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The Best
Nothing Ear (a)
Best Under $50
JLab Audio Jbuds ANC 3
Great Over-Ears
Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT
Best Noise-Canceling Headphones
Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless
The Best headphones under $100 are harder to find than you might think. Here at WIRED, it’s part of our job to listen to music all day, often on exceedingly fancy and bonkers-expensive models. We have playlists for testing bass, for assessing detail, for dance parties—we get way into it. But believe it or not, we like testing the cheap stuff just as much. It’s like a treasure hunt to find the ones that pack in the most tech for the money. And they’re getting better every year.
That doesn’t mean our work is done; etailers are still overflowing with cheap headphones that sound cheap, so we’ll keep listening and updating our picks every few months. While you’re looking for the next great pair, be sure to check out our many other buying guides, including the Best Wireless Headphones, Best Workout Headphones, and Best Phones With a Headphone Jack.
Updated May 2023: We’ve added the Nothing Ear (a), Soundpeats Air4 Pro, JLab JBuds ANC 3, and Belkin Soundform Mini and replaced older picks. We also checked links and prices.
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Photograph: Parker Hall
The Best
Nothing Ear (a)
Nothing might often claim to be more, but where the rubber meets the road it essentially marries great design with affordable, well-made tech. That’s nothing to scoff at, particularly where its earbuds are concerned. The Ear (a) (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are a particular standout in this regard; these headphones look and feel easily as nice as an Apple product, and they boast the vast majority of the same features as AirPods Pro, but cost about half as much. I like the lighter look and feel when compared to the more expensive Nothing Ear, and I especially like the cool yellow colorway. 45 dB of noise cancellation is plenty for most tasks, the mics sound great on calls, and you can even get hi-res audio, provided you have an LDAC-equipped cell phone.
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Photograph: Amazon
Best Under $50
JLab Audio Jbuds ANC 3
These retail for $60, but you can often find them on sale for under $50, which makes them the best wireless in that price category, bar none. The JBuds ANC 3 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) have a clean audio profile with great instrumental separation for dynamic and compelling sound, and they have an ergonomic profile that will fit most ears. Noise canceling is solid, as is call quality, and I really like how much control the app gives you over what each button does (as well as EQ settings). Another thing to love is the built-in USB-C charging cable, which helps me overlook the fact that the case itself is a bit plasticky. If you want the highest-quality buds for the cash, these are the best you’ll find.
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Photograph: Audio-Technica
Great Over-Ears
Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT
I’ve been a big fan of Audio-Technica’s workhorse studio headphones for my entire listening life, and so I was stoked to see a new, affordable pair from the brand. The ATH-M20xBT (9/10, WIRED Recommends) have 60 hours (!) of battery life, comfortable earpads, and excellent sound for the money. They also come with a cable for easy wired listening, making them great for plugging in on planes or into portable consoles.
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Photograph: Amazon
Best Noise-Canceling Headphones
Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless
Anker makes everything from phone chargers to headphones, and we generally like most of its gear. The Q30 are a standout, thanks to the decent hybrid active noise-canceling tech and class-leading 40-hour playtime. These are a great cheap model to buck the noise of planes, trains, and automobiles. A pair of 40-mm silk diaphragm drivers even produce pretty good sound quality for the money. Just be careful with them because they’re a bit fragile; the plastic headband can crack if you sit on it.
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Photograph: Anker
For Many Devices
Anker Soundcore Space A40
If you want some earbuds that can silence the world and also connect to three devices at once, this pair from Anker (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great choice. They can connect to your phone, tablet, and laptop simultaneously, and they feature a comfortable, lightweight design that is easy to wear all day. The battery will last 10 hours between charges, which makes these a solid pair for traveling.
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Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Another AirPod Clone
Soundpeats Air4 Pro
If you’re after the AirPod aesthetic on a budget, these are a solid pair to check out. The multipoint pairing and auto-pause features inside the Air4 Pro (7/10, WIRED Recommends) make them ideal for those of us who are constantly swapping between devices throughout the day. We also like that they have decent noise canceling, and that they have a slim, pocketable charging case. It’s these little things that make these above average when compared to other trunked buds in this price range, though there are still some downsides: The treble can occasionally sound a bit more thin and forced than others, and it can take a second to get a handle on the touch controls.
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Photograph: Beats
Best for Apple Lovers
Beats Flex
The Beats Flex have all of the same conveniences of more expensive Apple earbuds: quick pairing, easy access to Siri, and seamless Apple Music integration. This is all thanks to Apple’s W1 chip powering it, which helps the headphones establish and maintain a rock-solid wireless connection to iOS devices and also has added power-management smarts to boost battery life. WIRED reviewer Adrienne So found the band between the two earbuds to be a bit long for her, but she liked the crisp sound and wide soundstage, all without the muddy bass that Beats was notorious for in its early days. She likes the 12-hour-plus battery life, which is good enough for a few workdays of tunes between trips to the wall charger. (They charge via USB-C, which is a bonus.)
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Photograph: Sony
Best for Content Creators
Sony MDR7506
If you’re a music producer, podcaster, or streamer, you need a good pair of over-ear headphones for monitoring your creative output. The classic Sony MDR-7506 are just what you need. They’ve got great-sounding 40-mm dynamic drivers, and the cozy earpads help eliminate bleed into any nearby mics. Pros everywhere trust these cans; you’ll find 7506s in media studios and radio stations around the world.
