1. The list in brief
2. Best overall
3. Best budget
4. Best ANC
5. Best hi-res support
6. Best cheap buds
7. Best small buds
8. Best buds for sound
9. Best under $25
10. Also tested
11. FAQ
12. How to choose
13. How we test
14. Best deals
The best cheap wireless headphones bring together the convenience of wireless Bluetooth connectivity at an affordable price tag. Whether you're working from home or commuting to the office, these budget headphones are ideal if you're not too bothered about the fully featured designs of the absolute best models that come at a premium.
That being said, just because you’re paying less doesn’t mean you'll skimp on quality. The 1More SonoFlow SE are a fine example and offer great sound and ANC at a low price. These are our top recommendation for most people. Sony's WH-CH520 headphone also come highly recommended, but they don't have ANC.
All the headphones below have passed our stringent performance testing criteria, so you can be sure they sound great and some may even include handy features like active noise cancellation or extended battery life.
Don't forget, you'll find lots more info in our in-depth standalone reviews, covering design and comfort, features, ANC performance (where applicable), battery life, and sound quality across all kinds of media, as well as how well they handle calls. Read on to discover which are the best cheap wireless headphones, ranked and rated by the audio aficionados.
The quick list
The best cheap wireless headphones overall block out around 85% of external sounds thanks to their strong ANC performance. Battery life lasts for 50 hours with ANC on, they have good sound and superb call quality.
These combine much of what we love about the Sony's flagship XM5 headphones, but at an entry-level price. There's no noise canceling but they deliver a big nuanced sound and support 360 Reality Audio via the app.
With 50 hour battery life, these have some of the best ANC performance we've tested at the price. They sound great, too, and rank as the best value option in our best noise-canceling headphones roundup.
About the author
Hi, I'm Lee and I cover all things audio for Tom's Guide, including maintaining buying guides on the best cheap wireless headphones, best noise-canceling headphones, and best wireless earbuds (to name a few). One of my earliest audio memories was listening to my favorite music on a pair of headphones. That's more than 30 years ago now, and although today's popular headphones are wireless and incorporate noise-canceling tech, my music-first approach to assessing sound quality is the same. With over 20 years of listening and writing about the finest audio products in the world, I've listened to hundreds of headphones and am perfectly positioned to find the best sound for your budget.
The best cheap wireless headphones you can buy right now
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Best overall
With remarkable battery life that lasts up to 50 hours with ANC on and strong performance across the board, these are the best cheap headphones right now. Our reviewer found that they were able to showcase higher quality music streams, and they also rank as one of the best cheap noise canceling headphones for value thanks to their noise cancelation performance that managed managed to block out 85% of incidental sounds in all environments during our tests.
These headphones are also good for call quality handling, with the combination of strong ANC and a mic array that worked surprisingly well during our test calls. They also have some of the strongest quick-charging technology and claim to achieve around 5 hours of playtime from a 5-minute power top up, which is greater than some high-end models can achieve.
- Read our full 1More SonoFlow SE review
Best budget headphones
If you're looking for Sony's great control app experience but don't want spend big on its WH-1000XM5 flagship model, these are the ones for you. The Sony WH-CH520 on-ear headphones combine much of what we love about the company's upmarket headphone designs, and are a great value option for those on a budget.
These affordable on-ears pick up from where their WH-CH510 predecessor left off and boast significantly longer battery life, a quicker charge time, and the option to fine-tune the audio settings to make the most of your music via a bunch of useful sound tools in the Sony Headphones Connect app. They weigh just 5.1 ounces, but have a solid and sturdy feel, with an extendable headband that doesn’t become flimsy at maximum reach.
Sound quality was impressive during our tests, delivering a thumping but nuanced bass and crisp midrange, and there's support for Sony's 360 Reality Audio via the app too. There's no noise canceling and the built-in mics is serviceable for calls at best, but the Sony WH-CH520 headphones are a useful cheap option for casual listening at home and the workplace.
- Read the full Sony WH-CH520 review
Best cheap wireless headphones with ANC
The Cleer Enduro ANC is more "cheap for a pair of ANC over-ear headphones" than cheap in general, though there's no arguing against this being a fantastic bargain. ANC and especially the transparent ambient mode work well, and there are some handy bonus features like the built-in NFC tag for fast pairing.
The fit is decent, though you might want relief after a couple hours, and while the Bluetooth connection supports aptX Adaptive you could alternatively use the included 3.5mm cable for full Hi-Res Audio support. Best of all is the battery life: we got over 50 hours of ANC-enabled playback, something no other pair of the best noise-cancelling headphones can currently match.
