We spend a lot of time reviewing headphones and earbuds here at Tom's Guide, and while it can feel like we test a lot of more expensive options, we enjoy evaluating budget options just as much. After all, not every one can afford a pair of AirPods Pro 2 or Sony WF-1000XM5.
But not all of the best cheap wireless earbuds are created equal. While there are some great cheap options out there, there is an ocean of detritus that you have to wade through to find them. So we've done the wading, and tested as many cheap earbuds as our ears will allow — and I've come up with a quick list to show you that you won't miss out on excellent sound or features when you spend less.
Final ZE3000 SV
The Final ZE3000 SV are truly tiny. I'm also not quite finished with my testing, but they're some of my favorite budget buds of the year so far, thanks to their excellent sound quality and surprisingly effective ANC.
They survived a trip through London, for one, something I can't say of other cheap earbuds. The Bluetooth dead zone of the City's train stations are always a struggle for any kind of earbud, and the ZE3000 SV didn't drop out once.
They're comfortable, tiny, and seven hours of battery life is pretty solid. I only wish they where easier to get hold of — they appear and disapear from Amazon like nothing I've ever seen before.
JLab Go Pods ANC
They're thirty bucks. Thirty bucks. There's not much you can expect for thirty bucks, and still the Go Pods ANC manage to impress. They sound far better than you'd think, and thanks to some forward-thinking design, they offer solid battery life to boot. So far, so good.
But it's the ANC that really hammers them home as perhaps one of the best cheap options if you want something inexpensive to slip into your pocket. The ANC isn't going to hold a candle to that found in more expensive models, but considering the price, it's a miracle it's here at all.
They could do with being a little more comfortable, but you'll soon forget that when you look at your bank balance and remember that they cost less than a family trip to Burger King.
Sony WF-C500
It can be easy to get lost amongst all of those brands you might not have heard of when you look through page after page of Amazon listings. No matter how much journalists like me and the Tom's Guide review team tell you "no, they're actually really good," it's never going to get rid of that niggling "I've never heard of these" feeling you can get.
Thankfully, Sony has released some excellent budget options. At the top of the tree in the sub-$100 price bracket is the WF-C500, a pair of earbuds that punch above their price point thanks to great build quality and sound profile.
They don't feature noise canceling, unfortunately, but if you stretch for another $20 you can pick up the WF-C710N — and they do feature ANC. They're also really, really good.
Soundpeats Air5 Pro
They look a lot like AirPods, only they're black — and then they pack in a feature set to rival even Apple's best buds. They're not quite as good as the ubiquitous white AirPods, but they're still an excellent option if you want something in-ear for less than $100.
The sound is the most impressive part of the Air5 Pro. While slightly too bassy, they still manage to keep the detail high and the groove bopping. We had a good time with every genre that we threw at them, and thanks to the LDAC support you're getting higher resolution audio.
They're comfy, feature solid battery life, and they look pretty fetching. There's little more that you could as for at this price.
Earfun Air Pro 4
This is the pair of buds that one of our reviewers still uses to this day — even though she has a pair of AirPods available and ready to go. The Air Pro 4 beat out her AirPods thanks to the solid ANC and excellent sound at a price that doesn't break the bank. Always a big bonus when you don't want to spend loads of money.
They're comfortable for long periods of time, and they feature Snapdragon sound for some crucial future proofing. Battery life at 52 hours overall is some of the most impressive staying power around as well.
They're not the most handsome of buds, but they're cheap, and they're filled with loads of features for a great in-ear experience at a nice, low price.
