16 successful cheapest earbuds from AliExpress compared
MEGA TEST - 4 dollars! 7 dollars! 8 dollars! 3 dollars! The Chinese shopping app AliExpress tries to lure you in with a seemingly unlimited amount of incredibly cheap wireless earbuds. But are they any good? Let's test the best sellers...
It was only a month ago that I bought eleven cheap AirPods-like earbuds (without rubber ear tips) in an AliExpress sale, and tested and compared them. Those of you who've read the test, already know you can actually get good wireless earphones at a bizarre low price - one costing even 1 dollar! In the test, multiple models under 10 dollars actually scored 4 to even 5 stars overall!
More importantly, only 3 out of 11 models were total crap. Which such a surprisingly good score, I wanted to do another experiment. Can you actually buy a terrible dirt-cheap earphone, or don't they exist anymore? Is everything quite okay these days?
That's why I opened AliExpress and bought the 16 cheapest earbuds the app threw at me. Just to see how good or bad they are.
Now, most of these earbuds seem to cost around 8 to 12 dollars when you look them up on AliExpress directly, but all these models are also included in all kinds of promotions and sales. In total, I spent just below $75 for these 16 models - meaning they cost $5 on average.
Now, I test and review all earbuds I have thoroughly, but spending 800 words on 16 different ~$5 earbuds would kill you and me. So, just like on the AirPods-like earbuds test, I decided the rank them from best to worst in this very article, following these structured steps from most important to less important:
Do they have a good Bluetooth connection, are they comfortable, and do they sound good? If the answer is no to any of these three questions, why even bother?
Next are these aspects: do they control well? Can you take a phone call with them, even when there's a bit of chatter around you? Can you watch a video without delay in the sound? Do they go loud enough for active listening?
Diving a little deeper: do they offer more than the minimum of 4 hours playtime on a single charge? If so, how many hours do they play in one go? Are there volume controls as well?
And then some bonuses for these ridiculously low priced earbuds: do they have a waterproof rating? Do they enjoy app support? Or other fancy features?
The results are in. And things are gonna get ugly…
Here's the top 15 of ultra-cheap earbuds on AliExpress rated:
1. Lenovo GM2 Pro review: These $10 earbuds are great all-rounders
$7 - $12 | 100.000+ sold | average user rating: 4.8
With over 100.000 units sold, the Lenovo Thinkplus GM2 Pro seems to be the most successful ultra-cheap wireless earphone on AliExpress. Don't be fooled by its gaming design: this actually is a great all-rounder!
Lenovo Thinkplus models seem to be the most popular low-budget earbuds on AliExpress, but it has to be said, ‘Lenovo’ is more of a sticker slapped on countless of generic models than am actual brand you can trust. The quality between the models varies enormously, as you'll see later.
The $7 Lenovo Thinkplus GM2 Pro, however, is surprisingly good. It has a gaming-focused design, with a bulky charging case with a very fragile lid. There's a bright LED bar indicating the remaing battery of the case and there are LED bars atop of the earbuds’ stems. Happily, they're not flashing while they're connected. The earbuds only look chunky from the outside: the inside is oval and comfortable to wear.
The Bluetooth connection is solid up to 10 meters away from your device, and by holding down the right earbud, you (de)activate a gaming mode that actually works well synchronizing the sound effects with the action on your screen in demanding games like Call of Duty mobile. Watching a video is flawless too, on both iPhone and Android phones.
The microphones can't just be used for gaming, they're also suitable for phone and video calls. Your voice sounds loud and full, and although it can dip a bit with noise around you, background sounds itself are reduced well. Controls are good too - with playing/pausing and changing tracks with multiple taps, and changing the volume by tapping the stems once.
Lastly, the Lenovo GM2 Pro sounds fun. It gives off hefty and full mid-bass thumps without stabbing your ears. Lower mid-tones like darker electronic tones and drums are boosted, and vocals are prominent enough, but cut off before they become sharp. There can be some white noise hiss underneath the music, audible in quiet musical parts, but overall, these entertain with a warm and energetic sound.
Add it all up, and the Lenovo Thinkplus GM2 Pro is a surprisingly great pair of earbuds for its very low asking price. Turns out, 100.000+ buyers weren't wrong with this one.
