak 4 blew us away on multiple levels. JBL’s silicone hooks with memory wire are less stiff and more flexible than the Powerbeats Pro 2’s hooks. Even though the battery compartment is thick, it doesn’t weigh down your ears or cause wearer fatigue. Each set of tips forms a tight seal for passive noise isolation, though you can enable any of the three ANC modes — Noise Cancelling, Ambient Aware, and TalkThru – to effectively block out or let in ambient noise. Waterproof protection (IP68) comes as part of the package too.There are several activity presets that JBL calls Sports Modes, which let you assign ANC and EQ presets to different profiles. Relax Mode plays peaceful ambient sounds to soothe the body for a set period. Sports buds are nothing without energizing sound to push you through your workouts. The Endurance Peak 4 unleash bold bass response that pummels your eardrums. We recommend keeping the EQ off to get more mids and highs from your music. However, the best results come from the Personi-Fi feature, which optimizes sound to your hearing. It’s superb at balancing the low end with other frequencies. The massive charging case is unflattering, while the unreliable touch controls can be frustrating to operate during breaks. But these shortcomings won’t get in the way of your workouts when you’re fully locked in. Details The Good & The Bad Mashable Choice award winner Sonically superior to the AirPods 4 Astounding call quality Signature comfort and ease of use Comes with premium features normally reserved for the Pro series Slightly improved noise reduction Disappointing battery life Still doesn’t pair well with Android devices Wireless charging costs extra Our review Read our full review of the Apple AirPods 5. Who it's for Anyone who wants the Apple AirPods experience at a big discount. This fifth-gen model welcomes multiple upgrades and comes in at a lower price point than the AirPods 4. Why we like it Some of you may be willing to spend a few extra dollars for a little more performance, especially iPhone users. Those who can will want to look at the AirPods 5. They come with new acoustic architecture and updated audio algorithms. The result is clearer and livelier sound. Bass has a nice kick to it and blends well with engrossing mids and airy highs. You’re not getting full, encompassing audio due to the open-ear design, but what projects from the drivers is compelling. Spatial Audio creates an immersive soundscape for Dolby Atmos content. The three-band EQ helps adjust sound to your liking. Adaptive Audio does an excellent job of blending ANC and Transparency modes, though you can use either mode independently to block out or let in ambient noise. Both work extremely well.Now, if you’ve been an avid AirPods user, then you’re well accustomed to their flaws. Battery life remains poor at 4 to 5 hours with ANC on. That doesn’t factor in other features like Spatial Audio and Siri, which knock off another 1.5 hours. Android support is still lacking. Wireless charging also comes at a premium. Regardless, you already know what you’re getting from a product five generations deep like the AirPods: exceptional overall quality. Details The Good & The Bad Balanced multiplatform support Clear sound with strong bass response Adjustable noise cancellation Improved battery life over the original Compact and attractive design Transparent case is a classic No headtracking or wireless charging Loose fit Older-generation product Who it's for If you're looking for the best Beats earbuds to buy on sale, then this is our top pick. Android and iOS users who want the closest thing to AirPods for as little as possible. These buds bridge the gap between the two mobile platforms, while combining midrange-heavy sound with strong noise cancellation to deliver a fantastic value. Why we picked this Multiple price drops have now placed the Studio Buds Plus firmly in the budget category. That’s huge considering how much firepower they possess. Beats’ fine-tuned drivers produce cleaner bass with “ultra-low distortion.” Mids and highs are given plenty of room to breathe on a wider soundstage. Spatial audio may not perform as well as it does on the AirPods or Beats’ upscaled entries (*cough* the Powerbeats Pro 2 cough), but it can make certain Dolby Atmos tracks feel more spacious. Noise cancellation is superior to the AirPods 4 with ANC; Apple’s open design lets in more ambient noise. Low- and mid-frequency noises are handled surprisingly well. Transparency mode is equally effective at increasing situational awareness, and neither mode compromises sound quality.Battery life has been increased to give listeners roughly two days of moderate use (3-4 hours daily) before recharging. The pebble-shaped charging case and cool colorways, including the translucent option, also give these buds a distinctive look.The lack of head tracking