BUYING GUIDE - Stop using different earphones or earbuds for your laptop and phone! Thanks to a feature called multipoint connection, you can connect some earbuds to two devices at the same time. These are the sub-$100, best cheap wireless earbuds with multipoint connectivity, as of July 2023.
BEST cheap earbuds with Multipoint Connection - July 2023:
Best under $100: Soundcore Space A40
Best under $50: Realme Buds Air 3S
Best for phone and video calls: Earfun Air Pro 3
Check out below for descriptions and comparisons!
Please notice!
As of mid 2023, almost all new wireless earbuds have a dual-device multipoint connection. This guide is outdated! Check out my other Buying Guides to see the best multipoint earbuds in each category.
Welcome to Scarbir.com! In the last years, I've tested and reviewed 344 different affordable wireless earbuds (TWS), ranging from 10 to 150 dollars. All earbuds are tested extensively and rated on sound quality, phone calls and video calls, battery life, comfort, controls, and features. One of the best and newest features more and more earphones start to have, is multipoint connection. That's what this Buying Guide is about.
What is multipoint connectivity?
Multipoint connection, also called multipoint connectivity, multipoint pairing, or dual device connection, ensures you can connect your wireless earbuds to two Bluetooth devices at the same time. For instance, your private and a work phone. Or your phone and a pc, laptop, or MacBook.
Previously, this feature was only available on expensive earbuds, the likes of Apple and Sony. Since the latest chipsets, way more affordable wireless earphones have the feature as well - as low as 50 dollars.
Multipoint connectivity works very easy. Once you've connected the earbuds to two devices of your choice, it seeks the two devices you've setup the next time you take the earbuds out of their charging case, and connects them automatically.
Once setup, the earbuds play the music and sound of the device you're activated last. If you're playing music on your phone, but start a video on your laptop, pause the playback on the phone and the earbuds will automatically switch to your laptops sound. Better yet: multipoint automatically switches the sound to the device that has an incoming phone call or video meeting.
This puts an end to having to hassle between two audio sources, like a headphone or a wired earphone. You can just use a single pair of wireless earbuds. In fact - there are some great budget options under $100.
How are the multipoint connection earbuds tested?
Among the 350 wireless earbuds I've reviewed on Scarbir.com, I've taken only the wireless earbuds that support a dual device connection for this Buying Guide. The earbuds are not just tested and compared on their multipoint connectivity reliability and connection strength, but also on useful everyday aspects, like the sound, comfort, build quality, call clarity, battery life, app support, and Active Noise Cancelling. The best overall scores lead to this guide. Hope it helps!
Here are the best budget wireless earbuds with multipoint connection, last evaluated for July 2023:
Best multipoint earbuds under $100: Soundcore Space A40
comfortable, long battery life - and they sound great
The Soundcore Space A40 has it all. It connects to two devices simultaneously, has a comfortable fit, comes with solid Active Noise Cancelling… and it sound great as well.
The Soundcore Space A40 wasn't the first affordable pair of earbuds to boast multipoint connectivity, but they're sure one of the first excellent wireless earbuds to have it.
Setting up a dual device connection is easy: connect it via Bluetooth on your first device, then deactivate Bluetooth on that device for a moment, then connect the earbuds to the other device you want them to work with. Then reactivate the Bluetooth on your first device again. When it's done, the earbuds can easily switch between your devices by just pausing on one device, and playing on the other.
You can manage the devices afterwards from the extensive, yet easy-to-understand free Soundcore app you can get from the Google Play Store or on iPhone - which also comes with Active Noise Cancelling settings and a ton of sound equalizing options.
That's right: there's way more to the Space A40. These 80 dollars pair of earbuds has solid Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) that can heavily reduce darker sounds, dampen lighter noise, and even completely remove background sounds.
The Earfun Air Pro 3 later on in this list (and also the 1more ComfoBuds Pro) have stronger ANC, but don't rule this one out, as the earbuds also have a very comfortable fit, meaning you can side-sleep on these earbuds and use the noise cancelling even when you want to catch some sleep somewhere.
The Space A40 is IPX4 splashproof, meaning you're safe to take it out in some rain, it supports USB-C and wireless charging, and the charging case can recharge the earbuds five times fully before it needs new power itself. Each charge provides the earbuds around 8 hours of playtime. The touch controls are responsive, and can be altered via the free Soundcore app as well.
Perhaps most important of all, the Space A40 is a pleasure to listen to, with a tight and deep bass. Lower tones are slightly boosted and give the music warmth, while instruments like guitars and piano play and vocals sound natural and full, and treble rolls off before it becomes sharp. With details coming from your left and right, higher quality recordings can even feel a bit around you.
The only downside to the Space A40 is that this isn't the most versatile earphone for phone and video calls. Your voice sounds natural and clear, but the microphones pick up your surroundings and wind noise easily, meaning it's only recommended to take a phone call or video meeting in a more quiet area.