Design and comfort: 4/5 - 5 hours battery life, comfortable, fragile case lid
Controls and connectivity: 4.5/5 - Solid connection and volume controls
Playback: 4.5/5 - Flawless video playback, actually good game synchronization
Call quality: 3.5/5 - Doable indoors and with some noise around you
Sound quality: 4/5 - Fun and friendly, warm and energetic sound
VERDICT: 4.5 STARS (Great)
Buy on AliExpress or check out this rebrand on Amazon
2. Baseus Bowie EZ10 review in 2024: Now one of the most popular on AliExpress, with good reason
$8 - $10 | 10.000+ sold | average user rating: 4.8
I've tested the Baseus Bowie EZ10 before in 2023, when it costed around 20 dollars. Now at only 8 dollars, it's one of the most popular cheap earbuds on entire AliExpress - and it comes easily recommended.
Let's run my previous test again: the shape of the earbuds is the Baseus Bowie EZ10's biggest win. While the 5 hours battery life on a single charge won't get you through an entire night, these earbuds are so tiny, they disappear in your ears. They're comfortable to wear for hours, sleep on your side with, or wear under a helmet. All without activating the otherwise responsive touch panels too.
The original charging case isn’t so clever. You always have to be careful how you put the earbuds in. It's easy to put the left bud in the right bunker and vice versa, but the earbuds won't charge if you do. The magnets are strong enough: you can shake this case all you want; they won't fall out. It can be tricky to put them next to jiggling keys.
The EZ10 has a solid gaming mode, but it's absolutely trash at phone calls or Zoom meetings. Even the slightest noise or wind drowns your already soft voice out. There's app support, but it's so-so, as the Baseus app requires you to login time and time again, and you don't get much out of it other than change the controls, and some preset equalizers.
The last feature is welcome. With the Bass EQ, the Bowie EZ10 sounds organic and fluent. The mid-bass has a gentle thump that never overbears the music. Lower mid-tones are boosted and darker electronic tones and instruments make the music flow. Center mid-tones like guitars and piano play sound natural. Treble is less refined, though. While vocals are forward enough, more crowded compositions or high volume make the treble thin and shallow, and the bass has trouble playing its role.
The Baseus Bowie EZ10 is a neat choice for music lovers that don't listen to music too loud. With its fluent playback and natural balance, the EZ10 is a great budget choice for blues, acoustic rock, or jazz.
Design and comfort: 3/5 - Brilliantly comfortable earbuds, very tricky case
Controls and connectivity: 4/5 - Responsive and stable
Playback: 4/5 - Flawless in videos, capable for (mobile) gaming
Call quality: 1/5 - Nope
ANC: n/a
Transparency mode: n/a
App support: 2/5 - Requires logging in time and time again, basic functions
Sound quality: 4/5 - Organic and natural, yet thin on the highest volumes
VERDICT: FOUR STARS (Good)
Buy on AliExpress or your Amazon country
3. Haylou X1s review: No nonsense, no thrills
$8 - $25 | 6.000+ sold | average user rating: 4.7
Looking for basic earbuds that just work without problems? The Haylou X1s has you covered, and throws in a comfortable warm sound as well.
While the shape of the Haylou X1s looks precisely like that of all AirPods Pro-like earbuds, it isn't the most comfortable pair to wear. Haylou mounts a big round instead of oval rubber ear tip, making them a bit tiring to wear in the beginning - you have to get used to the fit first.
So why the second place in this guide? The brand reputation weighs in, as Haylou is a sub-division of the popular and proven QCY brand. The X1s works as effortlessly as other Haylou and QCY models. It's basic, but it works.
The charging case is thin enough, the earbuds look alright, the Bluetooth connection works without problems, and the controls respond well too - although you can only play/pause and change tracks. The fanciest addition is the low-latency mode for games, which works quite well - although not as good as the GM2 Pro.
The microphone quality is absolutely worthless, but listening to music on the X1s is a pleasant experience. It has a warm, comforting sound with elevated lower mid-tones (like darker electronic tones and male vocals), it gives higher vocals enough room but doesn't let them enter bright or harsh territory, and the mid-bass provides thick slams. The bass feels a little plumb, even a bit slower than usual, and helps to make the entire musical presentation on the Haylou a little laidback.
If you're used to fit of the Haylou X1s, this one is comfortable to listen to for hours, whichever genre you throw at it - and it's nothing more than that. Fine for the money.
