A set of budget-friendly earbuds serves as a compact substitute for over-ear headphones. Even with their affordable price, these earbuds do not skimp on features. Some of the best earbuds we’ve evaluated approach $300 — with Apple AirPods Pro at $249.95 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds at $299 — but more economical alternatives exist. There’s no need to shell out $300 for high-quality earbuds; in fact, spending under $100 is sufficient.
From the extensive compilation of earbuds we’ve assessed, these stand out as the top budget-friendly options.
What qualifies as budget?
Budget is subjective, so in this context, we’re highlighting earbuds priced below $200, primarily under $100. Our leading recommendation is the EarFun Air Pro 4, available for $79.99, which delivers noise cancellation akin to much more expensive models. Choosing budget-friendly options may involve some compromises, but not sacrifices. For less than $100, you can still access active noise cancellation and self-charging cases.
We also feature a few models hovering around $200, which may not align with everyone’s definition of budget-conscious. For those selections, the Bose QuietComfort earbuds and Apple AirPods 4 with ANC are regarded as budget-friendly pairs in a relative sense. Compared to higher-end options, Bose QC earbuds offer a comparable experience at a significantly lower cost. In the case of Apple, the entire AirPods line is priced above most of the consumer audio segment. That’s why we endorse the AirPods 4, both with and without ANC, for individuals who wish to remain within the Apple ecosystem, appreciate the sound quality of AirPods, yet aren’t prepared to upgrade to the Pros.
Current evaluations
A different pair of earbuds under consideration for this list are the CMF Buds 2. We’re assessing these earbuds and will revise this guide once the testing is concluded.
Other models we’ve examined
The earbuds featured in this collection have been chosen based on our comprehensive evaluations at Mashable. Previously, our top recommendation was the Apple AirPods 3; however, they have now been succeeded by the AirPods 4, which come at a higher price and also lack superior Android compatibility.
Another pair we reviewed were the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds with sound engineered by Bose. We tested these earbuds, and while they’re satisfactory for $100, they suffer from an inadequate case design and are not as comfortable compared to other selections on this list — additionally, the introductory price of $100 has risen to $129.99.