If you don’t like the bulkiness or feel of over-ear and on-ear headphones, then in-ear headphones, also called earbuds, might be a better choice. In addition to being lightweight, earbuds are also easier to transport and provide a more discreet way to listen to music, podcasts, and more. Earbuds can range in price from under $30 to over $500 – and higher. However, it’s quite possible to find an excellent pair under $200 that has a long battery life – or is wired. Some even have noise-cancellation features and can be used with voice assistants.
So if you’re on the search for a high-quality pair to enhance your music or podcast listening experience, look no further. Here we take a look at the best earbuds under $200 in 2024, along with comments from experts on what to look for when choosing earbuds in this price range.
The List: 10 Best Affordable Earbuds (Within A $200 Budget)
Jabra Elite 8 Active Earbuds
If you’re active – or earbuds tend to fall out of your ears – the Jabra Elite 8 Active Earbuds are some of the most rugged earbuds available. They use ShakeGrip technology, which includes a liquid silicone rubber compound, and a wing-free, closed earbud design to ensure a secure grip that’s strong enough to avoid falling out of your ears. Also, you don’t have to twist or fine-tune them to get the right fit. However, the earbuds are still soft enough to feel comfortable, and 3 sets of ear gels are included.
With an IP68 rating, the earbuds are designed to resist water, sweat, and dust. The 6mm speakers and spatial sound powered by Dolby provide rich, clear immersive audio experience. Active noise cancellation – including 6 microphones – help to block noise and provide clear phone calls. With ANC on, battery life is 8 hours/32 hours with the case. With ANC off, battery life is 14 hours/56 hours with the case.
The Jabra Sound+ App provides battery status, customizable music EQ and presets, and more. The earbuds fast pair with Android, and voice assistants (Siri, Google) are also available. Color choices include black, dark grey, navy, caramel, black, and mint.
JLab Go Air Pop Earbuds
If you’re on a budget, the JLab Go Air Pop Earbuds are ridiculously good for only spending under $30. The 6mm dynamic drivers provide quality audio, and the built-in microphone allows for clear phone calls. The easy touch controls on the earbuds make it convenient to play, pause, adjust the volume, and control tracks. You can also answer calls, and activate the smart assistant using the controls. Dual connect provides the option to use the earbuds together or separately. Multiple gel tip sizes are included for a better fit. JLab makes these earbuds in over a dozen colors, including slate, gold, red, teal, and lilac.
The IPX4 waterproof rating protects from splashing water and sweat. Battery life is 8 or more hours in each earbud, which extends to over 32 hours with the charging case. And since the earbuds and charging case are small, they’re easy to transport, and can even fit in your pocket.
SHOKZ OpenRun Bone Conduction Headphones
While earbuds are less intrusive than headphones, you may not like the idea of having something inserted in your ear. The SHOKZ OpenRun Bone Conduction Headphones actually sit on your cheekbones and work by using vibrations to transmit sound through the cheekbones. This open-ear design allows you to be aware of your surroundings, and the headband, which wraps around the back of your head, helps to keep the device secure while also being comfortable.
However, sound quality is not compromised by this unusual design, and the audio is clear and powerful, with bass that is rich and full. The titanium headphones have a volume button and a multifunction button. Battery life is 8 hours, and a 1-minute charge provides 1.5 hours of playtime.
The headphones, which feature multipoint pairing, have an IP67 waterproof rating to be sweat- and waterproof. And the moisture detection alert lets you know if the headphones are wet when you’re ready to charge them. There are 4 color choices: black, blue, grey, and red.
Beats Studio Buds
The Beats Studio Buds are popular for a reason – and it’s not just that they’re a member of the Beats by Dr. Dre family. For less than $100, the earbuds support spatial audio for immersive sounds. The active noise cancelling blocks exterior sounds, but you can also switch to the transparency mode when it’s important to hear what’s going on in the background. On phone calls, the dual-beam forming microphones provide clear audio while filtering out noise.
The controls on the earbuds make it easy to manage music and calls. One-touch pairing works with both Apple and Android, and three different ear tip sizes ensure a secure fit. The Beats App adds more functionality and includes a device location feature. The earbuds can also be used with Siri. With ANC off, battery life is 8 hours/24 hours with the case. The Beats Studio Buds are available in ocean blue, black, moon gray, red, sunset pink, and white.
Apple AirPods 3rd Generation
Although almost any earbuds can be used with Apple products, the Apple AirPods 3rd Generation, which have the Apple H1 chip, are a favorite in the Apple universe. The spatial audio and dynamic head tracking create an immersive experience that follows your every move, while adaptive EQ can adjust frequencies so you can experience deep bass and crisp highs. Microphones decrease outside noise for clear phone calls, and it’s easy to control music and calls by simply pressing the force sensor.
The IPX4 sweat and water-resistant rating allows the AirPods to be impervious to sweaty workouts and rain. A charge provides 6 hours of listening time/30 hours with the case (5 minutes in the case provides an hour of playback). You can pair the earbuds instantly with an iPhone or iPad, and they’re also compatible with Siri. In addition, the Find My app lets you find the AirPods if they’re misplaced.
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC Earbuds
Another high-quality pair of earbuds under $100, the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC Earbuds use 11mm custom drivers to produce hi-res audio for a marvelous listening experience. The earbuds also have noise cancelling properties and can reduce up to 98.5% of exterior sounds. However, adaptive noise canceling can also adjust to different environments to provide more or less noise reduction as needed.
