Best budget bt earbuds: The 6 Best Budget And Cheap Wireless Earbuds – Summer 2023: Reviews

The 6 Best Budget And Cheap Wireless Earbuds – Summer 2023: Reviews

Table of Contents
Intro

Best Budget

Best Cheap

Best Sounding Budget

Best Sounding Cheap

Best Budget Sports

Best Cheap Sports

Best Cheap ANC

Notable Mentions
Recent Updates
All Reviews
Discussions

Updated Jul 05, 2023 at 09:03 am

By Theresa Ketterling

Not too long ago, if you wanted a pair of wireless Bluetooth earbuds, you’d have to spend a lot of money. Now that headphone jacks are becoming less common on phones and Bluetooth headphones are becoming the norm, you don’t have to spend a lot to get a decent pair of wireless in-ears. Wireless headphones give you the freedom of not requiring wires, making them more portable and easier to toss into a pocket or bag.

We’ve tested over 240 pairs of Bluetooth earbuds and in-ear headphones, and below, you’ll find our top picks for the best budget and cheap options. If you have a little more to spend, you’ll also want to check out the best wireless earbuds under $100 and the best wireless earbuds under $50. For over-ear options, try the best wireless Bluetooth headphones for under $100.

Best Budget Wireless Earbuds

Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless

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Neutral Sound

7.0

Commute/Travel

7.8

Sports/Fitness

8.1

Office

7. 2

Wireless Gaming

5.3

Wired Gaming

5.2

Phone Calls

6.6

Type

In-ear

Enclosure

Closed-Back

Wireless

Truly Wireless

Transducer

Dynamic

Noise Cancelling

No

Mic

Yes

See all our test results

The Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless are the best budget wireless earbuds we’ve tested. These earbuds have been in and out of stock from online retailers lately, but if you can get your hands on a pair, they offer a straightforward but sturdy and versatile design. They have a well-balanced, bass-rich sound profile that adds some rumble and punch into your audio while instruments and voices are clear, so it’s suitable for most types of music or content like podcasts. They’re also a good choice for workouts since they come with stability fins to help keep them in place and have an IPX5 rating for water resistance. They stand out from many other earbuds because their case holds around 12.5 extra charges, giving them a total battery life of just under 100 hours, which is nice for long trips. They last for a little over seven hours off of a single charge.

However, they don’t have many extra features. They lack a companion app and sound customization features like a graphic EQ or presets. Like many budget-friendly earbuds, they don’t have active noise cancelling (ANC) either. They do a good job of passively isolating you from ambient sound like background conversations but aren’t very effective for bass-range noise like rumbling engines. If you want better noise cancelling or can’t find the Anker in stock, you might prefer our best budget earbuds with ANC, the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless, which you can find more information about below. These buds can’t match the Anker’s battery performance but have great noise cancelling and solid overall performance, making them the next-best option for budget-friendly wireless earbuds.

See our review
Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds

JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless

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Neutral Sound

7.0

Commute/Travel

7.6

Sports/Fitness

8.2

Office

7.1

Wireless Gaming

5.4

Wired Gaming

5.3

Phone Calls

6. 9

Type

In-ear

Enclosure

Closed-Back

Wireless

Truly Wireless

Transducer

Dynamic

Noise Cancelling

No

Mic

Yes

See all our test results

If you’re looking for even cheaper buds that still offer solid performance, the best cheap wireless earbuds we’ve tested are the JLab Audio GO Air POP True Wireless. You might expect to sacrifice build quality or performance at this price point to find something more wallet-friendly. However, these colorful buds are just as well-built as the previous pick and have a few EQ presets to help you adjust their sound to your liking. While they don’t have ANC and don’t passively block out as much noise as the Anker Soundcore Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless, they can still help reduce office-type noise like conversations or a computer fan.

Using their most neutral EQ preset, these comfortable buds have a bass-rich sound. They’ve got a touch of extra thump, punch, and warmth that’ll please fans of EDM and hip-hop. Their continuous battery life of roughly nine hours will easily get you through your day, and they come with a case that holds three extra charges. The Skullcandy Jib Wireless are cheaper if you don’t mind a shorter battery life. Their sound packs more bass and can make mixes cluttered, but it’s reasonably well-balanced and versatile. They lack sound customization features, aren’t very sturdy, and have a neck cable design that isn’t for everyone, but they aren’t a bad choice if you want the cheapest buds.

See our review
Best Sounding Budget Wireless Earbuds

Skullcandy Dime 2 True Wireless

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Neutral Sound

7. 5

Commute/Travel

7.5

Sports/Fitness

8.0

Office

6.9

Wireless Gaming

5.4

Wired Gaming

5.3

Phone Calls

6.5

Type

In-ear

Enclosure

Closed-Back

Wireless

Truly Wireless

Transducer

Dynamic

Noise Cancelling

No

Mic

Yes

See all our test results

You’re less likely to find earbuds with a customizable EQ or presets at the budget price range, so finding a versatile and pleasing sound profile is important. Thankfully, the Skullcandy Dime 2 True Wireless have a very neutral sound that complements all sorts of audio content. There’s a touch of extra bass to make genres like EDM and Jazz sound warm without overpowering the rest of the mix. Their well-balanced mid and treble ranges also make vocals and lead instruments sound present, detailed, and bright. Feel free to blast your tunes as loud as you want since these earbuds have outstandingly low leakage at high volumes.

On top of sounding great, these earbuds are reasonably comfortable and stable enough to stay in your ear during a brisk run. They also have an IPX4 rating for resistance against water splashes, so they won’t get damaged in the rain. However, their biggest drawback is their short battery life. At just over three hours, you’ll need to charge these buds multiple times daily to have them last as long as necessary. Fortunately, they come with a standby mode to conserve battery life when not in use. They also don’t have more premium features like ANC and don’t do a great job of passively isolating you from noise during a commute or a busy day at the office.

