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Like Donna Summer, we work hard for our money! To keep you from wasting money on a bum, cheap product, we've rounded up today's top 11 buds under $100 and tested them head-to-head in our cutting-edge $200,000 audio studio. We've also had a panel of music experts spend countless hours scrutinizing every aspect of sound, design, and performance to bring you the most thorough, unbiased budget bud review out there.
The $18 UliX Rider's wired connection makes for some of the most immersive, rich, clean sound and outstanding call quality. Plus, it's incredibly comfy. If you're not a fan of cables, the wireless Jaybird Vista 2 also offers an engaging, punchy sound, great call quality, as well as a snug, rugged design to help keep you motivated while working out, all for usually under $100.
We know price is important to you, so we also considered premium buds you can likely find on clearance for under $150. The Jabra Elite 8 Active and Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro stand out for their wonderfully comfy design, well-suited for work or play, and, most importantly, their great active noise cancelling for the price point.
To view all the earbuds we've tested, irrespective of price, in one place, check out our immensely thorough earbuds page.
Editor's Note: This groundbreaking review was published on November 16, 2024, to unveil our new and improved testing protocols. So sit back and let us guide you to the perfect low-cost bud for your needs.
With so many options, narrowing the field can be a dizzying process. Not to fret, we've done the dirty work for you.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
How We Picked The Best Buds Under $100
We took a long look at the more than 85 earbuds we've tested throughout our long lineage of audio testing. We made the easy decision to keep this list at the $100 mark to properly separate the inexpensive from the costly. However, we didn't want to compromise our high standards, so we selected earbuds that possess the most value in sound quality, comfort, and call quality.
Topping our list of the best budget earbuds is the Jaybird Vista 2, which provides a delightfully tasty sound mix, wonderfully clear call quality, and a tough design to easily handle rugged mountain bike rides or sweaty gym sessions. Whether listening to Whitney Houston's captivating vocals in the R&B hit “I Have Nothing” or the commanding drums and guitar in rock band Rage Against the Machine's “Take the Power Back,” we couldn't get enough. All styles of music sound pleasant with these buds, but our audio experts especially enjoyed the “powerful, punchy bass” and “warm, layered mids” across lively pop, hip-hop, and dance genres. Plus, they're snug, never falling out while rock climbing or running (although a fair warning, they can be too tight for those with small ears).
The Vista's IP68 rating means these are some of the most dust- and waterproof headphones out there - perfect for indoor or outdoor active use. They also handle phone calls from these noisy or quiet environments with great clarity.
Credit: Jason Peters
If you have small ears, don't worry; the Google Pixel Buds A is a great alternative, with an even more stable and comfy design that fits any size ear. However, the sound quality isn't as impressive as the Vista, with a noticeable lack of that low-end rumble.
Still, the Jaybird isn't without its faults, boasting a rather bulky (0.24 ounce) design that's uncomfortable to wear for more than 1 hour, a glitch-prone connection, and an ineffective active noise cancelling (ANC) technology that leaves more to be desired. While it's the only budget bud in our lineup to offer ANC, we didn't notice any difference between the ANC on and off. However, thanks to the tight seal, these do an okay job of passively attenuating mid to high-frequency sounds like voices or sirens. The only budget buds to offer better passive noise blocking or sound quality are the wired Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X or UliX Rider. But for the best all-around wireless performance at a price you can usually find under $100, the Jaybird Vista 2 is a tried and true option that even outperforms the popular Apple AirPods 4.
These beefy buds are best for short-duration, high-impact activities where juicy quality sound is paramount to get you in the zone. Just note that they're bulky and sometimes drop the connection.
Music lovers and audiophiles alike will drool over the crisp, textured, and natural sound of the Ulix Rider - 3.5mm that's right on par with the pricey Bose QuietComfort. Despite their small size, these buds create a wonderful listening experience that our testers describe as impressively “immersive and expansive,” making you feel as though you were in the recording studio with the artists. Plus, the wired connection, although somewhat cumbersome, lets you blissfully crank these puppies up to the max to enjoy everything from classical and jazz to heavy metal and EDM. And the fit? We were pleasantly surprised with how easy they were to place in our ears and how cozy and snug they felt while on the move.
