Wireless earbuds have seen an influx in popularity with the introduction of Apple AirPods and Samsung Galaxy Buds. While these offer a captivating audio experience, they come with a hefty price tag. Today, a pair of true wireless earbuds can be picked up for under $20 in the always-evolving market. Brands like Anker, JBL, Skullcandy, and JLab offer some amazing bang for the buck with their wireless earbuds. Features like ANC, Transparency mode, and multipoint connection aren’t reserved for the more expensive buds anymore.

True wireless earbuds have become a staple for most users. Not having to deal with wires is the biggest advantage of these earbuds, allowing for free movement, and they are usually very lightweight and are sometimes unnoticeable when worn. This contributes to their comfort and makes them ideal for long sessions​​​​​​.

Our Picks for the Best Budget Wireless Earbuds

JBL needs no introduction to audiophiles and the average consumer. The JBL Vibe Beam nails the basics of being a great pair of budget earbuds. These have a runtime of up to 32 hours on a single charge which more than compensates for its lack of wireless charging. When in a hurry, a 10-minute charging session puts enough juice for 2 hours of audio playback.

The earbuds feature IP54-certified water and dust resistance, which is a boon for intensive workout sessions. Sound quality is respectable for what JBL is asking, as these come with 8mm drivers. Their JBL Deep Bass Sound technology also amplifies bass and treble while maintaining decent mids and lows.

The ‘ambient mode’ on these earbuds helps you hear important outside noises and alerts but isn’t quite on AirPods level. Like JBL’s more expensive headphones, these benefit from the JBL app for fine-tuning the audio listening experience. The earbuds are touch-sensitive to various gesture controls, which are useful in changing tracks or volume without using the phone.

The Tozo A1 earbuds are the most affordable ones on this list, and they perform quite impressively. For under $20, these come with 6mm drivers housed in a 3.7g lightweight body, making them easy to wear and carry around. The buds sit at a 45-degree angle in the ears for a snug fit. They produce generous bass without any distortion or loss of audio quality. The vocals are clear and the buds maintain a balanced sound profile, making them ideal for listening to podcasts.

The earbuds and the charging case combined have a battery life of up to 30 hours, which is unheard of at this price. While these earbuds do not offer ANC, the buds’ passive noise cancelation with the silicone ear tips provides decent isolation from background noises. These also feature touch gesture controls for adjusting volume, skipping tracks, taking calls, and so on. Being IPX5 water-resistant ensures light splashes do not harm these earbuds. Bluetooth 5.3 support brings a stable connection and richer audio playback even from a maximum distance of 12m. They also support multipoint connection to effortlessly switch between paired devices.

OnePlus, known for their affordable flagship-level smartphones, have come out with their newest offering in the wireless earbuds segment. With the Nord 3 Pro, users can expect about 12 hours of battery life from the buds alone and up to 44 hours with the case. The numbers are tested with ANC turned off so that’s something to keep in mind. These support fast wired charging with a short 10-minute charge giving up to 11 hours of usage. OnePlus’s Basswave 2.0 technology amplifies and refines bass for a richer audio experience. These also handle the mids and treble admirably for the price.

Despite their low price tag, active noise cancelation performs adequately. In most situations, without any loud noises or in places with busy chatter and commotion, these buds will do just fine. Transparency mode is a hit or miss but gets the job done during normal conversations. The 3 mics on the buds deliver a fairly clear call-listening experience, while Bluetooth 5.4 helps maintain a stable connection. The latter also supports multipoint connections which lets the user pair multiple devices to the buds. It allows a seamless transition to the paired devices without dropping the connection. It’s hard to go wrong with these earbuds, more so after a recent price cut, bringing them below $50.

The EarFun Air Pro 3 is one of the cheapest earbuds to provide excellent ANC. These can block out most environmental noises up to 43dB and are a worthy performer at this price. Equipped with Qualcomm’s aptX adaptive audio, these earbuds have low latency and high-res audio. Battery life is impressive with the buds running for 9 hours and an additional 36 with the case. Bluetooth 5.3 allows for a stable connection and multipoint support, a lifesaver when moving from one paired device to another. The earbuds weigh about 52g which is light enough to wear comfortably for most day-to-day activities. These feature an IPX5 water-resistant rating which can comfortably handle sweaty workout sessions.

