The 9 Best Earbuds under $50 of 2021

If you want quality buds for less money, check the best earbuds under $50 you can get today.

Can cheap earbuds under $50 have the latest technology and sound good?

Unfortunately, not (most of them). 50 bucks isn’t enough money.

But if you look hard enough, you can find a couple gems that sound good, are comfortable, and come with modern tech.

Check the list to find neutral or bass-heavy earbuds, and everything in between.

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The Best Earbuds under $50

Here you can find the best earbuds in the $30 – $50 range that offer the most value regarding sound, build quality, and comfort. Not the cheapest earbuds but still on the lower-end.

1. Jlab Audio Jbuds Air

They have a somewhat balanced sound signature with a slightly emphasized mid-bass. It’s capable of reproducing all types of music, especially EDM and hip hop tracks. You can choose between 3 EQ modes.

You can expect almost all the features of the more expensive true wireless earbuds. A secure fit so that earbuds don’t fall out, and an IP55 rating to save you from worry outside or when working out.

Built-in control buttons and a microphone make changing music, taking phone calls, and using voice assistants like Siri simple very simple.

Plus, the charging case holds 15 hours of battery life on top of the 5.5 hours charge in the earbuds themselves.

Bluetooth 5 reliability, while not perfect, is satisfactory as well.

Jlab Audio Jbuds Air review

2. SoundMAGIC E10

Considering the price, Soundmagic E10 have one of the most enjoyable sounds out there. With a pleasant balance of treble, mids, and bass you will enjoy listening to all music genres.

The sleek metal casing looks quite good and feels comfortable and lightweight. Additionally, solid craftsmanship promises lengthy usability for all situations.

Add to this high audio quality with a balanced sound signature and impressive noise isolation, and you’ll understand why these have been so popular.

Not to mention, they cost under $40 which leaves you some budget to get better foam tips if you want.

For less than $50 with metal construction, lightweight design, and excellent sound, it makes the E10 a no-brainer.

3. Aukey EP-T32

If you enjoy a more laid-back frequency response, these should fit your needs. Boosted sub-bass adds a bit of rumble, while the midrange stays clear and very smooth.

The same goes with the treble, albeit it can be a bit too shy at times. At least the imaging is quite decent.

Surprisingly, they’re very comfortable to wear for extended periods since the ear hooks don’t push too hard on your ear canal.

They come with durable IPX8 water protection, making these workout earbuds completely submergible.

Android users will be happy to know these support aptX, which greatly reduces audio lag. Also, the chunky charging case can wirelessly charge via Qi-compatible pads.

Aukey EP-T32 review

For similar earbuds with high IPX, see the best waterproof Bluetooth headphones.

4. Linsoul Tin Audio T2

These cheap earbuds show excellent performance. Bass is on the slightly punchier side of neutral, but the midrange remains nicely balanced, with treble being presented with good sparkle.

All-metal housing gives a very industrial look to these budget earphones. Despite having some sharp edges, comfort is actually quite good.

Since they isolate well and don’t leak that much, you can use them to commute and even sports activities, especially if you wear them with a wire going behind the ear and with foam ear tips for extra fit.

They’re our top pick in overall durability. If the wire ever gets damaged, you can easily replace it with a new one. You only need to make sure you get the MMCX compatible cable.

5. Beats Flex Wireless

The cheapest Beats earbuds are also one of the most balanced sounding in their catalog.

Sound profile is suitable for all music genres, although bassheads will miss the thunderous rumble that is usually associated with the brand.

We have a seperate guide for best bass headphones here.

These neckband wireless earbuds have a simple, lightweight design that you barely feel when using. A built-in rocker performs essential commands like volume control.

The good news for Apple users is the integrated W1 chip, which ensures faster pairing and simultaneous Bluetooth connection from one device to another.

Despite Apple owning Beats, Flex Wireless come with a USB-C instead of a Lightning charging cable. They can last you for around 12 hours and support fast charging.

6. RHA S500

The bass notes dig very deep, and sometimes it does overpower the mix. With the recessed midrange and quite a strong treble presence, these have a distinctive V-shaped sound.

S500’s come packed with 7 pairs of silicone ear tips so that you can choose from different sizes and shapes. There are even double-flanged ones for deeper seal and better sound isolation.

Earbuds themselves are made of aluminum and extremely light, almost feather-like. 3.5mm connector is also made out of metal, while the cable is dressed in fabric.

RHA provides a 3-year warranty on these. Built-in remote control and microphone should work on both Android and iOS devices.

7. MEE Audio M6 PRO 2. Gen

The sound profile is very clear and detailed so you can hear all the nuances, which is something you don’t see often in this price category.