While the wired connection isn't for everyone, you'll never have to worry about running out of battery, and the sound is the best you'll find in the budget bracket.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The only other earbuds in this hard-to-pass-up $20 price point include other wired models, like the Linsoul KZ ANS Pro X and Apple EarPods - USB-C, though neither have quite as great of fit or sound quality as the UliX. However, the Linsoul offers pretty impressive passive sound insulation, without ANC, helping users tune out ambient distractions, whereas the UliX and Apple offer minimal, if any, noise blocking.
While ambient sounds can distract from the superb listening experience, the biggest consideration you'll want to make is if you are okay with the wired connection. In general, wires offer great sound clarity and call quality, but they can get in the way, especially during active use. If the cables aren't for you, you'll have to increase your budget for a wireless option like the Jaybird Vista 2 or Apple AirPods 4, although the UliX Rider is easily the best bang for your buck.
If you are a casual listener who just needs a cheap set of non-committal buds to provide decent sound and call quality, the Amazon Echo Buds 2023 may fit the bill. They have a user-friendly interface and easily integrate with other Alexa products you may already own. They are also sufficiently comfy and lightweight (0.18 ounces), though their rather large, semi-in-ear design won't suit those with small ears or those who want to block out external sounds. Still, for thrifty shoppers who dislike the suctioning, closed-off feel of typical earbuds, the Echo Buds let your ears breathe while enjoying a mellow listening experience.
The Echo Buds make a great addition for users already immersed in the Alexa lifestyle. The app also lets you track your buds or adjust the sound profile.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
If you like the $50 price point but prefer a better seal to diminish ambient noise or a longer, 8-hour batter life, the JBL Vibe Beam or Bmani Sport might seem appealing at first glance, but they're hard to recommend because of the poor sound quality. Additionally, while the Bmani's wings make them slightly more stable than the Amazon, they don't have an accompanying app, and pairing can be annoying and confusing.
While the Echo Buds are one of our top picks, the semi-open-ear design makes these buds feel loose and insecure and sound less punchy and dazzling than the Ulix Rider and Jaybird Vista 2. They also have a subpar waterproof rating of IPX2, meaning they are not well-suited for sweaty workouts. If you plan to use them for low-impact activities or while sitting at a desk, these buds are a great value option, but for a more rugged design, you may consider the more expensive Vista, or for an even better value, check out the wired Rider.
The Amazon Echo Buds are easy to place in the ear but are just as easy to dislodge due to the poor seal and long wand. They're best suited for those who care less about sound quality and more about a bargain price.
Weight: 0.18 oz | Measured Battery Life: 4.5 hours
REASONS TO BUY
Comfy, secure fit
Durable build
Great value
REASONS TO AVOID
Limited features with iPhone
Sometimes cuts out
No ANC
The Google Pixel Buds A-Series stand out for their incredibly comfy yet stable fit and decent sound and call quality. While the sound isn't quite as clean and powerful as the UliX Rider or Jaybird Vista 2, our experts still described it as “a very enjoyable listening experience,” particularly for casual listeners. But what the Pixel lacks in enchanting and punchy audio quality, it makes up for in comfort and ruggedness. According to our testers, these 0.18-ounce buds feel “very lightweight and unobtrusive” yet are durable and secure enough to handle lengthy mountain bike rides or climbing gym sessions.
The case is also compact, easily passing our aptly-named “skinny jean test.”
Credit: Abriah Wofford
While the Pixel IP67 rating is shy of the Vista 2's IP68 rating, it's still pretty dang water resistant and certainly outshines the IP54 rated Apple AirPods 4. Plus, the Pixel is much more stable than the AirPods, though both the AirPods and Vista's 6-hour battery life tops the Pixel's mediocre less than 5-hour run time.
Although the Google Pixel A easily paired with our Apple devices, only Android users can access the earbud's customization app, which allows you to adjust the sound settings (though you're not missing out on much here). Moreover, the sound intermittently cut out while we were listening, and like most budget buds, there's no ANC. Still, if you need a budget bud that won't cause discomfort over long listening sessions, the Pixel is our top pick, though the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Google Pixel Buds Pro, and Jabra Elite 8 Active are excellent upgrade choices with ANC that you can likely snag on clearance under $150.
