Can you really find decent wireless earbuds for cheap? We’ve researched the market and found that – Yes, it is possible to find stylish Bluetooth earbuds with amazing sound on a budget.
On this list, we’ve rounded up the best wireless earbuds we could find for under $50.
While that was our top limit, actually many of the ones we found sold for half of that, including our top true wireless pick – the award-winning EarFun Free Bluetooth or these SoundPEATS Bluetooth Earphones if you prefer a corded option.
We’ve included some behind the neck, short cable, and totally wireless earbuds to offer recommendations no matter what your personal preference. The key is that these are all wireless and affordable.
While these earbuds do not deliver the kind of sound quality you’d expect from premium sports headphones like the Jaybird X3 or the Bose SoundSport Wireless, the models below are worth checking out for their overall value based on the price range.
In general, we looked for lightweight, comfortable design and excellent sound (within reason – considering the low price point).
Please note: At the time of publishing, all recommended products were selling for $50 or less but prices do fluctuate.
Contents
Best Affordable Wireless Earbuds (Bluetooth)
EarFun Bluetooth Earphones – True Wireless Pick
![Wireless Earbuds, [2020 CES Award] EarFun Free Bluetooth 5.0 Earbuds with Wireless Charging Case, USB-C Quick Charge, IPX7 Waterproof in-Ear Wireless Headphones, Deep Bass, 30H Playtime](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41tAk3z4YGL.jpg "Wireless Earbuds, [2020 CES Award] EarFun Free Bluetooth 5.0 Earbuds with Wireless Charging Case, USB-C Quick Charge, IPX7 Waterproof in-Ear Wireless Headphones, Deep Bass, 30H Playtime")
The EarFun Bluetooth Earphones delivers the best bang for your buck with the slew of features that it offers with a highly affordable price tag. One of which is a nifty voice assistance capability that improves this wireless earphone’s convenience by a mile. It also provides an outstanding battery life of 35 hours when fully charged and there is also the IPX7 waterproof rating that allows the EarFun Bluetooth Earphones to be submerged to a depth of one meter for half an hour without it damaging the device. Those are some pretty impressive feats for a budget-friendly earphone.
Besides the voice control feature, the EarFun also touch controls equipped in the in-ear part that automatically pauses your tunes if you remove the earbuds. The EarFun Bluetooth Earphone also utilizes Bluetooth 5.0 support, giving it excellent pairing and smooth streaming capabilities. The earphones also come with a sleek case that can easily fit into your pocket so you can bring it wherever you go.
When it comes to sound quality, the EarFun is surprisingly proficient for budget-friendly wireless earphones. As a synthwave music genre fan, I can attest to EarFun’s ability to produce energetic beats without breaking a sweat. It delivers synth-heavy tunes without limiting the energetic thumps and signature riffs and allows listeners to fully revel in the flood of electronic beats without a skip.
Of course, for the EarFun Bluetooth Earphones to meet its low-cost price tag, it will need to compromise on certain aspects to accommodate that budget. We did find the EarFun to be quite competent in sound quality overall, but for audiophiles, you will notice that it is not as refined in its audio performance – specifically, with handling midrange audio frequencies. All in all, the EarFun is as well-rounded as you can get with a budget-friendly wireless earphone. It has an excellent build and a pretty good sound quality as well. While it won’t be replacing the top brands in the wireless earphone market, it manages to bring enough to the table to give premier brands a run for their money.
Style: Ergonomic Earbuds | Play Time: 30 Hours | Bluetooth 5.0 | Driver Type: Dynamic | Bluetooth Range: 49 feet | Mic Noise Cancellation: Yes | Sound Signature: Heavy Bass
SoundPEATS Q30 Magnetic Bluetooth Earphones – Best Overall
The SoundPEATS Q30 earphones feature a more cylindrical design compared to its predecessors, which also houses 6mm drivers. The longer casing of the Q30 is due to its implementation of magnets that are attached at the end of the earphones. This simple yet convenient addition to the Q30’s design allows users to wear it around their neck when not in use. Fortunately, the SoundPEATS Q30 has a very subtle low-key design, so it won’t even be prominent or cumbersome when worn.
The Q30 utilizes a metal casing with nano-coating, giving it a modern and rugged look. The coating also gives the Q30 a rating of IPX4, making it sweat-proof. You will find the in-line remote over on the right earbud. The controls are pretty rudimentary and won’t offer much of an issue even if this is your first time tinkering with a Bluetooth earphone. You will also find the charging port on the right earbud. These SoundPEATS also come with three pairs of interchangeable ear fins and five pairs of ear tips.
