When Apple came out with its sleek-looking AirPods, people made them a top-priority product for the year. Time passes, and you now have a multitude of wireless earbuds on the market. If you’re like most people, you may have poked around Amazon looking for cheaper alternatives. There are plenty of bargain wireless earbuds out there with high ratings that work with iPhones, Android phones, and everything in between - but are these earbuds any good?

We have selected the best wireless earbuds that can beat the price that other high-end products sell at. All of these earbuds feature Bluetooth 5.0 and maintain solid wireless audio connections. Most wireless earbuds aren’t great for making phone calls but they do work well enough in quieter environments. For all of them listed under $50 on this list, we’re sure you can find the perfect pair for your daily hustle. So take a look at each of the products on this list and review each of their pros & cons and various features. Once you've finished this guide, you'll have a good idea of which of the best cheap wireless earbuds are perfect for you!

The best cheap wireless earbuds designed for sports, workouts, and energetic activity, might very well be the Treblab XR800 Premium Sport Bluetooth Earphones. They feature a comfortable fit with flexible ear hooks. Snug-fitting eartips with passive noise canceling seals deliver a more immersive sound experience. You will enjoy rich bass and clear, crisp treble without distraction while blocking out annoying ambient noise. The wireless Bluetooth 5.0 technology offers complete freedom of movement while the secure ear hooks and 33-foot range lets you move with confidence during any activity. Enjoy fast, easy automatic pairing and a secure, seamless connection as well as voice assistant support. The multi-device connectivity feature lets you connect to more than one device, so you can pair it with your phone and a playlist or audiobook on a second device.

With an IPX7 waterproof rating, you don’t have to worry about sweating during your workout or being caught jogging in sudden rain. Built-in controls are easy to access without having to stop your activity.

Treblab XR800 earphones deliver high-quality HD sound with 11mm drivers and bass-boosting technology. With only two hours for a full charge and up to nine hours of playtime per charge, these are the best cheap wireless earbuds to take with you on-the-go. The built-in mic lets you take hands-free calls without having to miss a step.

The headphones come with a carry case, cable clip, USB charging cable, and three sizes of silicone eartips so you can find your fit.

Key Features
  • Cordless headphones with Bluetooth 5.0 technology
  • Passive noise cancellation with snug sealing eartips
  • Secure, flexible ear hooks with a comfortable fit
  • Premium high definition sound quality and built-in microphone
Pros
  • IPX7 waterproof for sweat-resistance
  • Comfortable eartips with a snug fit
  • Lightweight
  • 9 hours of playtime per full battery charge
Cons
  • Mic is extra sensitive and placed high on earpiece so listeners may hear ambient noise during calls
  • Great base and mids, but high sound quality needs improvement
Buy This Product
Treblab XR800 Premium Sport Bluetooth Earphones
Premium pick

2. Soundcore Liberty Neo

8.91 / 10
Read Reviews

The Soundcore Liberty Neo is one of the least expensive ways to get truly wireless earbuds, and if all you’re looking for is a musical accompaniment for walks or while doing chores, they work great.

Overall, music sounds quite good on the Liberty Neo. While no attribute of its sound is field-leading, the bass, overall clarity, and fullness are all above average. This results in a fairly nuanced and enjoyable soundscape. If you’re looking for particularly rotund bass or exceptional clarity, then you may need an upgrade, but for the most part, the Liberty Neo gets the job done.

In terms of comfort, the Neo is comfy enough for an hour-long stroll. In order to get these earbuds to sit securely in your ears, it’s best to push them fairly deep into your ears, having a sort-of earplug feel. If that’s something you want, then we suggest you invest in these.

The battery life is average on the earbuds, lasting three-and-a-half hours long. The included charging case holds about two more charges after that, which is okay for the most part. We don’t recommend these if you’re running a marathon, but aside from that, they’ll do just fine.

What’s great about these is the charging case itself. The earbuds come with a very slim carrying case and weigh close to nothing. Overall, they barely take up more space in a pocket than a wired pair.

