Louder's guide to the best budget wireless headphones is compiled and updated by three well-established tech journalists, who between them have tested a huge number of headphones released in the last 15 years. For this guide, they have pooled their expertise to select a range of headphones that prove you don’t need to spend a massive amount of money to get your hands on pair that will make your favourite music shine.
Some of the giants of the audio world, such as Sony, Beats, Apple, Jabra and AKG, have all released brilliant cheap wireless headphones over the last few years and this can only be a great thing for us music fans, especially when we're all looking after our money a little bit more these days.
All three of us have had the misfortune to encounter examples of cheap wireless headphones which, quite frankly, were a waste of our time and money – horribly tinny sound, terrible build quality and a lack of useful features. You won't find any such throwaway nonsense in this guide – our recommendations deliver great comfort and clear audio.
While some of them cut corners to keep the price affordable when it comes to extra features, we discovered that others punch well above their weight to deliver remarkable audio.
We've kept the list deliberately short as we know that options in this bracket are abundant – we've only included what, in our opinion, are the very best.
Since budget wireless headphones are on your radar, don't forget that Black Friday returns on November 29 - a day where there will be loads of discounts. Keep your eyes on our Black Friday music deals hub for cut-price wireless speakers, and there will also be space for more on Louder's Black Friday Marshall speakers and headphones deals page.
Tom Parsons is a music and film fan who's been testing audio kit of all varieties for around 15 years - from headphones and turntables, to speakers and TVs - most of those at home entertainment and audio brand What Hi-Fi?. Tom has written hundreds of reviews and articles for the site and knows everything there is to know about headphones. He also loves rock and metal and is a particularly big fan of Coheed and Cambria.
Quick list
Our top pick goes to the Anker Q30. They feature hybrid active noise cancellation - which uses both an internal and external mic to block out noise - across three separate modes: Transport, Outdoor and Indoor. Audio is delivered through the Q30's 40mm drivers, while battery life is very solid with 40 hours with noise cancellation on and 60 off. A brilliant all-rounder for the price.
Not all headphones need noise cancelling to deliver a crystal clear sound - and the over-ear Sennheiser HD350BT prove that point perfectly. They're a great choice for travelling as they fold down and will give you a tasty 30-hours of music. They also have Google and Siri voice activation built-in so you won't even have to use your hands for changing music.
This particular model may have been superseded by a more recent 3rd Gen option, but if you're an Apple fan looking for a low-budget way of listening to Apple Music on the go, then these are a recommended pick-up. Battery life might suffer a bit compared to more up-to-date models, but a three-hour charge will net you three hours of sounds. They still sound great and are a really comfy pair of in-ears.
Sony are known and well-respected for their wide range of awesome headphones, such as the neat Sony WH1000XM5 but, as you would expect, many come with a fairly hefty price tag - not so the Sony WH-CH520. We found performance to be good for this price point and they're light and comfortable to wear. There's excellent battery life here too, with 50 hours' kickback from a full charge.
The Lindy BNX-60 make our list because not only do they offer top-quality, balanced sound and comfort for longer listening sessions, but they also offer decent noise-cancelling for not a lot of money. OK, so with a battery life at only 15-hours there are better choices elsewhere, but that's still a decent enough playback for a full day out and about - and when you consider the added extras, the Lindy BNX-60 are an excellent option.
Skullcandy have been going for years and are known for their wide range of affordable headphones, but our budget pick goes to the wireless Smokin' Buds. They're cheap as chips and deliver audio that's way better than many in-ears at this price point. They have a good battery life of 8 hours (increased to 20 with the charging case) and come with three ear tip sizes for a secure, comfortable fit. You won't find much better for the price.
Best overall
✅ Buy if you want cheap headphones that punch above their weight: For an all-round set of quality headphones on a budget, you can't go wrong with these: ANC, great sound and superb battery.
❌ Avoid if design matters: While the design is fine, the Q30 are starting to look a little retro.
At a glance: Here at Louder, we were big fans of the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 headphones, but with those becoming harder to find, our heads were turned towards the Q30 - another set of budget-friendly headphones that punch well above their weight.
Audio: The Q30 have the same 40mm drivers from their predecessor, but that's definitely not a bad thing, as we found from experience that they can deliver awesome audio - something that's really helped along by their hybrid active noise cancellation. This basically means that the headphones have both internal and external mics to help better filter unwanted noise which Anker say removes up to 95% of low-frequency ambient sound. This feature is also customisable with three settings to suit your environment: Transport, Outdoor and Indoor.
Design & comfort: We found them comfortable to wear thanks to soft earcups, although there's not much padding on the headband which can feel overly hard after longer periods of wear. As for design, and much like the Q20s, Anker are clearly aiming to woo fans of the Sony WH-1000XM3, and at a quarter of the price the spec sure looks tempting too. Tribute band or the real deal? You decide, but these are the best budget wireless headphones you'll find right now.
