Top 5 budget TWS under $50 from Amazon and AliExpress
You don't need to spend much to get wireless earbuds full of great features and stunning sound. These are the best TWS wireless earbuds under 50 dollars, last updated for May 2025.
BEST TWS UNDER $50 - May 2025:
Best overall / ANC earbuds - QCY MeloBuds Pro
Best half-in-ears - Oppo Enco Air3
Best clip-ons - Tozo OpenEarRing
Best for bass - CMF Buds 2 (NEW!)
Best balanced sound - Moondrop Space Travel
Check out below for descriptions and comparisons!
How Scarbir.com tests $50 wireless earbuds
Scarbir.com is a one-man job. Since 2019, I've performed all 455+ wireless earphone reviews on this site myself - so you can be sure every model has gotten the same testing methods and the same reference.
I try and test all earbuds at least 1 to 2 weeks fully before writing about it, experiencing all aspects of the earbuds. All earbuds are tested on an Android phone, iPhone, and Mac.
I test the basics like wearing comfort after several hours, the actual battery life, the fit when you're on the move, the controls, and the reliability of the Bluetooth connection. If an earbud fails in any of these categories, it has very little chance to become a recommendation.
For phone and video calls, all earbuds undergo the same tests; recordings performed in the same office and on the same crowded traffic intersection with occasional wind, as well as in pre-defined simulated scenes with noise and wind.
Active Noise Cancelling, if available, is always tested in the same organic office and outdoor environments, as well as in pre-defined simulated background chatter and noise scenarios. ANC performance is always directly compared to the best scoring models in the price range.
The gaming performance and low-latency modes are always tested with the highly challenging shooter Call of Duty mobile on an Android phone.
For the app support of an earbud, I look at the features, the ease-of-use and the needed permissions of the Android and iPhone app.
Sound quality is my biggest passion and, with so much competition on the market, it's what can make or brake an earphone. I listen to earbuds on low, moderate and high active listening volume, take notes and compare an earbud to its biggest comparably priced rivals. Sound performance is both tested by both everyday and active listening to whichever music I throw at it, and by checking technicalities with my Scarbir.com Earbuds Test List on Spotify.
The amount of features on wireless earbuds in the $50 price category varies greatly. That's why earbuds with a bigger amount of useful features (like ANC, app support, and dual-device/ multipoint connection have a fair chance to rank higher than earbuds without. Please read the descriptions in this Buying Guide carefully to see which pair will suit you.
What to expect from truly wireless earphones under $50?
Great build quality: wearing cheap TWS doesn't have to make you feel like a cheapskate. Other than the best earphones under 25 dollars, offerings in this price category often look and feel nice in your ears.
Solid battery life: the battery life of the best earphones in this price range lasts between 5 to 8 hours on a single charge.
More and more functions: as the competition is insane, even $50 earphones offer plenty of features, like app-support with equalizers, dedicated modes for mobile gaming, good call quality, and even Active Noise Cancelling.
Amazing sound quality for the money: the products in this list offer an impeccable sound quality for the amount of money you pay for them. The items listed here have a better, more balanced and cohesive sound than the Apple AirPods and many more capable sounding earphones over 100 dollars.
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Let's go! Here are the best best cheap true wireless earbuds under $50, updated in May 2025 with a new bass tip:
1. Best wireless earbuds under $50: QCY MeloBuds Pro
It's almost crazy to spend more
The QCY Melobuds Pro are comfortable to wear, have stellar battery life, great Active Noise Cancelling (ANC), clear calls and they sound good too.
Before you continue, it's good to know that the QCY MeloBuds Pro (also available as QCY HT08) has a little quirk.
You sometimes have to turn ANC off and then on again to get the best possible Active Noise Cancellation. By doing so, it re-reads your surroundings to great effect. The MeloBuds removes or heavily reduces constant darker tones, strongly reduces middle sounds like a passing train or keyboard typing, and also softens higher sounds well. It's among the best ANC performers for the price.
Yet the QCY MeloBuds Pro offers much more. The earbuds are very comfortable to wear thanks to the oval earpiece and soft rubber ear tip, last around 7 hours on a single charge with ANC on, are IPX5 rain-proof, and their controls are very responsive. You can fully customise them via the app too, including the option to add volume controls.
You can connect two devices at the same time with the multipoint connection, they're a great choice for phone calls and video conferences as your voice sounds clear and natural, and gaming with them is easy too. The gaming mode synchronizes sound effects flawlessly with the action on your screen.
Still, they wouldn't be the top recommendation if they didn't sound good.