See our review
Best Sounding Cheap Wireless Earbuds

Sony WI-C310 Wireless

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Neutral Sound

7.5

Commute/Travel

7.4

Sports/Fitness

8.0

Office

7.0

Wireless Gaming

5.4

Wired Gaming

5.3

Phone Calls

6.6

Type

In-ear

Enclosure

Closed-Back

Wireless

Yes

Transducer

Dynamic

Noise Cancelling

No

Mic

Yes

See all our test results

Most of the picks come with a bass-heavy sound profile, but if you prefer a more neutral sound, the Sony WI-C310 Wireless offer a well-balanced sound profile. They have a bit of extra boom in the bass range, while instruments and vocals are reproduced clearly without being piercing. They’re different because of their neckband design, making them less compact than truly wireless buds. Unlike most truly wireless buds, though, they don’t come with a charging case but have a 17-hour continuous battery life that helps make up for it.

Unfortunately, they aren’t particularly well-built and feel plasticky. While they have a decently comfortable fit for most, the cable connecting the buds is long, and you might find it cumbersome. Since they have a neckband, they’re more likely to get snagged on something and get ripped off your head. While you can wear them on the go, they don’t keep out much loud background noise, so you’ll lose detail in your audio. Chatty coworkers and whiny PC fans aren’t an issue, but you’ll hear most of the noise from bus and plane engines, making these less than ideal for commuting.

See our review
Best Budget Wireless Sports Earbuds

SoundPeats TrueFree 2 Wireless

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Neutral Sound

7. 0

Commute/Travel

7.1

Sports/Fitness

8.2

Office

6.7

Wireless Gaming

5.3

Wired Gaming

5.2

Phone Calls

6.0

Type

In-ear

Enclosure

Closed-Back

Wireless

Truly Wireless

Transducer

Dynamic

Noise Cancelling

No

Mic

Yes

See all our test results

The best budget earbuds for sports we’ve tested are the SoundPeats TrueFree 2 Wireless. Unlike the previous picks, these come with ear tips in different sizes and stability fins, so once you can get a good fit, they’re less likely to fall out of your ears during workouts. They have a higher IPX7 rating for water resistance, so a bit of rain during an outdoor run isn’t much of an issue, and they’re decently comfortable for most people.

Their bass-heavy sound profile brings out the rumble and punch in music like EDM, which you might like for the gym, but if you’re more of a podcast person, voices reproduce clearly. Like most earbuds listed here, they don’t have ANC or an app with sound customization features. They only last about four hours of continuous use, so you must charge them up fully before a long workout. On the plus side, their case holds about four extra charges, and they’re equipped with a standby mode to help save power.

See our review
Best Cheap Wireless Sports Earbuds

JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless

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Neutral Sound

6. 6

Commute/Travel

7.3

Sports/Fitness

8.1

Office

6.8

Wireless Gaming

5.2

Wired Gaming

5.1

Phone Calls

6.6

Type

In-ear

Enclosure

Closed-Back

Wireless

Truly Wireless

Transducer

Dynamic

Noise Cancelling

No

Mic

Yes

See all our test results

The best cheap Bluetooth earbuds for sport we’ve tested are the JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless. They have good build quality and an IP55 rating for protection against water splashes, making them a great choice for runs outdoors. Their unique stability sleeve and lightweight build also assure great stability for more intense exercise, like CrossFit or aerobics. However, the bulky sleeve, paired with their angled fit, can put undue pressure on your inner ear and negatively affect comfort depending on your ear shape.

Their sound profile is extremely bass-heavy, giving hip-hop and EDM tracks lots of intense thump and rumble. The rest of the mix, which is bright, if not piercing, also sounds muddy due to the overemphasized bass range. There’s no app support either, meaning you can’t change the sound profile to match your preferences. While these earbuds don’t have ANC, they do a decent job of passively isolating you from background noise from chatty joggers and squeaky treadmills, though they don’t do much to keep out the rumble of heavy traffic or a passing bus. They only last three hours continuously, so you must charge them between each workout. Thankfully, the case has ten additional charges, so you won’t run out of extra power too quickly.

See our review
Best Cheap Wireless ANC Earbuds

TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless

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Neutral Sound

6.9

Commute/Travel

7.8

Sports/Fitness

8.2

Office

7.1

Wireless Gaming

5.3

Wired Gaming

5.2

Phone Calls

6. 7

Type

In-ear

Enclosure

Closed-Back

Wireless

Truly Wireless

Transducer

Dynamic

Noise Cancelling

Yes

Mic

Yes

See all our test results

Earbuds with ANC are usually more expensive, but you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars for good noise cancelling earbuds. If you’re looking for an affordable option, the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless are worth considering. Their ANC feature does an impressive job of isolating you from a wide range of noise, including bass-range noise like rumbling engines. They also help reduce mid-range noise like rumbling engines. They’re sturdy, quite comfortable for most people, and last around eight hours of continuous use with ANC on.

They have a V-shaped sound profile emphasizing thump and rumble in genres like EDM and hip-hop. Instruments and lead vocals can sound veiled or weak; unfortunately, the headphones don’t have a companion app or customization features. You also can’t completely switch the ANC off, which you might find annoying, but they have a ‘Transparency’ mode for when you want to hear your surroundings without removing the buds.

If you’re still looking for inexpensive earbuds and have a little more to spend, you can see more budget-friendly earbuds on the best wireless earbuds for under $50.

