Wireless earbuds truly are a wonder, and wearing them sure beats being tangled in a throng of wires. However, if you’re looking to get a pair with all features like Active Noise Cancelling or 3D spatial audio, the best wireless earbuds don’t come cheap.
If you’re not looking for all the additional bells and whistles, and you just need a reliable pair of buds with a decent microphone, there are a few pairs out there. If you’re willing to compromise a little on features, we’ve rounded up the best options for under $25 that feature a microphone.
The Skullcandy Dime wireless earbuds are an excellent choice for joggers since they never tend to drop out of your ears, even with a lot of headbanging, thanks to their snug fit. Moreover, the Dime earbuds offer decent passive noise isolation, which is great for immersion. Lasting 12 hours on each charge, they are good enough for everyday use. The mics are pretty sensitive on these and will pick up everything you say nicely enough.
The audio quality is good enough for something under $20; however, you’ll find better audio quality for this price in the wired section. Skullcandy are tuned to reproduce original audio, not the artificially vibrant type you’ll find in most mid-range devices, so the sound may seem a little less bombastic and more “warm” to your ears. If you’re a sucker for vocals and classics like me, you’ll be right at home with this one.
Anker’s Soundcore series is one of the most recognized in the budget audio range, and the P2i wireless earbuds faithfully serve their niche. They deliver crisp listening for 28 hours through 10mm drivers with a quick toggle between music and voice equalizer modes, which we find very handy. The P2i are excellent communication devices since they offer noise cancelation on voice input using dual mics. But, sadly, the passive noise cancelation is not that great; it’s just average. These earbuds connect to Android or iOS devices using Bluetooth 5.2 and can resist sweat and rain.
What makes the Soundcore P2i earbuds a premium choice is their audio quality. You will notice the perfect bass and mid-tones, and podcasts or video will be crystal clear. You can raise the volume in these babies without fear of distortion; Anker did us a solid there. However, the call volume may be a little low.
Dying for a pair of decent earbuds yet strapped for cash? Look no further than the Kurdene S8. They have a great fit, come in 16 fun colors, last for 38 hours (case + buds), have touch controls, connect through Bluetooth 5.2, IPX8 waterproofing, and some admirable audio quality to boot. What more can you want for $17?
True, the sound feels artificially enhanced and may irritate some purists. But the tuning is still nice and sounds suitable for casual listening. Four microphones effectively filter out background noise while talking, making the S8 a great candidate for communication gear. And yeah, you can actually take a shower while wearing them.
The TOZO T6 wireless earbuds strike the perfect balance between price and quality, offering something for everyone. The IPX8-grade tiny earbuds look simple but stylish yet deliver great sound. You get Bluetooth 5.3, wireless charging, and touch control at this price, which is rare. The mics are good, and the input system also comes with a voice assistant activation feature, which is very handy.
Coming in six rich colors with a beautiful semi-gloss finish, the T6 sound good in your ear. The equalizer is V-shaped here, delivering thumping bass and crunchy highs. The buds are light, but the case is heavy, probably due to the heavy battery that supports more than 30 hours of regular usage. The touch controls may feel a bit laggy, though.
1MORE has always been a famed brand in the budget earbuds market, and their PistonBuds are pretty well-known. Though lagging a bit behind times with connectivity, waterproofing, and battery (Bluetooth 5.0, IPX4, 20 hours), they still offer excellent performance to make our list.
The 1MORE PistonBuds make a great communication device by offering environmental noise cancelation through quad mics and smart algorithms. They deliver a good experience through 7mm dynamic drivers and sound just short of perfect. What’s more, they are lightweight and look somewhat different from your regular run-off-the-mill buds.
Relatively new to the game, the JLab Go Air Pop earbuds deliver good performance at an unbelievably low price. With a 2-year warranty, these little wonders are easy to operate and sound decent. They have a solo mode which can come in handy if you just need to use them for communication and want to increase usage time. On that front, the mics on these babies perform admirably.
The IPX4-protected earbuds are built as cheap as they are, with simple light plastic and waxy finishes. They still manage to look nice, though. They connect via Bluetooth 5.1 and support SBC. Audio-wise, the Go Air Pops are good enough with three equalizer presets thrown in (we recommend the V-shaped ‘JLab Signature’ sound most of the time). Perfect for gyms and jogs, these would serve well in a pinch.
Available in 15 cute colors, the lightweight iLuv TB100 earbuds sport a lovely design that is sure to charm you. With their price-to-performance-to-visual appeal ratio, they make great gifts — beautiful yet practical. These sweet little beasts offer Bluetooth 5.3 for under 20 bucks which is pretty uncommon, and they are compatible with Apple, Android, and Windows.
Speaking of performance, the TB100 compete with the likes of Sony and Samsung earbuds. The IPX6-grade waterproof buds offer 20 hours of playtime on a single charge, and the audio is nearly stellar. The reproduced sound has excellent accuracy and clarity even at high volumes, making people compare them to AirPods. You will have good voice pickup from the dual mics as well. On the downside, the touch controls may be somewhat janky.
The A1 Mini earbuds are tiny, both the case and buds, but they sport a very fun design in six different color finishes. They are very lightweight and fit snugly in the ears, so you can safely use them in serious physical activity. Just don’t swim with them on — they are only IPX5.
Speaking of audio quality, the TOZO A1 Minis pack a punch in their tiny enclosure. While not as good as Sennheiser, Bose, or Airpods, they are still good enough for this low price point. If you’re not an avid audiophile, you will love how the bass nicely curves low and how the mid-highs (~1kHz) swing clearly. The wireless charging feature is a nice add-on too! Communication through this device is enjoyable due to the dual mics and ENC.
Another JLab entry to the list, the Go Air ASport looks slim and snug. With its specialized ear hook design, it stays on even during heavy exercise. Sweating? Don’t sweat it; these buds have IPX55-grade protection. The earbuds can run for 8 hours, and the case supplies another day of battery life, so you’re covered in the battery section. You can use them in both ears or either one in mono mode.
These Bluetooth TWS earbuds come with JLab’s own in-built equalizer presets — Signature, Balanced, and Bass boost. All three offer enjoyable audio, depending on the scenario. They are also great at communication with the built-in dual MEMS microphones. The touch controls are smooth and easy to use, and they come with two years of warranty.
How to pick quality earbuds for under $25
In the budget earbuds market, what you need to go for is the price-to-performance ratio. At this price point, don’t expect high-tech features like 3D spatial audio or Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). Instead, focus on decent audio quality, good connectivity, comfort, and battery life. Exceptional call quality is also hard to come by in this bracket, but you’ll find some decent mics here.
Your best bet is to figure out your use case. Each pair in the above list has specific usage scenarios. Pay attention to their strengths and weaknesses, and you’ll find the best choice to fit your needs. We recommend the Skullcandy Dime wireless earbuds for the outstanding balance of audio quality and battery life in one tiny package. Plus, they have a snug fit that will keep these little babies in your ear no matter how hard you jam.
The Kurdene S8 are cheaper but has great connectivity and performance for the price. Additionally, with four microphones, your call quality will come in quite nicely. And last but not least, if you have a little extra to spend, the Anker Life P2i for the excellent audio quality, a comfy fit, and dual microphones to boot.
