Introducing the best Bluetooth earbuds under 50 dollars, you can buy today.
Rating | Price | Battery | Water protection | Type | Mic & Controls | More info | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jlab Audio Jbuds Air Best overall | 4.2 | Under $50 | 6h + 18h in case | IP55 | True wireless | | |
Aukey EP-T32 Runner-up | 4.0 | Under $50 | 7h + 28h in case | IPX8 | True wireless | | |
Beats Flex Wireless Best wireless earbuds | 4.5 | Under $50 | 12h | None | Neckband wireless | | |
4.4 | Under $40 | 5h + 9h in case | IPX7 | True wireless | | ||
4.6 | Under $50 | 9h + 20h in case | IPX8 | True wireless | | ||
Skullcandy Jib True Wireless For Skullcandy fans | 4.3 | Under $30 | 6h + 16h in case | IPX5 | True wireless | | |
4.3 | Under $40 | 4.5h + 20h in case | IPX4 | True wireless | | ||
TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 Best classic earbuds | 4.4 | Under $40 | 5h + 20h in case | IPX8 | True wireless | |
When it comes to wireless in-ear headphones, $50 isn’t a lot of money. It’s kind of a low price, but since the technology has been getting cheaper, you can still get decent Bluetooth earphones.
It’s true that most major headphone brands don’t offer wireless Bluetooth earbuds under $50, but there are plenty less known brands that do.
Keep in mind that you can’t expect sonic fidelity or active noise cancellation since these are the cheapest headphones with Bluetooth. For ANC take a look at the best budget noise cancelling headphones.
Though, you can expect to get great value for money regarding functionality, decent battery life, and pleasant audio quality.
We did our best to find top-rated models that have wireless Bluetooth technology and pleasant sound quality for less than 50 bucks. There are a couple of really good ones here, check them out below.
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Best Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds under 50 Dollars
1. Jlab Audio Jbuds Air
The Jlab Audio Jbuds Air are the best truly wireless earbuds under $50. They have a comfortable, truly wireless design and a long battery life.
- Good water protection IP55
- Stable fit suitable for sports
- User-friendly magnetic design
- Good sound quality for the price
- Annoying physical controls (Air Icon have touch controls)
- Can become uncomfortable after prolonged time for small ears
- Phone calls require the right earbud
Jbuds Air true wireless earbuds give a high level of sound quality for the price. You’ll struggle to find better frequency response and audio clarity for under $50.
The truly wireless earbuds come with three sets of ear tips and one set of fins to ensure a comfortable fit.
Like a lot of true wireless earbuds, these use a charging case to enhance battery life. You can get 5.5 hours of continuous use, and a further 15 hours by charging in the case.
IP55 rating of moisture resistance means they are good for exercise and can handle a bit of sweat or rain. Jbuds Air easily cope with an active lifestyle.
2. Aukey EP-T32
The Aukey EP-T32 is our runner-up to the Jbuds Air. These earbuds have ear hooks for stability, seven hours of battery life, and a focus on water resistance.
- Excellent comfort and stability thanks to ear hooks
- Reliable touch controls
- Extreme water protection (IPX8)
- Enjoyable, punchy sound
- Great Bluetooth stability and coverage
- Support for Qi wireless charging
- No multipoint support
- Subpar microphone quality
- Mediocre passive isolation due to shallower fit
Wireless buds have nice rumbling sub-bass that makes the sound fuller. Accompanied by smooth mids and treble, you can listen to these for hours without getting bored.
Earbuds sport an ear hook design that ensures excellent stability. You can take them on the run or in the gym and not worry about them falling off your ears.
Even though they’re lightweight and very comfy, their housing feels solid. With an IPX8 water-resistant rating, they can survive full submersion.
Despite coming with a small price tag, these pair of earbuds offer everything from aptX Bluetooth codec and Qi wireless charging. The latter is still a rarity in the budget price range.
3. Beats Flex
Balanced sound and W1 Apple chip are only a few things that make these earbuds a compelling buy.
- Affordable Beats
- USB-C port
- Balanced sound
- No carrying pouch included
- With no ear fins they lack stability
Beats Flex surprises with a reasonably balanced sound signature, which isn’t very common for this brand. While that makes them great for all music genres, clarity isn’t the best in this price bracket.
