AirPods alternatives have been flooding online marketplaces for quite a while now and catching the eyes of buyers. That is because many people cannot afford the AirPods Gen 3 or AirPods Pro which can reach $170 and $200, respectively. And for the budget-constrained and thrifty, the best budget wireless earbuds from prominent and non-mainstream brands are worth it due to impeccable performance and quality. Given that availability of the said audio accessories is not a problem, the real challenge for consumers like you is picking the top options in the market.
If you have been poking your head on Amazon in search of cheap wireless earbuds and can’t seem to narrow your choices down, worry no more. This buying guide showcases many of the best budget wireless earbuds for your consideration. The featured devices tout great bass quality, battery life, and connectivity.
Also read: Best True Wireless Earbuds Buying Guide
10 Best Budget Wireless Earbuds
Here’s a quick look at our top 10 best budget wireless earbuds picks. The list includes some models that have the best sound quality among mid-range wireless earbuds, and support Bluetooth 5.0 to 5.3 and universal pairing. All products are priced below $100.
If you want a low-cost device that can offer you almost everything that premium earbuds can, the TCL MOVEAUDIO S600 fits the bill.
Audio-wise, the S600 does not have a sound quality that is exactly like the Apple AirPods. Nevertheless, these best budget wireless earbuds can last six to eight hours on a full charge and cancel noise. Moreover, their case is wireless charging-ready.
How about compatibility, you ask? Because TCL mainly releases products for Android devices, you might think the S600’s connection might be more seamless on the said gadgets than on iOS. If you are an Apple device user, there’s no need to worry. TCL has a companion app that makes the set of earbuds work smoothly no matter the OS.
Edifier’s 330NB True Wireless Earbuds set is a contender among mid-range earbuds for the best sound quality.
Even if many users are slightly bummed at the lack of automatic sensors that will pause song tracks when the buds are removed, the earbuds set compensates for that. It has decent noise cancellation with transparency mode and impeccable microphones for voice calls. Additionally, it is a set of wireless earbuds with long battery life; the audio playing time reaches 20 hours on a full charge.
The 330NB True Wireless Earbuds set also has IP54 dust- and water-resistance rating, and fits the ears well as described by many Amazon reviewers. That makes it the best companion when you are doing heavy workout sessions at the gym or jogging at the park.
SoundPEATS is in it to compete against established brands in the true-wireless earbuds market by producing good quality earpieces that are more than decent and commendable.
Its SoundPEATS Air3, for example, touts advanced features audio tech enthusiasts will love — such as the smart in-ear detection function for instant music playing or pausing when the earbuds are worn or taken off. The said best budget wireless earbuds also have aptX-Adaptive for high-resolution and uninterrupted audio, and a Qualcomm QCC3040 chip and Bluetooth 5.2 connection.
Best of all, these cheap wireless earbuds banner upgrades such as support for clearer audio for calls and a game mode.
The Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0 is one of the decent AirPods alternatives, especially if you’re on a tight budget but want to have the best sound experience money can offer.
As for its audio, you can expect the Lypertek earbuds set to yield a sound that is lag-free most of the time because of its Bluetooth 5.2 upgrade. Also, it is a good pair of wireless earbuds with long battery life. The music playing time can reach 10 hours after a complete charging cycle.
In terms of user-friendliness, charging and control go easy — thanks to wireless charging technology and the dedicated PureControl app. The latter features controls and modes for tweaking sound, pairing, and access to a high-quality 7-band equalizer.
Additionally, this best budget wireless earbuds set can be used outdoors due to its IPX7 water-resistance rating.
If you are looking for more earbuds that deliver a decent sound profile and won’t get your pockets crying, add Anker Life P3 to your bucket list.
The budget wireless earbuds, although without wireless charging and pause sensors, are a great upgrade from the Anker Life P2. That is because they are great for calling, gaming, and audiobook listening, thanks to the six microphones under their hoods and algorithm that cancels background noises. The latter works even in the noisiest environments. Moreover, the audio emitted is uninterrupted and there is a good bass boost mode for it.
When it comes to durability, the Anker Life P3 will survive long indoors and outdoors due to its IPX5 water-resistance rating.
