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Best Wireless Earbuds under $50

The best wireless earbuds on a budget
Last Updated on September 20, 2023
Best wireless earbuds under $50

Gone are the days of wireless earbuds that break the bank, you can pick up some top quality wireless earbuds for under $50 that offer not only great sound quality but other enhancements that really make your listening experience the best it can possibly be. We’ve split these best wireless earbuds under $50 into multiple categories including the best battery life and best sport in an effort to help you select the right pair based on your specific needs.

Products at a Glance

How we picked

When narrowing down the wide selection of wireless earbuds on the market today we aimed to consider three key aspects; battery life, types of wireless earbuds, and wireless range. We believe that these three factors separate the best from the rest, especially considering the $50 budget where a lot of manufacturers will make their wireless earbuds look flashy, but might lack key features.

Our Recommended

Product Reviews

1
PROS
  • Great build quality
  • Well-known brand
  • Superior sound
CONS
  • Low battery life

True wireless earbuds are the goto choice for many, especially with the introduction of the fashionable Apple Airpods. Of course, we’re not in that price range with a limit of $50 but you’ll still be able to pick up some high-quality earbuds that detail respectable sound quality and decent battery life. Our top pick for the best true wireless earbuds is the Skullcandy Sesh. Firstly, looking at the design, Skullcandy has gone for a two-tone black gray aesthetic with their ever-recognizable skull logo placed in the center of the buds themselves making these an attractive option for those wanting fashion as well as function.

Moving to the spec breakdown, they are obviously utilizing Bluetooth tech to connect to your device but not the latest version. You’ll get 5.0, which will work perfectly fine but won’t have the additional features 5.1 or 5.2 ready earbuds have. Looking at the battery life it is a little lackluster coming in at 3 hours on a full charge. However, with the supplied charging case, you will get an additional 7 hours, bringing the total to 10. IP5 sweat, water, and dust resistance is pretty great in this price range and will prevent any unwanted debris getting into the nooks and crannies of the earbuds themselves. The buttons on both earbuds allow you to call, track, control volume, and activate your device’s assistant, a welcomed addition for those wanting a totally hands-free experience. Additionally, the inbuilt microphone provides the ability to utilize these features to their fullest potential.

Now, for the sound quality, the most important aspect of any earbuds. You’ll receive impedance levels of 16 Ohms ±15%, a driver diameter of 6mm, sound pressure levels of 99-105dB and a frequency response of 20Hz – 20KHz. All of these technical sound aspects come together to produce some of the best listening you can get in this price bracket, coping with the deepest of bass and richest of tones. To sum up, Skullcandy has produced some stellar sounding true wireless earbuds that we’re happy to select as our best true wireless pick. Yes, the battery life is a little on the low side but the incredible sound and overall build quality far outweighs that aspect and coupled with the charging case, it shouldn’t bother you too much.

2
PROS
  • Stellar customizability
  • Very budget conscious
  • Top sound quality
CONS
  • Lacking battery life compared to others

1MORE is a brand that many don’t necessarily know but that doesn’t mean they don’t produce some stellar wireless earbuds. The Piston Fit wireless earbuds’ design doesn’t jump out as revolutionary and they aren’t true wireless, but that enables them to have a slightly better battery life off a single charge and appeal to those sport users that little bit more. Looking at that battery life we can see that you’ll receive 8 hours of playback, 200 hours on standby and an impressive 1-hour wait to get them back to full charge. Moving to the Bluetooth connectivity, they use 5.0 architecture providing 10 meters of range, allowing you to leave your device indoors when doing some outdoor activities. It also means you’ll receive faster transmission speeds and a more stable connection overall. Looking at the durability, we can see that 1MORE has included IPX4 water resistance to ensure resilience from outdoor conditions and long workouts as well as a plethora of earbud tips in case your either break them or lose them out and about.

These wireless earbuds actually come in at the lower end in terms of cost compared to the other picks so I’m sure you’ll be wondering if they compete in terms of sound quality. Thankfully, 1MORE has not skimped on this aspect. They brought in Grammy award-winning sound engineer Luca Bignardi to created a well-tuned and precise sound stage in conjunction with 10mm dynamic drivers, producing some really high-quality sound that’s true to how artists intended. You’ll be able to listen to some deep base as well as the smaller, detailed notes in crystal-clear fashion pushing these wireless earbuds to the top of the field. All in all, it’s quite easy to see why we’ve selected the 1MORE Piston Fit Wireless Earbuds as our best overall wireless earbuds under $50, they boast brilliant sound quality, impressive battery life, and overall durability that enables you to use them no matter what you’re doing. You can use these in the rain, while working out, and customize them with the array of earbud tips that get bundled in.