Design and comfort: 3.5/5 - 5 hours battery life, but feels a bit big in your ears
Controls and connectivity: 3/5 - Controls well but misses volume controls
Playback: 4/5 - No problems playing videos and games
Call quality: 1/5 - Too soft, too fluctuating, almost near inaudible
Sound quality: 4/5 - Warm and comfortable, laidback listening
VERDICT: FOUR STARS (Good)
Buy on AliExpress
4. Toocki TWS60 review: Stop smiling
$3 - $6 | 600+ sold | average user rating: 4.8
The Toocki TWS60, which is just one of the many and untraceable names of the non-branded generic TQ-EJ06 wireless earbuds, is limited in functionality but sounds very entertaining.
As with more stemless earbuds with round ear tips, the sound of the TWS60 is very dependent on your fit. Push them in deep, and the bass gives a sweet and full drum kick, but a smile is enough to push them out and loose the fullness in the sound.
Definitely reach for that bass, as the total sound is worth it. Center-mid guitars and piano play are natural, vocals are upfront and can tap into harshness but don't do it easily, and lower-mids are boosted without overflowing in other frequencies. It seems like the TWS60 wants to emphasize all frequencies, and the sound can be all-over-the-place, but with that bass, it gives off a joyful, uplifting energy.
The round TWS60/ EJ06 TWS earbuds are bigger in your ears than most competitors, but like the QCY T17, they're still quite comfortable to wear, and even come with rubber ear-wings to keep them in your ears while you're working out.
The 3 hours battery life on a single charge makes it just about suitable for commuting, but it does control well with play/pause (single-taps), changing tracks (double-taps) and even changing volume (triple-taps). Videos synchronize sound and the screen well, and the Bluetooth connection is stable as well. The microphones? Yeah… well. Nope.
If listening to music or podcasts on the go is all you desire from earbuds, the Toocki TWS60 can put a smile on your face for a few bucks - as long as the fit is right.
Design and comfort: 3.5/5 - 3 hours battery life, comfortable earbuds, compact
Controls and connectivity: 4/5 - Volume controls and good basic connection
Playback: 3.5/5 - No game mode, but videos play flawlessly
Call quality: 1/5 - Horrible
Sound quality: 4/5 - All-over-the-place, but joyful and energetic with the right fit
VERDICT: 4 STARS (Good)
Buy on AliExpress
5. Generic T62 earbuds review: Likeable small earbuds for $4
$3 - $6 | 4.000+ sold | average user rating: 4.7
It's been a while. The T62 is the first generic, OEM, non-branded earphone tested on Scarbir.com since the first reviews in 2019 - but it's actually a likeable pair.
The T62 TWS has around twenty different listings on AliExpress, but as it's only part of promotional actions, it seems I can't link to it directly. Ah well. If you ever come across it, know that spending 4 dollars on these isn't the worst you can do. While it all feels a bit finicky, both the charging case and earbuds itself are compact and comfortable to wear. Looking for small earbuds? Consider these.
Most features aren't so great. Controls work alright but the touch panels are quite sensitive, the call quality is absolutely horrendous, and videos sometimes only synchronize after you pause the video first.
But in the 5 hours of battery life per charge, the T62 serves a clear sound, with forward vocals and convincing, natural center mid-tones like guitars and piano play. The bass supports the sound with decent mid-bass thumps. If you also want to get some body from other lows, you need to push the earbuds in a little further. Smile once or twice, however, and you push them out again and the sound becomes clearer again. That's tricky, just like it also isn't great that crowded musical tracks can feel a little cramped.
Still, with its volume and clarity, the T62 is good for acoustic music and great for podcasts while you're cycling or commuting in busy areas. These are likeable small earbuds for the insane price of 4 dollars.
Design and comfort: 4/5 - Feels a bit fragile, but comfortable and compact
Controls and connectivity: 3/5 - Good connection, sensitive touch panels
Playback: 3/5 - Pause a YouTube video before it synchronizes well, no game mode
Call quality: 1/5 - Terrible
Sound quality: 4/5 - Clear and natural; lower mids only with a deeper fit
VERDICT: 4 STARS (Good)
6. Generic SK18 and SK19 earbuds review: The smallest earbuds on the market?
$3 - $6 | 2.000+ sold | average user rating: 4.8
The generic, non-branded SK18 and SK19 wireless earbuds models from AliExpress are hands-down the smallest earbuds I've ever tested on Scarbir.com. These disappear in your ears and are great for sleeping on your side.
The SK18 and SK19 TWS are the same earbuds with a different case: the SK18 is a little egg you can set up straight, while the SK19 is a square case with a transparant lid. Both show the remaining case battery percentage on a screen.
These earbuds are very small. They disappear in your ears, just big enough to flick them out with a finger. They're comfortable to wear some time and thanks to the design, you can easily wear these under a helmet or while sleeping on your side.