and wireless charging may sway some users to spend more on the AirPods. Neither omission is a dealbreaker, especially when considering that the pros outweigh the cons by a 2-to-1 margin. Details The Good & The Bad Remarkable voice and video calling Polished sound signature with enticing bass response Shockingly good noise cancellation for the price Premium feature set Highly responsive controls Terrible presets and spatial audio Problematic charging case Who it's for Business-class types who want prime call quality and productivity-focused features. Nothing’s powerful mic array doesn’t just demonstrate stellar vocal capture for phone calls and transcriptions. It also filters out a large amount of ambient noise for distraction-free listening and Zoom chats. Why we picked this In an oversaturated category, the Nothing Ear (3A) offer more than enough performance to earn serious consideration.Voice communication is their biggest selling point. You’re getting first-rate call quality that rivals many luxury competitors. Conversations are loud and clear on both ends, and Nothing’s noise-canceling technology puts a kibosh on most external sounds during voice and video calls. Niche AI features like Audio Snapshot and call recording further boost productivity by recording and transcribing chats up to 2 hours long.The Nothing X app comes stocked with performance-enhancing upgrades, minus the presets and spatial audio, which are bloated-sounding misfires. Multi-level ANC grants full control of noise reduction, with the High setting eliminating close to 80 percent of unwanted noise. Adaptive mode works reasonably well in rowdy environments.The buds sound great right out of the box. Bass performance is refined. Mids and highs won’t blow you away, but they have enough presence to balance the frequency range. What’s most intriguing is how consistent the sound remains with or without ANC enabled. Details The Good & The Bad Made with recycled plastic Easy pairing Can charge on phones with USB-C Long battery life Built-in charging cord Case doesn't charge headphones Buds come out of case easily No noise cancellation Our review Read our full review of the Skullcandy EcoBuds. Who it's for If you're environmentally conscious, then buying tech is a constant dilemma. While the most sustainable tech will always be what you already have, if you've run your earbuds into the ground, turn to Skullcandy EcoBuds. The brand reduced its product's usual carbon footprint by 50 percent, using less plastic and metal. While this has scaled back on some features we like in wireless earbuds like ANC or a self-charging case, these buds still bring crisp audio for vibrant music listening. Why we like it The Skullcandy EcoBuds are an interesting competitor in the earbud market. The buds are made of 65 percent recycled plastic and contain fewer metals, so they lack some features. But if you don't need a lot of flair in a pair of earbuds, these ones are a steal.All of the other earbuds on this list have charging cases that hold enough power to recharge the buds. However, there's no battery in this case. Instead, there's a built-in USB-C charger to plug into your computer, smartphone, or the wall. So, despite not being able to charge on its own, the built-in charger makes up for that. There's also no lid to the case, which means the buds tend to fall out easily — not great for the clumsy.These earbuds have audio performance that shines. In our tests, we were impressed with how they picked up the beat of pop songs and the nuances of live performance recordings. However, they don't have ANC, so you'll have to crank up the volume to drown out the world.All this to say, at $39.99, these Skullcandy Ecobuds are totally affordable, especially when they're on sale for even less. Details The Good & The Bad Long battery life Comfortable wear Easy connectivity Bass-rich sound that can be customized No multi-point connection Not great for working out Who it's for If you really want to stay on a tight budget but don't want to sacrifice features, your best bet is the Anker Soundcore P30i earbuds. They're extremely affordable (they retail for $49.99 but are often on sale for $25 or less), but you still get the perk of active noise cancellation and powerful sound. Why we like it The Anker Soundcore P30i earbuds prove that you don't need to spend even $25 to get the perks of a more expensive pair of headphones. We didn't expect much from a pair of super cheap earbuds, but they proved to be a surprisingly solid pair, and with active noise cancellation, too.The active noise cancellation on them is impressive for their price, able to block out the bustle of busy streets or the noisy gym. That being said, it isn't the best noise cancellation or sound we've ever experienced. A $50 pair of earbuds just can't compete with a $300 pair, so we weren't entirely surprised