See our review

Notable Mentions

JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless :
The JLab Audio JBuds Air Truly Wireless are cheap earbuds with a very stable fit, like the SoundPeats TrueFree 2 Wireless. Their charging case holds about ten extra charges, so they have a much longer total battery life, but they have a very bass-heavy sound profile that won’t suit everyone.
See our review
TOZO T6 Truly Wireless:
The TOZO T6 Truly Wireless don’t have ANC like the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless. However, they have a sturdy design and a good passive noise isolation performance, so they’ll help reduce mid-range noise like conversations. They’re rated IPX8 for water resistance, which is a high rating for cheap buds.
See our review

Recent Updates

Jul 05, 2023:
Added a note that the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless are a good alternative to the Anker Life Dot 2 Truly Wireless if you can’t find them in stock.
Jun 06, 2023:
Swapped the Skullcandy Dime 2 True Wireless and the Sony WI-C310 Wireless since the Sony are cheaper than the Skullcandy.
May 08, 2023:
We’ve overhauled this article to give more options based on usage and price range, offering budget and cheap picks for each category where applicable.
Mar 15, 2023:
Replaced the TOZO NC9 Truly Wireless with the TOZO NC7 Truly Wireless because the NC9 aren’t available.
Feb 16, 2023:
Restructured article to focus on cheap earbuds. Added the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 Truly Wireless, Sony WI-C310, the SoundPeats TrueFree 2 Wireless, and the TOZO NC9 Truly Wireless.

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best budget Bluetooth earbuds at the lower end of that price range. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn’t worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

That said, there are no perfect headphones. If you’d like to make the choice yourself, below is the full list of wireless in-ears and earbuds headphones we’ve tested. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.

JLab Go Air Pop review: ridiculously good wireless earbuds for under $20/£20

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Talented earbuds that belie their lowly price

Recommended

(Image: © TechRadar)

TechRadar Verdict

Before we get carried away, the JLab Go Air Pop are not the last word in sonic brilliance. But if this is where your budget maxes out, you’ll get reliable Bluetooth connectivity, killer battery life, comfortable and light earpieces and solid music on the go. It would be churlish to expect more.

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

Pros

+
Light design with small, comfortable earpieces
+
Reliable on-ear controls
+
Sounds better than anything else at this price

Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

JLab Go Air Pop: one-minute review

Let’s cut to the chase of what’s thrilling about the JLab Go Air Pop: since February of this year it has been possible to buy a pair of known-brand true wireless earbuds for $20 / $20, a fee that even three years ago was unimaginable. And, they’re not from someone down a dark back alley, and they’re not knock-off AirPods.

The known brand is JLab, and its raison d’etre is providing durable listening gear at rock-bottom prices; staples on our list of the best budget wireless earbuds guide, with the outgoing JLab Go Air as a prime example. They’re also our top budget pick in our best wireless earbuds guide.

Regular readers will know that TechRadar penned initial thoughts about the remarkably affordable new JLab Go Air Pop soon after their release, but – even though this is a very wallet-friendly product – we want you to know about them in a fully-fledged review. Isn’t your curiosity piqued? Can earbuds this budget-conscious actually do a job?

We’ve all been burned by buying cheap – buy cheap, buy twice, right? Not here. If you’re thinking that one bud would cease to pair after a week, or the case lid would snap off within a day, or a glancing blow from a wet jacket sleeve would kill them, or a speck of dust would put paid to the case registering anything inside it worth charging… well, you’re wrong.

What you need to know is that JLab Go Air Pop (try to see past the name, in the same way we’re able to see past Sony’s collection of capital letters, dashes and numbers to find a class-leading product) are actually pretty good generally – and emphatically unbeatable for this money, although it’s important to note that there’s little out there to challenge them at the level. If this is where your budget maxes out for non-essentials such as true wireless earbuds, you will find a reliable product here.

These earbuds belie their lowly price-point. They are not junk. They sound far better than is reasonable. And wouldn’t life be better if more of us could afford portable wireless music, rather than no music at all?

JLab’s earbuds and charging case will absolutely survive your commute unscathed. (Image credit: TechRadar)

JLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Earbuds (Teal) at Best Buy for $24.99

JLab Go Air Pop: price and release date

$20 / £20 / AU$49.95
Released: February 2022

At $20, £20 or five cents under $50 in Australia, saying JLab’s latest true wireless earbuds are aggressively priced is quite the understatement. Remember, JLab is a known audio brand, founded in 2005 and respected among the audio press.

Competition and profit margins at JLab’s ultra-affordable end of the market are brutal. The race to shrink reliable connectivity, decent stamina and on-device controls into ever-more amenable price-points, while still somehow turning a profit, never ends.

The truth is that JLab has fashioned a unique pair of new earbuds that do this for $20 (£20) and I’m still not sure how. Did someone on JLab’s payroll sell their soul to the devil in a Faustian, Robert Johnson-style pact? Hope not. But one can’t be sure…

Go Air Pop’s charging cable actually snaps into the underside of the box (Image credit: TechRadar)

JLab Go Air Pop: features

Bluetooth 5.1 and wearer-detection
Three effective EQ profiles
On-ear volume control

First off, these Bluetooth 5.1 earbuds connected to my phone at the first time of asking, and as basic a statement as it may seem, the fact that a product powers up simply, shows up in the Bluetooth menu of my phone and pairs – without the 15 minutes of head scratching, a third read of the Quick Start Guide and a full factory reset – already puts them streets ahead of certain buds we’ve tested at up to 10 times the price.

The earbuds are also sweat-resistant but even more importantly, you’re getting eight hours from the earbuds and a whopping 32 hours from the entire proposition when you include the case – and having spent a week with them, I can confirm that the claim is genuine.

Upon placing the buds back into your ears following charging, they pair instantly to their last-known device too, calmly announcing “Bluetooth connected, battery full”. These are small and incremental checks in favor of the JLabs, but they do add up. Functioning without issue might seem the bare minimum, but JLab is beating competition much higher up the food chain just by passing these rudimentary tests.

