Best cheap headphones 2024: ultimate budget wireless earphones

9 min read

Best cheap headphones 2024: ultimate budget wireless earphones

Sonic kit can set you back hundreds, but you don’t need deep pockets to bag a pair of the best wireless earphones. Want reliable ‘phones for everyday listening? The best cheap headphones make cord-free audio more affordable, without cutting corners where it counts.

From accessible cans to budget earbuds, the list below features our pick of the top earphones available for less than $100/£100. They might not rival high-end headphones for outright feature-packed performance. But each pair promises to please the ears – and a few give premium competitors a good run for their money.

Whether you want in-ears, on-ears or sporty neckband numbers, our round-up covers excellent cheap headphones fit for every need. So you can upgrade your playlists without downgrading your credit score.


The best cheap headphones you can buy today:

Sony WF-C500: some of the best cheap true wireless earphones

1. Sony WF-C500

Stuff Verdict

With adjustable sound, a comfortable shape and 10 hours of on-board battery life, these compact Sony ‘buds are up there with the best budget earphones

Pros

  • Comfortable, ergonomic design
  • Straightforward controls

Cons

  • No ANC
  • Charging case only adds 10 hours
Sony WF-C500 specs
Battery 10 hours (earphones), 10 hours (case)
Wireless charging No
ANC No
Driver size 5.8mm
Weight 5.4g (earbuds), 35g (case)
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.0
Water-resistance IPX4

Aping the ergonomic design of Sony’s premium earbuds, the WF-C500 are lightweight wireless earphones for easy everyday audio. Small and subtly sculpted, the in-ears offer a faff-free and comfy fit. Output from their 5.8mm drivers can be tweaked via the Headphones Connect app. And big buttons on the back of each ‘bud make for straightforward control inputs.

There’s no active noise cancellation, but three tip sizes help you find a seal that reduces background sound. The charging case’s compact proportions mean it can only extend longevity by 10 hours. Standalone battery life is impressive at 10 hours’ playback.

Sony WF-C500

2. Earfun Air Pro

Stuff Verdict

Feature-packed yet affordable, these distinctive noise-cancelling earphones offer plenty for the price

Pros

  • Sounds great
  • Active noise cancelling

Cons

  • Distinctive design isn’t for everyone
  • Large charging case
Earfun Air Pro specs
Battery 9 hours (earphones), 23 hours (case)
Wireless charging No
ANC Yes
Driver size 10mm
Weight 53g
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.0
Water-resistance IPX5

There might be a new edition, but the original Earfun Air Pro arguably offer better value than their successors. Distinctive angular stems set them apart in a crowded marketplace, as does the inclusion of ANC. This is something rarely seen in earphones this cheap. There’s no app compatibility, but the Air Pro’s 10mm dynamic drivers promise a neutral, balanced listen.

While infrared wear-detection pauses your playlist if you remove them. Their pebble-like case isn’t the most compact. But it does add a solid 23 hours to the nine on-board the Air Pro.

EarFun Wireless Earbuds, Air Pro Active Noise Cancelling Earbuds, Bluetooth Earphones with 6 Mics ENC Clear Call, 10 mm Big Drivers, Deep Bass, Fast USB-C Charge, 32Hrs, Ambient Mode for Office, Gym

3. JBL Tune 660NC

Stuff Verdict

Punchy sound, long battery life and decent ANC: these JBL headphones offer a lot of features for an accessible price

Pros

  • Sounds great with ANC
  • Comfortable fit

Cons

  • Cheap plastics
  • No water resistance
JBL Tune 660NC specs
Battery 44 hours (ANC)
Wireless charging No
ANC Yes
Driver size 32mm
Weight 166g
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.0
Water-resistance No

JBL knows how to hit the price/performance sweet spot, and these noise-cancelling cans are no exception. Pairing dynamic audio with stellar ANC, the Tune 660NC does plenty for their accessible price tag. Designed to sit comfortably on your ears, the headphones are relatively light at 116g.

Folding hinges above the cups allow for easier stashing. Promising “Pure Bass Sound”, the 660NC deliver a weighty listen that doesn’t want for energy. With ANC enabled, battery life tops out north of 40 hours. While five minutes of refuelling gives you a two-hour boost. Google Fast Pair support means easy syncing with compatible Android devices, too.

JBL Tune 660BTNC Cuffie On-Ear Bluetooth Wireless, Cancellazione Attiva del Rumore, Microfono integrato, 44h di autonomia, Blu

4. Sennheiser CX True Wireless

Stuff Verdict

Want assertive audio, decent battery life and a fantastic interface? If you’re comfortable with their dimensions, the CX are money well spent

Pros

  • Premium brand
  • Great touch controls and voice assistant

Cons

  • Quite large
  • No ANC
Sennheiser CX True Wireless specs
Battery 9 hours (earphones), 27 hours (case)
Wireless charging No
ANC No
Driver size 7mm
Weight 6g (earbuds), 37g (case)
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.2
Water-resistance IPX4

Awarded a five-star review at full price, Sennheiser’s CX True Wireless earphones are only more tempting after a hefty ticket reduction. Their large, functional shells won’t be to every taste, but they do at least benefit from Sennheiser’s robust build quality. Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity means high-quality audio that’s less hungry for power, resulting in nine hours of on-board battery life.

Responsive touch controls are complemented by voice assistant support and the exemplary Smart Control app, which unlocks all sorts of adjustments. And while there’s no ANC, the 7mm drivers still deliver a dynamic, punchy listen that stops short of shrill.