The MeloBuds Pro has a mid-bass that fires thumps that can be felt and a sub-bass that is capable of a deep rumble. Lower mid-tones come with neat texture, vocals are lively and there's some fine air on higher volumes. Mid-tones like higher male vocals or lower female voices are clear, and instruments like the guitar and piano appear natural.
The highs can be a little harsh on the highest volumes, however. If you prefer a more comfortable treble, the bass and balanced recommendations in this Buying Guide are better choices.
With so many great features at this price, it's easy to overlook its quirks. The QCY MeloBuds Pro are currently the best wireless earbuds under 50 dollars.
Buy on Amazon US
Buy on your Amazon country
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2. Best half-in-ear earbuds under $50: Oppo Enco Air3
COMFORTABLE FIT, MULTIPOINT CONNECTION, AND great SOUND
Prefer your wireless earbuds without rubber tips? The Oppo Enco Air3 is the total package at only one fourth of the price of Apple's AirPods 3 - and they sound better.
The Oppo Enco Air3 has a small speaker mound, reminiscent of the earlier AirPods models instead of the AirPods 3, and it's very comfortable because of it. It's easy and light to wear during its 5 hours playtime on a single charge, although the fit could be a bit loose if you're planning to sport or sweat with them. Rain isn't a problem, however, thanks to its IP54 waterproof rating.
All controls can be setup via the HeyMelody app on iPhone and Android phones, which makes it easy to change tracks and volume from the earbuds. It controls really well, and affirms your taps on the top of the stems with neat clicky feedback.
The Oppo can also switch between two devices easily thanks to the multipoint connection. Phone and video calls are clear, as the microphones put your voice through natural and clear. Noise around you is audible but not too loud, and your voice also survives a bit of wind. The gaming mode is equally convincing, with the sound effects fluently following the action on a challenging game like Call of Duty mobile.
The best part? The sound. The Enco Air3 has a solid, gently thumping mid-bass that barely feels lighter than many earbuds with rubber tips - even more so when you select the well-balanced Bass Boost EQ from the app. There's a decent bass kick and underneath it, the sub-bass gives off a round, controlled rumble in James Blake's ideal test track Limit to Your Love.
The Enco Air3 lifts the lower-mids somewhat, creating a smooth warm undertone. Vocals are very forward, and brighter voices even outweigh the also open treble. From moderate to the highest volumes; higher instruments and voices have space to breathe without becoming sharp, peaky or light.
Furthermore, center-mids like guitars and piano play have body and strike the same balance between warmth and clarity as the treble; they feel natural. Separation between instruments and details is good too; music feels airy and detailed. Make no mistake - these sound better than Apple's AirPods 3.
If you can't get the Oppo Enco Air3 in your country, the Huawei Freebuds SE2 makes a great alternative.
The Oppo Enco Air3 throws in good call clarity, comfort, controls, multipoint connection and solid gaming performance on top of a greatly balanced sound. It's the top choice for half-in-ear earbuds on a budget.
3. Best open-ear clip-on earbuds under $50: Tozo OpenEarRing
Rain proof and great battery life
If you want to hear your complete surroundings while using your earbuds, Open-Ear Clip-On earbuds are the way to go. The Tozo OpenEarRing is the best choice under 50 dollars.
Functional is a word that comes to mind when you look and feel the Tozo OpenEarRing. The charging case is compact enough to carry in a jeans pocket, has a clever battery percentage on display at the front, and provides easy access to the earbuds.
The Tozo consists of a small round speaker that goes in the inside/ front of your ear, and the larger square piece goes behind it. The sides are held together by a slim, round bridge.
While the back part can apply a bit of pressure, these are comfortable to wear. It's also quite convenient to have the touch panels on the broad back part.
Once you're used to the location, it's easy to pause/play (double-tap), change tracks (triple-tap) or even change the volume (hold).
While these earbuds lack multipoint - meaning you can only connect them to one device at a time, other features are great. The Tozo has app support on iPhone and Android, delivers a staggering 10 hours playtime on a single charge and an IPX5 waterproof rating that resists your sweat and rain.
Taking a phone call with them is doable, in the sense that your voice is full and loud. It also comes with quite a bit of crackling, however, and everything loses clarity when more surrounding noise and/ or wind get involved.
The Tozo app comes with several sound equalizer options, of which the Bass+ option is commendable. It gives music a decent mid-bass slam, gives other lower frequencies a bit of body and livens up the otherwise shallow sound.
Mid-tones aren't very outspoken or detailed here, and as treble is toned down (until the highest volumes - where they become harsh), the OpenEarRing has a smooth, friendly, but not very engaging sound.
Take note: the SoundPEATS PearlClip Pro is sometimes available for the same price - and it's a better choice.
