All products featured are independently chosen by us. However, SoundGuys may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links. See our ethics statement.
Best wireless earbuds under $50
Wireless earbuds are great. They’re portable and convenient, and you never have to worry about wires getting caught on something and ripping them out. But these things can get a little pricey, and sometimes you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars, or even $100. We’ve gathered this list of the best wireless earbuds under $50 to accommodate most readers’ budgets.
What's new?
- This list of the best wireless earbuds under $50 was updated on November 30, 2023, to add the Skullcandy Dime 3 and Edifier TWS1 Pro 2.
- If you are on a tight budget, check out our list of the best wired earbuds for under $20 and the best cheap headphones for more options.
Are Tozo T12 the best pair of wireless earbuds under $50?
For a budget pair of wireless earbuds, the TOZO T12 destroys the competition regarding sound quality and passive isolation. There’s no companion app or active noise canceling (ANC), but that kind of simplicity is expected at under $40 (and maybe even desirable).
Loading chart ...
These wireless earbuds feature wireless charging, touch controls, and not a lot else. Truly, this is a no-frills experience, but that’s not a bad thing. The black design is fairly indistinct, with flat, touch-sensitive side panels. The T12 connects using Bluetooth 5.3, supporting the basic SBC and AAC audio codecs. The lack of aptX means Android users may encounter audio-visual lag, but that’s acceptable at this price. Basically, this is a great-sounding pair of earbuds, and that’s all.
The TOZO T12 microphone sounds fine, but don’t expect too much.
TOZO T12 microphone sample (Ideal conditions):
TOZO T12 microphone sample (Office conditions):
TOZO T12 microphone sample (Windy conditions):
How does the microphone sound to you?
What makes the Skullcandy Dime 3 a great pick for sound quality?
Wondering if it’s possible to get high-quality sound in budget earbuds? Look no further than the Skullcandy Dime 3. Out of the box, these earbuds have a frequency response that closely follows our house preference curve. This means that we think that most people will enjoy the way these sound. If you don’t like the sound, you can also easily adjust the sound of the earbuds to increase or decrease bass.
Loading chart ...
With IPX4 sweat and water-resistance, the Skullcandy Dime 3 are pretty durable earbuds. We have no problems recommending these to toss in your gym bag or give to your kids. When the earbuds are on sale, you can find them for less than $20, an absolute steal.
While these earbuds are light on features such as ANC or a companion app, you still get tap controls and Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint. The microphone is also impressive compared to other budget earbuds, especially when it comes to reducing background noise.
The microphone quality is perfectly fine for casual calls. The background noise reduction performed well in our simulated street and office environments.
Skullcandy Dime 3 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Skullcandy Dime 3 microphone demo (Office conditions):
Skullcandy Dime 3 microphone demo (Street conditions):
How does the microphone sound to you?
The JLab GO Air POP are excellent cheap wireless earbuds that come in plenty of colors
The JLab GO Air POP is another great set of no-frills options for the best budget wireless earbuds. These buds have an IPX4 rating, so they can withstand sweat. The GO Air POP shouldn’t break, but if they do, they’re cheap enough to replace without breaking the bank.
Unlike the previous JLab GO Air, which features an open case, the GO Air POP includes a lid to prevent the earbuds from flying out. The case can fast charge the earbuds with an 11-hour standalone battery life. You still get JLab’s signature integrated USB-A charging cable, so you should always be able to charge the case. According to JLab, the cable can withstand 10,000 bends before showing signs of wear.
Loading chart ...
When testing the GO Air POP, we experienced some connection hiccups, but these were infrequent and resolved themselves. You get your choice of SBC or AAC streaming with these Bluetooth 5.1 earbuds, and the sound quality is pretty good, even with the quiet bass response. You may need to cycle through the integrated EQ presets (no mobile app) if you want louder bass.
The microphone quality on the GO Air POP is okay but unimpressive.
JLab GO Air POP microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
JLab GO Air POP microphone demo (Windy conditions):
How does the microphone sound to you?
The Edifier TWS1 Pro 2 block out noise for cheap
The Edifier TWS1 Pro 2 are packed full of features yet still comes in under $50. The most notable feature here is the inclusion of active noise canceling (ANC), which helps to block out any noise around you. If you plan on using your earbuds in transit or in a noisy office or gym environment, the Edifier TWS1 Pro are definitely worth considering.
