What happens if you buy these ultra-cheap AirPods-like earbuds?
MEGA TEST - What happens if you just buy the first AirPods-clones or AirPods-like earbuds AliExpress shows to you? Even though they cost 4, 8 or 15 dollars? That's what I did in the last AliExpress sale. Just to test if they're any good… and the results may surprise you.
Yeah - a few beers may have been involved before doing something so impulsive. I spent a total of 160 dollars on 11 different wireless earbuds with the design we all know and love/hate from the original AirPods, more technically called half in-ears or semi in-ears.
It's been a while since I tested that form factor. It seems that almost all noteworthy releases are full in-ears, meaning they come with a rubber tip. That made it all the more interesting to jump on the AirPods-like earbuds bandwagon now.
Now, I test and review all earbuds I have thoroughly, but spending 800 words on 11 different ~$15 earbuds, that's a little too much even for me. So, I decided the rank them from best to worst in this very article, following these structured steps from most important to less important - to be able to come up with a top 11 you can actually trust:
Do they stay in your ears well, do they keep their Bluetooth connection, and do they sound good? If the answer is no to any of these three questions, why even bother when there are so many alternatives?
Next are these other weighty 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?
In all honesty, I expected the worst in this price category. Thought the two best models could perhaps gain a 4 stars rating overall, and that I would trash the rest.
Boy. Was I wrong!
Here's the top 11 from ultra-cheap AirPods-like earbuds on AliExpress:
1. Huawei FreeBuds SE 2 review: These are splendid!
Bought for $25, normal price around $40
The Huawei Freebuds SE 2 was the most expensive earphone I bought in the sale, costing 25 dollars instead of its regular 40 dollars asking price. Even for its regular price, it's baffingly good.
Let me just come in and say that the Freebuds SE 2 take over the crown of the SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS for the best AirPods-like earbuds on a budget - or maybe even in general. The earbuds that house inside this tiny bit of plastic case are comfortable to wear for hours in a row, and stay in strong enough for everyday commuting. They absolutely survive a heavy head shake. The IP54 waterproof rating protects them against rain and sweat, and they have a crazy long battery life; up to 9 hours of playtime on a single charge!
During that time, it's no problem taking a phone call, as the Freebuds picks up your voice loud and clear. A bit less so when people start to talk loudly around you, but the microphones still focus well on you - you sound louder than your surroundings. Watching a video isn't a problem either - and the sound leakage is limited even when you listen to your music loud.
The controls are limited out of the box, offering only play/pause. You can add track skip/ return options with the free Huawei AI Life app for iPhone and Android, but Android-users have to download it outside of the Play Store - a QR-code on the box will help you get it. The app comes recommended: it also lets you activate a low-latency gaming mode, update firmware, find your earbuds when you've lost them, and comes with four sound presets.
Is the features weren't already enough, it's the sound that really ensures the top spot in this test. It's so good. The Freebuds SE 2 enjoys the clarity and openness that comes to semi in-ears easily, but it restrains from making higher notes too prominent or harsh. There's a smooth, warm underlining underneath it all. Both higher female singers and lower male vocals have plenty of body, mid-tones from guitars and piano play are cosy, and the mid-bass thumps decently. The lows are further accentuated by the subtly boosted lower mid-tones, giving music a pleasant fullness next to its openess. This warm-balanced presentation is a joy to listen to, from singer-songwriter ballads to heavier dance tracks.
The Huawei Freebuds SE 2 aren't just great AirPods-like earbuds for 25 dollars, or their regular 40 dollars. These are splendid overall.
Design and comfort: 5/5 - Outstanding comfort and battery life
Controls and connectivity: 3.5/5 - Controls well, misses volume controls
Playback: 4/5 - Flawless video playback, solid game synchronization
Call quality: 4/5 - Loud and clear even with some chatter around you
App support: 3/5 - Basic but useful, download outside Play Store on Android
Sound quality: 5/5 - Exquisite - clear and balanced with a pleasant smoothness
VERDICT: FIVE STARS (Excellent)
Buy on AliExpress or Amazon US, Amazon UK or your Amazon country
2. Haylou X1c review: How can this be 6 dollars?!
Bought for $6, normal price… around $6
Now, this is where it gets bizarre. The Haylou X1c costs just six dollars, and there's nothing wrong with it. It even sounds great!