- Read our full Cleer Enduro ANC review
Best cheap headphones with hi-res support
We've been very impressed by the Anker Soundcore Space One for their premium sound features and ANC performance at the entry-level price. The have Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC codec support, customizable sound, multipoint technology, and some of the strongest quick charging out there. A safe volume settings add to the lengthy list of features. The adaptive ANC can be personalized via different listening modes to your liking, and is an impressive feature at the price.
Performance is above what we expected, with strong bass levels and a re-engineered sound profile that brings greater clarity to mids and highs. Unlike several cheap headphone designs, the Anker Soundcore Space One headphones are available in several attractive color options including jet black, latte cream and sky blue colorways.
- Read our full Anker Soundcore Space One review
best cheap wireless headphones for battery life
It’s not every day that you find noise-cancelling headphones with up to 90 hours of playtime (60 hours with ANC on) for under $100. Audio-Technica’s new mid-range entry offers just that, while also delivering excellent fidelity and range. The ATH-S300BT can accommodate boom-heavy recordings without foregoing details and produce discernible mids and highs. Operation is simple with a physical control setup to enable media functions and toggle listening modes. You get Bluetooth multipoint to pair the headphones with two devices simultaneously. And if you’re worried about recharging times due to the ATH-S300BT’s enormous battery life, breathe easy because a quick charge will net you 2.5 hours of use in 3 minutes.
The aesthetically low-key design isn’t for everyone, though the real letdowns are the ANC modes. Standard noise cancellation wasn’t as effective as we would have liked. Hear-through mode produced poor vocal capture as well. Luckily, you can just turn off ANC and enjoy the ATH-S300BT’s fine-tuned sound on the go.
- Read our full Audio-Technica ATH-S300BT review
Best cheap earbuds overall
Priced at just $99, OnePlus Buds 3 set a new standard for true wireless performance on cheap wireless earbuds. Upscaled features like adaptive ANC deliver at a premium level, eliminating close to 90% of unwanted noises from the soundstage, which only the best noise-cancelling buds can do. A powerful mic array grants superb digital assistance and voice calling. OnePlus even equipped their latest buds with advanced audio specs such as dual dynamic driver units (6mm tweeter + 10.4mm woofer) and Bluetooth 5.3 with hi-res LHDC codec support. The result is stellar audio output that can be personalized through multiple sound-enhancing features unavailable on most models.
Compromises were made to accommodate the low price point, but the middling 3D audio and poor battery management are easy to overlook at the price. These are outstanding value and the best wireless earbuds under $100 around right now.
- Read our full OnePlus Buds 3 review
Best cheap buds for small ears
JLab's JBuds Mini wireless earbuds blend powerful sound and special features into one of the smallest true wireless designs ever created. They tap into the neglected market of users with smaller ears, or those that just don't like the look or discomfort of larger buds protruding from ear canals. They have an impossibly tiny form, and the non-bulky charging case means they can be easily attached to a keyfob. JLab even threw in upscale features like an ambient listening mode and Bluetooth multipoint for pairing to two devices simultaneously.
Comfort levels are high, and our reviewer found they barley noticed wearing them even after several hours. These buds don't feature active noise cancelation but they successfully manage to block out noise passively when listening to music. They form a tight seal around the ear canal that prevents external sounds from creeping in.
The JBuds Mini are some of the brand’s best-sounding buds under $50. The bass-forward profile produces lively sound right out of the box, courtesy of the default JLab Signature EQ, though you can experience better sound by swapping out the Equalizer setting via companion app. Companion app access extends functionality to personalize the buds in multiple ways, be it audio customization or usability.
- Read our full JLab JBuds Mini review
Best cheap buds for sound
Sony's WF-C500 earbuds may not wow you with their looks, but arguably these are the best wireless earbuds under $100. Music sounds punchy and although their profile might not be as depth-filled as the Sony WF-1000XM4, you can expect powerful lows and crisp highs, along with under-emphasized mids. Should you want to tweak the sound, there’s the Equalizer feature in the Sony Headphones Connect app to manually adjust frequencies or select from nine presets that prioritize different sonic elements, depending on the music genre or content.
The WF-C500 isn’t perfect, though, with slightly impractical controls that can inflict some discomfort when attempting to activate, and mediocre capacity from the charging case. However, these are trivial complaints when factoring in the level of sound Sony has managed to engineer into these tiny buds, and they're a bargain-priced model that really shouldn't be overlooked.