When it comes to performance, the Q30 is equipped with the Qualcomm CVC 6.0 noise cancellation capability to reduce interruption from outside ambient noises. The Q30 also has the APT-X Bluetooth and CSR chip that makes pairing and connecting a breeze.
As for the sound quality, the SoundPEATS Q30 manages to deliver solid performance despite its affordable price tag. Of course, you can’t expect high-end crisp audio comparative to premium-grade earphones in the market, but for the price – the SoundPEATS Q30 is quite good. We did notice that the SoundPEATS Q30 needed some “warming up” before it manages to hit its stride. The Q30 is definitely an earphone that seems to be designed for a more subdued and chill sound trip session than bass-heavy beats.
Style: Earbuds with wingtips | Play Time: 13 hours | Bluetooth 5.0 | Driver Type: Dynamic | Bluetooth Range: 32 feet | Mic Noise Cancellation: Yes | Sound Signature: V-Shaped
Skullcandy Ink’d Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds
The Skullcandy brand manufactures some of the cheapest earphones/headphones in the market. As you would expect, the build of these earphones does not inspire much confidence in terms of durability. The Skullcandy Ink’d features a pretty rudimentary gray and black plastic casing with their signature skull logo printed on the side. However, the plastic build did result in making the Skullcandy Ink’d incredibly lightweight and the ergonomic earbud design makes it quite comfortable to wear for prolonged periods. Sound isolation though left me wanting more and you might need to crank up the volume a couple of notches higher to drown out ambient noises.
When it comes to sound quality, the Skullcandy Ink’d has a huge disparity in auditory delivery compared to earphones above its price range – which is expected. That said, switching between a mid-range earphone to the Skullcandy Ink’d was disorienting as you will notice how flat the latter was in comparison. That said, viewing this from a first-timer’s perspective, the Skullcandy Ink’d earphone’s performance will suffice, given the low-price tag.
While the soundstage quality and highs will not compare to higher quality wireless earphones, it is in the bass wherein the Skullcandy Ink’d manages to flex its proverbial muscles. The bass features a rather huge sound signature without it overwhelming either the mids or highs. The Skullcandy Ink’s also delivers a layered bass which makes it sound as if it is on a different track altogether.
Overall, the Skullcandy Ink’d certainly delivers on certain aspects, especially with its excellent bass delivery. To boil it down, the Skullcandy Ink’d appeals to certain crowds. If you prefer an emphasis on bass clarity when it comes to your listening experience, this highly affordable wireless earphone will deliver the goods.
Style: Behind the neck, earbuds | Play Time: 8 hours | Bluetooth 4.1 CSR8635 | Driver type: Dynamic | Bluetooth range: 33 feet | Mic Noise cancellation: Yes | Sound signature: Balanced sound
Anker SoundBuds Slim+ Bluetooth
Anker SoundBuds Slim Earbuds (Image: Amazon)
Anker SoundBuds Slim+ is one of the more robust entries into this list thanks to its durable build and IPX6 waterproof rating. Not only is the Anker SoundBuds Slim+ built with outstanding durability, it is also quite comfortable to wear as well thanks to the ergonomic design of the earbuds. The Anker SoundBuds are also budget-friendly, making it quite enticing for those wanting a solid-performing wireless earphone without paying a premium.
The SoundBuds are also great options for those who participate in sports or exercise buffs. The wingtip design of the earbud helps enhance the stability making it virtually impossible to fall off accidentally. It also comes with a seven-hour battery life, which is a pretty good number for a wireless earphone to be associated with. Sound quality is also on point as it is equipped with Qualcomm APTX wireless technology. This tech sharpens audio streaming capability to deliver near-accurate sound production.
The SoundBuds Slim+ will also satisfy those who love listening to bass-heavy tunes. That said, the SoundBuds Slim+ manages to keep the bass’ power in check and prevent it from drowning out the mids and highs. Overall, you get the most value for your money with the Anker SoundBuds Slim+, and while it won’t match up to high-end models, it certainly stands at the top in the entry-level models.
