Best cheap wireless earbuds of 2023

Hunting down the best cheap wireless earbuds is like finding a needle in a haystack. You can search through hundreds of low-priced models before stumbling upon that one inexpensive gem that pairs perfectly with your devices. 

We’re seeing models from popular brands like Anker, Jabra, JBL, and Samsung that have received significant price drops over the past few months. In addition, there is an influx of new brands like OnePlus and Nothing releasing super-affordable buds that are undercutting some of the market’s best wireless earbuds, wireless headphones, and noise-cancelling headphones. You hear that, Apple? The competition for this year's best headphone deals is catching up — and fast.

To assemble this list of the best cheap wireless earbuds, a variety of factors were taken into account, including overall design, battery life, sound quality, and special features. Most importantly, we capped this list at $100, which we feel is a reasonable price point for many consumers.

What are the best cheap wireless earbuds to pair with your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or gaming rig? Read on to find out.

The Quick List

Best wireless earbuds overall

The small but mighty Galaxy Buds 2 is a fantastic value for Samsung Galaxy smartphone owners that require portable audio companionship. Powerful ANC and ambient modes give you full control of how much external sound you want to hear, while the dynamic two-way speaker pumps out crisp highs and deep lows. Those who own a Galaxy smartphone get special perks like the low-latency Gaming Mode and Samsung’s Scalable Codec support, which enhances audio quality over the SBC codec. The Galaxy Wearable app also extends functionality with an Accessibility mode to let you assign ANC to one earbud, plus an EQ that has six well-engineered presets.

The weaker IPX2 durability means these buds aren’t as water-resistant as other competitors, and the less premium design makes the high-end Galaxy Buds Pro more enticing. Nonetheless, it’s an affordably suitable pickup for anyone invested in Samsung’s mobile ecosystem.

Read our full Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 review.

Best for Android users

Google’s first attempt at wireless earbuds wasn’t well received, and though the second-gen Pixel Buds were a notable upgrade, it’s the Pixel Buds A-Series that has saved the franchise from obscurity. These $99 earbuds have lots of smarts and a stylish design that complements the brand’s popular Pixel smartphones. No other buds can match the A-Series Google Assistant integration, which lets you fire off hundreds of voice commands with ease. Comfort is another strength, allowing you to wear the buds for hours on end without experiencing soreness. Then there is Google’s Adaptive Sound technology that enhances audio quality by adjusting the volume according to your environment for optimal listening. 

Outside of wireless charging, the Pixel A-Series offers nearly the same performance as its higher-priced sibling. That makes it the better purchase for all Android users.

Read our full Google Pixel Buds A-Series review.

Best AirPods Pro alternative

The original Liberty Air 2 was considered a Laptop Magazine favorite for its great audio quality, excellent connectivity, and serviceable listening modes. Anker upped the ante with its successor, the Liberty Air 2 Pro, adding new features (e.g., Tip Fit Test, LÜM music service) into the mix, along with adaptive noise cancellation that is not only engineered to block out ambient noise in different environments, but can also be adjusted at the user’s discretion. Battery life on the buds and the redesigned wireless charging case are both rated higher than the AirPods Pro.

Sound is rich and punchy, though audiophiles might take issue with the lacking highs these buds produce. Luckily, there’s the EQ with 22 presets and a custom profile to tweak sound to your hearing. Besides the high end, the only real issue these buds have are the touch controls, which have limited gesture input and operate on a delay.

Read our full Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro review.

Best 3D sound

Creative has put out numerous cheap wireless earbuds, but none can hold a candle to the Outlier Pro ANC. On top of delivering some of the longest battery life in the category, these buds are loaded with high-powered audio specs, including a 10mm graphene-coated driver, limitless EQ presets, and Super X-Fi compatibility to upscale music for 3D sound. There are caveats such as Super X-Fi only working in the SXFi app and with music files stored on your mobile device. However, the feature is effective and gives music a more natural presence. Hybrid ANC is also part of the package and blocks out noise at a higher level than most sub-luxury wireless earbuds.  