- Read our full Sony WF-C500 review
Best cheap buds under $25
To see a pair of $25 wireless earbuds show up on any “best of” list is an accomplishment. Although getting on a bit now, they're still one of the most popular budget picks. Our original review said that they were impressed by the level of sound these tiny, water-resistant buds reproduce, programmed with three EQs that enhance audio in different ways. You can enable Balance for a neutral listening experience, increase the low end with Bass Boost or get a bit of both with JLab Signature, which is our recommendation.
Being able to use the buds for up to 8 hours on a single charge might be the Go Air Pop’s greatest strength, alongside its 32-hour charging case that’s super compact and comes with a built-in USB cable for charging on the go.
Had the buds worked well for phone calls or been compatible with the JLab app, these would easily rank higher, but a 4-star rating suits them well.
- Read our full JLab Go Air Pop review
best cheap wireless earbuds for fitness
We loved the first-gen Epic Air Sport ANC and find their successor to be the best budget workout headphones. Signature features like the secure earhook design with IP66-rating for dirt, sweat, and water resistance remain intact. Battery life hasn’t changed, which is excellent news considering a full charge generates up to 15 hours of listening time, depending how you use the buds. Be Aware mode is still great for increasing awareness of nearby sounds. Improvements to the touch controls allow for seamless operation. Furthermore, JLab tweaked its soundstage to deliver full frequency range with energetic bass (enable the 'Balanced' EQ) that intensifies workouts.
Call quality ranks at the bottom. However, JLab’s biggest disservice was leaving the built-in USB-A charging cable in the wireless charging case instead of updating it with USB-C charging. Thankfully, the case holds a ridiculous amount of portable juice: up to 70 hours fully charged.
- Read our full JLab Epic Air Sport ANC (2nd Gen) review
Also tested
The Tom’s Guide team tests many wireless headphones that don’t always make our buying guides. Despite being omitted from our rankings, these are still notable selections that offer some value, depending on your needs and budget. The picks in this guide are the very best we've tested and have all been given full reviews. With more models to choose from than ever, we want to make sure that you also consider these tested options.
Frequently asked questions
What is active noise canceling?
Active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones use an 'active' combination of hardware (microphones) and firmware to make external sounds or noises sound quieter when you’re listening to your favorite music or podcasts, say. Unlike passive noise isolation, which simply muffles those sounds by forming a seal with headphone ear cups or in-ear tips, active noise cancellation listens out for background sounds and uses clever audio trickery to “cancel” these potentially disruptive sounds out. For a more in-depth explanation see ANC explained.
How to choose the best cheap wireless headphones for you
The market for cheap wireless headphones is massive, so to help narrow down the search, you’ll want to take several things into consideration. Let’s start with fit. Since there are several different types, including in-ear, on-ear, and over-ear, base your decision on what will feel comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
Going wireless means restricted playtimes, as Bluetooth products consume a lot of power and require recharging every few days. Get a pair of wireless headphones with at least 12 hours of battery life. If you're going with truly wireless earbuds, 5 hours should be the minimum.
Build quality is also huge, especially when investing in sports headphones. Those who are big on fitness will want a pair that offers sweat- or water-resistant protection. Otherwise, look for models with durable aesthetics (e.g. strong plastic, stainless steel).
Keep in mind that modern wireless headphones and earbuds are taking on more advanced features. Look around and you’ll find some that have active noise cancellation, wireless charging, and even sound customization via mobile apps.
How we test the best wireless cheap headphones
Tom’s Guide tests all headphones on the following criteria: design, comfort, features, performance, and value. Our reviewers employ a rigorous testing process that compares products with similar fit, features, and price to determine the best option for you.
Every pair of cheap wireless headphones we test is worn over the course of a week for 2 hours at a time. Comfort, ease of use, and sound quality are three main categories we assess. In terms of audio performance, we test each model across a number of genres, including hip-hop, rock, jazz, classical and R&B, while also evaluating volume, clarity, and fullness.
Find out how we test and try out demo tracks for yourself in our guide to getting the best headphone sound for you.
When it comes to features, we test the effectiveness of active noise cancelling, Bluetooth range and battery life. For sports headphones, we put them through intense workouts to determine how securely they fit during exercises and how well they handle ambient noise. We test every feature for app-enabled headphones too.
Star ratings explained:
We evaluate earbuds based on a five-point system (1 = worst, 5 = best). If a product hits nearly every mark, it’s awarded a coveted Recommended badge, while our Best Value award speaks for itself. Only products with truly exceptional performance across the board are awarded an Editor's Choice badge.
For more information, check out our how we test page for Tom's Guide.
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