Best cheap true-wireless earbuds in 2020: Top AirPods alternatives for $100 or less
Best cheap true-wireless earbuds: If you’re like me, you may have searched Amazon for cheaper audio alternatives Apple’s AirPods, wireless earbuds that start at $ 159 per pair and cost $ 199 per pair if you want wireless charging – which surpasses the alternative when Battery life gets low. (Read our detailed information Review of AirPods Pro here.)
There are many wireless bargains headphone There are high user ratings for iPhones, Android phones and everything in between. But are these cheap earphone alternatives really good?
In my experience, most sports earphones are noise canceling earphones and other wireless Bluetooth earphones are fine, not elite – and some are not suitable for listening to music at all. An increasing number of wireless headphone models However, hit the “meh” cheap AirPods alternative classification, and some are actually decent wireless earbuds. Here’s a look at the best of the current budget true wireless earbuds I’ve tested – all cost less than $ 100 a pair, while some cost less than $ 50 a pair.
Are AirPods waterproof?
All of these headphones have Bluetooth 5.0 and have solid wireless audio connections. I found minimal problems with Bluetooth audio pairing while listening to music with them. Most wireless buds are not suitable for making calls, but they work well enough in quieter environments. I also have information about that earphones” Battery life and charging. I will update this list and my list of best AirPod alternatives I’m testing more headphones.
Continue reading: How to choose the best earbuds
Sarah Tew / CNET
Sarah Tew / CNET
What is most impressive about the EarFun Free earbuds are the features: Bluetooth 5.0, both USB-C and wireless charging, and fully waterproof (IPX7), according to their specifications. Is the audio elite? No, but the Bluetooth earphones sound pretty good – it’s not just a sound coming from the speaker. They don’t have the audio clarity of real high-end wireless earbuds that cost $ 150 a pair or more, but they do have plump bass and enough audio detail to make you think you made your money and more . The earphones are also pretty solid for making calls. The battery lasts for six hours at moderate volume and the case offers four charging processes on the go. An elite worth $ 45.
Read our first version of EarFun Free.
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AirPods and other truly wireless branded earbuds cost $ 160 per pair or more. The Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 earphones have an appealing design and offer solid audio quality of $ 100 for a comfortable listening experience. This second generation model is available in black or white and offers USB-C charging, better battery life (up to seven hours of battery life after fully charged) and good call quality. Aside from active noise cancellation, the device offers much of what the AirPods Pro does for much less, including a compact charging case with a nice matte finish. The noise-isolating audio design of the earphones passively seals off a lot of ambient noise and is a first-class set of earphones for calls around noise – very close to the performance level of the AirPods Pro.
With IPX5 water resistance (they can withstand a steady flow of sweat and water, but cannot be fully immersed), these earphones are suitable for the gym and running.
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The Soundcore Life P2 earphones are half the price of Anker’s Soundcore Liberty Air 2 with similar features and an excellent option. The buds are charged horizontally rather than vertically in their case, and both the case and the buds feel a little cheaper compared to the Liberty Air 2. Their sound doesn’t have the presence boost in the treble that the Liberty Air 2 buds have, so they don’t sound as clear with well-recorded tracks and the bass isn’t quite as well defined. But they’re warmer and more forgiving, which I appreciate, and they sound more like the original Liberty Air. (I would buy this instead of the Liberty Airwho are now $ 60.)
It’s also worth noting that instead of controls, they have physical buttons that some people prefer. Like the Liberty Air 2, they have four microphones, two of which are designed to reduce noise when calling in louder environments. They do a decent amount of background noise when calling, but my voice wasn’t as clear to callers as it was with the Liberty Air 2.
While there is no wireless charging, USB-C is charging. The battery life is seven hours and they have IPX7 water resistance, which means that they can be completely submerged in water to a depth of three feet and can survive. They are probably the best value in the real wireless anchor line at the moment. An almost identical version of these earphones is sold by Target under the name Soundcore Life Note.
Read our Anker Soundcore Life P2 review.