The Haylou X1c seems to be included in every AliExpress sale, and is one of these products that is immediately promoted to new accounts. Now I know why. The value for money here is insane. The X1c has an insanely compact charging case, the earbuds look neat in the grey-dark blue finish I ordered, and they last up to 5 hours on a single charge. They fit good, although you can feel them sitting in your ears a bit. The stem could fall more elegantly as well.
The basics are there, too. It has play/ pause and track controls on top of the stems, and you can even (de)activate the game mode with three taps. Which is also great for optimizing the synchronization of audio and video in YouTube videos - otherwise you may have to pause a video first to get lipsync after. You also don't have to be afraid to take a phone call; the microphones make your voice sound loud and full, although it can be a bit more inconsistent with noise around you.
I haven't even gotten to the fun part. When you turn the volume up, the X1c trades in its laidback, clear presentation and its sound becomes very entertaining. It has the best bass of all the AirPods-like models tested, with punchy mid-bass thumps. On louder volumes, you can even feel some vibration when a song pushes the bass - a rare feature for half in-ears. Now, the highest vocal outbursts and instruments can be a tad peaky, but for the most part…
The combination of the warm-balanced tonality of the mid-tones, typical openness of the vocals, and uplifting bass make for a very entertaining sound. The Haylou X1c makes music joyful for an incredibly low price.
Design and comfort: 4/5 - Good fit and a charging case so small you'll probably lose it
Controls and connectivity: 3.5/5 - Misses volume controls, single taps are registered (too) easily
Playback: 4/5 - Gaming mode helps greatly to sync videos and games
Call quality: 3.5/5 - Good in quiet areas, doable with some noise as well
App support: -
Sound quality: 4.5/5 - Uplifting bass, open, a tad peaky - but very engaging
VERDICT: 4.5 STARS (Great)
Buy on AliExpress
3. Honor Earbuds X5 review: Clear vocals and multipoint!
Bought for $25, normal price around $30
They may look like corny cheap AirPods-clones with longer than average stems, but don't let it fool you: the Honor Earbuds X5 sound and function excellent, especially on Android phones.
Honor is a sister brand of Huawei, and you can see it in the similarities between the Huawei Freebuds SE 2 and the Honor Earbuds X5. The X5 has the same shiny finish on the charging case, the earbuds fit easily, there's the same IP54 waterproof level against rain and sweat, and you can notice it in the call clarity as well. The Honor X5 handles phone calls well too, presenting your voice loud and clear even with some noise around you.
The biggest difference is the battery life: the Honor ‘only’ plays 5 hours on a single charge. In return for it, the X5 comes with multipoint connection, meaning you can connect it to two devices at the same time. Pause your music on one device, press play on the other, and the sound follows you. A great feature for this price.
Back to similiarities? The app is dubbed Honor AI Space instead of Huawei AI Life here, but it's just the same. Android-users can get the app straight out of the Play Store, but iPhone users won't see support for these earbuds model in the app. That's relevant, as you need the app to add track skipping next to the play/pause and volume controls, and you may want to switch sound equalizers as well.
The Honor Earbuds X5 can sound a bit flat on background listening volume, but gets noticeably better beyond the 50% volume bar - and the Bass boost sound preset from the Android app helps here - it injects body and strength to the mid-bass, and reduces sharpness from the highs that can occur in the default equalizer. Even with this EQ, vocals are front and center on the X5. Especially higher female vocals are extremely clear, while guitars, piano play, and other instruments sound natural due to their neutral rather than warm tonality. On the highest volumes, music gets an immersive air as well - it's absurd how the X5 can switch from flat to so engaging.
The Honor X5 is a great package for its small price, with good call quality, multipoint connection and clear sound.
Design and comfort: 4/5 - Comfortable, decent battery life, stems are a bit long
Controls and connectivity: 4.5/5 - Multipoint connection!
