Best Budget Earbuds for 2025: Cheap Wireless Picks

Why I like them

Earfun is one of our go-to brands for budget earbuds and its Air Pro 4 buds (read my full review) are one of the better earbuds values out there, which is why I awarded them an CNET Editors' Choice in 2024. While they aren't a major upgrade over the earlier Air Pro 3s, they do have a few enhancements that make them slightly better earbuds. (Note: Apply the code EAP4CNET at checkout on Amazon to get an additional 10% off).

Earfun has moved from Qualcomm's QCC3071 to the newer QCC3091 that supports aptX Lossless Audio for a select few Android devices. The buds also support Sony's LDAC audio codec, which is available with more Android smartphones, and the AAC and SBC codecs.

Like their predecessor, the Air 4 Pro are lightweight and comfortable to wear -- I got a good seal with the largest ear tip size -- and they feature slightly improved noise canceling and sound quality along with better battery life (up to 11 hours with noise canceling off and 7.5 hours with it on, according to Earfun). While the default sound leans slightly warm with a touch of bass push, you can tweak the sound in Earfun's companion app for iOS and Android, and I did think the sound measures up well to earbuds that cost twice as much.

Reasons to buy

As I said, these aren't a big upgrade over the Earfun Air 3 Pro, but once again Earfun has delivered a set of earbuds that deliver strong performance for their modest price. They also pack in a lot of features, including a wireless charging case and multipoint Bluetooth pairing (they're equipped with Bluetooth 4 and LE Audio).

Reason to skip/keep looking

The voice-calling performance is slightly improved, but the background noise reduction during calls isn't as good as what you get with higher-end earbuds like Apple's AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2, as well as Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro. I also thought their touch controls could work a little better than they do. And lastly, I should note that Earfun will release the slightly updated Air 4 Pro Plus this fall, though it'll likely be more expensive than this model at launch.

Why I like them

Anker makes so many value earbuds it's hard to keep track of all of them. Released in early 2024, its Soundcore P40i buds are arguably the company's best budget earbuds, with a comfortable fit (they come with six sizes of ear tips) and very solid performance for around $50. Not only do they have decent active noise canceling as well as a transparency mode, but they offer multipoint Bluetooth connectivity and respectable voice-calling capabilities. As far as sound goes, they're billed as "bass heavy" earbuds, and indeed, they deliver pretty powerful bass, though it's not boomy or muddy and there is ample detail. They just lean a little warm You can tweak the sound a bit in the sound profile, but I mainly stuck to the earbuds' "signature sound," which I thought worked well with a wide variety of music genres. Worth noting: They have a reasonably wide sound stage and low-latency modes for movie watching and gaming.

Reasons to buy

The buds are a solid value, and have a bonus feature some people may find useful: The earbuds' charging case converts into a stand for your smartphone when watching video. That's a feature more earbuds cases should have.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

Anker has released the P41i, which, along with the built-in phone stand, have a built-in power bank to charge your phone (to about 50%). So, you may want to check that model out.

Why I like them

Truth be told, I'd never heard of the Roseselsa Ceramics X earbuds before I saw a post comparing them to Final Audio's more expensive ZE3000 SV buds that argued the two models are essentially the same. This would make the Ceramics X far better value, but it didn't prove to be quite true. While I ended up liking the Final Audio ZE3000 SV better, I was impressed by the sound quality of the Ceramics for how little they cost. Also, not only did they fit my ears well but I thought their noise canceling was effective and their voice-calling performance was acceptable. They also support the AAC and LDAC audio codecs for Bluetooth playback (many Android smartphones support LDAC).

While I thought the treble, bass performance and tonal balance was a touch better with the ZE3000 SV, the Ceramics X serve up good clarity and punchy, well-defined bass that should satisfy most people. The midrange, where voice lives, is a touch forward, which I tend to like. They come in three colors.

Reasons to buy

For the price, the Ceramics X exceeded my expectations for sound quality.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

Some people prefer earbuds with stems and may not love the fit of these. Also, it's hard to say how long buds like these may last, and a few user reviews on Amazon note some technical glitches; quality control standards aren't always top-notch for budget buds that are based on a predeveloped design by a factory in China.

Why I like them

In a surprise move, Skullcandy has joined forces with Bose to create what's essentially a budget version of Bose's $299 QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds. With "Sound by Bose," not only do the Method 360 ANC buds sound better than most earbuds in this price class (they sound very similar to Bose's $170 QuietComfort Earbuds), they also fit comfortably and securely thanks to Bose's Fit Kit system that features stability bands to lock the buds in your ears. While they share many of the traits of Bose's flagship QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds, they're lighter and lack the more premium finish of those pricey buds. Also, their noise canceling isn't up to the QC Ultra's best-in-class ANC standard. But it's still effective and better than the noise canceling I experienced with previous Skullcandy earbuds I've tested. Read our Skullcandy Method 360 ANC review.

