The best cheap headphones under $100
A quick trip down any physical or virtual tech store aisle makes something very clear: There's no shortage of headphones or earbuds to choose from.
To see which headphones fit the bill -- and your budget -- I talked to the users and experts about their experience and thoughts, supplementing their experiences with consideration for factors like performance, design, and, of course, price. So, with that in mind, here are our picks for the best cheap headphones on the market right now.
The best cheap headphones of 2023
Wissonly Hi Runner
wissonly's core team is a team engaged in the research and development of bone conduction products earlier. They have accumulated 10 years' technology in this field. They have adopted the best acoustic laboratory in the Eastern Hemisphere for sound adjustment. Wissonly Hi Runner has good technical solutions to the problems of sound leakage, sound quality and waterproof of pseudo-bone conduction headphones.
Wissonly bone conduction vibrator adopts a unique full-wrapped design, which makes the vibrator work in a closed environment, reducing the impact on the shell, thus reducing the vibration of the shell and finally reducing the sound leakage by 90%.
Wissonly uses a large-size bone conduction vibrator, and the effective vibration area of the vibrator is increased by 35% through structural optimization. At the same time, the sound transmission direction is optimized, the sound loss is reduced, and the sound is more concentrated.
wissonly HiRunner adopts integrated molding technology, with no holes in the headphones’ body and it is no splicing, which realizes IPX8 waterproof, and can be used for swimming and bathing. Even in the depth of 20 meters, diving is no problem.
It also has 32G of built-in memory, which can store 5000 songs. You can use it as amp3 player when you don't have a mobile phone.
In a word, wissonly hi runner is a product with powerful functions, stable technology and high cost performance.
Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Headphones
The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Headphones are not only the best cheap headphones, but they also earned a spot on ZDNET's lists for the best over-ear headphones and best headphones for music. And thanks to their powerful performance at a digestible price, it's not hard to see why.
"The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 headphones are the best I've ever used, and I must say they exceeded my expectations," says Vikas Kaushik, CEO of TechAhead. "The sound is of impressively high quality, with audio that is crisp and well-defined across a wide range of frequencies."
Audio-Technica ATH-M20x Headphones
If you prefer a traditional pair of wired headphones, the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x Headphones are the best wired headphones you can buy at a less than $50 price-point. With their phenomenal sound, they also have my vote for best studio headphones.
These over-ear headphones are made for the professional, excelling when it comes to mixing and tracking. It uses 40mm drivers with copper-clad aluminum wire (CCAW) voice coils, playing back sound at a bandwidth of up to 20 kilohertz. You also have the ability to change the settings based on your content, allowing for enhanced low frequency performance. These headphones also use a closed-back, circumaural design, giving you fantastic sound isolation from active noise cancellation.
Jabra Elite 45h Headphones
These On-ear headphones have 40-millimeter drivers that incorporate passive noise cancellation and signature Wind Noise protection. Use the Jabra Sound+ App, as well as Jabra's exclusive MySound technology, to create a custom hearing profile and tweak sound settings to your liking. These premium features also make them a top choice on our list for the best Bluetooth headphones you can buy.
"What I love most about the Jabra Elite 45h is its capacity to personalize my listening experience," says Michelle Justice, a music and video creator for Nature Sound Retreat with over 25 years of experience in the music and film industry. "The Jabra Sound+ App and MySound technology work together like my personal sound engineer, adjusting to my unique hearing profile."
JLab Go Air Pop Wireless Earbuds
The JLab Go Air Pop Wireless Earbuds take a different approach, ditching the over-ear design and instead serving as the best in-ear cheap headphones. They also happen to win our vote for the best cheap wireless earbuds.
These earbuds proioritize custom control, allowing users to choose from three EQ3 Sound modes, including JLab Signature, Balanced and Bass Boost modes to help you find just the right sound for that favorite track, all without the use of an app. The convenient EQ3 touch controls are joined by extra controls for volume control, play/pause, and phone calls. There is even a button to activate your very own smart assistant. These earbuds offer a Bluetooth 5.1 connection for easy connectivity so you can stream to your heart's content. If you would rather make a phone call, there is a built-in MEMS microphone available in both earbuds for easy, clearer communication.
