We buy our own products and put them under the same testing methodology so that you can easily compare them. Unlike most websites, we do not get our products directly from the manufacturers, which means our units aren’t handpicked and actually represent what you would buy yourself. We spend a lot of time comparing the products side-by-side to validate our results and we keep them until they are discontinued so we can continually go back and make sure our reviews are always accurate.
When shopping for new headphones, you don’t have to break the bank to get an enjoyable listening experience. While most budget headphones won’t deliver perfect sound or have the best features available, there are some quality models out there for casual use. We’ve tested 44 headphones under $50 and here are our recommendations for the best ones you can buy in 2018.
Skullcandy Grind: Versatile and comfortable on-ear headphones
Type: On-ear
Enclosure: Closed-Back
Noise canceling: No
Wireless: Yes
The Skullcandy Grind are easily one of the best headphones under $50 that we’ve tested so far. They’re versatile, comfortable and well-built wireless on-ears that deliver a decent listening experience, 15 hours of battery life and a good metal build quality. They’re also surprisingly comfortable and do not clamp your head like most over-ears.
Unfortunately, like most passive on-ears, they don’t isolate well in noisy environments, so they won’t be the best headphones for frequent commuters. They also leak a bit higher at volumes, which may be slightly distracting to those around you and they don’t fold so they won’t be as compact as some other on-ears we’ve tested.
On the upside, for the price, they deliver a well built and comfortable wireless design that you can also use wired when the battery dies.
Anker Soundbuds Curve: Comfortable in-ears for sports and most use cases
Type: In-ear
Enclosure: Closed-Back
Noise canceling: No
Wireless: Yes
If you want a more portable option than the Skullcandy Grind and don’t mind in-ears, then check out the Anker SoundBuds Curve. They’re stable and breathable in-ear headphones, primarily for sports but good enough for most use cases. Their fit is also a bit more comfortable than most, since they do not enter the ear canal as deeply as typical in-ears.
However, this also means they do not isolate as well in noisy conditions and, unlike more expensive wireless headphones, there is no companion app for added customization options. You can’t EQ their sound quality and they only support basic Bluetooth connections, so no NFC pairing or low latency/high quality audio codecs or multipoint pairing.
On the upside, they have a decent battery life of almost 13 hours and they can recharge within 90 minutes, which is great. The earbuds are fairly well built for their price range and their low leakage performance makes them versatile enough for the gym and the office.
MEE Audio M6 Pro: Simple, wired in-ears with a good build quality
Type: In-ear
Enclosure: Closed-Back
Noise canceling: No
Wireless: No
If you prefer in-ears and want a wired design that won’t run out of battery life the Anker SoundBuds Curve, then get the the MEE Audio M6 Pro instead. They’re well built in-ears, great for exercising and versatile enough for most use cases. They have a unique design, with transparent earbuds that give them a more premium look and they also come with two interchangeable cables which is pretty rare for in-ears at this price range.
They won’t be as comfortable for everyone but come with six earbud tips of different sizes, so you should be able to find the right fit for you. They have a decent sound, with a good bass, and a consistent mid-range, but their treble is slightly overemphasized which makes them sounds a bit too sharp on certain tracks.
The M6 Pro can only be used wired, which won’t be as practical for everyday use, especially if your phone does not have a headphone jack. But overall if you want a wired in-ear under $50, they’re one of the better options that is only beaten by the KZ ZS10, which are a little pricier but worth the investment for most.
MEE Audio M6 Pro: Simple, wired in-ears with a good build quality
Type: Over-Ear
Enclosure: Semi-Open
Noise canceling: No
Wireless: No
If you want the most accurate sound possible on a budget, and also want a simple, wired design that just work, check out the Superlux HD 681 EVO. These over-ear headphones produce a good, balanced sound, with a deep and powerful bass, even mid-range, and good treble. The semi-open design gives them a somewhat decent soundstage, that’s not as good as open-back headphones, but far better than most closed-back over-ears.
However, since they are not quite open-back, they do not have the greatest breathability and their poorly padded over-ear fit can get a bit uncomfortable during longer listening sessions. Also, the semi-open ear cups do not isolate well in noisy environments and leak quite a bit, so they’re not the best choice for commuting, traveling or to use at the office where audio leakage may bother your colleagues.
The Superlux HD 681 EVO are no-nonsense, plug-and-play wired critical listening headphones. There are no batteries to recharge, no cables to swap, no microphones and no pairing to do, simply plug them in and enjoy.
Koss Porta Pro KTC: Compact on-ear headphones with decent sound for critical listening
Type: On-ear
Enclosure: Open-Back
Noise canceling: No
Wireless: No
If you want decent sounding headphones like the Superlux HD 681 EVO, but in a more portable format you can use outdoors, then get the Koss Porta Pro KTC instead. They’re lightweight, comfortable and compact enough to easily carry around on you person. They’re also open-back on-ear headphones so they do not block a lot of noise and they’re very breathable. This makes them a decent option for outdoors runners, unlike most critical listening headphones, but they won’t be the best option for commuters since they have bad isolation.
On the upside, the Porta Pros have an above-average sound that packs a lot more bass than typical open-back designs, especially for an on-ear model. They also come in a slightly more versatile wireless variant but battery life may be a concern since the wireless model is Bluetooth-only and cannot be use wired.
Unfortunately, they do not have the best build quality. The headband is flimsy, the ear cups are poorly padded and the cables are thin and fragile. However, they’re a good budget option for critical listening and Koss guarantees them for life.
This guide may have been updated. To see all measurements and the current recommendations for the best headphones under $50, please go here.