The 6 microphones produce crisp, clear phone calls while reducing background sounds. A single charge produces 10 hours of listening time, which increases to 50 hours with the charging case. A 10 minute charge can produce 4 hours of listening time. The IPX4 water resistant earbuds have easy touch controls, pair fast, and include 4 ear tip sizes. Color choices are light blue, clear white, navy blue, pastel pink, and velvet black.
Shure SE215 PRO Wired Earbuds
If you prefer wired earbuds, the Shure SE215 Pro Wired Earbuds use a 3.5mm cable to connect to audio sources. They produce clean mids and highs, as well as enhanced bass. In fact, the sound is precise enough that the earbuds can be used for professional monitoring. The sound isolation sleeve can block 37dB of noise, so you can hear the intended audio only.
The over-the-ear design includes three sizes of the flex and back foam sleeves, so you can choose the best fit. The 3.5mm cable is detachable, which makes it easy to customize or replace. The formable wire keeps the earbuds securely in place, and the connection has a mechanism that snaps to lock in place. The earbuds are available in blue, black, clear, green, and purple.
Baseus Bowie MA10 Earbuds
With a whopping 140-hour battery life (with the charging case), you rarely have to charge the Baseus Bowie MA10 Earbuds. Without the case, battery life is eight hours, and a 10-minute charge provides two hours of playtime. The earbuds also have multipoint connection, so you can easily switch between two devices. The sound quality is good for the price, and the noise-cancelling technology blocks 95% of ambient sounds. You can also choose from three different noise cancellation modes. In addition, the four built-in microphones provide crisp, clean calls.
The IPX6 waterproof rating is higher than many other selections on this list, and can withstand sweat and rain. Three sizes of ear tips let you find the most comfortable fit, and using the app, you can choose from 6 EQ sound modes for a customized listening experience.
Raycon Fitness Earbuds
With one of the highest IP ratings on the list (IPX7), the Raycon Fitness Earbuds can withstand your active lifestyle and can even be immersed in water up to three feet without ruining the earbuds. Also, the four gel tips and ear stabilizers help you find the right combination to keep them in your ear whether you’re working out or running errands. Four microphones contribute to active noise cancellation and block unwanted sounds, while the awareness mode lets you hear necessary sounds in your surroundings.
The earbuds also have multipoint pairing, and 38 hours of playtime/56 hours with the charging case. Just 15 minutes of charging produces two hours of playback. Color choices include purple, black, blue, green, and electric blue.
SoundPEATS Air4 Pro Earbuds
If you use a Snapdragon Sound-compatible device, the SoundPEATS Air4 Pro Earbuds, which uses 13mm drivers, produce lossless sound. However, they can work with any sound source as well. Combining six microphones and AI call noise reduction technology, exterior sounds are reduced when listening to music or engaged in phone calls. In addition to active noise cancellation, other modes include passive noise cancellation transparency mode, and environmental noise. The multipoint connection earbuds have an IPX4 waterproof rating and three ear tip sizes.
With ANC off, the earbuds provide 6 hours of playback, which extends to 26 hours with the charging case. Also, using the app you can check battery life, personalize EQ, adjust volume, change modes, and more.
Buyer’s Guide: What To Look For When Shopping For Earbuds
Comfortable Design
Earbuds are much lighter than headphones, but that doesn’t mean that they’re automatically more comfortable. “Ergonomics is crucial when choosing earbuds to ensure comfort and a good fit,” says Dr. Sapna Sriram, chiropractor and injury expert at Integra Health in Toronto. She recommends looking for earbuds with a design that suits the shape of your ears.
Battery Life
No one wants to keep stopping to recharge earbuds – especially if you’re prone to forget to do so. “Look for longer battery life, ideally 5-6 hours on the buds and another 16-20 built into the case,” advises Carl Prouty, a technologist at Abt Electronics in Glenview, Illinois.
Noise Cancelling
Many earbuds have a noise-cancelling feature – although headphones tend to do a better job of canceling noise than earbuds. However, this is not to say that earbuds don’t provide noise cancellation. And if you plan to wear the earbuds when traveling, Prouty says this feature is especially important.
Adjustability
It can be frustrating when earbuds fall out of your ear – and that’s also a good way to lose them. “Look for models that come with a variety of ear tip sizes to ensure a comfortable fit,” Prouty says. Sriram agrees, and adds, “Consider models with ear hooks to accommodate different ear sizes.”
Wired vs Wireless
Wired headphones provide a superior listening experience. They’re also lighter, since they include fewer components. For example, they don’t contain batteries that need to be recharged. And you’ll never have to worry about a bad connection. However, wireless earbuds are more convenient. “Wireless options provide freedom of movement, and tangle-free designs (flat or braided cables) can enhance usability,” Sriram says.
Controls and Accessibility
Since earbuds are quite small, the placement and ease of controls are more important than they would be on headphones. “Check for intuitive controls, such as touch controls or easy-to-access buttons, for adjusting volume, skipping tracks, and answering calls,” Sriram says.
Prouty agrees and recommends touch controls on the earbuds to make volume control and track selection easier.
Sweat and Water Resistance
If you want to wear the earbuds when working out – of if you happen to get caught in the rain – consider how well they’ll hold up. “Look for models with sweat and water resistance to protect them from moisture,” Sriram says.
So, what’s a good rating? Prouty recommends an IPX5 rating or higher.
“Remember that individual preferences vary, so it’s essential to try out different models if possible before making a final decision,” Sriram says. “Consider factors like your typical usage scenarios, and personal comfort preferences when selecting earbuds.”
Have your own earbud recommendations you’d like to share? Please do so in the comments section below!