Playback: 3.5/5 - Flawless video playback, no specific game mode
Call quality: 4/5 - Loud and clear even with some chatter around you
App support: 3/5 - Basic but useful - only on Android
Sound quality: 4/5 - Flat on low volume, up to immersive clarity on loud levels
VERDICT: 4.5 STARS (Great)
Buy on AliExpress or Amazon UK or your Amazon country
4. Remax CosyBuds W13 review: Striking and shiny performers for 10 dollars…
Bought for $8, normal price around $10
I tried two Remax models in the past years and they were among the worst wireless earphones I've ever used. The Remax CozyBuds W13 is the name of true vengeance.
For just 8 dollars, these earbuds look amazing, with the their plastic but shiny blue-purple finish on the charging case and earbuds. Both are small and comfortable to wear, and usable too. The earbuds hold their Bluetooth connection greatly - which couldn't be said of older models from the brand - play up to 5 hours on a single charge, and have all the controls right within reach: play/pause, track and volume controls are all available by tapping the stems. The touch panels respond flawlessly.
Watching a video goes without problems, and taking a phone call… for this price, it's insane. Your voice is warm and full, and stays robust with chatter around you, while noise itself is barely even makes the call.
And then there's the sound. The W13 has a solid mid-bass thump, clean and natural mid-tones, and vocals are presented forward and strongly. That said, the W13 wants to do it all. Frequencies are barely restricted and that can give music a hyperactive and messy feeling. It works great for easier going music genres, but the bass and individual details fall a flat on demanding genres and the loudest active listening levels.
One more thing: the CozyBuds W13 leaks a lot of sound too - you may not be the most popular person on the subway. That doesn't takeaway anything from the fact that these are impressive all-rounders for such a crazy price.
Design and comfort: 4.5/5 · Controls and connectivity: 4.5/5 · Playback: 4/5 · Call quality: 4/5 · App support: - · Sound quality: 4/5
VERDICT: 4.5 STARS (Great)
Buy on AliExpress
5. Realfit F2 review: Nodding your head for a dollar
Bought for $4, normal price around… $1
That's it. We've reached the craziest level ever on Scarbir.com. The Realfit F2 is far from perfect, but it puts a smile on your face for the price of a cup of coffee.
I got them for 4 dollars in the sale and new AliExpress users can even buy the Realfit F2 for 1 dollar. One. Dollar. I'm not taking a deep dive into how crazy that is. That it absolutely shouldn't be possible. But here we go - the F2 comes in a smooth, pebble-like charging case with a solid lid, and the earbuds shape is genius: Realfit mounts subtle rubber exits on the earpieces, which gives them a perhaps less comfortable, but very secure fit for half in-ears.
Most of all, the shape puts the sound a tad deeper in your ears and, yeah, you'll notice. The Realfit F2 has a rapid-firing, punchy mid-bass that makes you nod your head and tap your feet in a heartbeat. Treble is also heavily boosted, with forward vocals, stabby highs, and air. The sound is unpolished, it's all-over-the-place, but it's incredibly energetic and fun. You just can't sit still.
Happily, I'd almost say, the Realfit F2 isn't perfect. It's way too ambitious trying to put the controls in the lower part of the stems. You have to pinch them to change tracks or volume, but the control scheme is a crime and in actually, you'd be happy if you manage to pause the music by a single pinch already. Controls are nearly undoable. Phone calls sound as if you're swallowed the microphone, and battery is limited to ‘only’ 4 hours.
It doesn't matter. Enjoying music for 1 dollar? Or 4 perhaps? The Realfit F2 shouldn't exist.
Design and comfort: 4/5 · Controls and connectivity: 4/5 · Playback: 3.5/5 · Call quality: 1/5 · App support: - · Sound quality: 4/5
VERDICT: 4.5 STARS (Great)
Buy on AliExpress
6. Ugreen HiTune H5 review: By the books
Bought for $16, normal price around $20
Now that we've had the most extreme pair, let's keep the reviews a bit shorter. Just at the right time: for its 20 dollars asking price, the Ugreen HiTune H5 is a solid all-rounder that doesn't standout in anything.
Ugreen is one of China's more well-known brand for accessoires and its HiTune-earbuds lineup is popular as well, even though the earbuds never stand out. The H5 is just the next in line. Its spec sheet is great: 6 hours playtime on a single charge, IPX5 waterproof and noise-cancelling for calls.
