At Mashable, we frequently highlight the newest technology, and although we take pleasure in trying out the latest Sony headphones, we recognize that they can sometimes be out of reach financially. New gadgets often come with a steep cost, and spending $500 on headphones isn’t always realistic. Hence, we’re turning our attention to the best budget earbuds.
Budget-friendly earbuds serve as a compact substitute for over-ear headphones, and even at a lower price point, they come packed with features. Among the best earbuds we’ve evaluated are the nearly $300 models — the Apple AirPods Pro at $249.95 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds at $299 — though more affordable choices exist. You don’t have to shell out $300 for high-quality earbuds; you don’t even need to hit the $100 mark.
From our extensive testing of numerous earbuds, here are the top budget options.
What defines a budget option?
The definition of budget is personal, so for this selection, we’re concentrating on earbuds that cost less than $200, mainly those under $100. Our leading choice is the EarFun Air Pro 4, retailing at $79.99, which provides noise cancellation akin to pricier earbuds. Opting for budget models may involve some trade-offs, but they don’t require sacrifices. For under $100, it’s still possible to find active noise cancellation and self-charging cases.
We’ve also included a handful of models near the $200 mark, which may diverge from everyone’s interpretation of budget-friendly. In that category, the Bose QuietComfort earbuds and the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC are regarded as budget picks, comparatively. Against high-end alternatives, the Bose QC earbuds deliver a similar experience for significantly less. For Apple enthusiasts, the AirPods range is generally higher priced than most consumer audio devices. That’s why we suggest the AirPods 4, both with and without ANC, for those who prefer the Apple environment and appreciate AirPods’ quality sound but aren’t quite ready for the Pros.
Other models we’ve evaluated
The selections on this list stem from our comprehensive evaluations at Mashable. Our earlier top choice was the Apple AirPods 3; however, the AirPods 4 have taken their place, resulting in a higher cost and reduced compatibility with Android devices.
Another option we deliberated for this list was the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds featuring sound by Bose. We assessed these, and although they are respectable for $100, they have a subpar case design and fall short in comfort compared to other models here — furthermore, the initial $100 price has risen to $129.99.