★ Sleeker options: There are also great headphones from several other audio brands, like these from AKG and Sennheiser. As a general rule, you can trust any company that makes studio microphones (Shure, AKG, Sennheiser, Audio-Technica) to know what it’s doing with studio-style headphones.
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Photograph: Audio Technica
Best Corded Headphones Under $50
Audio-Technica ATH-M20X Monitor Headphones
They’re plasticky and don’t feel all that durable, but if you’re not super hard on your headphones, the wired M20X easily compete with the larger, more robust M50X when it comes to sound quality. The M50X litter music and podcasting studios the world over, making this cheaper variant a good option for home creators on a budget, or anyone who wants a pair of over-ear headphones that faithfully recreate their favorite tunes.
They’re also lighter in the bass department than many headphones in this price range, since manufacturers often boost the lows in cheaper headphones to impress untrained ears. This lack of strong bass is a good thing though. You’ll be able to hear more of the detail in your favorite shreddy guitar solos, without that extra low-end stomping all over them.
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Photograph: Shure
Best Corded Earbuds Under $50
Shure SE-112GR
OK, yes. They look like the same ugly earbuds that came with your first portable MP3 player, but what the Shure SE-112GR lacks in looks, they make up for in sound quality. We’ve recommended various iterations of the SE-112 to friends and family since the iPod era. They’re small, comfy, and have surprisingly robust bass for headphones this small and cheap. They even come with foam ear tips that can block out up to 37 decibels of outside noise, making them great for folks who want to tune out the 15th play-through of “Baby Shark.”
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Photograph: JLab Audio
Best for Small Ears
JLab Audio JBuds Mini
These teeny tiny earbuds from JLab are designed to fit on a keychain, and they’re small enough to take with you anywhere. They’ve also become my go-to recommendation when folks tell me they can’t find earbuds they like because they have smaller ears. They come with an IP55 dust- and water-resistance rating, which makes them great for workouts, and they have five and a half hours of power when you’re listening. It’s not the longest battery life, but certainly enough for buds this small. They also have a built-in mic for calls, but it’s not the best I’ve ever tried.
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Photograph: Koss
Best for Style Points
Koss Porta Pro
Koss’ iconic Porta Pros have a cult following in audiophile communities for their comfortable, lightweight design and oddly fantastic sound. They look like they’re fresh out of a 1980s workout ad, but they’re actually solidly built, and there are a ton of aftermarket earpads and other accessories to increase their comfort or help them fit your style. They also fold up, which makes them easy to take with you in a backpack or laptop bag.
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Photograph: JBL
Best Buds Under $25
JBL Tune 215
Do you just need something cheap? We hear you. We read great things about JBL’s low-priced plug-in earbuds, so we gave these a shot. They sound decent, and the flat cable rarely gets tangled and mitigates those distracting sounds when the cord rubs against your shirt. Our friends at the Wirecutter selected these as their top budget pick, and we agree. They’re great for the price!
★ Other cheap buds: These Panasonic ErgoFit earbuds sound better (and come in more colors!) than standard Apple earbuds, but cost half as much.
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Photograph: Logitech
Best Gaming Headset
Logitech G Pro X
The Logitech G Pro X (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is one of our favorite gaming headsets for many reasons. It has an expansive 7.1-channel soundstage, and the software also gives you tons of control over the quality of your voice. The mics were designed with help from Logitech-owned Blue Mics, and we really love the way they represent the human voice on streams, podcasts, and Zoom calls. When you’re not gaming, we like that they look more normal than flashier headsets from other gaming brands, without flashing lights to attract attention.
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Photograph: Logitech
Best Gaming Earbuds
Logitech G333 In-Ear Gaming Monitors
These little earbuds from Logitech are colorful, and they work excellently with portable game systems like the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, or Laptop. Reviewer Eric Ravenscraft likes their good detail and solid bass, which helps you hear what’s going on around you in competitive environments. He also likes the tangle-free cable, an included dongle, and support for USB-C right out of the box.
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Photograph: Belkin
The Best for Kids
Belkin Soundform Mini
Kids headphones are going to be put through a lot, and these Belkin headphones have held up to senior editor Adrienne So’s 8-year-old, which is a very impressive feat. They have 30 hours of battery life and come in pink, which are also very important for younger folks. The sound pretty good, even if they’re a bit stiff on larger heads (these really are for kids). The volume is limited to OSHA-approved 85 decibels, which will save your kiddos’ ears, at least until they head to their first rave.
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Photograph: Luca Lorenzelli/Getty Images
Wired Headphones Don’t Use Bluetooth
Why Don’t My Headphones Work?
We have seen reports that some cheap wired headphones don’t work unless you have Bluetooth toggled on. Since true Apple Lightning connectors are expensive to make, unscrupulous manufacturers make headphones that receive audio via Bluetooth, but need to be plugged in with a fake Lightning connector that powers the Bluetooth chip off your iPhone battery.
You should not have to toggle on Bluetooth to receive audio via a wired headphone, and you don’t have to worry about this issue with any of the headphones we have recommended here. Happily, you can still buy phones with a port that you can plug headphones into without a dongle or proprietary accessory. If you want to explore this option, you may want to check out our guide to the Best Phones With a Headphone Jack.