Here’s a SoundPEATS alternative that can deliver up to 30 hours of playing time and an improved Bluetooth 5.1 connection — the T2 Hybrid SoundPEATS unit.
The product has outstanding noise cancellation technology that relies on the microphones under its hood to cancel ambient noises up to 30dB. On top of that, it does have a feature seen in bone conduction headphones – the T2 Hybrid lets sound in, so you still hear what is happening around you. That means you can still interact with other people without removing your earbuds. Furthermore, you can use one or two earbuds at the same time.
Essentially, this set of earbuds is not far behind the SoundPEATS Air3 in terms of the sound profile and quality produced. However, it misses a few boxes in terms of the chips under its hood. Nonetheless, the SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid deserves a spot on our list of the best budget wireless earbuds.
Here’s an entry music lovers, gamers, and active people would like — the Tranya T20. These best budget wireless earbuds emit good deep and high-pitched sounds.
And unlike many sub-$100 or $50 releases in the market, the Tranya T20 already features a low-latency game mode. It also adopts four (not just a pair) microphones, apart from having a noise cancellation function. These mean few to no sound delays when playing video games and crystal-clear audio for calls.
Additionally, the Tranya T20 is IPX7 water-resistant, packs eight hours of power after a full charge (or two hours if only a 10-minute charge), and has a good in-ear fit. The said features make the cheap wireless earbuds suitable for use even when you’re out jogging or traveling.
The TOZO T6’s best-selling point is convenience. It has a smart touch function that allows you to play, pause, and answer a call. It even recognizes double taps for fast-forwarding or rewinding songs, and the holding motion for adjusting the volumes. That way, you do not need to “fish” for your phone from your pocket.
Additionally, the product is Bluetooth 5.3-, Android- and iOS-ready. Its Bluetooth chip is powerful enough to ensure low latency when it comes to sound transmission.
The TOZO T6 is also great for indoor or outdoor physical activities because it is IPX8 water-resistant. It can also survive falling from a waterfall that is up to 1m deep and being submerged for 30 minutes. On top of that, this budget wireless earbuds set has good battery life, which can last up to six hours.
The EarFun Air earbuds combine functionality with design for a very reasonable price.
The earbuds are uncompromising when it comes to delivering the best sound profile and quality for a mid-range alternative. Each has two microphones that can tune out 80 percent of ambient noise, and the noise cancellation feature lets you focus more on your calls.
Furthermore, they’re budget wireless earbuds with long battery life. The playing time is up to 35 hours and a 10-minute charging cycle already gives up to two hours of power. There is also a wireless charging option with the earbuds, so powering up on the go is hassle-free.
In terms of controls, the earbuds let you play or pause, skip, or answer a call with a single finger tap. Pausing music can also be done by removing the earbuds while listening to music.
Wrapping up our list of the best budget wireless earbuds is the JLab Go Air Bluetooth Earbuds.
While the cheap wireless earbuds aren’t for tech-savvy users – considering that the sound quality is not premium – they are a decent option for kids’ use. This is because electronics don’t often last when used by children because they might be thrown accidentally just like toys. The JLab Go Air Bluetooth Earbuds being among the lowest priced releases on our list makes them easy to replace in case the said scenario happens. If you are the parent, you can simply buy another one for your kid.
Apart from that, what makes these budget wireless earbuds still qualified in our rankings is their Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, IP44 sweat-resistance rating, and dual connect feature. The earbuds can also be used separately to extend the active playing time.
Which Best Budget Wireless Earbuds Should You Buy?
With our list of the best budget wireless earbuds, you can now easily pick which models to purchase. The final decision is still in your hands, though. It will depend on your specific budget, what you want to use the earbuds for, the design you want, and how comfortable you think the devices are when worn.
While many in-ear options offer functionality and comfort, other alternatives compensate for that through design and added features. If you want the best of all worlds, we can say that the top three contenders — TCL MOVEAUDIO S600, Edifier 330NB, and SoundPEATS Air3 — are good in many of the said aspects.
However, do not forget to read reviews thoroughly before buying one. Finding out what the actual user experience is like is always better than just reading specifications on paper or the web. Choose your best budget wireless earbuds now!
