The best wireless headphones aren’t always expensive. With the vast amount of headphones available in every price segment, it’s easy to find good quality ones at a bargain price with plenty of features that match the price of premium models. We have an extensive list of top AirPods alternatives under $100, but if you’re looking for the best wireless headphones under $50, we’ve rounded up some cheap wireless headphones that are worth buying. This budget list is correct Wireless Headphones can help you find a cheaper alternative—and while there are plenty of earplugs that cost less than $50, they’re the cream of the crop. Several of them are surprisingly good for the price, even rivaling the quality of the bigger brands.
Here are my current wireless favorites under $50, listed from highest to lowest price. I’ve tried them all and periodically update this list with new products. Note that prices vary, so some may be a few dollars over $50.
Read more: The best true wireless noise canceling headphones
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Battery life
Rated up to 5.5 hours
Noise reduction
Yes (ANC)
Multipoint
No
Headphone type
Wireless Headphones
Waterproof
Yes (IPX4 — splash proof)
The Soundpeats T3 buds have two things going for them besides their modest price: They sound decent and work well for making calls with very good noise reduction. They are also comfortable to wear and have active noise cancellation and transparency mode. However, the noise reduction is only okay, not great (the same goes for the transparency mode). But you can’t expect everything for such a low price.
Equipped with Bluetooth 5.2, they are IPX4 splash resistant and have a battery life rating of up to 5.5 hours on a single charge at moderate volume levels.
They have a relatively smooth, balanced sound and rich bass. They won’t wow you with clarity or dynamic sound, but they’re pleasant to listen to, which is all you can ask for from a budget set of headphones.
Callers said my voice sounded clearer when I used the AirPods Pro, but the Soundpeats actually reduced more background noise than the AirPods Pro. I could hold conversations on the noisy streets of New York without a problem.
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Battery life
With an estimate of up to 5 hours
Noise reduction
Yes (ANC)
Multipoint
No
Headphone type
Wireless Headphones
Waterproof
Yes (IPX5 — protection against water jets under low pressure)
SoundPeats says its open-style Air 3 headphones are 10 percent smaller than their predecessors, the TrueAir 2, and the box is really small, smaller than the AirPods box. The buds stayed in my ears more securely than the AirPods (I have trouble keeping the AirPods in my ears, especially if I start running). They use Qualcomm’s 3040 chipset, which has Bluetooth 5.2, and I had no trouble pairing them with the iPhone 12 Pro and Google Pixel 4 XL. My connection was pretty stable. The headphones support the aptX audio codec with compatible devices.
Sound quality is good for open headphones. It’s right up there with the AirPods and they even have a bit more bass. I think most people will be happy with the sound. The only problem I’ve noticed is that you can only push them so far. When playing certain songs at higher volumes, I encountered some distortion; rock songs where multiple instruments play at the same time can be a challenge. As a result, I kept the headphones at about 60% of maximum. You can adjust the volume using the touch controls which work well. They play loud at higher volumes.
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You will receive price alerts for Anker Soundcore Life P2
Battery life
With an estimate of up to 7 hours
Noise reduction
No
Multipoint
No
Headphone type
Wireless Headphones
Waterproof
Yes (IPX7 — can be submerged for 30 minutes up to 1 meter)
Anker released its newer Soundcore Life P3 (around $70), but the Soundcore Life P2 headphones remain a good option for around $45. The buds load horizontally into their case rather than vertically, and there is a slightly cheaper feel to both the case and the buds compared to the Liberty Air 2. Their sound lacks the boost of treble presence that the Liberty Air 2 buds have , so they don’t sound as clear with well recorded songs and the bass isn’t as well defined. But they are warmer and more forgiving, which I appreciate, and sound more like the original Liberty Air.
It’s also worth noting that instead of touch controls, they feature physical buttons, which some people may prefer. They have four microphones, two of which should help reduce noise when making calls in louder environments. They do a decent job of reducing background noise when making calls, but my voice didn’t sound as clear to callers as it did with Anker’s Liberty Air 2.
