As a professional earbud reviewer, I get to test tons of the best earbuds. I've reviewed audiophile-grade $300 buds like the Denon PerL Pro, the Bose-tuned Skullcandy Method 360 ANC, and tested the $249 Apple AirPods Pro 3.
But times are tough, so I'm all about the best cheap wireless earbuds these days. Thankfully, I've reviewed loads of budget earbuds this year, too, and I know exactly which pairs you should buy.
If you want the best earbuds under $40, it's got to be the JLab Go Pods ANC. For those who can spend a little more, I'd recommend the $69 CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2. At the top of the price range, the $99 EarFun Air Pro 4+ won't let you down.
Under $40: JLab Go Pods ANC
Earbuds don't come cheaper than this. The JLab Go Pods ANC have been my go-to recommendation for uber-cheap earbuds since I reviewed them last summer.
Obviously, cheap earbuds aren't going to be as impressive as, say, Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2, but that's for a very good reason. Why would $36 earbuds perform the same as $299 earbuds?
For the price, though, the JLab Go Pods ANC are truly excellent. You might expect $36 earbuds to be tinny. Nope. You might expect $36 earbuds to lack ANC. Nope. You might expect $36 earbuds to have terrible battery life. Oh, look, a hat-trick — nope.
With customizable EQs in the JLab app, surprisingly proficient bass, great ANC, multipoint, an IP66 rating, and a 26-hour battery life, the JLab Go Pods ANC are some of the most disruptive earbuds I've ever laid my eyes on.
I recommend the Go Pods ANC to anyone who'll listen. For just $36, you can't go wrong with these awesome JLab buds. For more information, check out my full JLab Go Pods ANC review.
Under $70: CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2
The CMF Buds Pro 2 are, without a doubt, the best-value earbuds you can buy right now. I keep these bright orange buds in a drawer in my desk, and I now compare all other earbuds to them.
Thanks to the Dirac Opteo EQ tuning, the Buds Pro 2 pack a seriously premium punch. I actually spoke to the co-founder of Dirac to find out how this awesome software works. It's basically a bunch of measurements, sound manipulation, and spatial audio trickery. Boy, oh boy, does it sound incredible, though.
The CMF Buds Pro 2 are ideal for bass lovers on a budget, but don't think they're just for the low-end lovers. With an IP55 rating, a whopping 43-hour battery life, wear detection, seamless multipoint, and top-notch sound, the Buds Pro 2 are the $70 buds to beat.
For a comprehensive analysis of everything the CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 have to offer, check out my review.
Under $100: EarFun Air Pro 4+
Rather than prioritize bass like many other cheap earbuds, the EarFun Air Pro 4+ are tuned more like audiophile buds.
No detail is lost with these $99 buds. You'll be able to hear every instrument as if the strings are being strummed inside your brain, and vocals sound particularly impressive. I couldn't believe how affordable these earbuds were when I was testing them.
You can up the bass with the EarFun app, but I think the Air Pro 4+'s strengths lie in expansiveness and detail. They sound more like AirPods Pro 3 than Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, which is a major compliment for $99 earbuds.
If you want to be an audiophile but you can't afford the audiophile gear, you won't be disappointed with these unassuming little buds. For more details, check out my complete review of the EarFun Air Pro 4+.
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