The Tozo OpenEarRing is a safe choice for everyone looking for a pair of earbuds that still allow you to hear all your surroundings. It's easy to wear for hours on end.
4. Best bass earbuds under $50: CMF Buds 2
Nothing's budget earbuds are brilliantly bassy
The CMF Buds 2 by Nothing are the best budget earbuds for bass lovers. These funky looking earphones can be pushed to extremes.
Nothing could well be the hottest tech brand when it comes to design these days, along with its budget lineup of CMF products. The CMF Buds 2 come in a funky, rounded square charging case with a dial you can attach a strap onto. They're available in black and white, but also bright red or this mint green - in which it surely draws attention.
The sleek design continues on in the Nothing X app for iPhone and Android, that lets you customise the responsive touch controls, activate the well-performing gaming mode, or let you alter the sound.
The question is: how do you want that sound to be? Warm, smooth, and bassy? Or BASSY?
With the Ultra Bass-slider within the app, you can actively lift the volume of the bass, which already provides big, fat, deep sub-bass rumbles and heavy mid-bass thumps out of itself.
Other than bass, the CMF Buds 2 boosts the lower mid-tones, and gives vocals a warm and even thick vibe. You should look elsewhere for a clear sound (although you can lift treble nicely with the Classical equalizer), but the CMF Buds 2 entertains with good instrumental separation and some nice left-right detailing in the sound.
Looking beyond sound, the CMF Buds 2 lasts 6,5 hours on a single charge, has an IP55 waterproof rating, and comes with decent Active Noise Cancelling. It's great to reduce constant sounds, but doesn't reduce sudden sounds as well as the QCY MeloBuds Pro. It does, however, leave out wind noise wonderfully.
In phone calls and video meetings, your surroundings are left out of the call, and you can also connect the CMF Buds 2 to two devices at the same time. It's a wonderful alternative to the MeloBuds Pro if you prefer a smoother and warmer sound. And:
If you're looking for the biggest bass on a budget, look nu further than the CMF Buds 2.
5. Best balanced sounding earbuds under $50: Moondrop Space Travel
Balanced and natural
Looking for an audiophile option on the cheap? The Moondrop Space Travel has a balanced, clean sound and throws in usable Active Noise Cancelling as well. Plus, it only costs around 30 dollars!
Many affordable wireless earbuds are geared towards a bassy sound, or a ‘V-shaped sound’, meaning the bass and treble are accentuated. Few earbuds aim for a more balanced sound, with more than average accentuation on mid-tones.
The Moondrop Space Travel is the best of those options under 50 dollars.
The amount of clarity and how it's handled stand out. Highs are clear, both female and higher male vocals sound crisp and while guitars and piano play have great presence. Bass performance is solid as well. The mid-bass provides either tight slams or a friendly if a bit loose thumping. It's impressive just how well separated instruments and details are on the Space Travel, how clean and airy the sound is.
There's more: the Moondrop Link app adds two great sound presets, of which one neutralizes the sound and focuses on the center-mids - which can be great for classical tracks - and a Basshead mode, that increases the lower frequencies in a tasteful manner. The iPhone app can be downloaded from the App Store easily; the Android app is a download outside of the Google Play Store.
So what's the rest of the Moondrop Space Travel like?
Well, it has a unique design. The charging case doesn't come with a lid, but shows the earbuds sitting in at all times. You slide them out by the stems. It's a bit tricky to do so, but you get a looker in return - either in creme white or black and orange. The earbuds themselves follow a more proven concept, with oval earpieces that sit comfortably and snugly in your ears during the maximum of 4 hours of playtime on a single charge.
It also lacks multipoint connection. It does come with Active Noise Cancelling. While it's not strong enough to completely remove noise, it does reduce volume of chatter and other sounds around you - and helps you focus on the music. When needed, a decent Transparency mode lets you locate traffic.
Moondrop is an eccentric brand, embracing anime girls even in their sound design - switching between ANC modes and other options comes with girly ‘Ssshiiiii’ or ‘Hai!’ sounds - just so you know.
Now, the Moondrop Space Travel isn't perfect. While you can use them to take a phone or video call indoors or while walking without too much wind, you may have to pause a video now and then to get lipsync playback. It also lacks a waterproof rating, and the touch panels respond to rain a bit too easily. If you want the most practical wireless earbuds, check out other options in this Buying Guide or the Best Earbuds under $25.
The Moondrop Space Travel is a great option of you're looking for wireless earphones with a less bassy or trebly sound.
Buy on Amazon US
Buy on other Amazon countries
Buy on AliExpress
Honourable mentions for best TWS under $50:
Soundcore P30i: Bass + phone stand!