Reasons to buy

While you can find earbuds that sound pretty decent for this price (or a little more), the Method 360 ANC's sound quality is a notch up from what you typically find at this price point. Another selling point is that these buds should fit most ears comfortably and securely thanks to the Bose-like design.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

The Method 360 ANC's only potential major drawback is its rather large carrying case and the buds themselves are a little bigger than most. Some people won't mind that the case is bulky, but it may be dealbreaker for some folks. Also, voice-calling performance could be better, but hopefully that will improve with firmware updates.

Why I like them

The AirPods 4 are the fourth generation of Apple's original true-wireless earbuds that feature an open design, which means they don't have silicone eartips like the AirPods Pro 2. Not only do they feature a slightly smaller design and better sound than their predecessor, but they're equipped with Apple's H2 chip that improves overall performance and powers Apple's ever-expanding AirPods features, though they don't have the AirPods Pro 2's Hearing Aid mode. They're among the best-sounding open earbuds. Read my Apple AirPods 4 review.

The AirPods 4 come in two versions: an entry-level model ($129) and a step-up model with active noise canceling ($179), wireless charging and a speaker in its case that makes a chirping sound to help you locate the case should you misplace it. While I typically recommend getting the version with ANC -- they're the first open buds I've tried to have active noise canceling that actually works -- the entry-level AirPods 4 get regularly discounted to $99 on Amazon (their lowest price to date is $90), which puts them in value territory.

Reasons to buy

Some people don't like having eartips jammed in their ears and find open earbuds more comfortable (plus, you can hear the outside world for safety reasons), and the AirPods 4 are made for those Apple users. As I said, they sound very good for open earbuds and feature excellent voice-calling performance along with Apple's spatial audio and likable pinch controls.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

While their slightly smaller, updated design fits a wider range of ears more securely, some folks may not get a secure fit. The AirPods Pro 2 offer a more flexible fit because they include four different sizes of eartips. They also deliver better sound with more bass in a noise-isolating design (the AirPods Pro 2's noise canceling is significantly better than that of the AirPods 4 with ANC).

Why I like them

Available in four color options, the Solo Buds are missing some key features found in more premium buds, including a battery in their very compact charging case, ear-detection sensors and active noise canceling. But they get the fundamentals right. They're lightweight and not only offer decent sound quality and strong battery life but very good voice-calling performance that rivals what you get with the company's more expensive Studio Buds Plus. Read my full review.

Reasons to buy

They're the most affordable Beats earbuds and their charging case is quite compact and doesn't take up much room in a pocket. They also have great battery life.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

Having no battery in the case may be a deal-breaker for some people (using a USB-C cable, your phone can supply power to charge the buds in the case, but not everybody likes that concept).

Why I like them

The Soundpeats Air5 Pro buds not only fit comfortably, but they also offer good overall performance, including solid sound quality, for the money. At first glance, they appear similar to the EarFun Air Pro 4. Both are powered by the Qualcomm QCC3091 chip, offer high-resolution audio support (the LDAC audio codec for Android users), have similar driver sizes and are available at comparable prices. The Soundpeats arguably offer a touch better noise canceling and voice-calling performance, however, and some people may prefer their fit. They're a tad lighter, at 4.8 grams per earbud compared to 5.2 grams for the EarFun buds, and have an integrated triangle vent to "help reduce in-ear pressure." On the flip side, the EarFun Air Pro 4 buds have some features missing from the Soundpeats. They include ear-detection sensors, wireless charging, Google Fast Pair and Auracast, which allows you to tune into audio broadcasts over Bluetooth, say from a TV at your gym.

Reasons to buy

The Air5 Pro are good value alternative to the AirPods Pro 2.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

From a features standpoint, the Earfun Pro 4 have some advantages and they cost around the same price. I also preferred the eartips that come with the Earfun Pro 4.

Why I like them

Like Earfun, QCY makes a variety of budget earbuds and headphones that deliver good bang for your buck. The MeloBuds Pro look a little generic, but they're lightweight and comfortable and sound good for what they cost, offering decent clarity and well-balanced audio (you can tweak their sound profile a bit with the EQ settings in the QCY companion app). Also, they're noise-canceling and voice-calling performance are better than average for sub-$50 earbuds. And finally, they have ear-detection sensors, multipoint Bluetooth pairing, a low-latency gaming mode and support for Sony's high-quality LDAC audio codec (many Android devices support LDAC).

Battery life is rated at up to 7.5 hours at moderate volumes with noise canceling on, though it dips to around 4.5 hours if you're using the LDAC codec for streaming over Bluetooth. Sweat-resistant and splash-proof with an IPX5 rating, the QCY MeloBuds Pro may not do anything exceptionally well -- and I found their touch controls a bit finicky -- but they're overall a good value, especially when they go on sale for closer to $40.

Reasons to buy

They may not be total budget standouts but they sound as good or slightly better than the competition in this price range and have some features like ear-detections sensors not always found at this price point.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

The MeloBuds Pro are pretty generic and a small fraction of user reviews on Amazon note that the buds have had technical issues over time and haven't held up as well as they hoped.

Why I like them

Released in 2023, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds carry a lower list price than 2022's Liberty 4 buds and are arguably better in some ways. They have improved noise cancellation and better sound quality, along with support for the LDAC audio codec for devices that support it. (Many Android smartphones do, and in theory it offers slightly improved sound quality when paired with a music streaming service that offers high-res tracks.) They're lightweight buds that should fit most ears comfortably with four sizes of ear tips to choose from. 

The Liberty 4 NC buds have single custom drivers compared to the Liberty 4's dynamic dual drivers -- and a completely different case design -- but I thought they delivered more pleasant sound than the Liberty 4s. Their treble is a little smoother and they feature strong bass performance. They came across as fairly open, with a reasonably wide soundstage. You can tweak the sound profile in the companion app for iOS and Android. 

The buds come in several color options and are IPX4 splash-proof, so they're suitable for running and gym use. They feature excellent battery life -- up to 10 hours on a single charge at moderate volume levels -- and there's also a transparency mode that lets ambient sound in and sounds pretty natural with only a very faint audible hiss. While the noise canceling is an improvement over the Liberty 4's and is effective, it falls a bit short of what you get from Bose's and Sony's premium ANC earbuds. 

Like the Liberty 4, the earbuds have six integrated mics for noise cancellation and making calls, and callers said they thought the buds did a pretty good job of reducing background noise, with my voice coming through relatively clearly. They're an all-around good performing set of buds for the money, and they offer a strong feature set, including ear-detection sensors and wireless charging.

Reasons to buy

While they've been out a couple of years, the Liberty 4 NC remain a decent value, priced about $30-$40 lower than the newer Liberty 5.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

Anker's has released the newer Soundcore Liberty 5 in 2025 that have some small performance upgrades, particularly to noise canceling and voice-calling performance.

Baseus is known for its value earbuds, power banks and charging products. While its Bowie MC1 aren't in the same league as Bose's Ultra Open Earbuds, they cost around a sixth of the price and sound pretty decent for this style of of clip-on earbuds, particularly with less demanding tracks that don't feature heavy bass and a lot of instruments playing at the same time. On Amazon, you'll find clip-on buds with a similar design, including the Tozo OpenEarRing ($40) and Amazfit Up ($50), so they're a little generic. But I found the sound quality to be slightly better many competing clip-on value buds. I also liked that they have a single physical control button on each bud for controlling playback and adjusting volume levels.

Battery life is rated for up to 9 hours at moderate volume levels, which is good, but expect to get les than that because you do tend to have to listen to open earbuds at higher volumes, especially in noisier environments. With an IP57 certification, the buds are splash-proof and dust-proof, making them suitable for runners and bikers. Voice-calling capabilities are also decent though don't expect business-class performance.

Why I like them

The Soundcore Sport X20 has some nice upgrades over Anker's original Soundcore X10 earbuds. They include an improved design, adaptive noise canceling, superior battery life, slightly better sound and multipoint Bluetooth pairing. Like the previous model, these have an interesting design with rotating swiveling ear hooks. However, they don't swivel as much as the X10's ear hooks, which is a good thing (they stayed on my ears very securely). I also liked that the charging case has a smaller footprint than a lot of buds with ear hooks.

Fully waterproof and dust-proof with an IP68 rating, the X20 have slightly larger drivers than the X10 (11mm instead of 10mm). As long as you get a tight seal from the included ear tips (you get 5 sizes), they're able to deliver good sound with punchy bass and good detail. They lack a bit of clarity, particularly at higher volumes (there was a touch of distortion), and the noise canceling isn't as good as Sony or Bose's noise canceling. But the buds are affordable and a good value overall. As for battery life, it's rated at up to 12 hours with noise canceling off and 7 hours with it on. Voice-calling performance is also decent thought not exceptionally good.

Reasons to buy

If you like the concept of the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 but don't want to pay $249 for them (yes, they do regularly go on sale, but they list for $249), the X2 are a good alternative for a lot less money.

Reasons to skip/keep looking

Some people prefer an open design (that lets sound in from the outside world) in a set of ear-hook style earbuds. Not everybody will get a tight seal from these earbuds.