You can easily shell out hundreds of dollars on a new pair of wireless headphones, but that doesn’t mean you have to—some of the best wireless headphone deals are available for much less. But just because they’re cheap doesn’t mean they’re bad. We’ve tested a number of products that offer good sound quality and feature sets that rival pricier offerings.
Here are the best cheap wireless headphones money can buy. All of them are five-star products we’ve tested, and all offer great all-around performance for the money. If you’re on a budget and looking for the best budget headphones, you won’t be disappointed.
If you’re not in a rush to buy, maybe you should wait a while. CES, the tech show that takes place in early January, usually has some new wireless headphones on display. We’ll update this list if anyone succeeds.
1. Jabra Elite 45 hours
A variety of models make a strong case for the cheapest wireless headphones under $100, but the Jabra Elite 45h are still the clear winner based on performance. The 40mm audio drivers provide an interesting sound that can also be customized by manually adjusting the EQ or choosing from some music presets. That’s the only feature available right now, but we expect more to come in the coming months as the headphones support firmware updates. Bluetooth 5.0 is powerful and provides a stable connection across devices, while 50 hours of playtime ensures you’ll have enough power to enjoy music and movies for nearly two weeks before recharging.\
We can ignore the plastic construction, especially when considering how light and comfortable these headphones are. Our biggest complaint is the lack of sound isolation, which can get a lot loud thanks to the on-ear design. It’s not a big deal if you’re listening at moderate volumes, though.
2. 1More SonoFlow
Not many cheap noise-cancelling headphones will get you 50 hours of ANC. SonoFlow is one of the few that does. These jars last for weeks on a full charge. Turning ANC off extends battery life to 70 hours. An aux cable is included with the purchase in case you forget to charge it, but you’re better off leaving it in your suitcase as it will affect audio performance. In wireless mode, you can expect SonoFlow to deliver engaging sound and powerful bass thanks to 1More’s 40mm dynamic drivers and DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) composite diaphragm. LDAC codec support also improves connection quality, allowing you to hear details clearly when jamming tracks on lossless streaming services (eg Tidal, Qobuz).
Noise cancellation is good for the price and does a good job of blocking out low frequencies, though the Transparency mode is disappointing and doesn’t let much background noise through.
3. Sennheiser HD 350BT Wireless Headphones
These affordable over-ear headphones from Sennheiser
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Not only is it valuable, but it is also feature-rich. Bluetooth implementation is top notch, 5.0 supports AAC, AptX and low-latency AptX codecs (the latter provides better synchronization when watching video on smartphones), and there’s a dedicated voice assistant button for use with Siri or Google .
The Sennheiser HD 350BT’s battery life is also impressive, with around 30 hours of use per charge – and if you’re running low, you can use USB-C for fast charging. The over-ear design is really comfortable, but they definitely saved money on the headband padding. Performance-wise, I found the 350BT to be smooth and measured, which is surprising considering they’re so cheap.
Unsurprisingly, these cheap wireless headphones don’t offer noise-canceling, and there’s no option for a 3.5mm wired connection either. Well, that means you can’t use them with your inflight entertainment system, but that’s not a problem if you’re not planning to fly anytime soon.
4. Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus
Cambridge Audio didn’t mess around when they updated their popular Melomania 1 model – and outfitted the Plus version with enough grinning sound quality.
While they don’t have noise-canceling technology, don’t ditch these earbuds too quickly. You can enjoy 7 hours of charge time when using Melomania Plus’ high-performance audio mode, and a few more hours when not in use. You can even fine-tune settings through the Cambridge Audio Melomania app, including EQ levels, firmware updates, battery checks and more.
The Melomania 1 Plus’ audio is fantastic in high-performance audio mode, and if you’re buying a set, it’s definitely the one to buy. The audio that fills your head is roomy without spilling over the airwaves, and the bass is top-notch—just right for rock and metal.
They might look a bit like earbuds, but that’s a pretty minor flaw for what comes out of the box, and the Cambridge Audio Melomania 1 Plus are highly recommended.
5. Earwind Aviation
If you have a bigger budget and prioritize great sound, there are some models that might be better for you. But before the Earfun Air, we’ve never offered a five-star set of affordable wireless headphones — despite testing models from well-known and highly regarded audio brands.
This little-known company has produced a pair of comfortable, beautifully crafted headphones with long battery life, support for wireless charging, and a comfortable and roomy exterior. Fans of catchy, energizing music to get you through your workouts will find plenty of fun here.
The Earfun Air earphones are IPX7 rated for water resistance, can be submerged in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes, and have an impressive 35 hours of battery life. There’s also touch controls and in-ear detection tech that pauses playback when you remove them.
If you’re looking for some of the best cheap wireless headphones that sound great on the treadmill, the Earfun Air might be for you.
