Awards and Buying Guide: The best cheap wireless earphones in 2024
2024 was a crazy year for affordable wireless earphones. Forget costly brands like JBL, Jabra and Beats - it's the cheaper segment where it's at! Even the cheapest models now come with features like Active Noise Cancelling, a dual-device connection and app support. In this crazy market, what are the best affordable wireless earbuds of 2024?
It's the Scarbir.com 2024 Awards!
In this Awards Buying Guide:
Wait, whose Awards show is this?
Hi! You've landed on Scarbir.com. This site is a solo project dedicated to reviewing wireless earbuds under 100 dollars. I've personally tested, reviewed, compared and ranked 422 wireless earphones since 2019, with over 50 reviews added in 2024. My reviews are completely independent and unsponsored - unlike some YouTubers out there.
On this site, I compare the best wireless earphones under $100, under $50, under $25, with Active Noise Cancelling or without rubber ear tips. These Buying Guides are updated every month.
In this special Buying Guide, I'm handing out Awards for my personal favourite wireless earphones in 2024 in different categories. Underneath, you'll read my top 3 trends of 2024 in the market. Let's go!
Best Budget Wireless Earbuds of 2024 overall: Earfun Air Pro 4
The Earfun Air Pro 4 are currently the best all-around wireless earbuds under 100 dollars. They do almost everything right.
These earbuds come with very (!) strong Active Noise Cancelling that heavily reduces all sounds around you well, 8 hours battery life per charge, and multipoint connection - meaning you can connect them to two devices at the same time and the earbuds switch when you start playing on another device, or when you receive a phone call. The call quality is exceptional, both inside and outdoors with some wind.
Other features are good too: the earphones are IPX5 waterproof protected, the controls are extensive (including volume controls on the earbuds itself) and can be changed via the free Earfun app, and there's a good gaming mode.
There's one aspect that might make you look further: the mounted rubber ear tips are round and bigger than average, which can be less comfortable in average-sized or smaller ears. Once they're in, I have no problems wearing these for a few hours in a row, but you can feel them sitting in your ears.
What completes these as the best choice, is that they also have an engaging sound, with a weighty and thumping bass, forward vocals, controlled highs and a smooth and warm undertone - which works great for nearly all genres, from blues to techno, from pop music to classical music.
The Earfun Air Pro 4 is a fantastic all-around wireless earphone now at an amazing price. In fact, it's hard to find a more complete package under 200 dollars. These are the best budget wireless earbuds of 2024.
Read my full Earfun Air Pro 4 review
Check price on Amazon US or your Amazon country
Best value wireless earbuds in 2024: Oppo Enco Air3
The Oppo Enco Air3 may have been released a year earlier, but for the price you can get them at right now, these offer unbeatable value for money. Even if you're not specifically looking for earphones without rubber tips, these are terrific.
The Oppo Enco Air3 goes for anywhere between 50 and 70 dollars in different Amazon countries, but if you have access to AliExpress, you should be able to pick these up for around 40 dollars.
That's a ridiculous low price if you see how good these earbuds without rubber tips (half-in-ears) are. This pair is the reason that newer, more expensive models like the Apple AirPods 4 and the SoundPEATS Air5 don't get the best possible rating on this site.
The Oppo Enco Air3 is one of a few half-in-ears that has a great fit. These are snug, tight and comfortable in (my) average-sized ears. The controls provide neat clicky feedback and you can set them up easily via the good HeyMelody app on iPhone or Android. The IP54 waterproof rating protects them against rain and sweat, and the 5 hours battery life is suitable for everyday use.
What makes these so versatile, is three things.
1: you can connect them to two devices at the same time and then easily switch between them.
2: they offer clear calls that reduce enough sound around you, and even withstand a bit of wind.
3: they sound wonderful too. These are the most natural sounding tipless earbuds to date, and put Apple's much more expensive AirPods 4 to shame with exceptional balance, great tonality, tight bass, natural mids and clear highs. Even if you prefer the normally fuller sound of earbuds with rubber tips, there's no denying how controlled and good these sound.
The Oppo Enco Air3 offers the best value in wireless earbuds in 2024.
Read my full Oppo Enco Air3 review
Check price on Amazon Germany, your Amazon country or AliExpress
Best budget wireless earbuds with a special talent in 2024: The Earfun Air 2 NC is amazing for movies and games
As so many earphones have so many features nowadays, it's harder and harder for earphones to stand out. The Earfun Air 2 NC found a way: these are amazing for movies and games.
Yep, it's the second Earfun model in this Award Guide! The Earfun Air 2 NC was released only a month later than the Earfun Air Pro 4 for about 20 dollars less. Even though it has features like 6,5 hours battery life, a dual-device connection, app support, and an IPX5 waterproof rating, it's deliberately positioned as a cheaper model.
The Air 2NC's Active Noise Cancelling is decent, but lets sudden sounds slip through easily. And while phone and video calls are clear and focus on your voice well, they do show some background noise. The Earfun Air Pro 4 does those things better.
They about tie in sound quality, especially when you switch to the Natural EQ in the app. It brings a heavy yet concentrated bass, boosted lower tones and warm-sounding mid-tones, while vocals and instruments can reach further into the highs than on its sibling.
The Air 2 NC has a super power though: it's amazing for games. Activate the Gaming Mode and the sound effects synchronise fluently with the action on your screen. Then add the Spatial Audio setting from the app, and the sound immerses around you.