However, they are quite handy if you’re an iOS user. A built-in W1 chip ensures quick pairing and a stable connection with your Apple devices.
They have a very lightweight neckband design, so you quickly forget you’re wearing them. You can command them with a control module on the left side. And with a good mic, they provide a decent call quality.
Interestingly, Flex are using a USB-C charging cable for fast-charging instead of a Lightning port. They can output music for about 12 hours before asking to recharge.
For more options, see the best Bluetooth headphones under $100.
4. Anker Soundcore Liberty Neo
Soundcore is a brand by Anker, who specializes in good quality audio gear at a cheap price point. The Soundcore Liberty Neo provide strong bass response in true wireless design.
- Very comfortable
- Ear fins provide secure fit
- Reliable Bluetooth 5.0 connection
- IPX7 water resistance
- Good sound quality with graphene drivers
- Pretty decent build quality
- The charging case seems a bit flimsy
- Charging via micro USB
- Bass isn’t very agile
- Physical controls are annoying and only support basic commands
The BassUp technology is proprietary to Soundcore and supposedly provides over 40% more low-end. So, these have deeper bass, which makes popular music more fun, but colors it unnaturally.
For deep bass in premium wireless headphones, check the Beats PowerBeats Pro and best bass earbuds.
The earbuds have clear and quality sound with a small emphasis on bass notes. They have a unique graphene driver design that gives more power.
The IPX7 water protection means they’re fully waterproof, and you can also wear them in rainy and sweaty conditions.
Moreover, Soundcore’s proprietary technology for comfy fit is called Grip Fit. It creates a solid seal in the ear when you insert and twist the buds.
It keeps them secure for working out. Just like the best workout headphones.
5. TaoTronics SoundLiberty 97
Another great true wireless budget option, with strong water resistance (IPX8), sporty fit, and 9 hours of battery life.
- Good overall sound quality
- High water protection (IPX8 rating)
- Comfortable fit for long listening sessions
- Impressive 9-hour battery life
- Great passive isolation
- Competition comes with extra features
- No EQ presets
As with many budget offerings, these also have a bass boosted frequency response. Fortunately, PEEK + PU drivers don’t overpower the rest of the mix. The midrange stays clean, with a decent amount of sparkle up on top.
These little workout buds come with slightly longer silicone eartips that fix themselves securely inside your ears. They don’t come off during exercise that easily, which is always a good thing.
They’re quite durable, too, providing a high IPX8 water-resistance rating, meaning you can wash them under a tap without worries. Check other best waterproof Bluetooth headphones.
It’s worth pointing out their impressive 9 hours of battery life, which is quite surprising, giving their small form factor.
TaoTronics Soundliberty 97 review
6. Skullcandy Jib True Wireless
Skullcandy Jib are light truly wireless earbuds that offer an attractive design at a reasonable price tag. Plus the bass boost Skullcandy fans tend to love.
- Super cheap true wireless earbuds
- Dust & water protection with IP55 (IPX5)
- Ease of use
- Really loud with good amount of bass
- Bluetooth problems are common, disconnects and distortion
- Using built-in buttons puts pressure on ears
- 3-hour battery life per charge is on the low end
- Funny fit
Default sound profile offers a fun frequency response, with strong bass emphasis that makes the overall presentation warm in tone. Even though their sound quality isn’t accurate, they should be fine for a casual listening experience.
Skullcandy likes to play with catchy designs. Jib come in either monotone black or rainbowy color scheme, which makes them appealing to kids. And people that are young by heart, of course.
They can survive light splashes of water (IPX4) and support mono mode, which lets you use only one earbud.
Control buttons let you adjust the volume levels and also toggle between 3 EQ modes. 6 hours of battery life per charge is good, although sadly, these cheap earbuds still use a Micro-USB cable for charging.
7. Aukey EP-T21
One of the best cheap earbuds under the $40 price tag are the Aukey EP-T21, giving you much more than their price suggests.
- Very loud
- Ergonomic design that’s stable and comfortable
- Good battery capacity
- Low price
- The lid on the case feels a bit flimsy
- Okay sound
These cheap earbuds can sound quite loud if you want to. For the price, they provide good sound quality with an overall enjoyable, balanced sound signature. The soundstage is small and not ideal for listening to live recordings.
