Good earbuds don’t have to be expensive, and just because you want to spend less doesn’t mean you need to put up with bad sound quality or poor comfort. In this article, we break down the top 5 budget earbuds on the market this year based on performance and the situations they’ll be used in. So whether you’re looking for something for daily use, working out, traveling, or anything in between, we’ll have an option for you. So if you’re interested in finding out which earbuds will be best for you, stay tuned.
First up is the Anker Soundcore Life P3, our pick for the best budget AirPod alternatives. If you’re someone who likes the design and fit of AirPods but doesn’t want to pay the almost $200 price tag, these earbuds might be for you. Anker’s True Wireless Soundcore Life P3 earbuds deliver good sound quality, active noise cancellation, and a similar fit and style to AirPods, all at a price point under $80. These 3rd generation earbuds feature a sturdy, unibody build with long stems and are a good budget alternative to Apple’s AirPods Pro, but cost a third of the price, while IPX5 water resistance means they are further protected against rain and sweat, too. The battery is rated at 6 hours when you have the active noise cancellation enabled, and you’ll be able to squeeze out an additional hour of playback by switching the ANC off. The charging case holds an additional 24 hours for a cumulative maximum capacity of 35 hours, and it supports quick charging and wireless charging. These noise-cancelling earbuds have 11mm drivers and exclusive BaseUp technology to create rich sound with a thumping low end to make your favorite tunes sound their best. In three available noise-cancelling modes, target and block out ambient noises based on your surroundings to deliver a distraction-free listening experience wherever you are. If you travel a lot and wish you could grab a quick nap while en route, you can even use the Life P3 earbuds to help you fall asleep easier. Use sleeping mode in the Soundcore app to create a custom white noise soundscape, then lay back and feel yourself fall into a peaceful slumber. The lightweight and ergonomic shape of the Life P3 ensures they’ll feel comfortable in your ears, even after a long day of listening. The Soundcore Life P3 earbuds perform very well for under $80. They’re great all-around earbuds for someone who likes the AirPod’s stem design.
Next up is the Skullcandy Dime, our pick for the best earbuds under $30. The powerful drivers of the Skullcandy Dime True Wireless Earbuds offer a surprisingly rich, clear sound, given their sub-$30 price point. These truly are made specifically to satisfy budget shoppers who want cheap, reliable wireless earbuds. These wireless earbuds pack surprisingly punchy sound into a compact, water-resistant design, along with a full suite of media controls and connectivity, and include a car key fob-inspired charging case for storage and powering up on the go. While there’s no active noise cancellation, these earbuds feature a secure fit and an effective seal that provides a good level of passive noise cancellation. And to ensure that they maintain that seal and stay in place while you’re moving around, silicone ear tips are included in three different sizes to ensure you get the best fit. The logo doubles as a button to execute commands and is responsive with superb tactility. The Dime supports both Siri and Google Assistant, and the mics perform very well, picking up voice commands with precision. The dime’s sound profile leans towards the warm side of the audio spectrum, which is ideal for contemporary music genres like hip-hop, rock, and EDM. Percussion is a highlight, giving drums plenty of oomph, while mids have a strong presence as well, giving synth effects a crisp quality. Highs, though, are not as prominent. Not to say they are completely absent, but in certain genres like jazz, you’ll definitely hear instruments like flutes and hi-hats, but they lack some clarity. To get this product confused, these definitely do not match the quality of earbuds like the Element Duo or Soundcore Life P3s, but they’re very solid for the price. These earbuds will give you about 4 hours of playback, with an additional 8 hours stored in the charging case that could be used for top-ups. This is really underwhelming, but they had to compromise somewhere. If you’re looking for a set of true wireless earbuds that will give you a reasonable sound signature at a sub $30 price point, the Skullcandy Dime True Wireless Earbuds would be a great choice. They feature a secure, customizable fit that will give you a good level of passive noise cancellation and pretty good battery life.