Unfortunately, the SK18 and SK19 come with bad, thin ear tips. If you have other ear tips still lying around, try them out - they may improve the bass and the weight from lower tones immediately. If they fit in the small charging case sockets, that is. Out of the box, the SK18 and SK19 have a bright sound with crisp mids and treble, but nothing beyond simple slaps from the bass. The overall sound is thin.
The rest of the features is worthless. The microphones are total trash, and videos only synchronize after pausing them first… or not at all.
These thingies would have been saved by the fit purely for sleeping… but they make a sound when the battery almost depletes, after an hour or 4, perhaps 5 of playtime. They'll wake you hours after you fell asleep listening to that audio book, podcast episode or ambient music track. Rendering these earbuds quite useless if not for the comfort from the brilliant small design.
Design and comfort: 4/5 · Controls and connectivity: 3/5 · Playback: 2/5 · Call quality: 1/5 · Sound quality: 3/5
VERDICT: 3 STARS (Worth considering)
Buy on AliExpress
Now, let's describe and review the rest a little shorter… for good reason:
7. Lenovo Thinkplus XT88: Decent all-rounders
$5 - $12 | 10.000+ sold | average user rating: 4.7
The Lenovo Thinkplus XT88 look and feel good and cheap at the same time, have a very comfortable fit and even come with volume controls on the stems - if you take time to learn the awkward control scheme, that is. It has a decent 4 hours of playtime on a single charge, and you can even take a phone call in quiet areas - your voice becomes too shaky with noise around you. Videos play without problems and there's a gaming mode that does a decent job.
They're less desirable when it comes to sound. The mid-bass has a slim thump, the boosted lower-mids colour the music warm, and the controlled treble doesn't attack your ears with sharpness… but the entire sound also lacks clarity. The XT88 isn't bad-sounding, quite comfortable even, but it can be a bit muted. Like there's a blanket over it that holds back liveliness and detail. Still worth considering for their everyday usability.
Design and comfort: 4/5 · Controls and connectivity: 3/5 · Playback: 4/5 · Call quality: 2.5/5 · Sound quality: 3/5
VERDICT: 3 STARS (Worth considering)
Buy on AliExpress
8. Generic M25 Headset: Not the Gravastar
$3 - $8 | 10.000+ sold | average user rating: 4.7
The M25 looks apealing on promotional pictures, but mind you, this is not the Gravastar Sirius Pro on the cheap. It's much bigger and made from cheap plastic, with a weak magnet as a lid. The earbuds and the case are a disco of LED lights, and despite its looks, it doesn't have a gaming mode. It does play videos well, though. The larger-than-average oval earbuds are also quite comfortable, and let you change volume (three taps) next to tracks.
Microphones for calling are rubbish, and sound is only okay. Treble is a tad too strong with occasional harsh and overly bright peaks, demanding you to reduce the volume. The mid-bass is flat and lacks fullness, and there's little in between that simple bass and strong treble.
Design and comfort: 3/5 · Controls and connectivity: 4/5 · Playback: 3/5 · Call quality: 1/5 · Sound quality: 3/5
VERDICT: 2 STARS (Disappointing)
Buy on AliExpress
9. Lenovo Thinkplus LP 1s: Avoid this one
$5 - $10 | 1.000+ sold | average user rating: 4.4
The Lenovo Thinkplus LP 1S has the same problem for many people that bought it, reading from the reviews: it rarely shows itself in your Bluetooth list. Even after charging the case battery fully, I couldn't connect it to my phone at first - while it worked in a new attempt two weeks later. After finding it in the Bluetooth list once, the problems seemed pretty much gone.
But still, that renders this set useless, and that's a shame, as the case looks and feels decent, the earbuds are comfortable to wear and the sound is more dynamic and lively than the Lenovo XT88. The mid-bass pushes solid thumps, and treble is forward without being too aggressive. Vocals are moderately forward, but highs roll-off before they become sharp, and lower-mids are lifted enough to oppose the clarity. The LP 1S has a fun energy.
Controls are limited to pausing and track changing, but videos play without problems, and the microphone is even capable of focusing on your (somewhat muffled) voice over background sounds, making phone calls doable too. You should still avoid it, though.