Basses then have proper impact, and there's precise information of where sounds around you are - so you can locate enemies easily. Whether it's Call of Duty mobile, Infiniti Nikki or Genshin Impact: demanding high-quality games show fantastic detail around you. It works fantastic for (action or blockbuster) movies as well - and not just on your phone: the included Google Fast Pair option also allows quick connection with the Google TV.
Whether you're watching shows or movies or love gaming, the Earfun Air 2 NC earbuds deserve a special recommendation in between the many new releases of 2024.
Read my full Earfun Air 2 NC review
Check price on Amazon US or your Amazon country
Best ultra-cheap wireless earbuds of 2024: Redmi Buds 6 Play
A pair so new that it just made the list on time, the Redmi Buds 6 Play is the best pair of wireless earbuds for the smallest budgets - delivering a vivid sound for just 20 dollars.
No matter if it's for yourself or as a gift for Christmas, the Redmi Buds 6 Play is worth looking into. These earbuds are IPX4 splashproof and provide around 7,5 hours of playtime on a single charge. More importantly, they're so compact, they're extremely comfortable for average and smaller ears. You can even sleep on your side with these.
It's safe to take a phone call or enter a video conference with them too: the microphones reduce sounds around you well. With the free Xiaomi Earbuds app for iPhone and Android, you can setup the controls precisely the way you want to, which includes the option to add volume controls, or add or remove single taps.
The app also brings five equalizers into, well, play. With the default equalizer, the Redmi Buds 6 Play impresses with a tight bass, clean lower mid-tones, and clear yet controlled treble, which pushes singers forward and presents them very crisp. (Only) the most critical listeners may notice a bit of metallic edge on the highest volumes, but the clarity and cleanliness are insane at this price. Want more bass? Select the More Bass EQ preset and you get it straightaway - firing quick and uplifting thumps.
The Redmi Buds 6 Play doesn't have ANC - and you should still revert to the Moondrop Space Travel if you want the best cheapest ANC - and it also misses a dual-device multipoint connection. Still:
This level of comfort, great battery life and an impressive sound for 20 dollars make the Redmi Buds 6 Play the best ultra-cheap earphones of 2024.
Read my full Redmi Buds 6 Play review
See price on Amazon US, other Amazon countries or AliExpress
Biggest budget wireless earbuds surprise of 2024: Hifiman Svanar Jr
With a design so different than any other earphone in the market and some very unique choices, the Hifiman Svanar Jr is the biggest surprise of the year.
The Hifiman Svanar Jr case looks like an ice rock and it's about that size too. It's just too big to carry in a jeans pocket, and its clam-design isn't the easiest to open as well. Put it on your desk however, and it's sure to draw attention. This thing is a conversation starter, which applies to both the case and the earbuds - which have a big, square design visible out of your ears (but are still surprisingly comfortable).
The Svanar Jr is so big because it has an ‘Amplifier inside’, or so Hifiman says. That could be the reason why its sound is massive.
While it doesn't place instruments precisely around you or delve you in detail, the sound is so full it feels like it's everywhere. That's thanks to a full yet controlled bass, boosted lower mid-tones, warm center-mids and grounded vocals. A smooth engaging ride that rolls-off treble earlier than other great sounding earphones under $100 do - it's almost the opposite of the exceptionally clear sounding SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+.
Not all daring choices this earphone makes turn out so well. The Active Noise Cancelling doesn't work as advertised and mostly just reduces the volume of the music, there's no app support, no dual-device connection and the set isn't recommended if you regularly call with your earphones.
But if it's just sound quality - or perhaps even sound quantity - that you're after, the Hifiman Svanar Jr not just sparks conversations, but also pure joy.
Read my full Hifiman Svanar Jr review
See price on Amazon US, your Amazon country or AliExpress
Top 3 budget wireless earbuds trends in 2024:
1. So. Many. Features!
Features previously only found on premium, more expensive earphones have now found their way onto wireless earbuds under 100 dollars - and sometimes even half of that.
Active Noise Cancelling and dual-device connection seem to be the standard for all earbuds these days, as is app support with the option to change the controls, update firmware and choose between different EQ presets. In 2024, there's very little reason to spend more on wireless earphones.
2. Budget ANC is now on par with the AirPods Pro 2
While the strength varies per model, some very affordable wireless earphones now have great Active Noise Cancelling that truly leaves out many sounds from your surroundings. Maybe not all sudden sounds, but the ANC standard has improved a lot in 2024. Many new earphones strongly dampen lower sounds, higher sounds and more challenging middle sounds, even when you're not playing any music.
The QCY MeloBuds Pro brings rest to your head for under 50 dollars, and the Earfun Air Pro 4 and Huawei Freebuds 6i offer Apple AirPods Pro 2-level of ANC for less than 100 dollars - sometimes even outperforming Apple's standard.
3. Fully customisable controls
Ok - so this is actually one of the features found in point 1, but I believe it's worth a special mention. In 2024, more models with app support now let you fully customise the controls on the earphones.
Take the Redmi Buds 6 Play in this list for example. It's not just possible to add single taps, but you can also decide which control you want there - whether it's increasing or decreasing the volume, play/pause or skipping or returning tracks.
More and more models also let you deactivate certain controls, preventing you from unwanted operations. A great example of this is an update for the Soundcore A40 app support, which allows you to deactivate the ANC controls, which makes this set even better for sleeping on your side - you just won't be woken up by a voice prompt.
It's a great development that should absolutely continue in 2025.
That's it - my personal favourite wireless earphones of 2024! What's yours? Don't be afraid to share it in the comments!
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Have a great Christmas and 2025!
Cheers!
Scarbir