The natural sound signature lacks strong bass boost, even though you can change this with equalizing.

The construction and design are superb. Worn over-the-ears have sweatproof chassis and detachable cables (2 types: stereo and mic version) to survive the longest gigs.

The sturdy casing is also friendly to the ears with ergonomics that offer a comfortable fit.

Noise from the crowd won’t bother you either because the M6 PRO are very effective at blocking the background noise, especially when you combine them with Comply foam ear tips.

If you’d rather pick something with ANC, check our guide for best noise cancelling earbuds.

8. Zero Audio Carbo Tenore

These earbuds can offer really good audio performance. They have an almost perfect balance of audio ranges without sibilance even at higher volume levels.

There’s nearly no cable noise either, and all the ranges come out clear and detailed. The bass is punchy and controlled which makes them enjoyable for all music genres.

Zero Audio is a Japanese company that is well-known in the audiophile world for offering one of the best cheap headphones.

These budget earbuds are lightweight and comfortable though might stick out of the ears a bit so you can’t sleep with them.

Ambient noise is reasonably well blocked and provides enough isolation to enjoy the high-end sound.

Zero Audio Carbo Tenore review

9. TaoTronics Soundliberty 97

While their warm sound profile is far from neutral, you can enjoy every music genre with these Bluetooth earbuds. They’re punchy, clear, and smooth—pretty good performance for under $50.

Earbuds have a small footprint that doesn’t protrude too much. The wind noise is minimal, so you can easily use them for sports activities like running.

Also, because of an IPX8 rating, you can even wash them under a tap after your workout session is over.

Despite their size, they pack an impressive 9 hours of battery life, with another 20 inside the charging case.

To make a video watching experience better and with audio perfectly in sync, earbuds support aptX Bluetooth codec.

TaoTronics Soundliberty 97 review

Honorable Mentions

RHA MA390

Cheap earbuds under $50 with the excellent build quality and deep bass response. RHA MA390 don’t have many extra features but they do come with a 3-year warranty. (Check MA390 price)

HiFiMan RE-400

One of the best cheap earbuds with a wide array of accessories that let you achieve the best results. For the best audio clarity, you have to first make sure to use a proper source and tips. (Check RE-400 price)

Shure SE112-GR

Fantastic earbuds under $50 from a brand that people quickly recognize. With Shure SE112 you get a decent sound, good background noise isolation, and great call quality out of the inline remote. (Check SE112-GR price)

1MORE PistonBuds

Ergonomically shaped earbuds with effective noise cancellation mic for enhancing call quality (this is not the same as active noise canceling). 1MORE PistonBuds have a noticeable hump in the bass, which will makes bassheads quite happy. (Check PistonBuds price)

JLab Audio Go Air

Jlab Go Air are a cheap pair of earbuds with an integrated USB cable inside the charging case. They have a more bassy sound, and you can toggle between 3 EQ modes. The control module is located under the earbud’s logo. (Check Go Air price)

For slightly more money look at the best Bluetooth headphones under $100.

Help! My Phone has No Headphone Jack

Nowadays a lot of the newest smartphones come without the audio jack which poses a problem if you don’t have wireless headphones. A question arises; “What do I do with my wired headphones?”

There’s a simple solution to that. It isn’t optimal but is better than throwing away your current cans.

You should get an adapter. It solves this problem by changing the sound signal from digital (Lightning, USB-C, Micro-USB) to analog (3.5 mm) so you can connect your wired headphones to a smartphone without an audio jack.

Which adapter you should get depends on your smartphone brand and type. Here are your options:

For iPhones with the Lightning connector, you can get a Lightning to 3.5mm adapter.

For the newest Android smartphones that use the USB-C, get this adapter.

It doesn’t come without a price. It generally lowers the sound quality and you’re unable to charge the battery when in use, plus they’re easy to lose.

Nonetheless, you can always get yourself new Bluetooth earbuds that have become quite good in recent years and can compare with wired ones quite well.

My Earbuds Have No Bass

The biggest and most common reason you’re not getting any bass is a bad fit.

You need to get an airtight fit otherwise your earbuds won’t sound as good. To get the right fit you have to pick the right ear tips for your ear size. Most earbuds come with at least 3 sizes, many with plenty more, and there are many other types to choose from among the aftermarket ear tips.

The absolute best ones are the memory foam ones that offer superior comfort and passive isolation. However, you can usually only get them as an accessory, and they cost more money.

Try all sizes of ear tips and see which ones fit you best. One type will surely provide you with a solid fit and thus strong bass.

Of course, you have to be sure your earbuds actually have strong bass and aren’t bass-poor by design.

Find related earbuds:

Best bass earbuds
Best noise isolating headphones
Most durable earbuds