Wireless earbuds truly are a wonder, and wearing them sure beats being tangled in a throng of wires. However, if you're looking to get a pair with all features like Active Noise Cancelling or 3D spatial audio, the best wireless earbuds don't come cheap.
If you're not looking for all the additional bells and whistles, and you just need a reliable pair of buds with a decent microphone, there are a few pairs out there. If you're willing to compromise a little on features, we've rounded up the best options for under $25 that feature a microphone.
Wireless earbuds are truly a wonder, and wearing them sure beats being tangled in a throng of wires. However, if you're looking to get a pair with features like active noise cancellation (ANC) or 3D spatial audio, the best wireless earbuds don't come cheap. On the other hand, if additional bells and whistles aren't necessary and just need a reliable pair of buds with a decent microphone, there are plenty of options out there for under $25.
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Skullcandy Dime 2
Best overall$25 $30 Save $5Garishly colored and funky looking, the Skullcandy Dime 2 earbuds are targeted at people who like to stand out. They are quite small and lightweight, so are comfortable to wear. Good for both music and calls, the Dime 2 are easy to control, and you can use either of the buds alone if you prefer. In addition, they are IPX4 protected, so they can take on gym sweat or light rain. However, the 3.5 hours of battery life could be better.
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Baseus Bowie MA10
Premium pick$23 $30 Save $7Sure, there are some compromises with the Baseus Bowie MA10. The app is buggy, and the charging case is not the most pocket-friendly. But they sound great for the price and actually have some surprising features like active noise cancellation, which is great at this price. Plus, despite the issues with the app, there are plenty of EQ options on hand for a more personalized listening experience.
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Kurdene S8
Best valueDying for a pair of decent earbuds yet strapped for cash? Look no further than the Kurdene S8. They have a great fit, come in 16 fun colors, last for 38 hours (case + buds), have touch controls, connect through Bluetooth 5.2, IPX8 waterproofing, and some admirable audio quality to boot. The audio tuning is nice and sounds suitable for casual listening. Four microphones effectively filter out background noise while talking, making the S8 a great candidate for communication gear.
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JLab Go Air Pop
Great soundRelatively new to the game, the JLab Go Air Pop earbuds deliver good performance at an unbelievably low price. With a 2-year warranty, these little wonders are easy to operate and sound decent. The IPX4-protected earbuds are built as cheap as they are, with simple light plastic and waxy finishes. They still manage to look nice, though. They connect via Bluetooth 5.1 and support SBC. Audio-wise, the Go Air Pops are good enough with three equalizer presets thrown in.
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iLuv TB100
Available in 15 cute colors, the lightweight iLuv TB100 earbuds sport a lovely design that is sure to charm you. With their price-to-performance-to-visual appeal ratio, they make great gifts — beautiful yet practical. These sweet little beasts offer Bluetooth 5.3 for under 30 bucks which is pretty uncommon. The IPX6-grade waterproof buds offer 20 hours of playtime on a single charge, and the audio is nearly stellar. Furthermore, the reproduced sound has excellent accuracy and clarity, even at high volumes.
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Tozo A1 Mini
$20 $30 Save $10The A1 Mini earbuds are tiny, both the case and buds, but they sport a very fun design in six different color finishes. They are very lightweight and fit snugly in the ears, so you can safely use them in serious physical activity. They are only IPX5, but speaking of audio quality, the Tozo A1 Minis pack a punch in their tiny enclosure. The wireless charging feature is a nice add-on, too!
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JLab Go Air Tones
The JLab Go Air Tones are fantastic earbuds designed to blend in with your skin. Available in six skin tones, they are small, lightweight, and sound good. In fact, the idea and build quality are so good that even a celebrity tried to rip them off. The neutral-shaded earbuds are easy on the eyes and fit easily in your pocket. The fit is ergonomic and comfortable, and with 8 hours of battery in the buds they last you all day.
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BD&M Wireless Earbuds
$10 $15 Save $5The ultra-cheap BD&M Wireless Earbuds are simple, effective, and very light and comfy, making them good for running and exercise. The case has a built-in display showing the battery levels. Connected via Bluetooth 5.3, they can maintain connection substantially and pipe in some good quality music. The CVC 8.0 mics are good for communication, but we wish the battery capacity was better than just 45 mAh (200 in the case). That translates into just 4 hours of standard playtime.
How to pick quality earbuds for under $25
In the budget earbuds market, what you need to go for is the price-to-performance ratio. At this price point, don't expect high-tech features like 3D spatial audio or ANC. Instead, focus on decent audio quality, good connectivity, comfort, and battery life. Exceptional call quality is also hard to come by in this bracket, but you'll find some decent mics here.
Your best bet is to figure out your use case. Each pair in the above list has specific usage scenarios. Pay attention to their strengths and weaknesses, and you'll find the best choice to fit your needs. We recommend the Skullcandy Dime 2 wireless earbuds for the outstanding balance of audio quality and battery life in one tiny package. Plus, they have a snug fit that will keep these little babies in your ear no matter how hard you jam.
The Kurdene S8 are cheaper but have great connectivity and performance for the price. Additionally, with four microphones, call quality will come in quite nicely. Last but not least, if you have a little extra to spend, the Baseus Bowie MA10 offer excellent audio quality, a comfy fit, and noise cancellation to boot.