The controls aren’t the most reliable and the large design makes for an uncomfortable wear at times, but these are compromises you can live with for the price.

Read our full Creative Outlier Pro ANC review.

Best Sony wireless earbuds

Originally launched for $100, the WF-C500 has been seen on sale for as low as $69, making it one of the best true wireless deals out there. Sony managed to stuff several of their proprietary technologies into these buds, including 360 Reality Audio and Digital Sound Enhancement Engine (DSEE), both of which bring a more immersive, natural-sounding experience to music. Access to the Sony Headphones Connect app lets users personalize the buds in multiple ways (we recommend playing with the customizable EQ). Getting 10 hours on a single charge is something you won’t find in many rivals at any price point.

To accommodate the low MSRP, Sony had to limit battery life on the charging case; 20 hours falls short of the industry standard (24 hours). On the plus side, it looks much cooler than the AirPods case and is conveniently portable.

Read our full Sony WF-C500 review.

Best ANC wireless earbuds

Edifier has put out several inexpensive wireless earbuds throughout the year. We’re most fond of the W240TN. Sound is far better than what you would expect for the price, thanks to dual dynamic drivers that present great frequency response. You’ll get a nice mix of lows, mids, and highs, granted the bass doesn’t hit as hard as other options in this category. ANC is legit for eliminating most daily distractions. Transparency mode is even more reliable for increasing awareness of surroundings. A full charge can generate up to 8.5 hours, which is fine for 4 days of moderate use (2 hours daily)

Had the call quality been more reliable, the W240TN could have earned an Editor’s Choice badge.

Read our full Edifier W240TN review.

Best Sennheiser wireless earbuds

Sennheiser’s true wireless entry-level series had a rough start, but the CX Plus helped get things back on track. This is a mid-range model that somehow delivers better noise cancellation than the flagship Momentum True Wireless 2, along with exceptional audio quality highlighted by well-balanced frequency range. The inclusion of aptX Adaptive opens the door for hi-res streaming on compatible services like Tidal and Deezer. Notable features like the call quality adjuster are also clutch for enjoying loud and clear-sounding calls. We’re fans of the responsive and intelligible controls as well.

The bulky design does make for an uncomfortable wear, especially for listeners with small ears, and the lack of highly coveted features like wireless charging is disappointing. Then again, $129 for Sennheiser sound is a serious bargain.

Read our full Sennheiser CX Plus review.

Best Jabra wireless earbuds

The Jabra Elite 3 grants you signature Jabra performance for nearly half the price of the brand’s premium models, as well as the AirPods. Music sounds loud and lively, thanks to powerful, yet tiny 6mm speakers, which produce warm, rich audio. Want a little bass or more emphasis on highs? The Jabra Sound+ app gives you that through a group of well-engineered presets. You’ll find some other unique software perks in the app such as HearThrough for dependable ambient listening and Call Experience to optimize what’s already excellent call quality by boosting your vocals on calls. Bluetooth 5.2 guarantees strong and fast connections, while Google Fast Pair provides one-touch pairing with Android devices.

Do we miss some of Jabra’s more enticing features such as ANC, multipoint technology, and MySound to create a sound profile that’s tailored to your hearing? Of course. At the same time, the Elite 3 is giving you much more in functionality and performance than numerous other models at its price point.

Read our full Jabra Elite 3 review.

Best premium performance

1More has released numerous cheap wireless earbuds over the past year, but only a few have proven to be of quality. Add the PistonBuds Pro to that list. These $59 buds have an impressive feature set, which consists of an EQ with multiple well-engineered presets, effective ANC, and a low latency mode designed to improve audio synchronization when gaming. A 10mm dynamic driver with an aero titanium membrane dishes out clear, balanced sound with strong bass at the forefront. Battery life is sufficient at 7.5 hours per charge. Connectivity is also strong and extends up to 60 feet.

Call quality has never been great on 1More wireless earbuds, and the PistonBuds Pro is no different. In addition, the volume levels could have been raised a little higher.

Read our full 1More PistonBuds Pro review.

Best premium features