Next up is the JLab Go Air, our pick for the best ultra-cheap earbuds. The JLab Go Air True Wireless Earbuds may not be the best earbuds in the world, but they’re perfect for anyone on a tight budget and a great alternative to the similarly priced Skullcandy Dime. These earbuds come with a charging case and an integrated flat USB cable. You’ll get 5 hours from a single charge, with an extra 15 hours from the case, so you’ll get about 20 hours of music in total. To fully recharge them, it’ll take the buds about 90 minutes, while the case takes about 2 hours. If you do get caught short, you can put the buds in the case for a quick 15-minute charge, which will give you about an hour of music. The overall sound quality from the 8mm drivers is decent. It hardly matches up to the best true wireless earbuds you can buy, but realistically, you can’t expect exceptional sound quality from a pair of earbuds that are this cheap. Most of the time, the buds do a good enough job at delivering punchy, bass-heavy sound, and they are certainly loud enough, but at times, they do lack definition. On the flip side, because of how securely they fit, they do isolate noise well, so you will be able to fully immerse yourself in the music. There are three different EQ modes: signature, balanced, and bass boost. The bass boost mode makes a noticeable difference in the low end. In fact, it can sometimes go a bit too far, where vocals start to get drowned out beneath it. The best EQ mode for most types of music is the signature mode, which is loud and clear for the most part. If you’re on a very strict budget and just want something that you can listen to music with and don’t mind compromising sound quality a bit for price, the JLab Go Air is going to be a great set for you.
Next up is the Vunex Sound Element Duo, our pick for the best budget earbuds for most people. The Vunex Sound Element Duo earbuds are great all-around earbuds for someone on a tight budget. They really excel the most with regards to sound quality, matching the performance of something double its sub-$50 price tag. The IPX7 rating of the Element Duo will keep them safe from perspiration, rain, or even accidental submersion. They have a 5-hour battery life and come with a charging case that holds 20 additional charges, giving you a total of 100 hours of playback. The case can be charged using a USB-C cable, and an LED indicator on the front of the case lets you keep an eye on how much power you have in reserve. When it comes to performance, you’ll enjoy a good foundation of bass that’s layered by clear mids and high frequencies that complement each other to produce a balanced sound that’s suitable for most musical genres. These earbuds probably won’t attract a lot of audiophiles, but compared to other budget earbuds on the market, they really excel with regards to sound quality and do a great job at helping you get through your workout. Whether you’re listening to music, podcasts, audiobooks, or other spoken word formats, the Sound Element Duo sounds clear and natural. While the Sound Element Duo has CVC noise cancellation built into the circuitry of its microphones to give you a better experience during calls, the snug fit creates some good passive noise cancellation on its own for a listening experience with reduced distractions. If you’re in the market for a pair of budget earbuds and you want some of the best performance at an affordable price point, the Element Duo earbuds are some of the best. They’re definitely not perfect, but for those who value price relative to sound quality and comfort, these are likely going to be the best for you.
Last but not least, the Anker Soundcore Life A1. The Anker Soundcore Life A1 promises a lot for its budget price point, offering wireless charging, bass-heavy performance, and a comfortable fit, mostly designed for those looking for a pair of workout earbuds. These wireless earbuds come with five sizes of silicone ear tips and three sizes of wings to give you the best possible fit. And like the Vunex Sound Element Duo, they’re protected from water damage with an IPX7 rating. Sound quality is bass-heavy but can be modified by using one of the three built-in sound modes to tailor the sound for different listening experiences. Signature mode delivers balanced sound for everyday listening. Bass Booster Mode helps you focus on your workout. And podcast mode enhances dialogue, making podcasts and audiobooks sound clear. A charging case is included, which serves as safe storage for the earbuds when not in use and as a means to charge them. And like the other earbud sets we’ve looked at, the case doubles as a power bank that stores an additional 35 hours of power on top of the near 8.5 hours provided by the earbuds themselves. As far as these numbers go, they’re above average, but that’s because there are no additional functions like ANC to cause a quicker drain on the battery. The case has a 3-segment LED that gives you a rough idea of how much the charge remains, with each representing about 33% of a full charge. On the back, a USB-C port is in place, and while the Soundcore Life A1 doesn’t come with a wireless charging pad, the case will charge with one that you supply. These earbuds don’t match the element duos in terms of sound quality, but if you’re looking for a simple pair of wireless earbuds with a bass-heavy sound signature for working out, the Anker Soundcore Life A1 is a really good choice. You won’t get ANC, but you will get extended battery life and a secure, comfortable fit that’s perfect for running or working out.