Oh, and on-device volume control? Big check. I have knocked several premium pairs of earbuds for not offering what is such a natural thing to want from your headphones (AirPods Pro, I’m looking at you), but here, a simple tap of either earpiece sends the volume up (right) or down (left) a notch. It’s almost too easy. Double tap the left one for Siri or Google, double tap the right to play or pause your music. Hold your finger on either earpiece for over a second and it’ll skip forward or back a track. Cake.

There’s a mic in each earbud for call-handling, and don’t for a second think that no app means no EQ profiles – triple tap either earpiece and you’ll hear the soothing voice say “balanced’, “bass boost” or “JLab signature”. Across the course of my time with these little units, they never misunderstand my index finger’s morse code once, either.

Features score: 5/5

The JLab Go Air Pop’s charging cable is slightly strange. But since it’s attached, you’ll never forget it! (Image credit: TechRadar)

JLab Go Air Pop review: sound quality

Good bass weight and textured vocals
Treble crackles at higher volumes

These earbuds are very capable of playing music and really, it is churlish to expect too much more. If you were hoping JLab just nailed sonic brilliance for the princely sum of $20, you will have to think again – you’re getting SBC vanilla Bluetooth delivered at rock-bottom prices, not aptX HD, LDAC or hifalutin higher-res codecs.

The name hardly screams audio excellence anyway – ‘air’ and ‘pop’ are not words we’d recommend using in the same sentence as 6mm drivers and Bluetooth connectivity – but remember, Sony once released a limited-edition ‘silent white’ colourway for the WH-1000XM4 and silence doesn’t suggest great-sounding cans either. Which firm had the bigger budget to perhaps run that name by a focus group? Correct.

Any meaningful sound comparison between these $20 in-ears and class-leading products from the likes of Sony, Apple or Sennheiser is more than a little unfair – and there are no current class-leaders at $20 because there simply isn’t much serious competition at that price.

What you should know is that JLab’s solution beats anything in its price range for sound, hands down. It can even stand toe to toe with the more expensive Sony WF-C500 – which it actually beats for battery life and design, if not audio quality.

Okay, the treble needs refinement and dynamically they’re a little flat (stream Tinie Tempah’s Frisky and the foreboding intro is ever-present, rather than building and brooding), but I maintain that JLab’s Go Air Pop are a pleasant listen overall, especially for this money. Vocals are relatively well handled through the mids, and the bass weight is sensibly handled, although I admit that the timing here lacks a modicum of cohesion.

Stream Hootie & the Blowfish’s Let Her Cry and the different guitars present themselves to each ear in a relatively expansive, open soundstage too. Listen to Prince’s Kiss and while you’ll get all of the bass funk in the intro, the artist’s inimitable vocal comes off a little harsh. Sonically, it is difficult to rave about the sound quality, chiefly because of this treble, which does distort even in relatively easy passages, but that’s not really the point here.

The point is budget-conscious, solid sound. And you get that here – for up to 32 hours.

Sound quality score: 3.5/5

It’s hard to believe the earbuds, case, charger, extra eartips and quick-start guide are all in here. But they are you know… (Image credit: TechRadar)

Available in five glorious colorways
Just 3.7g per earbud
Odd tadpole-like charging cable

Refreshingly, JLab Go Air Pop arrive in a plastic-free, 100% recycled paper box roughly the size of a deck of cards. It’s hard to imagine a set of headphones, their charging case, a quick-start guide and extra gel cushion tips can actually fit inside it, honestly, but they’re certainly there – and they’re worth shouting about.

Let’s start with the teardrop-shaped ergonomic earbuds. The marketing spiel is that they’re 15 per cent smaller than JLabs’ previous offerings. The point is, they weigh just 3.7g per earpiece (which is over a gram lighter than the bijou Sony LinkBuds S, which come in at 4.8g per bud) and will suit practically all human ears. When it comes to true wireless earbuds, small is beautiful and JLab’s Go Air Pop truly are beautifully small.

You get three sets of eartips in the same color as everything else for a sleek aesthetic (our sample is turquoise) and the case is easily as small and light as a box of dental floss, despite the fact that its USB charging plug and short cable snaps out from a recess in the base.

This diddy case is able to stand on its base (why can’t more brands do this?) so that you can flip open the magnetised lid with one hand to access the headphones. I spent a week slinging this case into my bag, near my keys. There are no metallic embellishments to be scratched off on the design and no discernible weak points in the hinge. This thing wants to survive a commute unscathed.

Okay, the strange little charging cable is physically attached to the JLab Go Air Pop’s case (can it still be called a wireless charger if there’s always a wire?) and when charging it does look embryonic or juvenile compared to more premium cases, as tadpole is to fully-grown frog perhaps. That said, it does charge the earbuds and means you’ll never have to search in the semi-darkness for your USB-C charger – or get caught short because you forgot to pack one.

Design score: 4.5/5

JLab Go Air Pop’s case really is as light as a box of dental floss – so much so, we often had to check our pocket to make sure it was still there. (Image credit: TechRadar)

JLab Go Air Pop review: value

Reliable battery, connectivity and supreme comfort for $20
Easily betters anything else at this price for sound and features
No app

Did we mention that these earbuds are just $20? All things considered, the JLab Go Air Pop represent exceptionally good value, and, despite the lack of a companion app, you get an impressive set of features all handled by the reliable on-ear controls.

In terms of build, battery life and feature set, JLab is irrefutably top of the class for value – but remember, it is a very small class.

These earbuds are not the flaky-breaky kit one might expect for $20, and if it’s a question of no music on the commute or JLab’s Go Air Pop earbuds, I’ll bite your hand off for these every day of the week.

Value score: 5/5

JLab Go Air Pop review: should I buy it?