While there’s no wireless charging, you do get USB-C charging. Battery life is rated at seven hours, and this true wireless headphone option has an IPX7 water resistance rating, meaning they can be fully submerged in water to a depth of 3 feet and still survive. They’re probably the best value in Anker’s true wireless line right now. An almost identical version of these headphones is sold at Target under the name Soundcore Life Note.
I should also mention that Anker now sells the smaller Soundcore Life P2 Mini, which has shorter stems. It’s also good value for money, but this model has four microphones for voice calls, while this model has two. The Life P3 has six microphones.
Read our Anker Soundcore Life P2 review.
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I was a fan of the original Earfun Free headphones and now there’s an improved version called the Earfun Free 2. They’re not a huge upgrade, but like the originals they fit my ears well and give decent bang for the buck with loud sound – – there’s only a slight boost in the highs and the bass (there’s a lot of bass) – and extra features like wireless charging.
Battery life is rated at up to seven hours at moderate volume levels, and these headphones are fully waterproof with an IPX7 rating. They’re equipped with Bluetooth 5.2 and use Qualcomm’s QCC3040 chip, which includes support for Qualcomm’s aptX audio codec if you’re using an aptX-enabled device (some Android smartphones support aptX).
David Carnoy/CNET
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The T10, which Tranya continues to slightly update while keeping the price low, has been on this list for a while and remains a good value at around $25 (it now has a low-latency gaming mode).
Like most true wireless headphones from Chinese brands that sell through Amazon, they have a pretty generic look and feel, especially the case, and may not fit all ears equally well – they do stick out a bit. But if you get a tight seal, they sound good, with powerful, well-defined bass and good detail (for a true wireless headset). They also work decently as headphones for making calls, thanks to decent noise reduction that helps reduce background noise so people can hear your voice better.
Battery life is rated at eight hours at moderate volume levels, and they’re fully waterproof with an IPX7 rating.
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The TaoTronics SoundLiberty P10 Bluetooth headphones are another true wireless AirPods Pro, but they’re one of the better ones for the money, with good sound and decent headphone performance for calls. The noise canceling isn’t on the level of the AIrPods Pro, but it’s reasonably effective, and there’s also an ambient mode that allows sound (equivalent to the transparency of the AirPods Pro, but not as natural-sounding) and an anti-wind mode.
I’ve tried a lot of Taotronics headsets over the years, and this might be the company’s best headset yet. While the headphones aren’t fancy, this inexpensive wireless headset fits my ears well, the box is compact, and the instructions clearly describe how to use the touch controls. They are equipped with Bluetooth 5.2 and are fully waterproof with an IPX8 rating. Battery life is six and a half hours with noise canceling on and volume at 50%.
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Design-wise, the Earfun Free Pro looks identical to the Fiil T1XS, which was on this list, and remains a good value. However, the Earfun Free Pro has better features, including active noise cancellation with transparency mode, wireless charging, and Bluetooth 5.2. They’re rated for seven hours of battery life without noise canceling on, or about six hours with it on. They are IPX5 waterproof, which means they can withstand prolonged splashes of water.
They sound very good for the money, with a fairly clean, balanced sound and bass that has some punch – they’re quite open. Lightweight and comfortable to wear, they have small fins to help keep them securely in your ears, and they look pretty discreet.
Don’t expect them to cancel out noise as well as the AirPods Pro, but they do provide decent muting. It’s worth noting that you can use the left or right earpiece independently, and there’s a low-latency mode for watching video (and possibly gaming). Call quality was also decent: callers said they heard some background noise, but it wasn’t intrusive and they could hear my voice just fine. The touch controls were quick to respond.
If you’re choosing between the Earfun Free Pro and the Mpow X3 above, it all comes down to the style of the headphones. The X3 has a stick-style design, while this isn’t the case.
Note that Earfun Free Pros sometimes cost more than $50 – but they often fall under $50, so that’s why they’re on this list.
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