The Soundcore Liberty Neo earbuds are quite inexpensive for truly wireless buds but are only really designed for light use. If you want something that can be worn for longer or that can stand up to a strenuous workout, we suggest you check out the rest of this list. But for casual listening sessions, these are great for the price you’re getting them at.

Key Features
  • Graphene drivers oscillate with extreme precision to bring you quality sound
  • An ergonomic design that fits ears of all shapes & sizes
  • Effortlessly resist sweat & rain, can be rinsed clean under the tap
  • Supplied with a plethora of accessories to tailor your perfect fit
Pros
  • Light design
  • Lots of accessories
  • Bluetooth 5.0
Cons
  • Weak battery
Buy This Product
Soundcore Liberty Neo
Best value

3. HAYLOU GT1

8.76 / 10
Read Reviews

Probably the most portable set from HAYLOU, the GT1 earbuds are small but sound incredible. It has a battery charging case that’s barely bigger than the two earbuds next to each other. Portability was never an issue with wireless earbuds, but HAYLOU takes it to the next level. Just drop your case in whichever pocket you like; you’ll always have room for it.

Like the case, the earbuds themselves are compact as well. They’re well-rounded and comfortable in medium and also smaller-sized ears. The fit depends on the size, and if you feel the bass well, you know you have the right pair. The earbuds go about three hours on a single battery charge, which is okay when compared to competitors in this price range.

The bass is surely something to be felt with the HAYLOU GT1. There’s plenty of it, especially in the mid-bass segment delivering a nice slam when the music demands it. It offers less sub-bass, yet it still manages to rumble once in a while. The bass is pleasantly present here, and it’s done in the right way. Middle and higher frequencies are well represented, with male and female vocals sounding clear, even though they’re not very upfront sounding. Instruments like guitars and violins aren’t pushed really forward, but they are nowhere near repressed either.

Add everything up and the HAYLOU GT1 offers a good fit, good touch control, sweet balanced-bassy sound, and an insanely portable charging case. It’s one of the best wireless earbuds you can get for such a low price.

Key Features
  • Smaller, ergonomic design is adopted to provide a more comfortable experience
  • Offers near-imperceptible lag when listening to music
  • IPX5 waterproof-resistant protects earbuds from sweat or water
  • Easily activate voice assistant by triple-clicking the touch panel to answer
Pros
  • Vibrant sound
  • Tiny fit
  • Perfect case
Cons
  • Mediocre battery
Buy This Product
HAYLOU GT1

How in the world are these $30? It’s true that wireless earbuds like AUKEY’s True Wireless ones are becoming more and more of a commodity each day, but $30 sounded too good to be true. Believe it or not, these are a killer pair to own.

From the design perspective, the earbuds themselves to the AirPods route with the longer stem design. Unlike Apple’s product, the True Wireless brand has customizable silicone tips for a better fit and sound isolation. The tips fit very well and come with two other cushion sizes for all ear sizes. Shaking your head a few times and wearing them for hours on end, these earbuds never fail to keep you comfortable.

In terms of sound, it’s decent. Don’t expect Bose-worthy sounds coming from these since they’re at such an excellent price, but they do just well when it comes to listening to any type of genre. Listening to music on the earbuds sounds pretty great. The vocals are clear, there’s a level of bass that is to be heard, and songs don’t sound lifeless the way they often do on extremely cheap headphones or earbuds.

Another category where AUKEY comes on top is its wireless performance. All earbuds on this list have Bluetooth 5.0 configured, but the True Wireless Earbuds prove it to another level. No sort of pairing issues occur, and once they’re out of the charging base, they’re automatically connected to your device. Distance-wise, you can walk over 1,000 feet from your device without ever losing connection, and that says a lot about these bad boys.

The battery life is pretty decent, giving you up to five hours of playback and an extra 20 hours when you factor in the charging case. It’s excellent for a whole day of use and placing them back into the case, never making you have to find a place to charge them halfway through the day.