5. Jabra Elite 45h

Stuff Verdict

Understated looks, capable drivers and class-beating battery life: these Jabra ‘phones offer superlative on-ear value

Pros

  • Decent battery life
  • Detailed and dynamic listen

Cons

  • No ANC
  • Leak sound quite readily
Jabra Elite 45h specs
Battery 50 hours
Wireless charging No
ANC No
Driver size 40mm
Weight 160g
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.0
Water-resistance N/A

Classy looks can’t mask the plastic build of Jabra’s budget headphones, but the Elite 45h are no cut-price cans: well-made and comfortable to wear, they also ship with a truly generous suite of features. Top of the list are two 40mm full-range drivers, delivering a detailed and dynamic listen.

Backing them up is a battery good for 50 hours on a single charge, comfortably eclipsing pretty much everything in this list and price bracket. Swivelling cups assist with wearability, while intuitive buttons streamline the experience. And while there’s no ANC, Jabra’s Sound+ app allows in-depth tailoring of the sonic experience.

  • Read more: Jabra Elite 45h review
Jabra Elite 45h – Cuffie wireless on-ear compatte e pieghevoli – Fino a 50 ore di batteria – Tecnologia di chiamata a doppio microfono – nero titanio, regolabile

Beats Flex: the cheapest Beats headphones you can buy

6. Beats Flex

Stuff Verdict

Beats on a budget, the Flex aren’t sonically special, but their versatile design and commendable battery life add up to great value

Pros

  • Tangle-free wire
  • Decent 12-hour battery life

Cons

  • Not the best sounding
  • Not true wireless
Beats Flex specs
Battery 12 hours
Wireless charging No
ANC No
Driver size 8.2mm
Weight 18.6g
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.0
Water-resistance No

Featuring a tangle-free neck loop with integrated volume, music and call controls, the Flex earphones are Beats’ best effort at cheaper audio. And they’re pretty close to being a bona fide bargain. Audio performance doesn’t rewrite the rulebook, but you can expect well-defined highs and suitably wobbly lows from the 8.2mm drivers – a sound signature which lends itself well to processed beats.

Magnetic backs mean the dinky buds can be usefully clicked together when they’re not occupying your earholes, while the cable itself sits naturally without flopping about. And the whole package is complemented by a lengthy 12-hour listening time.

 

Beats Flex
Beats Flex

Anker Soundcore Life Q30: some of the best cheap noise-cancelling headphones

7. Anker Soundcore Life Q30

Stuff Verdict

Not the most stylish wireless headphones, the Q30 make up for their looks with a feature list to rival over-ears at twice the price

Pros

  • Great specs
  • ANC

Cons

  • Bulbous design
  • Default profile is a little bass heavy
Anker Soundcore Life Q30 specs
Battery 50+ hours
Wireless charging No
ANC No
Driver size 40mm
Weight 141g
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.0
Water-resistance No

Slightly bulbous by design, Anker’s Soundcore Life Q30 are unlikely to win awards for their looks. But when you compare their price to their spec sheet, you’re unlikely to mind too much: these are among the most skilful ‘phones you can buy for the price.

Active noise cancellation is the headline feature, deploying dual microphones to detect and counteract background sounds. Add 40mm drivers, 40-hour battery life with ANC and comprehensive customisation options in the Soundcore app, and these shape up as the kind of cans that could confidently go up against big-name rivals.

Cuffie ibride Soundcore Anker Life Q30 canc. attiva rumore mod. multiple, suono alta ris, 40 ore di ripr, chiamate chiare, ric. rapida, auricolari morbidi, cuffie Bluetooth, viaggi, ufficio e casa

Urbanears Boo Tips: some of the best cheap wireless earbuds

8. Urbanears Boo Tip

Stuff Verdict

Featherweight and eco-friendly, these straightforward in-ears turn recycled trash into respectable audio for a fair price – limited noise isolation notwithstanding

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Made from recycled materials

Cons

  • Controls lack customisation
  • Battery is a little short
Urbanears Boo Tip specs
Battery 4.5hrs hours (earphones), 25.5 hours (case)
Wireless charging No
ANC No
Driver size 10mm
Weight 3.95g (earbuds), 36.7g (case)
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.2
Water-resistance IPX4

Absurdly light at less than 4g per earbud, these eco-friendly phones use 91% recycled plastic in their matte construction. While the soundstage can feel slightly cramped on textured tracks, the Boo Tips produce an energy which belies their lightweight build and relatively low price, with 10mm drivers delivering unexpectedly rich, well-balanced bass.

That said, they’re not without compromise: stem touch controls can’t be customised and battery life is mediocre at 4.5 hours. And without ANC, limited noise isolation means the Boo Tips can struggle to stop outside sounds from leaking into an otherwise enjoyable listen.

Urbanears Boo Tip True Auricolari wireless, 30 ore di riproduzione, resistenti all’acqua IPX4, Nero (Charcoal Black)

1More Sonoflow best cheap headphones

9. 1More Sonoflow

Stuff Verdict

Capable and comfortable noise-cancelling headphones that don’t break the bank. The Sonoflow works best for flights, with ANC that doesn’t work quite as well in other scenarios, but delivers audio that

Pros

  • Active noise cancelling
  • Very long battery life

Cons

  • Lots of plastic
  • On-device controls little fiddly
1More Sonoflow specs
Battery 50hrs hours (ANC on), 70 hours (ANC off)
Wireless charging No
ANC Yes
Driver size 40mm
Weight 250g
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.0
Water-resistance No

A truly wallet-friendly alternative to flagship over-ear headphones like Sony’s WH-1000XM5, the Sonoflow is an enjoyable listen with capable active noise cancelling. The plastic construction is about what you’d expect for the money, and the on-device controls could be a little slicker, but the fold-up design and extra-long battery life (50 hours with ANC enabled, or 70 with it switched off) make it a superb choice for frequent flyers.

 

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