Wireless earbuds are cheaper than they’ve ever been. A few years ago, the IPX7 water-resistance rating cost at least $100—the same capability can be had for $40 today. The proliferation of more affordable tech also means there have never been more options at the sub-$60 price point, so we tracked down the leading models and tested them while running on roads and trails to find the best cheap wireless buds. Our number one overall pick is below, but read on to learn what you should look for in cheap wireless earbuds and discover some other great options.
What You Get For $60 or Less
Don’t expect all the bells and whistles of the industry’s top-notch wireless earbuds, but do look for a few crucial, running-specific features.
Waterproofing
Sweat and rain can kill wireless earbuds, so look for an Ingress Protection (IP) rating. It’ll contain one or two numbers: The first indicates dust protection, the second is for water protection. An “X” in place of either number means there’s no available data; most earbuds at the price we considered don’t have a rating for dust. But more important is water protection: Every earbud here has an IP rating of at least four, meaning they should survive rainfall and sweat. Higher ratings of seven to nine mean a pair of earbuds can be submerged in water, but remember that Bluetooth signals struggle underwater, so even those won’t be good for swimming either way.
Bluetooth 5.0
The latest in Bluetooth wireless connection, Bluetooth 5.0 reduces your earbuds’ energy usage. Only recently have wireless earbuds upgraded to 5.0 (also known as Bluetooth Low Energy), and most on this list use the new technology. Bluetooth 5.0 also boasts improved connectivity over Bluetooth 4.2, the previous standard, although user reviews for some cheap wireless earbuds indicate that range tops out around 32 feet.
Charging Case
Wire-connected earbuds, like the Skullcandy Ink’d Wireless and Anker Soundcore Sweatguard, tend to have longer battery life than truly wireless buds because there’s room to accommodate a bigger battery along the cord. For truly wireless models, a charging case is standard. When fully juiced, these wireless buds typically run for only three to four hours, but the case should provide a few additional charges.
What You Don’t Get
Value pricing comes with some trade-offs. Here’s what you shouldn’t expect on your cheap earbuds.
High-End Sound Quality
Our experience with cheap wireless earbuds has revealed that they (unsurprisingly) don’t sound as good as top-end models from Jabra, Apple, Bose, Sennheiser, Jaybird, and others. Sound quality is subjective enough as to be impossible to evaluate from user reviews, so we’re not going to get into much detail. Just know that you’re probably not getting hi-fi audio from a $40 set of earbuds.
Noise-Canceling and Ambient Sound Modes
These two features are standard for pricier wireless earbuds, and some on this list do include noise canceling. But they’re less common at lower price points. And as a runner, you’ll likely want to have better hearing of your surroundings anyway.
How We Tested
We started by scanning the market for wireless earbuds that cost $60 or less, and we narrowed our list based on the features runners need: waterproofing and a marathon-worthy battery life. Then we asked the relevant companies to send us their earbuds and evaluated them based on fit, sound quality, the amount of ambient noise we could hear while listening, battery life, connectivity, and their overall quality and feel. And because longterm durability can be questionable when dealing with cheap electronics, we’ll update this list with additional insights after several months of use.
Got a pair of cheap earbuds in mind that you’d like us to test—and that aren’t on our list? Let us know in the comments.
Soundcore Life A1 Wireless Earbuds
Pros
- These High-Impact Bras Deliver the Best Support
Cons
- Other Hearst Subscriptions
These wireless earbuds by Soundcore have an IP rating of IPX7, making them stay fully functional even if you’re caught in a downpour or tend to drip buckets of sweat. The Life A1 has three equalizer modes—easy to switch with touch controls on either bud—so you can tailor your listening experience during your run: Soundcore Signature, Bass Booster, and Podcast. Battery life is 9 hours between charges. The USB-C-equipped charging case holds 26 additional hours’ worth of playback. It is also capable of giving the buds enough power for up to 1.5 hours of wireless playback after only 10 minutes of charging.
Skullcandy Ink’d Wireless
Skullcandy Ink’d Wireless
Skullcandy Ink’d Wireless
Pros
- 8-hour batter life (fully charged)
Cons
- hour batter life fully charged
- The 6 Best Garmin Watches for All-Day Wear
The Ink’d Wireless have recently been replaced by the Ink’d+, which introduces rapid charging and active voice assistant functions. We’ve yet to try the shiny new version, but after a year of testing its predecessor, we found the original worth a recommendation (especially considering the sale price on Amazon). The eight-hour battery means they don’t require charging after every other run, and they’ve stood up to all the times our tester pulled them by the earbud from the depths of his gym bag. The sound and fit are decent, featuring Skullcandy’s characteristic, noise-blocking, in-ear fit and deep (if slightly muddy) bass. The tips at the ends of the band tended to bounce around on our tester’s collarbones if he didn’t tuck them beneath his shirt collar (the band will eventually fall off your neck if you’re not wearing a shirt). He used a string to tie the ends of the band together, fashioning a necklace that stayed in place while running. For that, they’re not perfect, but they’ve still shown us great quality and value.
JBL Reflect Mini 2
Pros
- 10-hour battery life (fully charged)
- Ergonomic fit
Cons
- Best Fitness Trackers
The JBL Reflect Mini 2 also aren’t the newest headphones, but a price drop below $60 (down from $100) makes them an attractive value proposition. And there’s a lot more to like than the reasonable price: The buds formed a tight seal in our ears and didn’t move after we started to trot. The downside for outdoor runners is the lack of ambient sound, though it also isolates your tunes from the outside world. Video production manager Jimmy Cavalieri used them while mowing his lawn. “Although I could still hear my lawnmower, the earbuds blocked out enough engine noise that the audio still sounded good without having to max out the volume,” he said. “The sound quality was clear enough that if you concentrate and really listen to the music, you can identify each instrument.” The connecting wire between the buds is lightweight and hardly noticeable mid-run, and the Reflect Mini 2 connected quickly via Bluetooth and stayed synced up to 100 feet away. The earbuds also sport reflective cables for nighttime visibility, an IPX5 water-resistant rating, and an impressive 10 hours of battery life.
JLab Go Air True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds
JLab Go Air True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds
JLab Go Air True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds
Pros
- 5-hour battery life (fully charged)
- Updated: Mar 19, 2021
Cons
- Give A Gift
- Not the best sound quality
Associate test director Will Egensteiner said these buds’ lack of ear wings initially made them feel insecure, but they stayed put nicely during runs without generating a noticeable “thud” at each foot strike. However, working up a sweat caused a slight rubbing noise where the silicone tip sealed in the ear. That seal wasn’t so tight as to prevent Egensteiner from hearing his surroundings—a plus for outdoor running. But because of that, the sound wasn’t as immersive, and the power wasn’t on par with the other models. (We’d recommend the JBL Reflect Mini BT 2 for excellent sound at this price.) But it’s tough to argue with $30 truly wireless earbuds that generally work pretty well.
A former Division 1 runner, Dan grew up riding fixies and mountain bikes and now reviews everything from performance running shoes to road and cross bikes, to the latest tech for runners and cyclists at Bicycling and Runner’s World.