There are a lot of truly wireless earbuds that target affordable price points, but AUKEY really hits the spot with its wireless pair. Build quality is perfect, there’s an IPX4 rating for water-resistance, and everything sounds as good as you could ask for.

Key Features
  • Experience crisp, high-fidelity sound while Bluetooth 5.0 provides a stable connection
  • Simply take the earbuds out of the charging case & automatically connect
  • Effortlessly manage audio playback & calls with the touch panel on the earbuds
  • Provides up to 5 hours of playback on a single charge
  • Manage calls with the microphones on each earbud
Pros
  • Clean matte design
  • Strong connection
  • IPX4 water-resistance
Cons
  • Micro-USB charging only
Buy This Product
AUKEY EP-T21

The Spidoc 5.0 Wireless earbuds have an interesting design that’s different from the rest. Specifically, they have an over-the-ear design with comfortable silicone ear hooks. They also ship with three different sizes of silicone ear tips. If the default tips are too big or too small, try a different size.

The buds themselves are a bit slimmer and more compact and have a matte finish. That said, they’re available in five different color options: black, blue, green, red-orange, and silver. You can choose a cosmetic option that matches your own personal set of styles. On the back of each earbud, there’s a soft-touch control that provides plenty of functions. Play and pause songs, answer or end calls, and adjust the volume with the push of a button.

The Spidoc earbuds’ built-in batteries carry a manufacturer rating of seven to eight hours. This is pretty great with a price point like that. The Bluetooth 5.0 connection offers benefits in terms of its quick and easy connectivity. On the downside, the range is limited to no more than 50 feet. However, Twin and Mono modes come back with this pair. This isn’t a benefit if you’re listening to music, but if you want to maintain awareness during hands-free calling, it’s a great feature. Not only that, but it effectively doubles your battery life.

The earbuds offer excellent audio quality for the price. Whether you’re a fan of hip-hop, country, classical, or heavy metal, you’ll be pleased with the frequency response. The soundstage provides plenty of space, and the signal is very clear. In addition, the earbuds feature binaural mics. When using buds for hands-free calling, you get plenty of clarity. With a single bud, the signal quality drops, but it’s still good enough to get the job done.

With the above in mind, get yourself a pair if music is your mantra. They offer great sound quality and also allow for independent pairing. If you want to use your headphones primarily for hands-free calling as well, they’re a superior choice.

Key Features
  • Pair both of the earbuds or only one of them to your device
  • Ear hooks ensure the earbuds won't fall during exercise due to great ergonomic design
  • Can be used for 7-8 hours on a single charge
  • Provides an excellent listening experience & produces incredible sound quality
Pros
  • Great sound quality
  • Decent battery
  • Nice ergonomic fit
Cons
  • Weak range
Buy This Product
Spidoc 5.0 Wireless

The TOZO T10 earbuds are an interesting pair to own. From the looks of it, it’s as if someone started making athletic earbuds, and then changed their minds after a while. From a sound perspective, they have a nice pumped-up sound coming from them, suggesting their motive toward making these athletic earbuds.

The T10 earbuds are of average size and are marginally smaller than the other builds that most earbuds go for today. Additionally, these earbuds are constructed with an IPX8 waterproof certification, the best rating you can get for any pair of earbuds on this list. It allows them to survive a full meter of submersion for about half an hour.

The T10s have Bluetooth 5.0 configured in them and allows them to support HFP, A2DP, AVRCD, and HDP. You can get stereo sound in your calls, and it means pairing is basically a one-step process. Once taken out of their case, they’ll automatically pair with your device.

TOZO’s pair is constructed with 8mm audio drivers, which are only larger than the common 6mm drivers in earbuds. However, the small size provides significant improvements with respect to sound quality. Bass performance is a little boosted but has an overall natural quality, and while the treble range feels a little stunted, it’s because it’s being contrasted to such well-articulated bass. As mentioned before, we believe that these earbuds are meant for the gym, which is why the T10s are pretty much designed to play uplifting, high-energy music.