Battery life: Battery life is the icing on the cake. You'll get 40 hours of music with ANC activated and 60 hours without. And as if that wasn't enough, you'll get four hours of playback from a swift five-minute charge. In our tests we found this to be a pretty representation of the performance you can expect.
| Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Audio | Well balanced and clear | ★★★★★ |
| Comfort | Only let down by the headband | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery | Best on test | ★★★★★ |
Best for features
✅ Buy if you want feature-rich headphones: The 350BT have a lot going on under the good, including AAC, AptX and AptX support.
❌ Avoid if you want a wired option: Sometimes it's nice to have the option of a cable, but no such luck here.
At a glance: These cut-price Sennheiser over-ear headphones aren’t just big on value, they’re feature rich too. The Bluetooth implementation is leading edge, at 5.0 with support for AAC, AptX and AptX low latency codecs (the latter giving better sync when watching videos on your smartphone), and there’s a dedicated Voice Assistant button for use with Siri or Google. Unsurprisingly, there’s no noise cancelling on these budget wireless headphones, but there’s no option for wired 3.5mm connectivity either. Hmm. This means you won’t be able to use them with onboard in-flight entertainment systems, but then if you’re not planning to fly anytime soon, that won’t be an issue.
Audio: Performance-wise, we found the 350BT’s were smooth and measured, which is surprising considering how cheap they are. We were hoping to hear some detail among the more complex and dense tracks we tested them with, and were pleasantly surprised.
Design & comfort: We found the over-the-ear design to be comfortable for sure, but there’s definitely been some skimping on the headband padding.
Battery life: The Sennheiser HD 350BT's battery life is impressive too, with around 30 hours per full charge – there’s USB-C fast charging when you get low on juice.
Read our full Sennheiser HD 350BT review
| Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Audio | Superb detail | ★★★★★ |
| Comfort | Wold prefer more headband padding | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery | Decent, but not overly compettive | ★★★★☆ |
Best value AirPods
✅ Buy if you want the best AirPods on a budget: Apple AirPods come in various forms and prices, but these are the best value in-ears you can buy from the company.
❌ Avoid if long battery life is a priority: This older model doesn't quite have the same longevity as newer AirPods.
At a glance: There’s no getting around it – Apple AirPods are the world’s most iconic earbuds, so pretty much everyone will either own a pair or be thinking about getting some. Depending on the time of year, you can often nab them for a little cheaper than the regular price too. Apple AirPods are incredibly simple to set up and use, and they’re always connected, so you literally take them out of the case, stick ’em in your ears and they’re ready to rock. If someone starts speaking to you, take one of the AirPods out of your ear and the music automatically pauses. Slick.
Audio: While the sound is bettered by the Sennheisers, there’s still plenty to like here. There's plenty of volume, which is sometimes a shortcoming of in-ear style headphones, and they're rock solid in the mid-range for all types of guitar music. If you want intense low-end or crystalline highs, you won't find them in huge abundance here, but for a workhorse pair of throw-and-go earbuds, these are the ones.
The built-in microphones are responsive and will pick up your voice loud and clear if you’re using your AirPods to make and take voice calls. The music playback control is fiddly - you need to use Siri voice command to skip or replay tracks - but of course you can also sort that via your phone.
Design & comfort: At just 4 grams per bud, they’re incredibly lightweight in the ear. While we prefer the more discrete look of the AirPods Pros, they're considerably more expensive, and we kind of like how iconic the original long-stem version has become.
Battery life: Admittedly, the battery life isn’t great compared to some other budget wireless headphones in this list, but they're fast to charge we like that the case doubles up as a charger to deliver some extra juice on the go – just 15 minutes’ charge gives you three hours of listening.
Read our full Apple AirPods review
| Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Audio | Bags of volume | ★★★★★ |
| Comfort | Light weight means you fit and forget | ★★★★☆ |
| Battery | Not as good as 3rd gen AirPods | ★★★☆☆ |
Best budget Sonys
✅ Buy if you want a neat pair of Sony headphones for less: Sony have a rich pedigree when it comes to audio - and that continues with the excellent WH-CH520. They also have awesome battery life.
❌ Avoid if you want ANC: There's no noise cancelling here, so look for alternatives if that's what you're after.
At a glance: A casual scan across Louder will reveal that we rate Sony’s headphone range pretty highly, with members of the team buying the in-ear WF-1000XM4 and the awesome WH-1000XM5 over-ears and being very, very happy with their purchases. But with a budget in mind, we reckon the on-ear Sony WH-CH520 shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand, not only because of their low price, but because of their above average audio and excellent battery life.