Some other neat features include transparency mode, which lets us hear some important background sounds. Thus, we are never completely isolated from our surroundings. The touch-responsive gestures on the buds work amazingly and allow users to control their audio-listening experience. The sound quality is great too, thanks to their 11mm wool composite dynamic drivers. The bass packs a punch and has been amplified for those who prefer loud and booming sound profiles. This is also a downside of the buds, as the lows and mids can be hard to pick up sometimes. Those who are more into instrumental music and want more clarity in vocals might want to look elsewhere. For most users, these will do the job and more. EarFun lets us fine-tune the settings with their EQ which vastly refines the experience.

The Soundcore Sport X20 wireless earbuds by Anker offer a supportive and ergonomic design. These earbuds tend to hold their position firmly during activities like running, hiking, or exercising. In their latest refresh from the X10, these now come with IP68 water resistance. This offers the internal components more robust protection from water, dust, and sweat compared to its predecessor. The earbuds’ 11mm drivers deliver a balanced audio profile with clear vocals and powerful bass.

The Soundcore app lets you play around with the different EQ settings to customize the audio listening experience. Their ANC is one of the best in budget wireless earbuds and can easily mask the noises of a busy gym. The provided ear tips can drastically improve the ANC performance as they provide a more snug fit, so make sure to choose the one that suits your ears best.

These earbuds can run for up to 12 hours on a single charge and 48 hours with the case. If ANC is turned on, the numbers drop to 7 and 28, respectively. With the help of fast charging, a 5-minute charge can provide enough juice for 2 hours of playback. These come with Bluetooth 5.3, which is crucial for a lag-free connection and multipoint pairing.

The Anker Liberty 4 NC wireless earbuds are their latest release in the competitive wireless audio market. The NC in its name stands for Noise Canceling, and it doesn’t disappoint. With 6 mics and Anker’s Adaptive ANC 2.0 technology, the earbuds can eliminate most unwanted background noises. The dedicated app lets users conduct a fit test to help choose the exact silicon tip according to the user’s ear orientation. All of these don’t affect the battery life as much as you would expect, as these get up to 9 hours of run time and an extra 40 hours with the case. The earbuds only get IPX4 splash resistance, which isn’t the best for the price.

The audio playback quality is respectable thanks to the 11mm drivers and support for LDAC codec. The sound profile has punchy bass while the vocals and instrument details are well-preserved. They also feature a wind-reduction mode to eliminate wind noises and offer better audio quality, both during playback and taking calls. The transparency mode on these isn’t the most promising, and it is average at best. Bluetooth 5.3 allows for multipoint connection, which is standard in today’s market. Overall, these buds are designed to shine in noisy commutes and chatter-filled cafés and they deliver.

FAQ

Q: Are wireless earbuds really worth it?

Wireless earbuds offer more portability and connectivity compared to traditional wired ones. Moving into the future, we will see every smartphone manufacturer ditch the 3.5mm headphone port, making wireless earbuds the only viable choice. Wireless earbuds have improved over the years and have eliminated the initial issues of poor battery life and lackluster sound quality.

Q: What is the difference between cheap earbuds and expensive earbuds?

Cheap earbuds lack the build quality and audio performance of expensive ones. To cut corners, companies omit features such as touch controls, decent IP rating, etc. Smaller and inferior drivers are also a sign of cutting corners. That being said, cheap earbuds are meant to get the job done and are a viable option for the occasional user. Serious users and audiophiles are the core customers who look for the best noise cancelation or sound quality.

Q: What are the downsides of wireless earbuds?

Wireless earbuds have come a long way, but by no means are they perfect. You still need to charge them from time to time and failing to do so will leave you without one for some time. They are prone to falling out of our ears and can be a pain if lost on a busy street. Bluetooth audio quality has vastly improved over the years, but audiophiles prefer wired solutions like in-ear monitors for an unadulterated audio listening experience.