The Soundcore Space A40 is a hugely recommendable pair of wireless earbuds, with great sound, solid ANC, and a fit comfortable enough for sleeping on your side!
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Best multipoint earbuds under $50: Realme Buds Air 3S
Engaging sound, high comfort, decent call quality
There's no need to spend a big amount of money to get wireless earbuds with multipoint pairing. The Realme Buds Air 3S costs less than 50 dollars - and delivers serious bang for your bucks.
The multipoint connection on the Realme Buds Air 3S works in the same way as the Soundcore Space A40. Connect the earbuds to two devices, and it automatically switches to the device that receives a call, or when you pause music or a video on one device and press play on the other. Make sure you activate the function via the free Realme Link app on iPhone or Android first, however. It won't work otherwise.
Once activated, the Buds Air 3S is a perfectly usable pair for everyday use. The earbuds have a diagonal shape on the inside, making them stay snug and comfortable in your ears for hours. It easily rocks 5 hours per charge, and the earbuds only need 10 minutes in the charging case to get another 5 hours out of them.
The earbuds are IPX5 waterproof so they withstand sweat and (heavy) rain, they come with an outstanding gaming mode that synchronizes the sound effects in games with the action on your screen well, and it's also safe to take a phone or video call with them. The microphones put through your voice clear and loud enough, while they also reduce enough noise around you. That said, your voice can dip in volume somewhat when it has to battle this noise or wind.
The Realme isn't perfect, as the case doesn't support wireless charging, and Active Noise Cancelling is also missing on this set.
Musically however, there's plenty to enjoy with the Realme Buds Air 3S. It comes with four different sound presets in the app, of which two unlock an insane amount of bass - either very big and sloppy, or extremely full and deep. Happily, you can also dial down the bass, while still enjoying an engaging sound with clear vocals, strong lower tones, and the wide feeling the music has on this model.
Unless you need Active Noise Cancelling, the Realme Buds Air 3S is a great all-around pair of wireless earbuds that combines multipoint connectivity with an engaging sound, good comfort, and decent call clarity.
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Best cheap multipoint connection earbuds for phone and video calls: Earfun Air Pro 3
Best choice for office and business use
If calling is your main priority on wireless earbuds, having good multipoint connection and good call quality is a winning combo. At only 80 dollars, the Earfun Air Pro 3 offers just that.
The Earfun Air Pro 3 outperforms the Soundcore Space A40 and Realme Buds Air 3S when it comes to calls. Your voice sounds full without being too dark, and it even holds well when there's loud noise or some wind around you. Background noise is only somewhat audible when you talk, but it's no issue: your voice easily outweighs it.
It's safe to enter a video meeting or call with these - and it's a joy to have that comfort on two devices at the same time. Receive a phone call? The Air Pro 3 automatically switches to your phone. Start video conferencing on your desktop? The Earfun will switch for you. For switching between your devices for a video or music, you only have to pause the playback on one device, and start it on the other.
Another convenient feature of this Earfun is its Active Noise Cancelling, which is capable of reducing a lot of noise. It has about the strongest ANC on earbuds under $100. It does a particular good job in reducing darker sounds, while brighter sounds are also softened well.
It achieves this effect by installing round ear tips on the earbuds, and frankly, the ear tips are a bit bigger and rounder than usual. They can become a bit tiring to wear after a while.
If that isn't a problem for you, you can get around 7 hours of listening out of them on a single charge, and during those hours, you can safely go outside, as the IPX5 waterproof rating protects them against sweat and rain and there's a Transparency mode to let you hear your surroundings a bit better. Both USB-C and wireless charging are supported, and all the controls you could with are right on the earbuds. App support is less stellar: the Earfun app for Android and iPhone doesn’t always connect with your earbuds straightaway.
The sound of the Earfun Air Pro 3 is aimed mostly at background listening. It sounds warm and full for that purpose, with a strong and thumping bass. It makes for an easy listening on lower volumes for hours on end. It falls a little short for active listening, sadly, as the reduced treble and dark tonality can make music feel a bit too coloured.
With its combination of clear calls and swift multipoint connection, the Earfun Air Pro 3 is a great affordable wireless earphone for office and business use. If call quality is important to you, look no further.
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Disclaimer
I buy most of the earphones myself; sometimes, a manufacturer sends them to me. I review all audio products on a level playing field, always stating their strengths and their downsides. Visit the leaderboard of true wireless earphones for all my reviews and ratings.
Consider buying a pair of earphones in this list? 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 to test great affordable audio. <3
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Also check out my other articles:
Guide: Best ANC earbuds
Guide: the best TWS under $100
Guide: the best TWS under $50
Guide: the best TWS under $25
Leaderboard: all earphones from 10-300 dollar tested
Bought a product and want to share your opinion? Do use the comments. I hope this article helps you!
- Scarbir