Design and comfort: 4/5 · Controls and connectivity: 1/5 · Playback: 3/5 · Call quality: 2.5/5 · Sound quality: 4/5
VERDICT: 2 STARS (Disappointing)
Buy on AliExpress
10. Toocki Y913: nice, when it functions…
$5 - $9 | 400+ sold | average user rating: 4.5
The Toocki Y913 is one of the more exotic ultra-cheap earbuds in this guide, with ‘only’ 400+ units sold. It looks quite funky with its shiny charging case, however, and the familiarly shaped earbuds are comfortable to wear too. You have to pay close attention when putting these back in the case, to get them to charge with the magnets. Even then, though, it seems that the earbuds don't always turn off.
When it works, it's quite nice. It comes with volume controls in its weird control scheme, it has 5 hours of battery life on a single charge, and videos play well after you've paused them first. The sound is on the duller side, with recessed vocals that lack clarity and presence, and a slim mid-bass that only slaps a little.
But it doesn't always work. That's all you need to know.
Design and comfort: 4/5 · Controls and connectivity: 2/5 · Playback: 2/5 · Call quality: 1/5 · Sound quality: 3/5
VERDICT: 2 STARS (Disappointing)
Buy on AliExpress
11 - 16: Lenovo XT62, Generic M90 Pro, Generic T66, and the colourful T2 and TM20
$2 - $8 | Over 100.000+ units sold combined | user ratings below 4.7
This is why you shouldn't buy ultra-cheap wireless earbuds and hope for the best. Or buy wireless earbuds with a user rating below 4.7 stars. Or buy earbuds without reading reviews on Scarbir.com first. ;-)
A whopping six models I ordered for this test don't function properly at all. That's a chance of around 1 in 3 that your impulse buy will be thrown in the trash immediately.
The generic G9S wireless earbuds
It doesn't always show immediately though. The non-branded G9S earbuds worked fine in the beginning, but kept losing connection to each other, to the connected device, or even just shut themselves off automatically, even though the charging case flashes over 40% remaining battery life in all kinds of flashy colours. It doesn't matter that the earbuds are comfortable and that it has volume controls. It also doesn't matter that it charges via micro-USB or that the sound is hollow as a giveaway action bathroom speaker. Just avoid this pair.
Lenovo XT62
But it can get even worse. The Lenovo XT62 is a total disaster with only the right earbud working, and not synchronizing to the left bud no matter what you do. The bulky T66 TWS (2.000+ sold) has big but comfortable earbuds and sounds decent when it works, but has a terrible sound delay in videos, and… doesn't always turn on when you take them out.
The T2 and TM20 wireless earbuds
The colourful T2 and TM20 have over 110.000 units sold combined, and you've probably seen them everywhere on AliExpress, and also the Chinese alternatives Temu and SHEIN. I've had the displeasure of listening to their flat, hollow, thin sound from a friend for several minutes, but there is no way my bright green or pink pairs connect. Both of my testing phones fail to pick up the candy-coloured sets that keep on screaming for attention with their room-illuminating LED lights.
The Generic GM90 Pro earbuds
And the non-branded GM90 Pro is somehow even worse. Its big chunky charging case says ‘Be Loud - Be Proud’ with battery indications on its body and it can charge another device via USB-A, but the lid is terribly clumsy and weak, and whatever I do, the earbuds just don't connect to each other. Or anything at all. Absolute rubbish with no quality control or intention to work properly whatsoever.
These six sets show you should best avoid the cheapest category of wireless earbuds, and to be honest, you can say pretty much the same starting with position 8 and lower on this list.
That means that half of the ultra-cheap earbuds in this comparison should be avoided. In a market where there are countless alternatives that actually work, these are a waste of plastic, resources, they're a waste of your time - they're throwaway products that shouldn't be sold and exist.
Ratings for the T66 TWS: Design and comfort: 3/5 · Controls and connectivity: 1/5 · Playback: 1/5 · Call quality: 1/5 · Sound quality: 3/5
Ratings for the rest: Design and comfort: 2/5 · Controls and connectivity: 1/5 · Playback: 1/5 · Call quality: 1/5 · Sound quality: 1/5
VERDICT: 1 STAR (Trash)
Are you in the position to spend more? These are the best wireless earbuds under $25.
So that's it! I hope this comparison of the 16 cheapest and most popular earbuds from AliExpress helps you in choosing or avoiding earbuds.
Consider buying an earphone? I'd really appreciate it if you use the links in this article. It won't cost you extra, yet it will financially support me a bit in my ongoing quest for great affordable audio. <3
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Disclaimer: I bought these TWS true wireless earbuds myself. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
Also read:
Leaderboard: All rated wireless earphones