If you love your music with a strong bass, the Soundcore P30i is a great alternative to the CMF Buds. It has an even tighter and fiercer mid-bass kick than the CMF. The CMF can be pushed to bigger extremes, however, and sounds a bit more articulated as well.
Don't rule the Soundcore P30i out, though! These earbuds have 7 hours battery life on a single charge, get support from the fantastic Soundcore app that also provide customisable controls, and… its charging case has an extra lid that acts as a phone stand. A function that's brilliantly convenient if you watch a movie in a train, or play a game with friends every now and then.
$30 to $50 - Buy on Amazon US or your Amazon country
CMF Buds 2: Great, bassy all-rounder
The CMF Buds 2 by Nothing is another noteworthy pair of earbuds for bass lovers. Turning the bass up in the sleek Nothing X app, makes the bass heavier, fuller and louder than it already is out of the box. The thumping power you can get from these, is insane.
As lower-mids are boosted and treble is toned-down before it gets harsh, the CMF Buds 2 always sounds warm and smooth. The Soundcore P30i mid-bass has a tighter and fiercer kick, while the CMF mid-bass feels deeper.
There's more to the CMF Buds too: they have a funky design in different colours, you can easily take a phone call with them, they offer sufficient Active Noise Cancelling (although not to MeloBuds Pro levels) and come with a good gaming mode.
See price on Amazon US or your Amazon country
KZ Carol: Another option for music
Next to the Moondrop Space Travel, the KZ Carol is another great sounding TWS under 50 dollars.
The KZ has slightly stronger ANC, has multipoint connectivity so you can connect it to two devices at the same time, and lasts 2 hours more on a single charge. It's a great alternative to the Space Travel.
The KZ can go louder and has a brighter sound, that gives vocals more clarity and pronounces center-mids better. The KZ also has a more space in the sound than the more closed-in and warmer sounding Space Travel.
Still, thanks the Moondrop Link app, the Space Travel has two more great sound signatures. One that deepens the bass and a also Monitor signature that is a tad clearer and more neutral. With this inclusion, the Space Travel may still be the best choice for budget audiophiles - although the KZ Carol is definitely worth checking out.
See price on Amazon US, your Amazon country or AliExpress
Previous recommendations
Alien Secret QCC010: Good earbuds for sleeping, appeared to have too much production issues over time
Baseus Bowie M2s: Great for business with solid ANC, multipoint connection and clear calls, now beaten by the QCY MeloBuds Pro
Bomaker Sifi: Out of production
Edifier TWS1 Pro: Still recommended with a massive 11 hours on a single charge, but the treble-intensive sound may not be for everyone
Edifier X3S: Great all-around earbuds at a low price, but lost their competitive advantage
Enacfire E60: Newer earphones are even better all-round packages
Fiil T1 Lite: A longtime Scarbir.com favourite in the sound department, but now beaten on features and comfort
Fiil T1X: Now improved upon by the Fiil T1 Lite and Fiil T1XS
Haylou T19: Good for acoustic music, but controls a little sluggish
Huawei Freebuds SE 2: Beaten slightly by the Oppo Enco Air3, but still a great alternative
Lypertek SoundFree S20: The previous top recommendation is now substantially more expensive, coming in around $70 or $80, thus kicked out of this guide
Mpow M5/ T5: Passed on sound quality and fit by Fiil T1X
Mpow M30: These earbuds are still recommended for sports, but sound quality has been beaten by more recent models.
OnePlus Nord Buds: Now unavailable.
Realme Buds Air 2 Neo: Still excellent ANC earbuds to sleep with, but the FiiTii HifiAir offers better sound, call quality and battery life.
Soundcore Life A3i: Still engaging and comfortable, lacks multipoint
SoundPEATS Air3: The predecessor to the Air3 Deluxe HS, without the same clear calls and with a warmer sound.
SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS: The best half-in-ears before, now beaten
SoundPEATS Life: Comfortable earbuds with strong ANC, but outperformed in other features by the Baseus M2s and QCY HT05.
SoundPEATS TrueAir2: The predecessor to the Air3, without the low-latency gaming mode and with a bigger charging case and earbuds.
SoundPEATS Sonic: Great all-rounder, but doesn't stand out anymore.
SSK BT03: Beaten on sound quality by the Fiil T1X, also hard to get.
Tranya T20: These earbuds have two sound modes - both sound good.
Tronsmart Spunky Beat/ Mpow M7/ Tranya T3/ UiiSii TWS60 - There are better alternatives now
Xiaomi Mi Air 2 SE: Were the best half-in-ears, but now passed in music and call quality by the SoundPEATS TrueAir2
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: 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
