11 Best Budget Wireless Headphones in 2024

We tested 193 headphones. Over 100 of them under $80 which we consider a budget option.

Here are the 11 top budget picks right now. You’ll also learn:

• What makes the best budget wireless headphones the best.
• Our test results and honest opinion for each pair.
• A/B sound comparison tests, so you’ll know exactly how they sound.

+ Honorable mentions (#7-11)

To pick the top headphones, we evaluated them based on 9 key factors (Sonic9Score). Check our testing and ranking methodology. The main criteria we looked at to pick the recommendations are sound quality, comfort, build quality, battery life, and features (see why below).

We wanted to create a list of budget wireless headphones under $80 that perform the best for daily listening and commuting.

See the list below.

Best Cheap Wireless Headphones

1. Anker Soundcore Life Q30

Anker Soundcore Life Q30 are impressive and the best budget wireless headphones we’ve tested. They come with great sound quality, effective ANC (active noise cancellation) and long battery life – Anker Soundcore Life Q30 review.

Check the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 A/B sound test:

If you’re looking for versatile Bluetooth headphones on a budget, this is it. Many other headphones have the same features and technology, but none apply it as well as the Soundcore Life Q30.

You get everything a modern pair of over-ear headphones offers:

• Great audio quality with in-app equalization (EQ), so you can adjust the sound to your taste
• Effectively block background noise with noise cancelling and focus on your music
• Long battery life of 44 hours per charge with ANC (up to 60h without ANC)
• Comfortable and foldable design that feels more expensive
• You can also use them as wired headphones

The Bluetooth headphones also come with a decent microphone for phone calls. Ambient sound mode, many EQ options in the app, physical and touch controls, and voice assistant support. The only bad thing is that they’re a bit bulky.

Read more about them and the test results in our review.

Related:

• Best budget noise cancelling headphones
• Best cheap headphones

2. SoundPEATS Space

Space headphones represent a great value thanks to their effective ANC and balanced sound quality. They hold a deserving spot in this guide – SoundPEATS Space review.

Check the SoundPEATS Space A/B sound test:

SoundPEATS Space have a smooth sound signature with boosted bass and balanced midrange. While they could be more detailed, their tuning fits well with most music genres.

These headphones have quite a few great characteristics:

• Active noise cancelling works consistently across all frequencies, even midrange, typically the toughest one to reduce.
• Battery life clocks at 65 hours with noise cancelling ON or up to 123 hours with ANC OFF. That’s the longest battery duration we’ve tested so far!
• Generous pleather padding with memory foam provides superb comfort during long listening sessions.
• Moreover, despite having a gentle clamping force, they hold to your head quite well, making them suitable for some light exercising.

More in our review…

3. EarFun Wave Pro

EarFun Wave Pro are definitely among the best cheap wireless headphones we’ve tested. They have impressive features and noise reduction technology (considering the price) – EarFun Wave Pro review.

Check the EarFun Wave Pro A/B sound test:

Do you want comfortable wireless headphones with good sound and active noise cancelling?

EarFun Wave Pro tick the boxes. While these are by no means perfect headphones, they’re an excellent package for less than $80.

• They have a surprisingly balanced sound that gets even crispier when you add our custom EQ settings.
• They are never sibilant, and the overall listening experience is improved by plushy and spacious over-ear earpads.
• Headphones support all the essential commands and can fold inwards to save space.
• Integrated microphone picks your voice with good clarity, easily surpassing most wireless competitors under $100.

Ambient noise cancellation can easily reduce most frequencies in the audible spectrum, except for the ones below 100Hz, which makes them slightly less suitable for commuting.

4. EarFun Air Pro 3

EarFun Air Pro 3 are great true wireless headphones on a budget. For under $80, you get good sound, a long battery, and a comfortable fit – EarFun Air Pro 3 review.

Hear the EarFun Air Pro 3 A/B sound test:

EarFun Air Pro 3 true wireless headphones give money’s worth of premium features for under $80.

You could easily think these cost over $100. You get:

• Good sound quality with equalization (EQ)
• The latest Bluetooth 5.3 and the LC3 Bluetooth codec
• Multipoint (you can connect to multiple devices)
• Great active noise cancellation that removes ambient noise
• And a long battery life of 8 hours per charge

Check the test results in our full review.

5. Edifier W820NB Plus

Edifier W820NB Plus wireless headphones offer a beautifully natural sound quality under $80 which makes them great for all music genres – Edifier W820NB Plus review.

Check the Edifier W820NB Plus A/B sound test:

In case you’re looking for neutral-sounding budget headphones with Bluetooth and ANC, check these.

You get:

• Balanced sound with lots of detail
• A decent battery life of around 33 hours with ANC and quick charging ability
• A good microphone quality in a quiet room, but gets muffled by background noise
• The active noise cancellation is decent, especially for the price
• Comfortable over-ear headphones

Unfortunately, they don’t include a carrying case. And they’re a bit plasticky. So you have to take better care of them.

Check the test results in our review.

Related cheap headphones:

• Bluetooth headphones under $100
• Best cheap headphones
• Best cheap earbuds

6. Sony WH-CH510

Sony WH-CH510 are great wireless on-ear headphones for commuting – Sony WH-CH510 review.

Check the Sony WH-CH510 A/B sound test:

Sony WH-CH510 are perfect for most people seeking affordable wireless headphones for everyday use.

They have a consumer-friendly sound with a slight boost in bass, clear midrange, and non-sibilant treble. They make a good companion on your daily commute.

