The 5 Best Budget And Cheap Wireless Earbuds - Fall 2023 Reviews

The JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless are the best budget wireless earbuds we've tested. Their AirPod-like design is durable and rated IP54 for resistance against dust and water exposure, so they'll hold up during outdoor excursions. While they tend to fall out during more intense exercise, they're still well-suited for moderate runs and workouts. They last just over eight hours and have three extra charges in the case, so if you're planning on using them throughout the workday and during your commute, they'll only need a top-up around the end of the day. The JBL have a fairly balanced default sound profile. There's adequate bass to accurately reproduce thumpy genres like EDM and hip-hop, but their overemphasized treble range makes instruments sound harsh, and sibilants like S and T sounds a bit piercing.

Fortunately, you can customize the mix using their companion app's parametric EQ and presets, which is a little unusual at this price point. They do a good job of passively isolating you from household and office-type distractions, like whiny AC units and background chatter, but they struggle to cut out the noise from rumbly bus and train engines. If you want better noise cancelling, check out the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless, which you can find more info about further below. You can't customize their sound profile, but they still have great noise cancelling for their price and solid overall performance.

If you're looking for even cheaper buds that still offer solid performance, the best cheap wireless earbuds we've tested are the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless. You might expect to sacrifice build quality or performance at this price point to find something more wallet-friendly. However, these colorful buds are just as well-built as the previous pick, and their continuous battery life of roughly nine hours will easily get you through your day. They also come with a case that holds three extra charges.

These comfortable buds have a bass-rich sound with extra thump, punch, and warmth that'll please fans of EDM and hip-hop. You can use their companion app's customization features to fine-tune the mix to your liking. However, you don't get as much control over their sound as with the JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless since they only feature EQ presets rather than a full parametric interface.

Fortunately, they passively block more noise than the JBL, keeping you better isolated from background noise like office chit-chat and whiny PC fans. If you want an even cheaper option, check out the Skullcandy Jib Wireless. Their battery life is shorter, and their bass-heavy sound profile clutters the mix somewhat. However, they're still a versatile set of earbuds that have a neck cable design for added stability and protection from falls during intense exercise.

If you're looking for the cheapest buds possible with a neutral sound, check out the Sony WI-C310 Wireless. Most of the previous picks have a bass-heavy sound profile, but if you prefer something more flat and balanced, these buds are it. They deliver added punch and boom to mixes, but their bass doesn't overwhelm vocals and instruments. As a result, these sounds are reproduced clearly and with excellent articulation. However, to cut costs without sacrificing sound quality, their build quality is flimsy and plasticky, so they're not the most durable buds out there.

Their neckband design makes them less compact than truly wireless buds, but their 17-hour continuous battery life helps compensate for that. They're decently comfortable, and you can wear the buds around your neck when not in use. The cable connecting the buds is long, though. This means the buds are likelier to get snagged on something and ripped off your head. While you can wear them on the go, they don't keep out much loud background noise, so you'll lose detail in your audio. Chatty coworkers and whiny PC fans aren't an issue, but you'll hear most of the noise from bus and plane engines, making these less than ideal for commuting.

The best budget earbuds for sport we've tested are the JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless. They have good build quality and an IP55 rating for protection against water splashes, making them a great choice for runs outdoors. Their unique stability sleeve and lightweight build also assure great stability for more intense exercise, like CrossFit or aerobics. However, the bulky sleeve, paired with their angled fit, can put undue pressure on your inner ear and negatively affect comfort depending on your ear shape. Their sound profile is extremely bass-heavy, giving hip-hop and EDM tracks lots of intense thump and rumble. The rest of the mix, which is bright, if not piercing, also sounds muddy due to the overemphasized bass range. There's no app support either, meaning you can't change the sound profile to match your preferences.

While these earbuds don't have ANC, they still do a decent job of passively isolating you from background noise from chatty joggers and squeaky treadmills, though they don't do much to keep out the rumble of heavy traffic or a passing bus. They only last three hours continuously, so you must charge them between each workout. Thankfully, the case has ten additional charges, so you won't run out of extra power too quickly.

Earbuds with ANC are usually more expensive, but you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars for good noise isolation. If you're looking for an affordable option, the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless are the best cheap Bluetooth earbuds with noise cancelling we've tested. They can be hard to find in stock, but if you can get your hands on them, their ANC feature does an impressive job of isolating you from a wide range of noise, including bass-range noise, like rumbling transit engines, as well as mid-range noise, like office chit-chat. They're sturdy, quite comfortable for most people, and last around eight hours of continuous use with ANC on.

They have a V-shaped sound profile emphasizing thump and rumble in genres like EDM and hip-hop. Instruments and lead vocals sound veiled or weak; unfortunately, the headphones don't have a companion app or customization features. You also can't completely switch the ANC off, which you might find annoying, but they have a 'Transparency' mode for when you want to hear your surroundings without removing the buds.

If you're still looking for inexpensive earbuds and have a little more to spend, you can see more budget-friendly earbuds on the best wireless earbuds for under $50.