Our panels of testers unanimously agree that these buds feel excellent in the ear. Plus, a small, unobtrusive wing helps hold them in place.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Bargain Bin
Alert, alert! Manufacturers are constantly dropping new products onto the market. The good news for you, aside from the new and improved technology, is that you can often find premium products at a highly discounted price while inventory is being cleared. Here are a few older-generation options that are worth checking out if you find them at sweet, slashed pricing. In return, you'll find improved performance, particularly when it comes to noise canceling.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro is an all-around standout choice for the price point, but current clearance pricing makes the deal even sweeter. Similar to the Google Pixel A, these buds are incredibly cozy, secure, and lightweight (0.19 ounces), with an IPX7 water resistance rating that makes them perfect for high-impact activities where you are likely to sweat. While the sound is beautifully bright and expansive, the budget Vista 2 and Ulix Rider are noticeably cleaner, richer, and generally more pleasing. However, when it comes to ANC, the Samsung improves upon the budget tier, blocking out a respectable 15-20 decibels of sound in the low to mid-frequency range, although it's far from top-notch pricey Bose models that peak in the 30 to 40-decibel range. Apple users who want access to more features may consider the Jabra Elite 8 Active.
The Buds2 Pro may be worth the upgrade if you want ANC, but it's not perfect silence (listen to the clip above), and you won't get that extra bump to the sound quality you might be hoping for.
For better Android and Apple compatibility, incredible sound, splendid comfort, a rugged outdoor design, and a whopping 12-hour battery life, the Jabra Elite 8 Active is an excellent bargain bin pick. Our experts loved the sound across any genre, reveling in the “powerful, clean, and smooth” sound, although the UliX felt even more expansive. These lightweight 0.18-ounce buds are even more comfortable and secure than the Google Pixel A, with one of our testers proclaiming, “I could wear these for hours!” Plus, they have one of the longest battery lives on the market. If you're interested in ANC, it's here, and it does help dull common sounds in the low to mid-frequency range, but their clearance-priced sister buds, the Jabra Elite 10, do it better. Still, despite the mediocre call quality, the Jabra 8 is one of the top-ranked premium buds that, thanks to current price cuts, is now accessible to the masses.
You'll never have to worry about the Jabras falling out. Between the snug (yet still comfy) fit, non-slip matte finish, and rugged IP68 waterproofing, these buds are perfect for active use indoors and outdoors.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
How We Test
We know investing in a new set of earbuds can be an overwhelming process. To help save you the time and energy of potentially wasting your money on the wrong product, we independently purchased and extensively analyzed the top-rated budget buds. Based on the ideology of renown Listen Inc. CEO, Steve Temme, we built a $200,000 cutting-edge audio studio equipped with a Brüel & Kjaer Type 5128 head simulator to objectively measure everything from sound quality to noise canceling to call quality. We also spent countless hours evaluating these metrics firsthand, ensuring the low-cost buds we recommend are durable enough to withstand the harsh treatment of an active lifestyle, reliable enough to provide a satisfying user experience, and cozy enough to pleasantly fit ears of all shapes and sizes. See how we test earbuds to get the full rundown.
Our results are divided into five test metrics:
Sound Quality - how detailed, immersive, and balanced is the audio? (40% weighting)
User Experience - includes comfort, stability, and customizability (20% weighting)
Noise Cancellation - can you still hear external sounds? (15% weighting)
Battery Life - how frequently do you need to plug in? (15% weighting)
Call Quality - are voices clear in noisy environments? (10% weighting)
Our head simulator, Darwin, along with SoundCheck software, provides unbiased scientific analyses that are paramount to our testing process. But some things, like fit, ease of use, and sound quality, rely heavily on the human experience. Luckily, our diverse panel of adept judges is here to scrutinize every aspect of performance.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Why Trust GearLab
Spearheading this project is Senior Research Analyst, Graham Faulknor. Graham is one of our leading consumer product reviewers with upwards of 15 years of professional experience in the engineering industry. He's designed, built, and tested everything from race cars to medical devices to kitchen gadgets, all the while expanding his knowledge repertoire for what makes the ideal consumer product. He's also an active outdoor enthusiast and a family man, understanding the importance of a rugged design to make it through life's daily trials so he's not constantly wasting cash on replacements.