Audio: Sure, there’s no state-of-the-art Active Noise Cancellation on show here, but they are 360 Reality Audio Certified and there’s also the option of tweaking your EQ settings through the dedicated Sony headphone app. They can be controlled with your voice too, making them a versatile headphone option on a budget.
Design & comfort: They’re lightweight and comfy - and as a glasses wearer, on-ears tend not to bother me quite as much as over-ears do - so if that sounds familiar, the WH-CH520 are worth closer consideration.
Battery life: As for the battery life I mentioned, a full charge will see you get around 50 hours of music, which for this price is just crazy good. And, a quick three-minute power blast will give you an hour and a half of musical joy. That's at least one prog album, or 20 punk EPs. Finally, they’re available in a range of colours to suit your style, with the Sony WH-CH520 available in Black, Beige, Blue and White and we think they look great.
| Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Audio | We love the tweakable EQ | ★★★★☆ |
| Comfort | Great for glasses wearers | ★★★★★ |
| Battery | 3 minute power blast charge is a great feature | ★★★★★ |
Best for comfort
✅ Buy if you want comfort and sound on a budget: You might not know the Lindy name, but they offer balanced audio and a comfortable fit.
❌ Avoid if looks are important: The BNX-60s do look a little cheap, but you can't have everything.
At a glance: The BNX-60s were perhaps the first to prove that it really is possible to get both noise-cancelling and Bluetooth technology for a low price – and all without sacrificing sound quality.
Audio: Cheaper headphones often fall into the trap of producing loads of low-quality bass or overly sharp treble, but these Lindy headphones are surprisingly balanced and grown-up in their delivery. They’ve got a real groove and clarity to them, making them particularly well-suited to rock.
Design & comfort: These Lindy cans make my best budget noise-cancelling headphones list because they offer a comfortable and snug fit. And the padded headband means they were comfortable to wear for longer listening sessions than some of the other picks in this guide. They sport a volume control, on/off switch for active noise-cancellation (ANC), and a blue light that indicates when the ANC feature is in use on one ear. Simple but effective design features.
Battery life: There’s a USB input for charging, and a full charge gives you about 15 hours of wireless music playback, or a little less when the active noise-cancelling / noise cancellation is switched on. We found these quotes numbers to be pretty true to life.
Read our full Lindy BNX-60 review
| Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Audio | Balanced and grown up delivery | ★★★★☆ |
| Comfort | Fantastic padded headband | ★★★★★ |
| Battery | Not competitive, but enough battery for a full day's playback | ★★★★☆ |
Best budget
✅ Buy if you want fun, full-sound: Another great pair of in-ears from Skullcandy that deliver neat audio and a decent battery life.
❌ Avoid if you want more features: The Smokin' Buds don't have much in the way of extras but that's not a problem for us at this price.
At a glance: Get past the cringeworthy name and the bargain Skullcandy Smokin' Buds are some of the best budget wireless headphones for anyone looking to rock out on a limited budget. So yes, the most budget-friendly budget wireless headphone in this guide.
Audio: Each earbud has its own mic so you can keep one in and still play your music without the sound cutting out - and the sound quality on display here is not be sniffed at - even at this budget price. Bass is on-point and the general balance is pretty good.
Design & comfort: The Skullcandy Smokin' Buds are also comfortable to wear for long stretches, thanks to their choice of three gel eartips which are made from soft rubber - and we really like that fact that these in-ear headphones have been created from 50% renewable plastics with the packaging is 100% recyclable.
Battery life: The battery life on the these Skullcandys comes in at a thoroughly decent eight hours from a full charge, with an extra 12 coming from the charging case. Like many headphones currently on the market, the Smokin' Buds also have a fast-charge feature, with a 10-minute blast giving you two hours of playtime. It's not the best on test, but you can't argue for the little cash you need to splash.
Sure, there's not much in the way of extras with the Skullcandy Smokin' Buds wireless headphones, but they're a fantastic option if you're looking for a pair of no-fuss headphones that can be kept in your backpack without any worries.
| Test | Results | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Audio | Impressive bass | ★★★★☆ |
| Comfort | Gel eartips are great | ★★★★★ |
| Battery | Plenty of juice for the price | ★★★★☆ |
FAQs
What you need to know when shopping for the best budget wireless headphones
You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.
There are few things you should think about when exploring your budget wireless headphones options, and our main focus areas when testing:
- Budget - An obvious one perhaps, but we'd always recommend setting the upper limit of your budget before you start your research. When testing we always see how a pair of headphones compares to other models in the same bracket for value
- Usage - When, where and how will you be using your new headphones most? We test headphones in as many real-world scenarios as possible
- Comfort & fit - No one wants headphones that add extra pressure to your head, or dig in where they're not wanted. This is a crucial part of our testing
- Tech features - Wireless headphones are reliant on battery power, so it pays to know you're buying a pair that genuinely offers the claimed battery life. Additionally, Bluetooth is crucial in this category, so you want to be sure that set up is quick, easy and secure
Budget: You may assume that a limited budget means limited options when it comes to the best cheap wireless headphones, but $100/£80 will get you a decent pair of cheap wireless headphones: from sizeable on-ear noise-cancellers, through to in-ear run-friendly headphones.