Aukey’s come in a design that resembles the AirPods Pro with its stem-shaped earbuds. They provide excellent comfort due to their ergonomic design. Since they use ear tips for in-ear insertion, they stay in place securely.
You can squeeze 4.5 hours of battery life from a single charge, while the carrying case provides another 20 hours. The latter is relatively small and fits in your pocket easily.
They offer an IPX4 water resistance rating, which is perfectly fine for repealing sweat and light rain. That means they can also endure a little bit of exercise.
8. TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92
If you still prefer a more classic approach, without sticking ear tips inside your ear canal, than SoundLiberty 92 are your best choice under $50.
- Comfortable and lightweight
- The fairly neutral sound signature
- Responsive touch controls
- 5-hour battery life on a single charge
- Good build quality
- IPX8 water-resistance
- Loose fit
- Poor noise isolation
Surprisingly good bass with good kick and control, but non-existing sub-bass. Midrange gets a bit warm, with a good amount of details, paired with a smooth, sibilance-free treble.
Like many true wireless classic earphones, these also borrow the design from Apple’s favorite AirPods.
However, 92’s are slightly different, with a small dip at the end of the stem to better grab your ear lobe. That makes them more secure, especially during a workout.
They are more comfortable and fit better than other classic budget earphones, and are also IPX8 water-resistant, making them fully submergible.
Expected 5 hours on a single charge. You can recharge them at least 5 more times with the charging case.
TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92 review
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are Cheap Wireless Earbuds Good?
Compared to high-end, cheap wireless in-ear headphones usually come with older technology that is commonly available but lack any proprietary features.
Nonetheless, basic Bluetooth technology is so advanced that you get a good user experience for very little money. You can expect decent performance for an average user.
$150 earbuds might come with app support, better battery life, and more attention to details, but they aren’t 3 times better.
If you want good Bluetooth earbuds that don’t have to be the best to save some money, then these are a great option.
For something in between, see the best headphones under $100.
Why You Must Get a Good Seal? (and How to Get it)
There are many reasons why it’s critical you get a tight seal:
- Better bass response. For strong lows you need an airtight fit otherwise all that sound goes out of the ear, and you don’t hear it.
- More accurate audio experience. To hear all the sounds in clarity and detail, you need the least amount of audio pollutants. Pollutants like the noises created near you that don’t come from the earphones. You want a direct connection from the driver to your eardrums.
- Better noise isolation. This one is self-explanatory. A good seal blocks more ambient noise and leaks less sound which makes for a more private experience. You don’t bother others, and others don’t bother you.
When you don’t get a secure fit, you will complain about the lack of bass, volume, and background noise isolation which are all necessary for a pleasant audio experience.
How to get an airtight seal?
The goal is to find the right eartips for your ear canals. There are many different designs and materials. Silicone ear tips are most common and are usually come together with all in-ear headphones.
Better and more expensive are the memory foam tips that provide better comfort and passive noise isolation. Unfortunately, they cost more money and only come inside the package of selected (usually more premium) earphones.
Find the best noise isolating headphones.
What’s Important for Safety
To use any headphones safely, you need to use the right volume. Listening to high volume damages your hearing over time. The injury comes gradually and is almost impossible to detect.
To avoid hearing damage, you should strive to listen at around 50% volume. If you go over, try to keep it short. You can read more on how to avoid hearing damage here.
What Devices Support My Bluetooth Earbuds?
All Bluetooth enabled devices should work with your wireless earphones. This includes:
- All iOS and Android smartphones and tablets. Like iPhones, Samsung, LG, HTC, Google Pixel, etc.
- Most laptops of later generations (that come with Bluetooth support, check your own to be sure)
- Bluetooth MP3 players (MP4)
Unfortunately, stationary PCs usually don’t support it. But you can get a Bluetooth adapter and install it.
Of course, the music will only be played if your Bluetooth device actually gives out an audio output.
Does a Battery Lose Capacity Over Time?
Yes, unfortunately, the technology inside the batteries isn’t built to work forever. The capacity and thus playtime on a single charge diminish over time.
The older your wireless earbuds, more likely the battery has lost original capacity and will hold a shorter charge.
However, there’s not much you can do about it. Enjoy your Bluetooth headphones while they last and when they die, just accept the fact you’ll have to buy new ones.
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