Sony skimmed as much weight as possible. They ditched the headband padding and opted for a fully plastic construction.

Still, the on-ears stay reasonably comfy despite sitting on your ears. On the other hand, users with bigger heads might feel some extra pressure due to the strong clamping force.

• The highlight is the excellent battery life, lasting 31.5 hours on a single charge.
• Headphones support both USB-C and fast charging.
• Great for video consumption, with SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs showing no visible audio delay.

See related:

• Bluetooth headphones under $50

Honorable Mentions

Here are the other best wireless headphones on a budget you can consider. These have excellent Bluetooth technology but are slightly lacking in some areas.

7. SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro

8. Anker Soundcore Life Q20

9. JBL LIVE 300TWS

10. Skullcandy Indy ANC

11. Aukey EP-N7

How We Test

Each pair of headphones is objectively tested and tried by our experts to get real hands-on experience. We score them based on 9 decision-making categories:

1. Sound quality
2. Comfort & fit
3. Durability / build quality
4. Battery life
5. Extra features
6. Passive noise isolation
7. Active noise cancellation
8. Bluetooth reliability & range
9. Value for money (the whole picture)

For example, to evaluate sound quality, we measure their frequency response (see graphs in full reviews). To determine battery life, we measure the maximum playtime from 100% charge to shutdown at half volume. Read more in our testing and scoring methodology.

Then, we combine the measurements with our experts’ hands-on experience. They catch a lot of bugs and annoyances that measurement equipment can’t. All of this combined creates the end score we give to each category (see specifics in reviews).

How did we choose?

We primarily focused on 5 decision points:

• Sound quality: They need an enjoyable sound for all music genres, preferably with equalization options.
• Comfort: They need to stay comfortable when you wear them for hours. Nobody wants irritating headphones.
• Build quality: We look at material quality, how do they feel in hands, and test their water protection.
• Battery life: By measuring the real battery life, we can compare and rank headphones from best to worst.
• Features: What features do they have, do they come with an app, how does it work, etc.

All recommended headphones perform well in the above categories, considering their price. They’re a great choice for casual daily listening and users who want good headphones for a reasonable price.

We choose from 193 tested headphones and those we tried personally. There are options for different headphone types and user needs.

How to Choose the Best Budget Wireless Headphones for You?

Decide on what you will use the headphones for.

• Want to commute with them? Get active noise cancellation
• Want to workout with them? Get water resistance
• Is portability important? Consider in-ear headphones, which are the smallest

Then, identify the main features you want.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Is noise cancellation more important than sound quality?
• Do headphones need to be water resistant?
• Do you want in-ear, on-ear, or over-ear headphones?

Choose a budget that suits you.

This is a good point when shopping for anything. Select the max price and stick to it. You don’t want to overspend on something that isn’t that important.

What You Should Know About Budget Bluetooth Headphones

Can you find decent wireless headphones for a low price?

You can, just not top-of-the-line.

Here’s what to expect from the best budget headphones:

• Lesser-known brands that aren’t as recognized and known.
• Cheaper materials (more plastics) and thus lower life expectancy
• The audio quality is generally about average at this price. But some headphones (like the ones above) sound like more expensive models
• Older features and technology (basic apps with simple EQ & presets, no adaptable noise cancelling, etc.)
• More power consumption and less reliable wireless connectivity, though the latest version Bluetooth 5.0+, is common and reliable

Related: What are the best cheap headphones brands

What you’re giving up with budget wireless headphones

These are the things you generally can’t expect:

• The high-res Bluetooth codecs like aptX, aptX HD, and LDAC since manufacturers have to pay license money, which increases production costs.
• The latest unique features like adaptive ANC, ANC level adjustment, customizable voice controls, etc.
• Wireless charging. It’s just becoming available in flagship models.
• The highest quality materials (metal, wood) and drivers.
• And, often, no reliable customer support either since these are smaller brands.

So, are cheap Bluetooth headphones worth it?

Absolutely. For an average, undemanding user on a budget, they’re the smart choice.

You don’t need expensive headphones if you can’t justify the cost or you don’t care about the “latest and best” features.

What do you need? A reliable pair of headphones that sound good, remove some background noise and last long enough to enjoy music or podcasts. That’s the dream.

Even though even basic headphones are getting more expensive.

Comparison Between Cheaper And Premium Headphones

What are the biggest differences between cheaper wireless headphones and more premium wireless headphones?

Sound quality and fidelity: More expensive headphones usually sound better, but the difference is often minimal or negligible for an average user. While the “pay more, get more” is true for the audio quality, it isn’t black and white. Choosing headphones from a reputable budget brand can often mean you end up with good-sounding headphones for less money.

Build quality and durability: Cheaper headphones are generally more plasticky and prone to breaking. This comes with a price tag, and the best thing you can do is take good care of your headphones.

Advanced features and technology: Cheap Bluetooth headphones often have the latest Bluetooth version (5.0+), effective ANC, app support with EQ, and decent microphones. The difference lies in the details. Premium headphones have the latest version of the software, more unique features, and more customization options.

Comfort and fit: There’s little difference in the comfort between cheap and premium headphones. Both can be perfectly comfortable. As long as you find a pair that suits you.

Brand reputation and customer support: Cheap brands often skimp on customer support. It might be harder to reach a qualified person and get a response to your question.

Price range and value for money: When it comes to value for money, cheap headphones win. Hands down, there’s no competition.

All fancy headphones charge a premium for the latest tech, making them slightly better for demanding users. But much more expensive for a small performance boost.

Related: How much should you pay for quality headphones?

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions