The best cheap noise canceling earbuds

The Anker Soundcore Space A40 earbuds are light and comfortable for hours, though their case lacks tight hinges or a magnet, which can lead to earbuds being lost. These earbuds offer customizable tap gestures through the Soundcore app, which provides extensive EQ presets and Bluetooth multipoint for seamless device switching. We found the default Soundcore Signature frequency response pretty good and inoffensive, with a punchy low synth rhythm that sounds great but is under-emphasized in the highs and lows. In our testing, the microphone quality was pretty average for earbuds, fairly clear in ideal conditions, and effective at suppressing street noise, though it struggled with sibilant sounds and wind noise. The noise canceling does a great job, significantly reducing lower-end sounds like traffic and train rumbles, with good isolation that dampens incidental noises. We measured the battery life at 7 hours and 55 minutes with ANC on, with the charging case providing an additional four full charges.

The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds feature a stemmed design that fits securely, though we found the comfort to be average for extended wear, and their chunky case can pick up scuffs easily. They come with comprehensive capacitive touch controls, a Soundcore app offering a Fit Test, 22 EQ presets, Adaptive Noise Canceling, manual ANC levels, and Bluetooth multipoint. Our testing shows impressive sound quality with powerful bass and bright treble, which creates an energetic sound profile, though the propulsive bass line can play pretty loudly compared to vocals at safe volumes. The microphone system delivers intelligible voices that are best with lower-pitched voices and handles street and windy conditions better, though it struggles with keystrokes in office settings. Anker didn’t treat noise canceling as an afterthought, providing impressive ANC that successfully attenuates the sounds of traffic and hum on public transit, though isolation allows some incidental high-pitched noises to get through. The battery life is stellar, lasting 9 hours and 53 minutes with noise canceling on, and the case supplies approximately 50 hours of additional charge.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE are nondescript and relatively comfortable earbuds with a tiny, glossy charging case that lacks wireless charging, and their large nozzle might be unappealing for smaller ear canals. We found controlling them straightforward with flat touch surfaces that are customizable in the Samsung Galaxy Wearable app, which is quite data-hungry. Our listening notes indicate a boosted bass and a bass emphasis over treble, which can make some modern tracks challenging to listen to due to bass overemphasis, though the tuning reflects meeting consumers where they want to be. The microphones can handle phone and conference calls, delivering clear quality that is about what we expect from a set of affordable earbuds. These earbuds block out noise reasonably well with surprisingly good ANC, canceling up to 30dB of outside noise, making them excellent for commutes and flights. In our standardized test, the battery lasted 4 hours and 38 minutes, which is a bit low but should still last most of the day.

The SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+ feature a standard stem earbud design with a sleek matte black exterior and gold accents, and we found them lightweight and comfortable to wear for hours with a secure fit. The PeatsAudio app enhances functionality, allowing firmware updates, control customization, a low-latency gaming mode, and a 10-band custom equalizer. We measured excellent sound quality that will please most listeners, though the earbuds emphasize bass sounds below 150Hz more than our preferred sound and have slightly less emphasis on mids around 500Hz. The onboard microphones are adequate for taking calls on the go, producing clear voices in ideal conditions, though they are not great at blocking out background noise in noisy environments. The noise canceling does a good job, blocking up to 30dB of noise and effectively handling ambient noise like a fan or engine, but struggles with incidental noise like clanging dishes, sometimes amplifying them. In our battery testing, they lasted 3 hours and 53 minutes with ANC enabled, which is disappointing, although the charging case provides over six additional charges.

The CMF Buds 2 maintain a squared-off minimalist design with a smooth sandblasted matte finish, and we found them lightweight, snug, and comfortable for extended wear, featuring an IP55 dust and splash resistance rating. Their Nothing X app is a command center, offering a three-band custom equalizer, an Ultra Bass mode, Low Lag Mode, seamless dual device connection, and a handy “Find my earbuds” function. We observed a bass-forward but more balanced sound than their predecessors, with impressive spatial audio effects and good timbre, though they lack some brilliance in the treble region. The CMF Buds 2 deliver solid call performance with good clarity and natural tonality in ideal conditions, and their Wind Noise Reduction 3.0 technology works particularly well. These earbuds offer impressive noise cancelation performance, particularly effective in the low-frequency range where transportation rumble and engine sounds occur, reducing the perceived loudness of outside noise by 82%. In our testing, the CMF Buds 2 delivered roughly 9 hours of playback on a single charge with ANC off, with the case providing up to 55 hours total.

The SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro offer a standard wireless earbud package with a primarily black design and bronze accents, and we found them lightweight and comfortable to wear for hours, with an IPX5 water resistance rating. The PeatsAudio companion app unlocks many features, including listening modes, EQ presets, a 10-band custom equalizer, Adaptive EQ, and Bluetooth multipoint. Our measurements suggest that most people won’t love the way these earbuds sound straight out of the box due to a large emphasis on sub-bass and a lack of upper-bass and mids, though they can be tweaked in the equalizer. For taking calls, the onboard microphones work fine for quick calls, allowing voices to be clearly heard even with background noise leaking through, and they do an excellent job of blocking out wind noise. These earbuds do a great job of blocking out noise, reducing the loudness of external noise by an average of 83% with Adaptive ANC enabled, offering 30-40dB reduction of most sounds. In our battery test, the SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro lasted 3 hours and 54 minutes with ANC enabled, which is below par, though the charging case provides a few additional charges for up to 37 hours total playback time.

The OnePlus Buds 4 feature a familiar, lightweight design that we found comfortable for hours, offering an IP55 dust and water resistance rating. Their HeyMelody app provides extensive sound customization options, including 3D audio, a “Golden Sound” personalization feature, and a 6-band custom EQ, along with real-time translation for OnePlus phone users. We enjoy the sound quality, noting an emphasis on sub-bass frequencies below 100Hz while otherwise following our preference curve very closely, making it a solid foundation for personalized sound. The microphones work well for calls and meetings, effectively blocking out background noise, and we were particularly impressed by how well they block out street and wind noise. According to our testing, these earbuds reduce the loudness of external noise by an average of 84% with ANC enabled, blocking nearly 40dB of noise across low, mid, and high frequencies. In our battery testing, they lasted 5 hours and 31 minutes of playback time with ANC enabled, which is slightly below average, though the charging case claims up to 45 hours of total playback time.

For those looking for wireless earbuds under $100, we have found that many excellent options exist, each with its own strengths. If active noise canceling is your top priority for commutes or noisy environments, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC and OnePlus Buds 4 stand out, both offering impressive noise blocking and solid battery life. The Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC also provides extensive app control for fine-tuning ANC, while the OnePlus Buds 4 impress with consistent noise reduction across frequencies and great call quality in windy conditions. For exceptional sound quality straight out of the box, the SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+ deliver a high-fidelity experience, though their battery life is shorter than some competitors. The CMF Buds 2 also offer a compelling package with a more balanced, bass-forward sound and very long battery life with ANC off, making them a great value. If you prioritize call quality, the OnePlus Buds 4 shine, particularly outdoors, ensuring your voice remains clear. The Anker Soundcore Space A40 is a good all-rounder with decent noise canceling and sound customization, but its case design is a notable drawback. Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE offer surprisingly good ANC for their price and a secure fit for many, despite a bass-heavy default sound and shorter battery life. Ultimately, if you prioritize strong all-around performance with excellent ANC and call quality, the OnePlus Buds 4 are an easy recommendation. For those who want great sound above all else, the SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+ are a strong contender, provided you don't mind their shorter battery life.