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During last year’s vacation, JLab had its real wireless JBuds Air buds on sale for $ 30 or $ 20 off the list price of $ 50. That was a decent deal. Now we get the Go Air, which is 20% smaller, lists for $ 30, and is otherwise similar to the Air. It is available in four color options.
Like the Air, the Go Air is pretty good for the money ($ 30). The battery life is five hours (a USB cable is integrated for charging), the sound is better than expected from fake AirPods and they are sweat-proof with protection class IP44 (ie splash-proof). While there is no bass and treble adjustment app, you can switch through some preset EQ settings – JLab Signature, Balanced, and Bass Boost modes – by double-tapping one of the buds (yes, they do Touch controls). I went with Bass Boost to take some of the edge off the highs and give them a slightly warmer sound.
The charging case has no top, but the buds stay in the case thanks to magnets. To put it bluntly, these aren’t fantastic – and they only work fine for calling – but for $ 30 you won’t do much better. And they fit my ears well – I was able to tightly close the largest of the three earplugs that were included.
Stick-style model under $ 40
TaoTronics SoundLiberty 53
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The TaoTronics SoundLiberty 53 is similar to the Anker Liberty Airs with the same pipe design, but doesn’t sound quite as good as these wireless earphones. However, they only cost around $ 35 and offer better audio quality than you would expect from a truly wireless model at this price. They offer solid wireless performance and a battery life of five hours at moderate volume. The wireless charging case provides an additional five charges for your entire battery life, which is music for your ears.
We tested the TaoTronics TWS TT-BH053. The only difference between this model and the newer SoundLiberty 53 is that the SoundLiberty 53 is fully waterproof with an IPX7 rating, while the TWS TT-BH053 is IPX6 waterproof.
Read the TaoTronics TWS TT-BH053 review.
Best for under $ 50 for calls
TaoTronics SoundLiberty 79
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The SoundLiberty 79 list from TaoTronics costs $ 60, but is sold for around $ 50. I don’t like their look – the little chrome accent is not my cup of tea – but they go well with my ears and sound decent for the money, with just enough definition and plenty of bass. All that really sets them apart is how they act as a headset for making calls. You are five stars in this department with excellent noise reduction (people had no problem hearing me on the noisy streets of New York). The company’s “Smart AI Noise Reduction Technology” works.
They are completely waterproof (IPX7 certified) and you can achieve up to eight hours of battery life at moderate volume. The charging case, which delivers an additional 32 hours of juice on the go, feels a little cheap, but is compact and has a USB-C charge.
Sarah Tew / CNET
Anchor’s Soundcore Liberty Air earbuds have a more comfortable fit, but the Soundcore Liberty Neo earbuds sound just as good and cost less (the model costs $ 60 but is available for $ 35). These real wireless earbuds are similar to the Tribit X1, but are a bit heavier and a little more robust. As with the Tribit, the quality of the audio depends on how well you seal one of the included earbuds that are meant to drown out ambient noise. The battery life is three and a half hours of listening time after charging (a little short), with the battery life in the charging case being about eight hours.
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I’m not sure how stylish the 1More Stylish True Wireless earbuds are (yes, that’s what it’s called), but these wireless earbuds sound good. With a list price of $ 100, they are among the most expensive models on this list (Ankers Soundcore Liberty Air 2 also costs $ 100). 1More made a name for himself with his triple-eared wired earphones, which sound great and offer great value for money when wired headphones were still one thing. The same clear, balanced sound can be heard in 1More’s stylish headphones – they don’t sound as good as the Triple Drivers, but they sound good for real wireless Apple AirPod alternatives.
This pair of earphones has more of an audiophile sound profile with a “more accurate” sound, so deep bass lovers may be a little disappointed when they listen to music, but I liked it. Of course, it helped that the ergonomic design was able to seal me tightly with one of the included earplugs. However, the stabilizer fin didn’t do anything for me; I just put the tip in my ear to get a secure fit.
The earbuds have up to six and a half hours of battery life (if you want to listen to music at a higher volume, you should expect more than five hours of battery life), with the additional battery life in the wireless charging case being around 17 hours.
Read 1More Stylish True Wireless review.
