The 6 Best Budget And Cheap Headphones - Winter 2024: Reviews (2024)

1. Best Budget Headphones

   Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless 7

   

   Neutral Sound

   6.5

   Commute/Travel

   7.8

   Sports/Fitness

   6.9

   Office

   7.3

   Wireless Gaming

   5.6

   Wired Gaming

   6.7

   Phone Calls

   6.7

   Type Over-ear

   Enclosure Closed-Back

   Wireless Yes

   Transducer Dynamic

   Noise Cancelling Yes

   Mic Yes

   See all our test results

   The best budget headphones we've tested are the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless. They're the previous generation of the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless. As you might expect from budget headphones, they lack some of their successor'sfeatures, like support forhigh-res audio codecs.That said,you don't have to compromise too much. They have an ANC feature that does a fantastic job of blocking out a wide range of noise, including rumbling engines and background chit-chat. They also last for around 44 hours on a single chargeand support multi-device pairingto keep you connected to your phone and computer simultaneously.

   Out of the box, their sound delivers a lot of extra bass. There's extra thump and rumble in genres like EDM and hip-hop, but instruments and voices still soundclear and bright. If you prefer a different sound, you can use the in-app EQ and presets to customize it to your liking. While these headphones are lightweight and comfy, their earcup padding is a bit thin, which can get fatiguingduring long listening sessions. Their plastic frameisn't particularly premium, but they feel decently sturdy.

   See our review

2. Best Cheap Headphones

   Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless 2

   

   Neutral Sound

   6.8

   Commute/Travel

   7.4

   Sports/Fitness

   7.1

   Office

   See Also

   Five below headphones & true Wireless earbuds review 2024The 5 Best Headphones Under $50 - Winter 2024: ReviewsThe Ultimate Guide to 5 Below Bluetooth HeadphonesBest cheap headphones 2024: budget wired and Bluetooth headphones

   7.2

   Wireless Gaming

   5.3

   Wired Gaming

   7.0

   Phone Calls

   6.9

   Type Over-ear

   Enclosure Closed-Back

   Wireless Yes

   Transducer Dynamic

   Noise Cancelling Yes

   Mic Yes

   See all our test results

   Consider another pair of Anker headphones if you want something less expensive. The brand dominates the budget and mid-range over-ear space by offering reasonably priced headphones with great sound performance. There aren't a lot of cheap over-ear headphones out there that outperformthe Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless, especially regarding theirpowerful ANCsystem.

   Theydon'tcut out as much noise as the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, but they still do a good job of reducing bassy background noise from commutes and excel at isolating your ears from close-by conversations. They have a comfortable fit and feel decently well-built, even if some parts, like their plastic hinges, feel flimsy. Out of the box, theyhave an excited sound profilewith lots of bass and treble to complement pop, rock, and hip-hop.

   Unlike ourprevious Anker pick, they don't have a companion app, and you can't change their sound via an EQ or presets. Fortunately, you're permitted some sound control via theirbuilt-in Bass Effect feature thataddsmore thump and boom to the mix.They'll also last several long workdays or listening sessions, thanks to their nearly 33-hour continuous battery life. You miss out ona few extras, like an auto-off timer to help conserve battery life and multi-device pairing. However, they stilloffer great overall quality and some premium-level features at a reasonable price.

   See our review

3. Best Budget Wired Headphones

   Audio-Technica ATH-M20x 1

   

   Neutral Sound

   7.5

   Commute/Travel

   4.5

   Sports/Fitness

   5.0

   Office

   5.1

   Wireless Gaming

   4.1

   Wired Gaming

   6.1

   Phone Calls

   1.9

   Type Over-ear

   Enclosure Closed-Back

   Wireless No

   Transducer Dynamic

   Noise Cancelling No

   Mic No

   See all our test results

   Wired headphones can be an advantage for listeners who want the best sound quality, no lag, and no possibility of connection issues. If you prefer this, consider the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x. They're less portable and limit your range of movement with them on, but they're still a worthwhile option to consider, depending on your needs. They reproduce bassfrequencies well, thanks to their closed-back design, and their great mid-range accuracy ensuresclarity and detailto vocals and lead instruments. While their build quality isn't quite up to the same standard as the manufacturer's best-known closed-back headphones,the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x,they're still comfortable and well-built enough for casual use.

   While their wired-only build removes the battery life problem, the cable isn't removable andis exposed at the headband's adjustment points. This gives them lots of points for potential damage, which requires replacing the entire unit to fix. Their lack of a mic means you can't use them for calls either, and they do a poor job of passively isolating you from background conversations at the office.

   See our review

4. Best Budget Audiophile Headphones

   Superlux HD 681 1

   

   Neutral Sound

   8.3

   Commute/Travel

   4.0

   Sports/Fitness

   5.1

   Office

   4.8

   Wireless Gaming

   4.5

   Wired Gaming

   6.5

   Phone Calls

   1.7

   Type Over-ear

   Enclosure Semi-Open

   Wireless No

   Transducer Dynamic

   Noise Cancelling No

   Mic No

   See all our test results

   The Superlux HD 681 are a great entry point for users curious about audiophile headphones. These over-ears deliver neutralaudio reproduction that caters to instruments and vocals. Plus, their semi-open design brings a wider and more open soundstage, creating a more immersive listening experience.They leak a fair amount of sound, so they aren't ideal for highly sensitive recording sessions or casual use around the office. You can't detach theiraudio cable either, so any damage to the wire will require you to replacethe entire unit. On the upside, they come with a 1/8" to 1/4" adapter, so you can plug them into your audio interface.