People looking for athletic earbuds often prefer ear-hook headphones for extra security. Other times, they prefer earbuds with winged tips that press against the inside of your ear bowl. TOZO’s T10 earbuds don’t deliver on those extra layers of security, yet they’re still built with an athletic sound profile. Hit the gym now and rock these out ASAP!

Key Features
  • Adopt the most advanced Bluetooth 5.0 technology
  • Offers a truly authentic sound & powerful bass performance
  • Earbuds connect automatically once out of the charging case
  • Suitable for sports to prevent water or sweat
  • Earbuds can last for over 4 hours from a single charge
Pros
  • Very secure
  • Nice sound quality
  • Durable
Cons
  • No equalizer settings
Buy This Product

Want a pair of earbuds that sound close to top-tier Bose pairs? OKG has you covered with their True Wireless IPX8-rated Earbuds that produce sound quality that’s as close as possible to the quality from Bose’s products. With a price that they have it for, you won’t be disappointed at all.

The earbuds have it all to keep their performance fresh, from its balanced stereo sound to stable connections. The 6mm dynamic driver gives off deep bass and the outstanding performance in middle and treble delivers an extraordinary musical experience. The three sizes of silicone earpieces isolate the ambient sounds to create a submissive joy.

Not many earbuds on this list have calling included, but the integrated microphone in both earbuds ensures a clear and high-quality stereo conversation for both the receiver and caller. There’s no latency, static or noise during the phone call, which makes it all that much better.

A unique feature that OKG holds with its earbuds is their ‘Mono’ and ‘Twin’ modes. Whether you want to pull both earbuds out of the case, or just one of them, they automatically connect with your device for simple calling or listening that’s intended.

Finally, Bluetooth 5.0 grants OKG’s earbuds with great compatibility, from Android, iOS, to other - no matter what device. It’s simple to pair by only one step, and it will automatically connect to the device once taken out from their case.

If you’re looking for great sound and great connectivity when it comes to earbuds, OKG’s True Wireless earbuds are fit for you.

Key Features
  • Premium 6mm dynamic stereo driver delivers strong bass & clear soundstages
  • 1 step to connect your device via Bluetooth with great stability
  • 5 hours of playtime + 24 hours of extra power included
  • Lightweight & snug ergonomic fit is perfect for your ear without any pain
  • Earbuds are built to use either one or both as you like for music or calling
Pros
  • Amazing stereo sound
  • Perfect design
  • Single/Twin Mode
Cons
  • Battery life is mediocre
Buy This Product
OKG True Wireless Earbuds

Affordable? Yes. Water-resistant? Sure. Long hours of playtime? Guaranteed. Boltune’s True Wireless Earbuds are a pair of inexpensive earbuds that feature all the things you want in a pair, from an IPX7 water-resistance rating and up to 36 hours of total playtime - you’d want these bad boys.

The earbuds have a simplistic design, featuring a matte-black plastic finish which looks stealthy and feels good. Thanks to the plastic construction, the earbuds are lightweight which makes them comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The buds feature a multi-function button on each one that controls the volume and the track controls, meaning you won’t have to get your phone out to make quick adjustments to your listening experience. It’s a small feature that makes you realize that you haven’t touched your device in the past 20 minutes while on a walk listening to some tracks.

Boltune’s earbuds provide a good listening experience for the price itself. As can be expected with less costly earbuds, they have a warmer sound signature with emphasis on the lower-end bass frequencies - working well with electronic music for the most part. If you hit the gym often, then these are the right catch.

The buds feature Bluetooth 5.0, which means that the pairing is quick and easy. You’re able to switch earbuds in and out of the case whilst listening without any connection drops or pauses. They also have an impressive IPX7 water-resistant rating, making them ideal for wearing during exercise or outdoors in all types of weather.

If you’re looking for a pair of wireless earbuds but are on a strict budget, Boltune’s earbuds are a very appealing offering. They feature the latest features such as Bluetooth 5.0 and the experience of using the earbuds has been flawless. For the price, you can’t go wrong.