Loading chart ...
The earbuds also sound pretty good out of the box, with only a slight boost to bass. You can also select from 3 other equalizer presets in the companion app: pop, classical, and rock.
Loading chart ...
The Edifier companion app allows you to switch between listening modes, including wind reduction and ambient pass through modes. You can also track lost earbuds using the app and customize the onboard touch controls.
The main drawback with these earbuds is relatively poor battery life. But if you don’t plan on using these earbuds all the time, they are a great option.
The microphone quality is okay, and you can hear it in our demo below.
Edifier TWS1 Pro 2 microphone demo (Ideal conditions):
Edifier TWS1 Pro 2 microphone demo (Office conditions):
Edifier TWS1 Pro 2 microphone demo (Street conditions):
How does the microphone sound to you?
The Skullcandy Mod XT fits well and sounds good
The Skullcandy Mod XT offers impressive value for budget-conscious users. They’re well-regarded for their durability, as evidenced by their IP55 rating, which makes them resistant to water and dust. This, coupled with their comfortable fit, offers users convenience in varying weather conditions. The earbuds offer excellent sound isolation, enhancing your listening experience by effectively blocking out ambient noise.
Another notable feature is the Bluetooth multipoint, which enables seamless switching between devices such as your computer and phone. This added convenience is complemented by a long battery life of seven hours per charge and a quick charging feature that gives you two hours of playtime with just a ten-minute charge.
Loading chart ...
Sound-wise, the Skullcandy Mod XT offers a satisfactory experience with a considerable boost in bass and sub-bass frequencies. However, it still aligns pretty closely with the standard Headphone Preference Curve, making it suitable for most music genres. The sound profile can be further adjusted through the EQ options in the Skullcandy app for increased versatility.
While it has some minor annoyances, like hard-to-press buttons and a not-very-secure case, the Skullcandy Mod XT stands out for its strong performance at an affordable price point. You get SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs support, and the sound profile can be further adjusted through the EQ options in the Skullcandy app for increased versatility.
The Mod XT fares well when you take calls from quiet spaces, but background noise can make voices cut out
Skullcandy Mod XT microphone demo (Ideal):
Skullcandy Mod XT microphone demo (Street):
Skullcandy Mod XT microphone demo (Wind):
How does the microphone sound to you?
There is no technical difference except in the name. The Mod XT just features Walmart-exclusive colorways.
The best wireless earbuds under $50: Notable mentions
- Jabra Elite Active 75t ($149.99 at Verizon): These buds predate the popular Jabra Elite 7 Pro, but despite its age, it remains a great deal. These buds also have an IP57 rating that protects them from dust and temporary submersion.
- OnePlus Nord Buds ($146 at Amazon): The Nord Buds add a bit more bass to your music, making sub-bass frequencies sound twice as loud as mids. You can create a six-band custom EQ in the HeyMelody App (iOS/Android) to tame the bass or experiment with some presets. Battery life is also quite good; you get six and a half hours of playtime from a single charge with an additional 23 hours of battery from the case.
- Skullcandy Indy ($29 at Amazon): These earbuds sound very good for Skullcandy’s brand, though bassheads may find the frequency response to be a bit underwhelming. They are IP55 certified with a stable fit and have a strong connection. They also have solid isolation and are portable and easy to use.
- Skullcandy Sesh Evo ( $29 at Amazon): If you want rugged earphones with an IP55 rating, these are another Skullcandy pick that prove popular. The Sesh Evo gives you a more traditional earbud shape without stems. The company partnered with Tile to make it easy to track the buds, and you can use either earbud in mono mode.
- TOZO NC2 ($39 at Amazon): Using these earbuds can be a little odd, but the ANC offered by the NC2 is impressive for under $50.
- TOZO NC9 ($33.99 at Amazon): The TOZO NC9 brings terrific active noise canceling. Wonky touch controls and large earbuds may dissuade some users, but ANC doesn’t get much better than this for the price.
- Urbanista Libson ($39 at Amazon): The Urbanista Libson are solid open-ear headphones for any price. You get Bluetooth 5.2, a wireless charging case, and ear wings to secure the buds in place.
