Wireless headphones under $ 50: Forget AirPods and buy one of these cheaper pairs

David Carnoy / CNET

These were the first options of all the outbreaks I tried. By themselves, they don’t sound bad at all, but when you compare the sound quality to the other headphones in this group, they sound unbalanced. The bass can be distorted and I experienced various dropouts and stuttered playback, especially when connected to a laptop.

But I love the built-in USB cable in the case that plugs into a wall adapter or laptop. I wish the case itself had a lid as I would be concerned about throwing them in a bag where dust or dirt could get into the headphones. Overall, however, the call quality was fine for Zoom phone chats and meetings. Read more.

Lexy Savvides / CNET

These buds have elongated stems like the original AirPods and AirPods Pro. These were also among the lightest in my ear for extended use. Unfortunately, the touchpads were incredibly responsive and a movement like brushing hair out of my ear caused the track to stop.

Despite this minor annoyance, the T13 turned out to be the most complete option for listening to music and making calls. The case has USB-C charging, and you get a respectable six hours of listening time per charge. They are also IPX5 rated, so they have some water resistance.

Lexy Savvides / CNET

I have a true love and hate relationship with these friends. Of all the ones I tried, these would be the ones I would choose to listen to music. The bass is powerful and bright, making the tracks sound exciting. They were also the most comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

But the call quality, for some reason, was the worst of all buds: the microphone made me sound distant and distorted. They also have the shortest battery life in the group, around four hours, and the buttons are hard to press.

Lexy Savvides / CNET

These were some of the most expensive pairs I tried at $ 49 (but you can easily find them for under $ 40) and they certainly look great thanks to a sleek, glossy finish and compact case. They are lightweight in the ear, however I was unable to obtain an ear tip small enough from the selection provided to adequately block external noise.

While the audio is the least dynamic or exciting of the pairs I tested, they sound great listening on Android thanks to aptX (a technology that helps deliver better Bluetooth audio) and have rock solid connectivity across all devices. that I tried.

Like the T13, they are also IPX5 rated for water resistance. The battery lasts up to eight hours on a single charge.

Lexy Savvides / CNET

These are the most colorful headphones on this list, with five options including mint green and peach. Like AirPods, the Air 1 Go headphones rest on your ears, which may be more comfortable for those who don’t like the internal design of the other headphones on this list. You also get a rubber boot that provides a tighter fit and adds a little extra noise isolation. However, they didn’t feel particularly safe in my ears when walking, so I wouldn’t choose these sprouts for exercise.

The Air 1 Go sounds good when left at the default sound profile, but it doesn’t have as much bass as some of the others on this list. They have the shortest battery life at 3.5 hours on a single charge, and I found that they worked best with a mobile device rather than a laptop, as the microphone was not best for Zoom calls or Google Hangouts meetings.

Lexy Savvides / CNET

Along with the Letsfit T13, EarFun Free are the best overall earphones I’ve tested so far, and they have a good airtight seal that blocks a lot of external noise. These definitely feel like a more expensive pair of headphones thanks to the sturdy case that charges wirelessly or via USB-C. Thanks to a watertight seal and a snug fit, they are comfortable to wear during longer stretches. Bass lovers will enjoy what these sound like: rounded, but not overdone.

When I connected to a computer, I found that the sound was out of sync between each button, so there was a little echo effect when I was on a Zoom call or in a Google Hangouts meeting, but this was not a problem when I was connected to a phone. They are waterproof with an IPX7 rating and the battery life will last almost 6 hours on a single charge. I found the buttons on the buttons stiff enough to press, like the Soundpeats.

Use the code EARFUN35 to get a 10% discount on Amazon. Read our EarFun Free review.

Lexy Savvides / CNET

With an ear hook, the HolyHigh ET1 headphones look just like the $ 250 Powerbeats Pro. Like the Beats, I’d pick the ET1 for workouts thanks to the design that keeps them secure in place no matter what you’re wearing. doing. Sound quality is good, with balanced mids, highs, and bass at default settings. They whistle slightly when connected to a phone or laptop, which can be annoying if you have sensitive hearing.

I found them quite comfortable to wear for extended use, although it took a bit of trial and error to find the best tip size to create an airtight seal. And the over-the-ear design won’t be for everyone.

Get ready for a surprise when you take the charging case out of the box – it’s huge compared to all the other buds on this list. You’ll get just under 6 hours of listening time on ET1.

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