3
PROS
  • Impressive battery life
  • Brilliant sound technology
  • Great customizability
CONS

Soundcore is actually a division of Anker, one of the most trusted brands for budget products so you know you’ll get a quality set of earbuds. The Liberty Neo variant of Soundcore’s extensive range of earphones is a top pick for those looking for good sound quality coupled with an insanely high battery life. Being true wireless, you’d think you wouldn’t get the most longevity but you’d be wrong. These sport 5 hours of a single charge, 2 more hours than the Skullcandy’s we detailed earlier, coupled with 15 extra hours when used in conjunction with the supplied charging case. The case has fast charging too, allowing your earbuds to last an hour on just 10 minutes of charge time. The durability of these earbuds is similarly fantastic, detailing IPX7 waterproof capabilities as well as being dust and sweatproof. Incredibly, you can even give them a quick rinse under cold water if they somehow manage to get dirty, a handy little feature. They’re widely customizable too, with a multitude of earbud tips and earwings to find your perfect fit. The wireless range isn’t too shabby either with its Bluetooth 5.0 architecture and an LDS antenna to keep the connection stable, free of any interference.

Looking at the sound quality, it’s pretty fantastic considering the price. You’ll receive a wider soundstage through graphene drivers in which oscillate with extreme precision, allowing pinpoint sound accuracy and an enjoyable listening experience overall. Couple this with the bundled in bass boost technology, which performs real-time analysis allowing up to 43% more bass and you’ll be wowed by the sounds you’ll hear. Overall, not only do Soundcore Liberty Neo earbuds boast an excellent battery life, the durability, and sound quality is similarly stellar and a real shock to see such a top tier product in this price range, certainly giving the more named brands a run for their money.

4
PROS
  • Great waterproof capabilities
  • Soft ear hooks for comfort
  • Fast charging
CONS
  • Wireless range could be improved

While a lot of true wireless earbuds have excellent waterproof and dustproof tech built into them, most still lack the potential to be used in rigorous sport and workout activities. The Anker SoundBuds Curve, on the other hand, provides excellent staying power even when doing the most athletic of sports. The ergonomic design married with the ear hooks keep these earbuds in place and with the IPX7 full waterproof capabilities, even getting these things wet will not stop them from working. The battery life and fast charging functionality is similarly brilliant lasting up to 18 hours on a full charge and taking just 10 minutes of charge time to give you 3 hours of listening. Like other options on this list, you’ll receive some good customizability with a plethora of earbuds and earwings to further the already stellar comfortability. 

The sound you’ll get from these earbuds is also something to shout about detailing rich treble and thumping tones due to their 10 mm composite drivers. Additionally, the ultra-elastic outer ring allows for deep bass and the Bio-cellulose dome delivers enhanced clarity no matter what you choose to listen too. All in all, these earbuds are the perfect choice for those looking for a wireless earbud option that works well in sporting conditions. These provide the waterproof tech to eliminate the worries of sweat and rain while also providing a rich, clear listening experience that will not disappoint.

Things to consider

Battery Life

Unfortunately, due to the wireless nature of these earbuds, battery life is always going to be an issue. However, due to the advancements in technology, the tiny earbuds of today still have enough battery life to last a day’s listening. Usually, you’re looking between the 5-10 hour mark on a full charge for most wireless earbuds, but it’s the addition of a charging case utilized by true wireless variants that really bump up those numbers up. With said charging case you’re probably going to get at least another three full-charge cycles meaning you’ll be kept going for a long period of time without having to go to an outlet. Of course, when selecting a pair of wireless earbuds the higher the battery life the better but do keep a lookout for those with a charging case as you’ll get a little more longevity.

Wireless Range

Some might argue that all wireless earbuds will work fine as your device will always be close enough to you, making range redundant, but this isn’t always necessarily the case. What if you’re gardening, for example, and would rather have your device inside? Or are you working out and would rather not have your device in your pocket? These situational factors should be considered when making your choice. Furthering this, the range factor is especially important when in the under $50 price range and is something that manufacturers often put less of a focus on to save on costs so it’s worth taking note of wireless range even if it’s a named brand.

Type of wireless

We’ve mentioned this a few times in this buying guide, but the type of wireless earbuds you’re going to go for radically changes both their uses and the freedom of your listening. Simply, there are two wireless earbud variants, true wireless and wireless earbuds, that are joined together. True wireless is the choice of many due to the freedom of having no physical ties coupled with the ability to have one or both earbuds in. While you might think, what’s the point in standard wireless earbuds then? Well, these usually offer a longer battery life on a single charge, potentially better sound quality, and improved sports functionality.

Our Verdict

To sum all of these wireless earbuds under $50 up it is quite clear that you can get some pretty great-sounding earbuds without breaking the bank. For us though, it’s very hard not to go for the Soundcore Liberty Neo earbuds due to their true wireless nature, fantastic build quality, and sound that others struggle to compete with at this price range. If true wireless isn’t your thing, the 1MORE Piston Fit Wireless Earbuds are the way to go. However, for those looking for a little bit better battery life on a single charge, or are wanting a more sport-safe option that actually comes in under $30, the 2019 version of the Anker SoundBuds Curve are brilliant, offering up to 18 hours of usage and unique sealing technology to combat sweat and rain.