Swipe to scroll horizontally

JLab Go Air Pop
Attributes	Notes	Rating
Features	No product with as robust a battery life and feature set exists at this level.	5/5
Sound quality	Although it surpasses anything at the price, there are issues with the treble.	3.5/5
Design	Excellent, incredibly light earbuds, just overlook the tadpole-tail charger.	4.5/5
Value	An excellent buy for the money, as long as the lack of app support isn’t a deal-breaker.	5/5

Buy it if…

Your budget maxes out at $20 / £20 / AU$50 and you want true wireless
The JLab Go Air Pop is an incredibly affordable proposition and boasts a spec sheet no other solution to date has managed at this level. If this is you, that should be enough.

You have smaller ears
At 3.7g per bud, the JLab Go Air Pop’s earbuds are incredibly small and likeable. In fact, the whole thing feels so light in our pocket, we often have to check it’s still there…

You prioritize a long battery life
32 hours of playtime, for $20. Let that sink in, while remembering that AirPods Pro will only give you a maximum of 24 hours of listening time

Don’t buy it if…

You really want app support
Although Go Air Pop do amazing things without a companion app (on-ear volume control, EQ profiles, access to voice assistants – it’s all here) if you want a visual cue of their battery life on your device, no dice.

You want top quality sound and have a stretchier budget
If sound quality is top of your list and you can spend a little more, do that. This is not an audiophile-grade product, although in many ways it’s still a fun listen.

Also consider…

Think the Go Air Pop might not be the true wireless earbuds for you? That’s cool, here are three alternatives that could offer just the design, feature-set and sound quality you’re looking for.

Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0
Lypertek continues to punch above its weight and outside of its pricing bracket with the PurePlay Z3 2.0 true wireless earbuds, a stellar-sounding package with top-notch battery life.

Sony WF-C500
They’re more than double the price of the JLabs, but Sony’s WF-C500 are still super affordable. As you might expect from a heavy-hitter such as Sony, this has led to certain compromises – but the company has kept them to a minimum, and delivered a very perky sound from very comfortable earbuds.

Earfun Air Pro
Need a noise-cancelling option? EarFun Air Pro true wireless earbuds look good, sound great, and offer a generally strong performance at an attractive price. They fall down when it comes to comfort and general bulk and the touch controls are overly complex, but they’re still an accomplished effort overall.

First reviewed: June 2022
How we test: explore TechRadar’s review guarantee

JLab Go Air Pop True Wireless Earbuds: Price Comparison

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Becky is a senior staff writer at TechRadar (which she has been assured refers to expertise rather than age) focusing on all things audio. Before joining the team, she spent three years at What Hi-Fi? testing and reviewing everything from wallet-friendly wireless earbuds to huge high-end sound systems. Prior to gaining her MA in Journalism in 2018, Becky freelanced as an arts critic alongside a 22-year career as a professional dancer and aerialist – any love of dance starts with a love of music. Becky has previously contributed to Stuff, FourFourTwo and The Stage. When not writing, she can still be found throwing shapes in a dance studio, these days with varying degrees of success.

Budget wireless headphones: top 5 options With them you can walk, run, play sports and forget about the wires that are constantly tangled. In this article, you will learn how to choose wireless headphones and not save on sound and additional features. Scroll below.

How to choose wireless headphones

The best Bluetooth headphones should meet your requirements: for calls, speaker and microphone are important, for sports, practical design and large battery, for work, compactness and noise isolation. It will depend on which gadget is better to choose: small “droplets” or massive on-ear headphones. To answer the question “Which wireless headphones to choose?” consider the basic characteristics:

– Brand. Even budget models from trusted manufacturers are distinguished by top-end hardware and stylish design solutions.
– Noise insulation. This function determines whether external sounds are heard. Vacuum headphones suppress even quiet noises.
-Bluetooth. Sound quality and features, such as music playback control, depend on this item. Buy wireless headphones with Bluetooth version 4.1 or higher.
– Sensitivity determines the level of sound that the headphones can output. Usually this figure is 105-150 dB. For comparison, the norm for a person is 100 dB.
-Autonomy . Pay attention to the built-in batteries in the headphones and the case itself. Ideally, the case should fully recharge the headphones from scratch at least three times.
– Additional features: multi-device connectivity, NFC, voice command support, low battery alerts, etc.
-How much do wireless headphones cost? You can choose an option for any wallet, but usually the price starts from $40.

Best Budget Wireless Headphones

“Not just AirPods” is the way to describe the wireless headphone market today. Now even cheap headphones are devices with top-end “stuffing”, high autonomy and the ability to reproduce clear sound. You can buy a practical gadget without overpaying for a well-known brand or features that you will not use.

In this compilation, we’ve rounded up five of the best budget wireless headphones with great sound and design.

1.Xiaomi 2SE Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic White BHR4089GL

The first in the ranking are budget wireless headphones from Xiaomi. Stylish shape of the earbuds, minimalist design, clear and balanced sound – you will get all this at a price of 1071 UAH. The battery lasts for 5 hours of continuous use, and the case lasts up to 20 hours of autonomy. Of the additional chips: audio playback stops when you remove the earpiece from your ear. The Bluetooth 5.0 version provides a range of up to 20 meters. The touch button on the surface of the gadget is responsible for voice control, stopping music and playing it.

2. Headphones Firo A3 Black

Cheap headphones that, despite the price, have a cool and deep sound. Headphones are connected to the smartphone automatically, thanks to the touch button, you can control music and calls. Autonomy – up to 5 hours of continuous listening. The case weighs only 50 grams, the weight of one earbud is 10 grams, which ensures comfort even during prolonged use. Thanks to the ergonomic shape, the headphones will not fall out even while running or exercising.

3. Budget headphones Anker SoundCore Life Note

The features of this model are the fast charging function and high autonomy: up to 7 hours of work on a single charge. The case will extend the operating time of the device up to 40 hours. If the headphones run out of power, it is enough to recharge them for 10 minutes, this will extend the work by another hour. Built-in Bluetooth 5.0 provides uninterrupted and smooth audio playback. Anker headphones are a good choice if you often record audio, because the model has 4 microphones and a noise isolation function.