Key Features
  • Never worry about any cutoff during listening & controlling
  • Seamlessly pair your device with the earbuds automatically
  • Unique stereo sound quality gives you the perfect sound
  • Compact & lightweight magnetic charging case lets you carry them in your pockets
Pros
  • Easy to control
  • Quick connectivity
  • Long-lasting battery
Cons
  • Cheap design
Buy This Product
Boltune BT-BH020

Skullcandy’s Indy earbuds are part of a growing number of pipe-style models that have a design reminiscent of Apple’s AirPods but cost way less. Like the Soundcore Liberty’s shown on this list, they still have some small differences. The Indy’s charging case is a little larger and the earbuds come with a set of removable stability gels.

In terms of sound, the bass packs a small punch and they tend to sound very bright on certain songs. You can really hear it when tambourines, cymbals, or hi-hats come into play, and the brightness can sometimes get a bit too high. Nevertheless, these earbuds still pack a colorful sound in them.

The pair isn’t a bad set of earphones, though. They fit comfortably and you end up getting a tight seal once put on. They’re water- and sweat-resistant (IP55 certified), their wireless connection is mostly reliable, and battery life is alright at around four hours with an additional three charges from their case.

It’s worth mentioning that you can use the Indy’s to make calls. They work well indoors in quieter environments, but noisier outdoor calls tend to be a bit more difficult. In the end, the modeled design fits well with the more-known look of earbuds.

Skullcandy’s Indy true wireless earbuds have some likable traits, including a good fit and affordable price, but if you’re looking for a much better upgrade on a pair of earbuds, then chances are you’ll have to spend over $100 on some.

Key Features
  • Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology
  • Removable stability ear gels for a secure fit
  • Up to 16 hours of total battery life
  • IP55 sweat-, water- & dust-resistant
  • Call, track, volume & activate assistant via touch controls
  • Noise reduction for calls
Pros
  • Cost half the price of AirPods
  • Comfortable to wear
  • Stabilizing ear gels
Cons
  • Average sound quality
Buy This Product
Skullcandy Indy

One of the more cost-effective earbuds on the market, the QCY T1C are a dashing look that’s also similar to other earbuds on this list.

The first thing to praise is that the earbuds are connected to the phone right away once taken out of their charging case. The wear is also very stable, wearing these earbuds while on a run without any bud falling out after a while. The connection is also relatively stable, in which there is no lag or pause at any time when wearing them.

Don’t expect too much from the sound quality, of course, but it sounds pretty decent. When playing hard-bass songs, the sound tends to be more high-pitched than usual, which sort of becomes irritating after a bit. If you’re listening to podcasts or just easy-listening tracks, then these earbuds are great for you.

As for the charging case, the box is relatively long and has a plastic, light feel which does not affect the use of it. However, these are earbuds that cost no more than $20, which is a great price point for this pair. If you’re looking for better sound quality, better fit, better battery, then we suggest you look over other choices on this list. However, the great thing to not forget from QCY is their tiny size and quick connectivity for reliable connections throughout your playtime.

Key Features
  • Powered by small 6mm drivers that sit inside the earbuds
  • Wireless to the truest thanks to Bluetooth 5.0 technology
  • Stay powered up wherever you go with its compact charging case
  • Use a single earbud for calls
Pros
  • Light
  • Comfortable
  • Versatile
Cons
  • Weak sound
Buy This Product

Not all earbuds are the same, and neither is everyone on this planet. This means that for an earbud to cater to your liking, there are a few things to keep in mind when investing in a solid pair of wireless earbuds. In this part of the guide, we will be discussing a few factors that make up for an excellent quality pair of wireless earbuds.

Wearing Comfort & Sound Quality

Wearing comfort determines the effectiveness of your purchase. An excellent sounding earbud which causes irritation to the listener’s ears is nothing but trash. Keep in mind that if you don’t choose a perfectly snug fit earbud specifically for your ears, there is a chance that these devices will fall out easily.