It does indeed cancel noise in phone calls well, just like it brings your voice loud enough. Sadly, the Ugreen takes 2-3 seconds to pickup your voice, which makes it hard to interrupt in a video meeting. As there's no app support, there's no firmware update to improve this. Or extend the controls, which means you'll keep missing volume controls on the stems. Happily, the earbuds are rather rather compact, have a snug fit, and are comfortable to wear. There's also a gaming mode that syncs sounds in demanding action games like Call of Duty mobile quite well.
The sound is fine too, with enough volume on the highest levels, a solid mid-bass thump and clear and balanced mid-tones. Highs are kept in tone, which makes the overall sound warmer than many competitors and saves you harsh peaks, but the early roll-off also causes a less vivid sound. Left-right separation is convincing, however.
The HiTune H5 is a Ugreen product by the books: good value for money that just works.
Design and comfort: 4/5 · Controls and connectivity: 3/5 · Playback: 4/5 · Call quality: 3/5 · App support: - · Sound quality: 4/5
VERDICT: 4 STARS (Good)
See on AliExpress
7. Edifier X2s review: A choice for gamers
Bought for $16, regular price around $20
In all honesty, I expected the successor of the Edifier X2 to end on top is this list, but it improved too little to battle with the best budget bangers.
The Edifier X2s earbuds have a specific little wig in their earpieces, that provide a snug seal that doesn't feel too tight. You can just ‘hang’ these in your ears without problem - at first. I found the fit annoying after an hour or so. It can also be a bit flimsy to get the earbuds out of the case. At least they control well, and you can add volume controls too, thanks to support of the free Edifier app on iPhone and Android phones.
Battery life is good with 6 hours, the earbuds are IP54 waterproof, video playback isn't a problem, and the low-latency mode works great for demanding games. So far so good. It hiccups a little in the sound department.
The microphones cancel noise well and pick up your voice clearly and natural in phone calls, but the output is too soft - making you heard to hear. The volume output for music is on the softer side as well. The Edifier X2s offers a decent thump, open and expressive mids, but also a metallic underlining under higher vocals - and cymbals and voices can be sibilant.
Are the Edifier X2s good all-round AirPods-like earbuds for 20 dollars? Absolutely. Should you pick them over other offerings? Only if you play games.
Design and comfort: 3.5/5 · Controls and connectivity: 4/5 · Playback: 4.5/5 · Call quality: 2.5/5 · App support: 3/5 · Sound quality: 3.5/5
VERDICT: 4 STARS (Good)
See on AliExpress or Amazon US
8. Monster Airmars XKT25 review: Different in design
Bought for $16, normal price around 20
Monster is one of the Chinese cheap audio brands that I've managed to completely miss. The Airmars XKT25 has a neat presentation in both packaging and the actual product. The long and flat charging case has a spot to attach a string to it and four LED-lights to indicate the remaining case battery, while the earbuds itself are wonderfully tiny and comfortable. That shows in the battery life, sadly, offering ‘only’ 4 hours of playtime per charge.
The Monster Airmars XKT25 let you take a call without problems, also when there's people around you, but you may need to pause your YouTube video first to gain good audio-video synchronization. You can do so easily with the well-responding controls, that also include skipping tracks and changing the volume.
The main caveat is that it doesn't sound very good. While the bass comes in clean thumps, the mids are too full, and treble is muted - making music too dark and a bit lifeless overall.
You could consider the Monster Airmars XKT25 for its design and call clarity, but its sound can't compete.
Design and comfort: 4/5 · Controls and connectivity: 4/5 · Playback: 2/5 · Call quality: 4/5 · App support: - · Sound quality: 2/5
VERDICT: 3 STARS (Worth considering)
See on AliExpress
9. Baseus Bowie E16 review: Now it gets tricky
Bought for $7, normal price around $7
You can't look up any gadget category on AliExpress without seeing Baseus products. Products from the brand are among the most popular in earbuds as well. Scratch that, though: the Baseus Bowie E16 isn't good.