4. Headphones Panasonic RB-HX220BEE-K

Full-size headphones from the top manufacturer Panasonic. Work continuously up to 23 hours. The headset can be controlled using the buttons on the case. The X-BASS system delivers deep sound and extra bass.

5.Defender Twins 636 Pro TWS Bluetooth White Wireless Headphones

Wireless earbuds are similar in design to AirPods Pro. Thanks to the ergonomic shape, they sit perfectly in the ears and are almost invisible. Can play audio up to 3 hours. An additional feature is support for wireless charging. Special sensors detect the position of the headphones and automatically turn off the sound if you remove one earbud from your ear. You can control the headset using the touch button.

Wireless earphones can be purchased at the Computer Vsesvit store or on the website. If you still doubt which headphones to buy, follow the link and get a free consultation from our experts.

Review Defender FreeMotion B540 – cheap headphones (BT)

7.1 Overall score Good!

Good headphones for little money.

Sound quality among analogues at a price of 7

Sound quality compared to standard wireless full size 5

Comfort/convenience 8

Appearance and build quality 7

Bluetooth connection quality 9

Autonomy 6

Office 8

Additional functions (connection options) 9

Microphone quality 4

Overall price/quality 8

Pluses

Decent sound for the money ($20$).
Comfortable fit.
Quality building.
Wide functionality.
Stable Bluetooth connection.
Multipoint and no lag when watching videos.

Cons

Voice quality is mediocre.
Cheap materials and branded bowls.
No automatic shutdown.
Irreversible bowls.

Add your review | Read reviews and comments

Defender FreeMotion B540 are budget full-size wireless headphones with wide functionality. Here, as is often the case with inexpensive Bluetooth headsets, there is also the possibility of playing from a flash drive (microSD), and FM radio, not to mention a wired connection.

But more often than not, behind a bunch of not all necessary functions, there is a hacky assembly, poor performance of those very functions and not very good sound. How to be in this case? All the details are in the review below. 🖊️ You can “spoiler” a little: everything is very good here.

How to test headphones and what sound I think is good

Test time. 1-2 weeks.

What I test on (material). Music from various streaming services (Spotify, Yandex Music, Tidal, Deezer) and your own lossless collection.

Why am I listening (source) Huawei Nova 5t, Huawei P40 lite smartphones, Hifiman HM-801 Hi-Fi player with Symmcard 7.2 custom amplifier, Windows 10 PC (built-in audio), LG TV. Of necessity.

Equalizer, I don’t use various software amplifiers (branded and third-party) (only if for a test). I only listen and describe the sound of headphones/speakers without tuning.

What sound do you think is good? Reliable (smooth detailed natural). I don’t like too much bass.

Review content

1 💸 Buy Defender FreeMotion B540 headphones – prices:
2 ⚙️ Characteristics, equipment
3 🎧 Appearance and build quality
4 🛋️ Kom fort
5 🕹️ Management
6 📡 Connection quality
7 🔋 Battery life
8 📱 Functionality – connection options and operating modes
9 🎙️ Microphone
10 🔊 Sound quality
11 🏆 Bottom line: detailed pros and cons
12 📸 Photo gallery
- 12. 1 Similar products from Ali

💸 Buy Defender FreeMotion B540 headphones – prices:

Wireless headphones Defender FreeMotion B540 on the official website of

⚙️ Characteristics, equipment

Specifications Defender FreeMotion B540:

Device type: Wireless headphones
Type: full size, dynamic, closed
Aperture diameter: 40 mm
Frequency response: 20-20000 Hz
Resistance: 32 Ohm
Sensitivity: 118 dB
Wireless: Bluetooth 5.0
Work profile support: EDR, A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
RF slot frequency range: 2.402-2.480 GHz
Interface: 3.5 mm mini-jack, microUSB (charging)
Microphone: yes

Sensitivity (microphone): -42 dB
Frequency response (microphone): 100-16000 Hz
Battery capacity: 400 mAh
Operating time: 10 hours
Charging time: 2. 5 hours
Additional info: FM radio, microSD card slot
Weight: 229 g.
Price: $20

Equipment:

Headphones.
Charging cable (microUSB).
Audio cable 3.5 mm.
Documentation.

💎 Useful related articles:

The best wireless headphones

Best Budget Wireless Headphones (Under $100)

🎧 Looks and build quality of

Defender FreeMotion B540 comes to a new owner in a small, fairly light cardboard box, inside which are: the headphones themselves, an audio cable (3.5 mm to 3.5 mm), a USB cable (USB-A to microUSB) and documents. By the way, I recommend reading the user manual. There are many functions, but only three buttons. Not all nuances are obvious. More on this in the relevant section below.

Of course, microUSB is already a morally obsolete interface, but, given the price of this model, I won’t write it down as a minus. Although the cable could be longer.

Foldable Defender FreeMotion B540

Headband pad Defender FreeMotion B540

Bowl Defender FreeMotion B540

Headphones look good. There are no superfluous and ambiguous design decisions here (like lighting in another Defender model), everything is modest and tasteful. The model is only available in black. Build quality. I did not see crooked seams, burrs, squeaks, backlashes and other things. For a budget headset – an important plus. The design is almost entirely made of plastic, and the plastic is clearly cheap. This can be seen visually (see picture), and immediately noticeable to the touch. But there are no expected premium materials here. 😀

Headband Defender FreeMotion B540 plastic, reinforced with a metal shackle (seen when stretched). It is a soft lining with leather upholstery. The design of the headband is foldable. It is a pity that the bowls do not rotate – it is inconvenient to wear around the neck, because the bowls themselves are quite large. Fixed foam cushions with leather upholstery. This material here, although of sufficient quality, but it is also clear that it is cheap. The best of the worst. © 😉

Overall, I’m happy with the build quality and design considering the price. Even more than. The only real complaint is the dirty bowls. There are corrugated metal inserts on the front, and they get dirty right away. And it’s very hard to clean. This is also visible in the picture.