to find that the P30i earbuds occasionally had some buzzy ANC or tinny audio.That being said, for everyday use, our reviewer found them to be a great pair of headphones for running errands. Advanced audiophiles on a budget will enjoy the addition of custom EQs and multi-point connection.Our main word of caution is that we find these earbuds to be a bit slippery. If you're a sweater, these earbuds get slippery fast, so we don't recommend wearing them to work out.Otherwise, they're a decent pair of headphones that you really can't beat for the price. Details What's considered budget? Budget is a relative term. We know the Apple AirPods 5 ($129 to $149) and Bose QuietComfort Earbuds ($149.99 on sale) aren't budget earbuds for everyone, but there are plenty of good options under the $100, $50, and even $25 mark. Our top pick is the Anker Soundcore P42i, which have a list price of $64.99, and have the noise cancellation of a much more expensive pair of earbuds. Going the budget route might mean making compromises, but not sacrifices. For under $100, you can still get active noise cancellation and self-charging cases. We do include a model closer to $200, which we get isn't exactly everyone's idea of budget-friendly. The Apple AirPods 5 with ANC is that model. Compared to premium options, the fifth-gen AirPods offer an awfully similar experience for significantly cheaper and allow folks who want to stay in the Apple ecosystem without having to jump to the Pros.Earbuds we're currently testing Three other pairs of earbuds that are currently in consideration for this list are the CMF Buds 2, JBL Vibe Beam 2, and Sony WF-C510. We're currently testing these earbuds and will update this guide once complete.Other models we've tested The models on this list are pulled from our extensive testing here at Mashable. One of our previous top picks on this list was the Apple AirPods 4; however, the AirPods 5 have replaced them, making them more expensive, and they also lack great Android compatibility. Another pair we considered for this list were the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds with sound by Bose. We tested these buds, and while they're pretty good for $100, they have a bad case design and just aren't that comfortable compared to other models on this list — plus, the $100 introductory price went up to $129.99. Mashable writers, editors, and contributors tested every product on this list — and a lot that didn't make the cut. We pulled from our extensive reviews and testing experience to find a selection of affordable wireless earbuds that strike the right balance of performance and price.When testing earbuds, we consider criteria such as: The selections on this lift were driven first by price, as we wanted the options here to be truly affordable. All of the products in this guide are under $150, with a focus on models that are mostly under $100. We tested these earbuds with various songs, from live performances to bass-heavy electronic music, R&B, rock, and folksy guitar songs. We evaluated how they sounded out of the box, along with any EQ presets or custom controls. Though this category can be subjective, we made sure each of our selections had at least several different ear tip sizes and was comfortable to wear for three hours or more. Realistically, you'll make calls when using your earbuds, which is why we put each of these earbuds through a call test, making sure the person on the other end of the phone could hear us clearly and consistently. Bethany Allard is a Los Angeles-based shopping reporter at Mashable covering beauty tech, dating, sex and relationships, and headphones. That basically means she puts her hair through a lot, scrolls through a lot of dating apps, and rotates through a lot of different headphones. In addition to testing out and rounding up the best products, she also covers deals for Mashable, paying an especially obsessive amount of attention to Apple deals and prices. That knowledge comes in handy when she's covering shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, which she's now done for three years at Mashable. Samantha Mangino, is an e-reader expert. She's tested all the Kindle and Kobo e-readers, diving into the buzziest models. Her love of reading extends beyond the e-reader beat, covering books and authors, too. In the tech space, she covers tablets, smart rings, and headphones. Alex Bracetti is a freelance product reviewer and journalist covering gadgets and men's grooming products. An experienced consumer tech writer, he has bylines at Mashable, Complex, SPY.com, Thrillist, AskMen, CNN Underscored, and Tom's Guide. In addition to writing about the latest tech trends and gadgets, he's also covered men's fashion, sports, and gaming. For Mashable, he primarily covers headphones/wireless earbuds, party speakers, smartphones, and mobile accessories.