Style: Earbuds with wingtips | Play Time: Up to 7.5 Hours | Bluetooth 4.1 | Driver type: Dynamic | Bluetooth range: 30 feet | Mic Noise cancellation: Yes | Sound signature: Natural sounding
Mpow Flame Bluetooth Headphones
Going for the most budget-friendly wireless earphone that can provide a well-rounded performance is a nigh impossibility, but you can find that diamond in the rough if you look hard enough. The good news is that we found that “diamond” for you. The Mpow Flame is a well-built earphone designed for sports and exercise buffs. You will be surprised about the level of its performance considering its bargain price tag. First, the construction of the Mpow Flame provides it with a decent IPX7 waterproof rating.
It features a robust in-ear design with ear hooks for optimum stability and a secure fit even when on the move. Both the earbuds are also connected via a short cable which should prevent you from accidentally misplacing one of the ear pieces.
When it comes to wireless performance, the Mpow Flame comes equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 technology to provide it with lightning-fast and easy connection/pairing. Once connected to another Bluetooth device, the Mpow Flame delivers a smooth and continuous listening experience with barely any hiccups to report. This wireless earphone also has the ability to connect to two devices simultaneously.
In terms of sound quality, the Mpow Flame delivers an explosive bass with decent mids and highs. We do recommend you keep the volume at around 70% as pushing it to the max resulted in a noticeable degradation in its acoustics. We also noticed how the Mpow Flam earphone experienced some difficulty in delivering the sweeping music of classical and orchestra. That said, if you prefer modern and hyper-energetic music, the Mpow Flame will deliver those bone-crunching beats. The Mpow Flame is definitely one of our most recommended within the bargain price bracket.
Style: In-Ear with Ear Hooks | Play Time: 8 Hours | Bluetooth 5.0 | Driver Type: Dynamic | Bluetooth Range: 20 Feet | Mic Noise Cancellation: No | Sound Signature: Heavy Bass
EZ EAR X12 Wireless Earbuds
The first thing you will notice about the EZ EAR X12 is that it has a boxier build compared to the standard wireless earphones which typically incorporate a sleeker frame. Now, this can be a dealbreaker for some who prefer more ergonomic and comfortable fitting earphones, but here’s the thing – the EZ EAR X12 is still quite comfortable. It even manages to deliver a snugger fit.
The EZ EAR X12 also comes with its own charging case that features a transparent lid that gives a full view of the earphones. We also liked the inclusion of a battery charge indicator that displays the battery level of the earphones. This eliminates the guesswork of gauging how much juice is left in your Bluetooth earphones before you use them again. In addition to charging the EZ EAR X12, the case also comes with a USB-A port underneath which allows you to use it to charge your smartphone and other USB-A devices as well. This is a pretty handy feature to have in case of an emergency.
When it comes to its wireless performance, the EZ EAR X12 features Bluetooth 5.0 technology which makes pairing and connecting this device quick and easy. Overall, wireless connectivity with the EZ EAR X12 was generally stable without any skips or dropouts encountered even when we placed the smartphone in different rooms around the house.
The sound quality provided by the X12 is also generally quite good. We noticed that the X12 excelled when it comes to producing lower frequencies and warmer sounds with the bass delivering a good punch. We also enjoyed the X12’s ability to give soundtracks an energetic hook without the sound being too overwhelming. There is a slight limitation to the midrange, but the overall mix tends to hide this shortcoming. Voice calls are also clear and crisp, but since the X12 lacks noise-cancellation, we advise you to mind your surrounding before accepting an incoming call.
Style: Earbuds | Play Time: 6 Hours | Bluetooth 5.0 | Driver Type: Dynamic | Bluetooth Range: 49 feet | Mic Noise Cancellation: No | Sound Signature: Warm
ENACFIRE E60 Wireless Earphones
The ENACFIRE E60 wireless earphones feature a comfortable in-ear fit with pretty good wireless stability and surprisingly good sound quality. As a wireless earphone, battery life is an important factor, and the E60 manages to deliver some good marks in this category with its seven-hour battery life. The E60 also comes with a charging case that can further improve on that seven-hour limit. The charging case uses a USB-C port which is located at the back, making this a good alternative or backup to your power bank.
The ergonomically designed earbuds provide a pretty snug fit. We can easily envision the ENACFIRE E60 to be an excellent earphone to use during workouts as it definitely has a pretty solid and stable fit that takes a bit of effort to loosen. The microphone has CVC 8.0 noise-canceling capabilities, but we noticed that it has a hard time separating the speaker’s voice from considerably ambient noise. If you are strictly using this earphone for listening to music, then this shouldn’t affect your experience too much.