Headband adjuster Defender FreeMotion B540, metal shackle

💎 Defender tech and other budget headphones:

Headphones and speakers Defender (Header)

Best affordable Chinese headphones (under $100)

🛋️ Comfort

Defender FreeMotion B540 are comfortable headphones. They are light enough, the downforce is sufficient, but not excessive. Although I admit that hugs may seem strong to someone. Especially if the head is larger than the “average”. However, the headband here is regulated within a wide range, and there will most likely not be any special problems. The ear pads are moderately deep and wide, the ears fit without problems. They are soft, but not too soft, as is the headband padding.

These are not the most comfortable headphones I’ve tested, but you can easily spend a couple of hours in them. And that’s good.

Defender FreeMotion B540 on head

Ear pads Defender FreeMotion B540

Budget headphones Defender FreeMotion B540

When folded, the headphones fit easily into a backpack/bag. The cups protrude from the sides of the head (this is still a full-size model), but not much. Noise isolation at a very decent level in both directions. In land transport, you can comfortably ride without increasing the volume higher than you want.

🕹️ Management

The Defender FreeMotion B540 is controlled by a button. The scheme, with the exception of a couple of unexpected turns, is intuitive. Everything is implemented on just three buttons on the rear end of the left bowl. All details are detailed in the instructions. Here I will highlight only the main points:

Center button. Hold: Turn on/off and automatically search for radio stations. Short press: start / pause, answer / end a call, switch between FM stations.
Buttons on the sides. This is respectively plus and minus above and below average. Short presses change the volume, long presses scroll through tracks and radio stations. And if you simultaneously press and hold both buttons, then this is to switch between operating modes (Bluetooth, microSD, radio). This is just an unusual move. 😉

Buttons Defender FreeMotion B540

Buttons are pressed easily, but not strongly. This is a physical reaction. In general, everything is good and functional. But the buttons are exactly the same both visually and to the touch. Even though they are quite far apart, I missed them, at least at first.

📡 Connection quality

Defender FreeMotion B540 wireless headphones can be connected to a source (phone, tablet, laptop, etc.) via Bluetooth (up to version 5.0) and an audio cable. Support for some codecs is not declared, that is, the “default” SBC option is used. Which is not surprising. Surprisingly, the connection is of high quality and reliable. There were practically no artifacts within a radius of 10 meters during testing. What impressed me the most was the working radius. Many more expensive earphones have started to make noise closer than this budget model.

Bluetooth connection Defender FreeMotion B540

Connectors Defender FreeMotion B540 (3.5 mm and microUSB)

Headband Defender FreeMotion B540

The first pairing is simple: from the off state, hold the center button for about 5 seconds, the headphones turn on and go into accessibility mode. After that, we find them in the list of Bluetooth devices on the phone\player\tablet. Once paired, the headphones will automatically connect to the last known source when the power is turned on. This connection is quite fast.

But that’s not all the good stuff about the Defender FreeMotion B540 Bluetooth connection. Headphones support multipoint (simultaneous connection to 2 sources). This is usually the prerogative of more expensive models. The feature is sometimes useful. To connect to another source, the easiest way is to turn off (not untie, just turn off) the first one and find the headphones in the list of available devices on the second one.

switching between sources is not ideal and smooth, but fast enough and convenient. Don’t miss a phone call while watching a series with headphones on your laptop. 😉

Design Defender FreeMotion B540

Speaking of the series. There is not even a desynchronization of picture and sound when watching a video. Or almost invisible. Very good, again, for cheap wireless headphones. Of course, there is no proprietary application here, which, however, is also expected and normal.

💎 Bluetooth and codec information:

All about Bluetooth 5.0

Top 5: Bluetooth audio codecs – aptX+ (HD), LDAC, AAC and SBC

🔋 Battery Life

The declared autonomy of the Defender FreeMotion B540 is up to 10 hours. The result is below average for wireless on-ear headphones. But here I also don’t want to judge strictly with a discount on the price (pun intended 😛). The main thing is that the headphones endure these 10 hours, apparently. My headphones ran out of battery after 3 days of work for 3 hours +/-. Most likely, they will not be discharged unexpectedly. And even if there is, they work in a passive (off) mode over the wire.

Charging Defender FreeMotion B540 (microUSB)

The charge level is displayed in the “default location” on the connected source. On my Android phone, it’s at the top next to the clock. The indications are quite accurate. The earphones are fully charged in about 2.5 hours. There is no indication of the remaining charge on the headphones themselves, which is a little depressing. Support for fast and especially wireless charging, of course, no. There is also no auto-off. If the headphones are connected via Bluetooth (even if there is no music playing), they do not turn off by themselves.

📱 Functionality – connection options and operating modes

Defender FreeMotion B540 has several modes of operation and connection options. These are not only Bluetooth headphones, but also a player (plays music from a USB flash drive) and an FM tuner. The Bluetooth connection is described in detail above, and we will analyze the rest of the options in a little more detail.

Audio cable connection. It’s great to get this opportunity. When you connect the cord, the headphones immediately turn off and work only in passive mode. The microphone is not available. There are no problems with the connection, the headphone jack is 3.5 mm, standard. The included cable is of good quality.
Playback from microSD (mp3 player mode). Apparently (not explicitly stated in the instructions) mp3 files and a small number of flash drives are supported. My 64 GB card, crammed with mostly lossless files, was not readable by headphones. But a small one (2 GB) was easy to read. Basically it’s mp3. All files are played as a single list, folder switching is not supported. The card is easy to insert and remove.
FM radio. How many people need this option in portable headphones? Feel free to share in the comments. Just interested. 😉 I see the only use case – somewhere in the field, in the garden, in the forest. Where there is no outlet at hand and you do not want to charge your phone. And I want to hear the news. 😀 Reception quality is very average or below average. I found several main stations. A couple of them passed even without interference. You can listen if you like. But it’s in the heart of the city.