Some people may be more inclined to get over-ear or on-ear headphones than earbuds, so we recommend you check out our list of the best headphones under $50.
The Skullcandy Dime 2, unfortunately, have a very short battery life, topping out at just about 3 hours. They also have inconsistent microphone performance. If you try to take a call with the earbuds connected to your iPhone, the audio doesn’t come through the headset. Lastly, the Skullcandy Dime 2 has poor isolation, which means its sound quality is also unreliable. All in all, the JLab Go Air and Go Air POP are much better options for earbuds under $50.
What you should know about the best true wireless earbuds under $50
What makes a pair of true wireless earbuds good? This can be especially difficult when you’re shopping with a budget. Keep an eye out for a few key features that will help you make the right decision for you.
IP ratings, or Ingress Protection ratings, are standard for how resistant a piece of technology is to water and dust. These ratings are formatted IPXX, with the first X being a placeholder for dust resistance and the second X a placeholder for water resistance. If you’re planning to use your budget true wireless earbuds for workouts, it would definitely be a good idea to look for water resistance, at the least.
What is a Bluetooth codec, and why does it matter for wireless earbuds?
True wireless earbuds don’t have wires, so they operate via Bluetooth wireless technology. A Bluetooth codec determines how data is transmitted from your source device to your headphones. Every Bluetooth product supports the SBC codec, but there are some higher-quality options out there if your earphones support them.
Android users will want to keep a special eye out for earphones supporting the aptX codec, and if you have an iPhone, you’ll want to look for the AAC codec. These codecs are great for reducing audio-visual lag and streaming high-quality audio. Still, it’s also possible that you won’t be able to tell the audio quality apart unless you have very good ears.
It’s rare to find a pair of wireless earbuds that can last you an entire day of online school. The average battery life of a pair of true wireless earbuds is around five hours, and this is simply because the batteries are too small to hold more charge. That being said, many true wireless earphones store additional charges in their carrying cases, and many also support quick charging—so you can use them for an hour after 5-15 minutes in the case.
How should your earbuds fit?
If you’re shopping for earbuds, chances are you want them to sound good (who wants earphones that sound bad?). Both the passive isolation of your earbuds and the frequency response are important factors to sound quality, and they play off of one another.
Passive isolation refers to how well your earbuds can block out external noise. Unless your buds have active noise canceling (ANC) technology, their passive isolation will depend almost entirely on the way the buds fit in your ears. If your earbuds create a seal at your ear canal, they will be more effective at blocking external noise than earbuds that don’t. Many of the best true wireless earbuds under $50 come with several options for ear tip sizes to help you find the best possible fit, but some people may want to look into third-party ear tips.
What is a good frequency response for cheap wireless earbuds?
The frequency response of your earbuds determines how different frequencies are reproduced. Many of the best true wireless earbuds under $50 have at least slightly bass-heavy responses, so low frequencies will sound boosted compared to higher ones. This isn’t necessarily a problem because many average consumers prefer this kind of sound. Just don’t expect studio sound out of cheap earbuds.
Why you should trust SoundGuys
Each writer at SoundGuys has accumulated years of experience reporting on the consumer audio market, and our staff has no motive—financial or otherwise—to recommend one brand over another. When we do misspeak, we correct and own up to it.
Frequently asked questions about the best wireless earbuds for under $50
This depends on your earbuds, but there are a few things that could be impeding your earbuds’ ability to connect to your phone.
First, the earbuds may have automatically connected to the last-used device, so check to see if they connected to your laptop or tablet instead. Also, true wireless connection stability, while wholly improved over the past few years, is imperfect. It may just be a matter of going into your device’s Bluetooth settings and “forgetting” the pair of earbuds. Finally, you may need to factory reset your earbuds. This is different for every headset, so consult the manual that it came with.
The Jabra Elite 3 costs $79 and is a bit over budget for this list. If you want to learn more about the headset, read our full Jabra Elite 3 review.
We recommend the JLab GO Air POP as the best bang for your buck set of wireless earbuds. For only $25, you get a comfortable fit, touch controls, good sound quality, an IPX4 rating, and three EQ options.