Usage: There's so much choice now that it’s easy to become crippled by the options available to you. The trick when it comes to choosing is to think about when and where you’ll be doing most of your listening. If your enjoyment of Tool is severely hampered by the inane ramblings of the tools you call ‘colleagues’, definitely consider a pair of budget cans.
If a mess of cables is holding you back during a run or workout, then a pair of cheap wireless headphones that are fitness-specific (ie, sweat- and water-resistant, with a stay-put shape) will be just the ticket.
Comfort & fit: Getting the right fit for your head and earholes matters too, particularly when it comes to in-ear headphones. Our ears come in all shapes and sizes, and failing to ensure your chosen headphones fit yours correctly could mean they fall out, or worse still they simply won’t sound good. And if you're looking at the over-ear type, you want earpads that feel comfortable against the ear and are breathable to avoid the dreaded ear sweat. And the headband needs to be flexible enough that it doesn't exert undue pressure on your head. We also steer clear of headphones that offer inadequate padding on the headband itself. A hard headband is a recipe for headaches and a quickly binned pair of cans.
Tech features: When selecting from among the best budget wireless headphones, make sure to consider the battery life being offered and which version of Bluetooth is being used. The later the version – we’ve now moved up to 5.0 – the more battery-friendly and potentially better sounding it is. AptX Bluetooth, meanwhile, is specifically for audio and suggests that sound quality has been prioritised – at least to an extent.
Are cheap wireless headphones actually any good, or is it a false economy??
In a nutshell, yes. Of course, cheap wireless headphones do need to cut corners in order to get the overall price down to a palatable figure, but over our years of testing this type of headphones, many are very impressive in terms of sound, features and performance. And they've been getting better and better as time goes on and these budget 'phones benefit from the trickle-down features from higher-end models.
The overall quality of the best budget wireless headphones in this guide means you will get far more joy out of listening to your music, podcasts or audiobooks when you're on the go. We've deliberately chosen options that sound good when playing most genres of music, but especially rock and metal – hey, what can we say? We love rock and metal!
Why trust us
Louder’s reviewers are a collective of music fans, musicians and professional product testers, who between them have racked up years of product testing and written thousands of words on music listening gear across hundreds of reviews on Louder and for other publications.
As lifelong music fans, we're serious about the tech we listen to our favourite artists on. We want them to sound amazing, giving us all the detail those bands intended us to hear, and deliver the perfect balance of bass, mids and highs. We're looking for pure immersion in our chosen sounds, whether it's a classic '70s rock album, or a cutting-edge noise band.
And we test headphones on albums we know inside and out, and that we've listened to on a variety of systems already, so we know exactly what we should be hearing and when we're being short-changed by lackluster audio.
How we test the best budget wireless headphones
While their price tags may be low, our expectations at Louder are still high for budget headphones. We’re no less demanding when it comes to testing their ability to rock, and there are other criteria we assess too, including battery life and feature count, from Bluetooth to whether those that offer noise-cancelling can deliver the goods.
Battery life is obviously a big deal as the last thing we want are headphones that will let us down midway through Lynyrd Skynyrd's Freebird. Thankfully, budget wireless headphones usually offer stonking playtime, because they often don’t have the drain of Active Noise Cancelling. We test headphones from full charge to full drain, using as many features as possible to really test performace.
We consider the flavour of Bluetooth important too, as this can have a material impact on both sound quality and battery life. Generally, we favour Bluetooth 5.0 or higher, as this iteration is more economical when it comes to energy (which translates to longer playtimes) and stable, so you won’t drop out when wind-milling your air guitar.
Ultimately though, audio performance remains the big clincher. For our tests, we listen to a barrage of cuts, from tried and tested classic rock favourites, through more tonally complex prog rock, and then full-on bangers. As budget headphones tend to have smaller drivers and cut-price electronics, we particularly want to hear how well they articulate guitar tones and aggressive drum fills.
We test products in a variety of settings too, from distraction-free intentional listening at home where we can really focus on the music, to our daily commute to the office and out and about on journeys to the gym, pub, shops etc. These scenarios are real-world and mean we can experience products exactly as you would and report our findings honestly.
Latest updates
Recent updates
01/08/24: While our product choices have remained the same, we've added more detail and insight into each product entry, including a scorecard that gives a rating out of 5 for audio, design & comfort and battery life. We've also explained more about the expertise of our testing team, including how, why and where we test.
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