Lissette Velasquez helps convey Graham's extensive research findings to readers like you. Lissette has worked in the scientific research field for over 10 years, putting her detail-oriented mind to work in laboratories across the country. She is also the author of numerous academic publications. When she's not out chasing her kids around at the crag, she spends countless hours meticulously reading reviews and spec sheets to inform her next purchasing decision, ensuring she always gets the best bang for her buck.
If you plan to wear the same pair of earbuds at the office and the gym, they should be both comfortable and have a secure fit.
Numerous other sound engineers, music experts, and product testers make this highly technical review possible.
Analysis and Test Results
Below, we break down each earbud's performance across each of our test metrics to help you decide which option is best for you. If there is something specific you are looking for, scroll down to that section first.
An awesome fit not only impacts comfort and stability, but it also affects sound quality and noise canceling. The Jaybird Vista (shown here), Ulix Rider, and Google Pixel come with three silicone tips of various sizes to help you find the perfect fit, though the Vista may still be too large for some.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
How To Get The Best Performance For Your Dollar
We understand most users prefer a wireless connection, but the results are resoundingly clear: wired earbuds offer the best bargain. In fact, the $20ish old-school style UliX Rider and Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X outrank every other wireless budget bud in our lineup and even top the sound quality of premium $300 Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose Ultra Open models. Plus, you'll never have to worry about a glitchy connection or a dead battery. But if you can't stand the thought of plugging in, the Jaybird Vista 2, Google Pixel Buds A-Series, and Amazon Echo Buds are still great deals; you'll just have to shell out a little more to enjoy the wireless perks.
Budget Earbuds Overview
Sound Quality Rating (1-10)
Battery Life
Weight
Noise Cancellation Rating (1-10)
Jaybird Vista 2
7.7
6.3 hr
0.24 oz
3.6
UliX Rider - 3.5mm
8.0
N/A
0.62 oz
2.5
Google Pixel Buds A-Series
6.2
4.5 hr
0.18 oz
3.8
Amazon Echo Buds 2023
5.0
5.9 hr
0.18 oz
2.3
Sound Quality
If you're in the market for a new set of buds, it's important to consider the sound quality. Not all users in the budget tier will need a top-of-the-line listening experience, but you don't have to compromise audio quality for a low price tag. To make sure you get the best listening experience for your dollar, we spent countless hours with each bud, listening to our carefully curated playlist, covering all genres, styles, and decades of music.
Our experts think the UliX Rider's sound is so outstanding even audiophiles “will be impressed with the crisp sound reproduction, clarity, and all-around power of these big sounding buds.”
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Part of what makes the UliX Rider sound so good is the expansive soundstage they create. The sound comes at you from every dimension, feeling rich, layered, expansive, and immersive, as though you were seated front and center at a passionate live performance - a feat even premium buds struggle to obtain. Tracks like “Wife You Up” by Russ and “Kool On” by The Roots had an incredible depth and range. The Google Pixel and Jaybird Vista fall more about average for the group, sounding slightly less dimensional but still satisfactory. The semi-in-ear design of the Amazon Echo creates a poor seal and lackluster soundstage, but it still may suffice for casual listeners who don't need that transformative experience. It's like the icing on the cake: you can go without it, but it's much sweeter with it.
Soundstage Ratings
Product
Soundstage Rating
UliX Rider - 3.5mm
9.0
Google Pixel Buds A-Series
7.0
Jaybird Vista 2
6.5
Amazon Echo Buds 2023
4.0
We also considered how well each bud reproduces sound across the lower, mid, and upper-frequency ranges - the foundational layers of our sound quality cake. Here, the Ulix and Jaybird both excel, delivering a satisfying rumble across hip-hop, EDM, and rock tracks, warm, textured mids across pop, R&B, and country genres, and crisp, bright highs in folk and instrumentals - all the while maintaining wonderful clarity and competing with pricer options from Jabra, Apple, and Bose. The Google's lows and mids took a hit, sounding less developed when listening to R&B hits like “Fallin'” by Alicia Keys or rap anthems like “Want That Old Thing Back” by The Notorious B.I.G. The Amazon took it a step further, adding a muddy, distorted quality in the bass and treble and an underwhelming low-end thump (again, in part because of the poor seal) that made pop, rock, and hip-hop tracks like “Itty Bitty Piggy” by Nicki Minaj and “Motivation” by Normani less satisfying.
Expert Panel Sound Quality Ratings
Product
Bass
Mid-Range
Treble
UliX Rider - 3.5mm
8.8
8.0
8.0
Jaybird Vista 2
8.5
8.0
7.0
Google Pixel Buds A-Series
6.3
5.5
6.5
Amazon Echo Buds 2023
5.0
5.5
4.0
Lastly, we measured each earbud's frequency response. While the frequency response can't tell us how clean or immersive the sound is, it does validate our subjective opinions of what musical genres sound best with each bud. The Jaybird Vista follows our Target Response Curve best, with the Ulix Rider trailing not too far behind, indicative of a widely appealing sound mix. Indeed, our experts had high praises for these two buds, noting that they sounded swell across any musical genre. The bass range is noticeably reduced in the Google Pixel, partially explaining why we felt it lacked that extra low-end oomph when listening to R&B and rap. The bass is even less developed on the Echo Buds, and the mids have somewhat of a flatline appearance, which resulted in a “watered down, basic blend” that our testers felt was better suited for mellow jazz and acoustic genres rather than punchy pop, rock, or hip-hop beats. It's pleasant, just not noteworthy.
Use this interactive chart to compare your top picks. You can easily remove extraneous items by clicking the name on the right side.
User Experience
Sound quality is important, but it doesn't mean much if your buds are constantly dropping out of your ears if they are uncomfortably large, or if they randomly stop playing your favorite tunes. Unfortunately, cheap earbuds are notorious for their poor user experience, but we put our top budget picks through the wringer to ensure they provide at least adequate, and sometimes impressive, comfort, stability, customizations, and connectivity.
The Pixel A-Series sets the bar, feeling lightweight (0.18 ounces), unobtrusive, and secure to every tester who put them on. A small wing helps improve stability, letting you put the impressive IP67 waterproofing to good use on long runs or mountain bike rides.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
However, despite the phenomenal fit that we could wear for hours on end, the Pixel lost points for sometimes briefly cutting in and out and only allowing Android users to access the limited settings app (there's only a bass equalizer here). The Rider is just as cozy and snug as the Pixel, but it's wired and doesn't come with extra features. It's better suited for users who want to sit back and enjoy the music without worrying about a glitchy connection.
User Experience Ratings
Product
Comfort
Stability
Customization
Google Pixel Buds A-Series
8.0
8.0
6.0
Jaybird Vista 2
5.5
6.0
8.0
Amazon Echo Buds 2023
6.0
6.0
6.5
UliX Rider - 3.5mm
8.0
8.0
0.0
The Vistas are stable and rugged (IP68 waterproofing), easily handling our rock climbing test, but they are heavy (0.24 ounces) and bulky and don't play well with small ears. While we appreciated that their customization app is compatible for both Android and Apple users, they occasionally dropped the connection or briefly reverted to poor audio quality. Lastly, the Echo scored middle of the line across the board. Despite being lightweight (0.18 ounces), they're large and not the most comfy or stable, yet they will suffice for short, less active listening sessions. On the plus side, we never experienced any connectivity issues with the Echo.
Because of the bulky design, even our large-eared testers couldn't wear the Jaybird Vista 2 for more than 1 hour.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Noise Cancellation
In an ideal world, you'd be able to enjoy your playlist or podcast without interruption from nearby conversations or roadway sounds. However, in the budget world, active noise cancellation is an amenity that is often left out.
The Vista is the only bud in our budget lineup to include ANC, but the technology is no more effective than the passive-only sound blocking of the Pixel.
The majority of the sound blocking on the Vista is an artifact of the snug seal rather than any active noise canceling technology. If the ANC worked, we'd see better attenuation in the low to mid-frequency ranges where ANC is most effective. Instead, the Vista and Pixel only dull noise in the upper-mid and treble ranges. What does this mean? Well, you'll still hear fan hums, plane engines, and chatter, but you'll hear less of kids squealing or sirens blaring. The Amazon Echo and Ulix Rider score lower, only attenuating external sounds by an abysmal 10 decibels in the treble range. While the seal on the Rider is great, it just doesn't block out sound all that well, and with the semi-in-ear design of the Echo, these results come as no surprise. These budget buds are best enjoyed in quiet spaces or when you want to stay more in touch with your surroundings.
Turn the sound on the clip above to hear the noise canceling of the Jaybird for yourself. Ambient sounds are dulled by placing the earbuds in ear, but there's not a drastic difference when the ANC is on.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
If noise cancellation is important to you and you can spend a little more for a clearance-priced premium model, the Jabra Elite 8 Active, Jabra Elite 10, Google Pixel Buds Pro, and Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro are great upgrade picks that do a better job of attenuating more common, everyday sounds in the low and mid frequency ranges. They're far from the astounding ANC provided by $300 Bose models, but they still do a much better job than the Jaybird Vista 2.
For true ANC, you'll need to keep an eye out for price-cut, older-generation premium earbuds.
Battery Life
Nothing's more annoying than being completely enthralled in your latest true crime podcast and having the audio cut out at the height of the story. To help you avoid this experience, we measured each bud's battery life so you know exactly how often you need to recharge to keep them powered on.
Unfortunately, most budget buds fall short on playback time. Compared to the 8-hour average of the 30+ earbuds we've tested (all measured without power-sucking ANC enabled), our low-cost options measure in at a mere 4.5-6.3 hours. While it's not quite long enough to get you through a full day of work, you likely won't want to wear the Amazon Echo and Jaybird Vista for more than an hour at a time anyway.
Estimated Total Battery Life
Measured
Claimed
Charges/Case
Estimated Total
Jaybird Vista 2
6.3 hr
8 hr
2
12.6 hr
Google Pixel Buds A-Series
4.5 hr
5 hr
4
18.0 hr
Amazon Echo Buds 2023
5.9 hr
5 hr
3
17.8 hr
The Echo and Pixel didn't measure too far off from the manufacturer's claims, but the Vista fell nearly two hours shy of Jaybird's claimed 8-hour runtime. Still, it has the longest playback time of all three options. Luckily, each bud comes with a charging case to help keep the juices flowing while you're on the go. The Vista can only get two full charges per case, while the Echo gets three, and the Google gets a whopping four. This means that while the Vista has the longest 6.3-hour runtime, the short-lasting 4.5-hour Pixel needs less frequent plug-ins since you can get up to 18 hours of playback time on a single charge. With the wired Rider, you'll never have to worry about running out of battery.
Storing your buds in the case will help power them up in between listening sessions. Just make sure to keep the case adequately juiced up.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Call Quality
Our final metric is call quality. While it's not the most important consideration, those who plan to make phone calls with their earbuds will want to ensure that the person on the other end can hear them loud and clear, whether calling from a quiet, private space (baseline) or a noisy public setting (office, subway).
Call Quality Ratings
Product
Subway
Office
Baseline
UliX Rider - 3.5mm
8.0
9.0
9.0
Jaybird Vista 2
8.5
8.5
7.0
Google Pixel Buds A-Series
6.0
8.0
9.0
Amazon Echo Buds 2023
6.0
8.0
6.5
In our standardized tests, the UliX Rider reigns as the clear winner, outperforming even many premium buds with outstanding call quality in any setting. Its top-notch performance is thanks to the cable, which situates the in-line microphone closer to your mouth rather than at your ears. While all four budget buds performed well in our simulated calls from a lively office space, we found drastic differences in their ability to handle our most extreme subway test and our discerning baseline test. The Jaybird Vista 2 and Ulix Rider performed best in our subway test, managing to remain discernable despite the chaos in the background. However, unlike the Rider's crisply clean baseline call quality, the Vista added a subtle background static that made voices sound slightly less precise, though still easily discernable. Overall, most budget shoppers will be impressed with phone calls from either of these options.
Here's an audio recording from our subway test. The Jaybird does an excellent job of removing ambient noise while still relaying our caller's voice clearly (albeit somewhat reduced in volume).
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Click play to hear the excellent baseline call quality of the UliX.
The Google Pixel A and Amazon Echo performed so-so in our subway test. Some background sounds were removed, but they also struggled to isolate our caller's voice, sounding robotic and glitchy. Still, most buds struggle to pass this stringent test. When calling from a quiet environment, the Pixel was wonderfully clear, while the Echo had a popping quality that was unpleasant to the ears. Therefore, as long as you're not calling from a super rowdy environment, you'll be happy with the Pixel, but Echo users can expect mediocre call quality.
Calls from a noisy office with the Pixel sound relatively clear, though background mouse clicks and keyboard clacks are not fully removed.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The Echo's baseline call quality is decent, but the popping sound is distracting.
How To Choose A Budget Earbud
Below, we outline some additional buying considerations you may want to make before purchasing a new set of earbuds. The name of the game is helping you stretch your dollar without wasting it on a crummy product. For more information, check out our full-length article.
How Does Price Correlate To Features?
As with most tech products, the more you shell out on a pair of wireless earbuds at checkout, the better performance you can expect. Wired earbuds, however, are a whole different story, typically providing outstanding sound and call quality, all the while removing any connectivity and battery life issues. In the long run, they also need less frequent replacements since the wireless earbud batteries only last a couple of years at most.
If you don't mind the cable, wired buds like the UliX Rider offer the best bang for your buck.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
However, most budget buds (including wired models) lack active noise canceling. While the Jaybird Vista 2 technically has ANC, it doesn't work at all. For effective ANC, you'll have to shell out upwards of $250, but if you keep an eye out for clearance pricing on outdated models, you may find a more wallet-friendly bud for around $150 that provides better insulation from common, everyday sounds. Just don't expect perfect silence, as you'll get decent but not mind-blowing sound blocking with sale-priced models from Jabra, Samsung, and Google. Since not all ANCs are created equal (Jaybird Vista 2 case in point), be sure to read performance reviews before taking the plunge. Also, be aware that using ANC will shorten the claimed battery life.
Unfortunately, the ability to use ANC to help tune out distracting sounds and improve focus is a luxury only pricier buds can provide.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
In addition to not supporting ANC, budget buds are typically larger in size, making them harder to wear comfortably for more than an hour or drop in your pocket while on the go. Low-cost wireless buds don't necessarily weigh more; they're just bulkier and feel cramped inside your ears, and the cables on wired buds add more heft. Some budget buds are also made with cheaper materials that may feel hard or scratchy in the ear. If you're ears on the small side or if you want a bud that you can wear all day, choose a slim model like the Google Pixel A-Series or Ulix Rider, with the A-Series being the better choice for workouts. Its small size also correlates to a more portable case that easily passes our skinny jean test.
If you really need to tune folks out at the office to get your work done, these aren't the buds for you.
Those with smaller ears should pay special attention to the size of their buds.
Here's a comparison of one of the comfiest premium buds we've tested, the Jabra Elite 8 Active (left), and the rather large Jaybird Vista 2 (right).
Despite not having great sound-blocking technology, many budget buds still have pretty good sound and call quality and even boast added features like a water-resistant design and EQ customizations - though this isn't the case with all low-cost buds. Therefore, despite the low price tag, you can still bliss out to a wonderful sound mix and make clear phone calls, although the experience may be less satisfying in the loudest environments, like a subway or plane. The Jaybird is the best wireless option for sound and call quality, though the wired Ulix Rider performs even better.
Despite the low price tag, our music experts still found the Vista 2 to provide a pleasant listening experience.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
What To Avoid
It's easy to find countless other low-cost options, but be wary of unverified claims. Overly cheap or unbranded models often suffer from a poor fit, grainy sound quality, and an unreliable Bluetooth connection. They also come with fewer tip-size options, making it harder to find a proper seal, and are built with inferior materials that feel cheap with scratchy edges. They may even break easily (despite boasting a high IP rating) or just stop working entirely within a few uses, forcing you to begrudgingly spend even more money on a replacement. While we test a wide range of prices, we can't review every single option out there. Not yet, at least. Check back in, as we are constantly on the hunt for cheaper alternatives.
Sale, Sale, Sale
As you already know, one of the best ways to stretch your dollar is to look for clearance pricing. Holiday sales in November around Black Friday or Cyber Monday in July on Amazon Prime Day offer big savings opportunities. There are also good deals to be had during back-to-school season in August and in the spring, around March, when manufacturers typically release new models. As new models drop into the market, older generations get a more appealing price tag. The Jabra Elite 8 Active and Jabra Elite 10 are two such buds, that are some of our all-time favorites that you can now find on clearance.
As new buds keep coming onto the market, we'll keep on testing them.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Conclusion
We hope you've found our review informative and helpful in making your search for the perfect-priced bud less challenging. Keep checking back with us, too, as we're constantly updating our lineup with the latest and greatest budget steals.
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Graham Faulknor, Genaveve Bradshaw, and Lissette Velasquez