The factors determining sound quality stay the same with wireless earbuds, earphones, headphones, speakers - you name it. Even without hearing the sound output from these devices personally, you can make a certainly informed guess by looking at the specifications chart detailing hardware capabilities. For example, the larger a driver size is (let’s say 10mm), the better the sound output will be. The smaller it is (around 7mm), then you won’t be hearing a wide range of bass and treble coming into your ears.

Connectivity & Battery Life

Bluetooth is your best friend for wireless earbuds, especially the latest 5.0 technology that all the earbuds on this list have. Having the support for the latest Bluetooth stack makes sure that the device connections use less power and great will be the quality of sound output. Make sure you stick with the latest tech, because if you end up with wireless earbuds with Bluetooth 4.0 or less on them, chances are you’ll be disappointed by the performance of the connectivity. Look for 5.0!

This is where it all goes down when it comes to measuring earbud performance. Battery life is one segment where these earbuds actually trump the traditional wireless earphones, and not just because of how long they hold up, but with the comfort of charging them without any external power banks or power sources. All these earbuds carry a charging case for constant charges throughout the day. Every time you place your earbuds back in the case, they’re charging for your next listening session. With one full charge, most of the wireless earbuds last between five to eight hours, depending upon your use cases and with the help of a carrying case, a typical earbud delivers from 15-24 hours of playtime.

While nothing much changes when it comes to sound quality, owning a modern piece of technology like wireless earbuds is worth it once you realize there aren’t any wires dangling from your ears. With the fear of tangled wires and damages now at bay, you can peacefully carry this gadget safely in your pocket or backpack and be sure to know that it will work every time you pair with your device. Now that you've reached the end of this guide, revisit our list of the best cheap wireless earbuds and make your final pick!

FAQ

Q: Are all wireless earbuds compatible with an iPhone?

Apple AirPods have chips designed for fast, easy pairing within the brand, but even the best cheap wireless earbuds pair with an iPhone. Because iPhones are the most popular phone brand, all wireless earbuds regardless of cost will work with your iPhone. The newest iPhones are meant to work only with wireless earbuds and don’t have a headphone jack. To use wired earbuds you have to use a dongle attachment. Technology is moving away from wired toward wireless so wireless sound technology is constantly improving.

Q: Is there a difference between products marked as wireless earbuds and those labeled as “true wireless” earbuds?

“True Wireless” earbuds are two separate pieces, one bud for each ear, with no wires between them and no wire connecting to the audio source. Some products labeled simply “wireless earbuds” have no wire connecting them to the audio source but still have a wire connecting the two earbuds to each other. The wire is usually meant to hang behind the neck or go over the top of the head. Both types still use Bluetooth wireless technology.

Q: What are the important qualities to look for in the best cheap wireless earbuds?

Most inexpensive wireless earbuds at least cover the basic requirements, though sound quality may vary. Look for wireless earbuds that offer compatibility with multiple devices, feature quick pairing, a snug fit for sound blocking, a wide range, and easy access to controls. Be sure they include rechargeable batteries and look for those featuring long battery life.

Q: Do wireless earbuds sound as good as wired ones?

Most audiophiles and musicians acknowledge that most wireless earbuds and headphones can’t quite match the sound quality of wired ones. However, the newest technology in earbuds comes very close to the sound quality of wired. Most consumers won’t find a noticeable difference. For most people, the ease and freedom that comes even with the best cheap wireless earbuds make the slight decrease in sound quality worthwhile.

For gamers, the tiniest lag may make a difference to their play, so those using earbuds for gaming sometimes choose to use wired earbuds.

Q: How do I know if my wireless earbuds have active noise cancellation?

All earbuds have a degree of passive noise cancellation. By their very design, they block out some background noise by snug placement in the ear canal. The better the seal, the better the passive noise cancellation. Earbuds featuring active noise cancellation go a step further and actively mitigate sound by using a tiny microphone to receive and decipher external soundwaves. They then alert the earbuds to emit an inversion of that sound that causes the human ear to “cancel” or not hear it. It effectively neutralizes incoming sounds for less distraction. Products are typically labeled as having active or passive noise cancellations.