Wire connection Defender FreeMotion B540

Wireless over-ear headphones Defender FreeMotion B540

Defender FreeMotion B540 memory card playback from microSD card

🎙️ Microphone

The microphone is definitely not the strong point of the Defender FreeMotion B540. As a Bluetooth headset, the headphones are not particularly comfortable to use. Even when I was in a quiet room, the interlocutors complained about poor hearing, distortion, and so on. I had to repeat myself often. You can exchange a few words, but a full-fledged conversation will not work. Of course, in noisy environments, it’s best not to try to make or answer calls with this headset. All ambient sounds enter the conversation and completely drown out the voice.

Made a couple of test recordings. In a quiet room and with background noise (city sounds from YouTube through computer speakers at a fairly noticeable volume). Recordings are made on the voice recorder of the phone and do not sound as bad as real conversations. Share in the comments, how do you like the microphone?

Defender FreeMotion B540 microphone in a quiet environment
Microphone Defender FreeMotion B540 in a noisy environment

🔊 Sound quality

But the sound quality, surprisingly, is perhaps the strongest side of the Defender FreeMotion B540. Headphones give out enough high-quality sound for their price segment. There are no sincere jambs, distortions and other “charms” of the state employee.

USB-drive connector Defender FreeMotion B540

Low frequencies (LF). Emphasized, but not exaggerated. The bass is powerful, not very fast. More soft than sharp. But not loose. At high volume, it can hum and sometimes dirt appears, but overall it is very worthy. Headphones are suitable for bass lovers, even if they are not frankly “bass”.
Medium frequencies (MF). Relatively flat, the lower part is slightly emphasized after the bass. But the upper part of the square is somewhat flawed. Because of this, voices sometimes don’t sound “full” and some detail can be lost.
High frequencies (HF). Smoothed and simplified, but not much. Cymbals, for example, sometimes “sand”, but not always. Sometimes they sound quite authentic, although “strangled”. As a rule, handwriting darkens.
Stage. Narrow, but slightly wider than the head. The sound sources are arranged in a line (there is no recess), the images are drawn, but not very vividly and finely.
Detail and naturalness. Good for its price. Explicit synthetics and distortions do not “climb into the ears”, although, of course, one cannot say that the sound is reliable. The detailing of the upper mids and high frequencies is slightly lost, but not critical, I must say.
Music genres. Headphones are good at simple modern electronic-popular genres. The beat trembles, there is no dirt in the ears, voices are heard. Alternative for a wide audience. If you take metal, then a powerful one can be too bassy, a fast and complex one lacks attack accuracy. Of course, jazz and classical music (especially classical music) lose their naturalness. But listening to these headphones, perhaps, I do not recommend only the classics. The rest is plus or minus. 😉
Applications (music, games, movies). Movies can be watched without problems. Although some blockbusters may have a little bit of bass (boom appears), but for many this is a plus. Play on phone is an option if sync fails. It shouldn’t, but of course it depends on the game and the phone. On the PC – by wire.

Bluetooth headphones Defender FreeMotion B540

It remains to add that when connected via cable, the sound changes. And yet not always for the better. The bass becomes more collected, the upper frequencies are slightly better defined, but there is an even brighter accent on the lower mids. For example, in fast and/or complex music, this hides details. But some quiet genres sound more natural and interesting. Experiment. 😉 But in any case, the difference is not very big.

💎 Wireless and wired music headphones:

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🏆 Bottom line: detailed pros and cons of

Are the Defender FreeMotion B540 headphones worth their price? I think so. They do not fall apart in the hands, look good, have wide functionality and even sound good. We can safely say that they will last more than a month. And what else do you need from budget wireless headphones.

Wireless headphones Defender FreeMotion B540 on the official website of

Benefits:

Decent sound for the money. Dark tone with accentuated bass and smooth highs. The sound is not muddy, not muffled. And relatively versatile. It costs 20 dollars.
Comfortable fit. You can spend at least 2 hours in headphones without discomfort.
Quality building. Very cool for a budget model. Nothing to complain about at all. At least in terms of durability. 😉
Wide functionality. Bluetooth, cable connection, playback from microSD and FM tuner on board. All functions even work.
Stable Bluetooth connection. This is not what you would expect from cheap headphones. There are no (or almost no) holes or artifacts within a 10m radius. The result is better than some of the more expensive models.
Multipoint and no lag when watching videos. Another interesting feature for a budget model.

Wireless headphones Defender FreeMotion B540

Cons:

Voice quality is mediocre. It is inconvenient to use the model as a headset.
Cheap materials and branded bowls. It can be seen that the headphones are affordable. The plastic is high quality but looks cheap. Well, the metal on the bowls gets dirty quickly and is difficult to clean.
No automatic shutdown.

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Budget wireless headphones: top 5 options With them you can walk, run, play sports and forget about the wires that are constantly tangled. In this article, you will learn how to choose wireless headphones and not save on sound and additional features. Scroll below.

Review Defender FreeMotion B540 – cheap headphones (BT)

💸 Buy Defender FreeMotion B540 headphones – prices:

⚙️ Characteristics, equipment

🎧 Looks and build quality of

🛋️ Comfort

🕹️ Management

📡 Connection quality

🔋 Battery Life

📱 Functionality – connection options and operating modes

🎙️ Microphone

🔊 Sound quality

🏆 Bottom line: detailed pros and cons of