   The tradeoff at this price point is that these headphones are much lessdurable and well-made than pricier audiophile headphones like the Philips SHP9600. If you're willing to spend a little more for comfort, the Philips are worth a look since their well-padded design helps you avoid fatigue over time. They're the next generation of thePhilips SHP9500, which are also a great pick if you can find them. However, the SHP9600's open-back design means that they lack a thumpy low bass, and while they try to account for this with extra emphasis in the high bass, this slightly muddies vocals and lead instruments.

   See our review

5. Best Budget On-Ear Headphones

   Sony WH-CH520 Wireless 5

   

   Neutral Sound

   7.4

   Commute/Travel

   6.3

   Sports/Fitness

   7.0

   Office

   6.6

   Wireless Gaming

   5.7

   Wired Gaming

   5.5

   Phone Calls

   6.7

   Type On-ear

   Enclosure Closed-Back

   Wireless Yes

   Transducer Dynamic

   Noise Cancelling No

   Mic Yes

   See all our test results

   The Sony WH-CH520 Wireless are the best budget on-ear headphones we've tested.On-ears offer a compromise between the two standard types of headphones. They do away with the bulkiness of over-ear headphones, like the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless, while giving you a more immersive soundstage and a different fit than in-ears. This designstruggles to isolate you from much background noise, like rumbly bus engines or ambient chatter, since they can't create a seal around your ears or inside your ear canal.

   Fortunately,they're lightweight and comfortable for extended listening sessions, though their build quality is somewhat lacking. Their faux leather earpads feel prone to cracking, and their plastic headband can likely snap if it falls off your head. Out of the box, they have a warm sound profile that makes audio soundfull without overpowering the rest of the mix. Their companion app also features a graphic EQ and presets, allowing you to fine-tune the mix however you want.

   Their nearly 53-hour continuous battery life is also quite good and will last a whole work week before needing a recharge. Don't opt for this design if you're looking for sports headphones, though, as on-ear headphones have one of the least stable designs across different models than any other headphone type we've tested. They'll likely slide around your head with moderate movement and fall off outright during more intense exercise.

   See our review

6. Best Budget Earbuds

   JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless 5

   

   Neutral Sound

   7.2

   Commute/Travel

   7.7

   Sports/Fitness

   8.1

   Office

   7.1

   Wireless Gaming

   5.8

   Wired Gaming

   5.6

   Phone Calls

   6.6

   Type In-ear

   Enclosure Closed-Back

   Wireless Truly Wireless

   Transducer Dynamic

   Noise Cancelling No

   Mic Yes

   See all our test results

   If you're looking for smaller, more portable headphones, the JBL Vibe Buds True Wireless are the best budget earbuds we've tested.While they won't create the same immersive soundstage as over-ear and on-ear headphones, they can be more convenient foreveryday use since you can slip them into your pocket or bag more easily. The JBL are lightweight and decently comfortable and have an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance,making them a good choice for workouts. They don't have ANC and won't block out much bass-range noise like rumbling engines, but they do a good job of passively isolating you from noise like conversations and computer fans.

   These buds have a V-shaped default sound profile, so mixes have extra rumble and punch, while instruments and vocals are bright and detailed.For a different sound, their companion app features a graphicEQ and presets to help you customize the mix. If you want something even cheaper and don't care to customize your buds much, the Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless have a pleasant neutral sound that isn't too bassy or trebly, although they're less customizable and don't protect againstdust like the JBL.They last for nearly nine hours off asingle charge, which isn't as long as bigger, more powerful over-ears, but it'll still get you through a standard workday.

   Check out our article on the best budget and cheap wireless earbudsfor morelow-cost options.

   See our review

Recent Updates

1. Mar 11, 2024: This article was updated to check the picks, make minor text edits, and mention the Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless.

2. Jan 12, 2024: Replaced the JBL Vibe Beam with the JBL Vibe Buds because they offer a more comfortable fit and longer battery life at the same price point.

3. Dec 08, 2023: The Philips SHP9500 are out of stock, so we've replaced them with the Superlux HD 681.

4. Oct 17, 2023: Replaced theAnker SoundCore Life P2 Truly Wireless with the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless as a Notable Mention.

5. Aug 18, 2023: Replaced the Skullcandy Riff Wireless 2 with theSony WH-CH520 Wireless andtheAnker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless with theJBL Vibe Beam True Wireless.

All Reviews

Our recommendations aboveare what we think are currently the best budget and cheap headphones you can get. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to findor almostout of stock everywhere).

If you would like to choose foryourself, here is the list of all our reviews for headphones and earbudsunder $50. Be careful not togetcaught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.