The sound quality is pretty much what you expect in a solid budget-friendly earphone. While not exactly mind-blowing and it certainly won’t win awards with audiophiles, it certainly holds up for most of us music lovers. The ENACFIRE E60 also has a pretty decent noise-isolation capability, making it a good option for those who travel via plane/bus/train.
Overall, the ENACFIRE E60 is a good option for those looking for a decent wireless earphone. While it won’t be able to match up against high-end models, it delivers reliable and stable performance in both sound quality and wireless capability. With a good noise-isolation and decent battery life – we highly recommend the ENACFIRE E60 earphone for those who enjoy listening to some tunes too, and from, work.
Style: Ergonomic Earbuds | Play Time: 7+ Hours | Bluetooth 5.0 | Driver Type: Dynamic | Bluetooth Range: 33 feet | Mic Noise Cancellation: Yes | Sound Signature: Balanced
JLab Air True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds
The JLab Air True Wireless Earphones are made from sturdy plastic, which does cheapen the overall “look” of the earphones, but this also meant that it is available with a more cost-effective price tag. The plus-side here is that the JLab Air still manages to achieve an IP55 durability rating. The all-plastic build also means that it has a pretty good sweat-proof rating as well, making the JLab Air a good option for gym rats.
If there is one factor that we feel would give certain customers pause is the JLab’s rather large build. While the JLab looks bulky, it is actually surprisingly light (6 grams), so don’t be dissuaded just yet by its cumbersome appearance. The JLab may not excel in terms of style, but it does make up for it in regards to functionality. The larger size of each earbud allows the JLab to stick like white on rice to the ear. We wore this during exercises and we barely needed to readjust it during those physical activities thanks to the ergonomic nozzle design of the earbuds.
We did notice how fast the batteries drain, which is a huge factor to consider for a wireless earphone. At the most, we managed to squeeze in around 3 hours of playback time with the JLab, which is not remarkable and is considered as below-average battery life. This should suffice for average commutes though. Fortunately, JLab includes a 500mAH charging case which can push the overall battery life to 10+ hours. The Bluetooth 5.0 support also gives the JLab Air a range of up to 32 feet.
When it comes to its sound quality, the JLab holds its ground commendably. The low-end range is slightly more emphasized though, but not to the point that it can be distracting. This wireless earphone does provide three preset equalizer options which can be accessed by using the accompanying app. We suggest you tinker around with this feature to get your preferred audio quality. Overall, the JLab Air is a good bargain wireless earphone that offers solid entry-level performance. If you are looking for all the convenience provided by a wireless earphone, but prefer something that won’t burn a hole through your pocket, then we suggest you check out the JLab Air.
Style: In-Ear | Play Time: 3 Hours | Bluetooth 5.0 | Driver Type: Dynamic | Bluetooth Range: 32 feet | Mic Noise Cancellation: Yes | Sound Signature: Balanced
AUKEY EP-T27 True Wireless Earbuds
The AUKEY EP-T27 earphones use an in-ear design which is accentuated by the smooth ergonomic build that provides both comfort and a secure fit. This wireless earphone also comes with its own charging case. The case has both a USB-A and USB-C port. The AUKEY EP-T27 is equipped with Bluetooth 5.0 technology which means that it should pair and connect with other wireless devices easily. That said, while we managed to connect it to our Android smartphones within a few seconds, the same cannot be said with iOS devices. Connecting the AUKEY EP-T27 with iOS devices was awkward and will require you to check the instructions. Everything is smooth sailing once you manage to connect it though.
The main feature of the AUKEY EP-T27 is its “Single Mode” capability which allows you to use only one earbud while the other stays in the case. The left earbud is considered the main one as it is the side used to connect to other wireless devices. We did find it weird that the AUKEY EP-T27 will automatically switch to Single-Mode if you took too long to remove the other earbud from the case.
Sound quality is pleasantly surprising as the EP-T27 delivers excellent highs with a defined bass and piercing midranges. This impressive sound quality is due to AUKEY investing in the APTX which enhances the sound quality well above the competition.
Style: Ergonomic Earbuds | Play Time: 25 Hours | Bluetooth 5.0 | Driver Type: Dynamic | Bluetooth Range: 30 feet | Mic Noise Cancellation: Yes | Sound Signature: Natural Sounding