With its short mount, the Bowie E16 could give you a hard time staying in your ears. It doesn't always survive the head shake test. Unless I press it in further, but that comes at the cost of comfort for every session longer than half an hour.
The E16 has an IPX4 splashproof rating and runs a solid 6 hours playtime on a single charge, but doesn't give you the best time playing them. You should pause YouTube first before getting the audio and video in sync, and please walk to a quiet place before taking a phone call.
Music doesn't sound good either; there's only a thin bass thump, mid-tones are equally thin, and treble is peaky and shouty - not to mention there's a weird tonality over the whole scene which I can't quite put my finger on. Want to change the volume? Use your phone - you won't find volume controls on the stems.
Even for 10 dollars, the Baseus Bowie E16 has no right to be the bestseller that it is.
Design and comfort: 2/5 · Controls and connectivity: 3.5/5 · Playback: 2/5 · Call quality: 2/5 · App support: - · Sound quality: 2/5
VERDICT: 2 STARS (Disappointment)
See on AliExpress
10. Baseus Bowie E12 review: Nearly a scam
Bought for $16, normal price around $10 (oops)
The Baseus Bowie E12 may look a little newer than the E16, but it isn’t better. It's by far the worst sounding pair of earbuds in this test.
Like the E16, the E12 has a hard time staying in my ears. Even when I don't challenge it with a head shake test, the earbuds can drop out when I'm just sitting still. It must be the material, as the shape barely differs from most models. It is what it is.
The 6 hours battery life is good, but everything else on the Bowie E12 feels half-baked. There's a low-latency gaming mode, but it doesn't handle videos well. There are microphones that can pick up your voice in a natural way, but that let it drown as soon as there's some noise nearby. And there's app support, but it doesn't let you add volume controls or… save the sound.
The Baseus Bowie E12 sounds like a giveaway bathroom speaker. The bass is so non-existent it’s laughable, the mids are flat, and highs are shrill - at least a bit controlled on moderate volumes. Unless your ears are extremely shallow by itself, the sound is thinner than carton.
Avoid the Baseus Bowie E12, even for its 10 to 15 dollars asking price.
Design and comfort: 2/5 · Controls and connectivity: 3.5/5 · Playback: 1/5 · Call quality: 2/5 · App support: 2/5 · Sound quality: 1/5
VERDICT: 2 STARS (Disappointment)
See on AliExpress
11. Lenovo Thinkplus LP17: The trash I expected
Bought for $6, normal price around $7
No other manufacturer spurts out so many wireless earbuds models below 10 dollars as Lenovo. It would have been better if they released less models and put more effort into them instead. The Lenovo Thinkplus LP17 is exactly the type of trash I expected.
Look, the Thinkplus LP17 has a window with some logo in the middle in the case! Sadly, it's the only fun part of these earbuds.
The Lenovo LP17 uses an old Bluetooth chip from yesteryear that killed every cheapass generic pair of earbuds. And it still does. The LP17 works well sometimes, but other times the connection of the LP17 drops constantly, taking heavy dips out of your music and video playback - removing all joy from listening to songs or following a livestream.
On top of that, the controls in the stems barely respond, the 4 hours battery life is the (shared) lowest score in this test, and videos only play well after you pause YouTube first. Calling can be done in quiet areas only.
Now, I could still spend a line writing that it's a shame, as the sound is at least balanced with decent mid-bass thumps, laidback mids and mostly controlled highs - but why should I? Lenovo didn't make any effort either.
It doesn't matter that the Lenovo Thinkplus LP17 costs less than 10 dollars. Your music and videos shouldn't be killed by heavy sound dips.
Design and comfort: 3.5/5 · Controls and connectivity: 1/5 · Playback: 2/5 · Call quality: 2/5 · App support: - · Sound quality: 3.5/5
VERDICT: 1 STAR (Trash)
See on AliExpress
But wait, where are the…?
Check out my other reviews of popular AirPods-like earbuds:
So that's it! I hope this comparison of the 11 cheapest and most popular AirPods-like earbuds AliExpress threw at me in a recent sale, helps you find your next pair of 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
Disclaimer: I bought these TWS true wireless earbuds myself. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
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