Top 10 Earbuds Under $100: Affordable Sound Excellence

Introduction

Are you looking for affordable earbuds that don’t compromise on quality? With the rise of budget-friendly audio technology, premium features like active noise cancellation (ANC), long battery life, and high-quality audio are now accessible at under $100.

Whether you’re a music enthusiast, a fitness buff, or someone who values great call quality, this guide will help you find the perfect earbuds.

This article will explore the top 10 earbuds under $100, their key features, specifications, pros, and cons.

By the end, you’ll know which earbuds suit your needs and how they compare across various parameters, such as comfort, sound quality, and durability.

Why Opt for Budget Earbuds?

Gone are the days when affordable earbuds meant compromising features or sound quality. Today’s budget earbuds offer exceptional value with modern innovations.

Here’s why opting for earbuds under $100 makes sense:

1. Cost-Effective Quality
   Budget earbuds now include premium features like ANC, water resistance, and customizable controls, once exclusive to high-end models.
2. Variety and Versatility
   From bass-heavy models for music lovers to lightweight options for workouts, there’s something for everyone.
3. Durability
   Many options include IP ratings for water and sweat resistance, ensuring durability for daily use.
4. Ease of Replacement
   At a lower price point, replacing or upgrading earbuds becomes less stressful.

How to Choose the Right Earbuds

When selecting earbuds, consider the following factors to ensure they meet your specific needs:

1. Sound Quality: Look for balanced sound profiles, deep bass, and clear treble for an immersive experience.
2. Comfort and Fit: Ensure the earbuds suit your ear shape to avoid discomfort during extended use.
3. Battery Life: Choose earbuds with long battery life to avoid frequent charging.
4. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): ANC blocks background noise in noisy environments for focused listening.
5. Durability: Check the IP rating to ensure protection against water and sweat.

Top 10 Earbuds Under $100

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the top earbuds, with specifications, features, pros, and cons.

1. SoundPEATS Air4 Pro

The SoundPEATS Air4 Pro delivers impressive bass, lightweight design, and reliable connectivity. Its LDAC codec support ensures high-resolution audio, making it a favorite among audiophiles.

Specifications:

• Battery Life: 7 hours (ANC on), 28 hours with the case.
• IP Rating: IPX4.
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint support.

Why It Stands Out:
These earbuds shine with their punchy bass and seamless connectivity, perfect for music enthusiasts and professionals on the go.

Pros:

• High-res audio support.
• Comfortable and secure fit.
• Excellent value for money.

Cons:

• Lacks wireless charging.
• Limited treble detail without EQ customization.

2. Sony WF-C700N

Sony’s reputation for audio excellence extends to the WF-C700N, which offers active noise cancellation and crystal-clear sound quality.

Its thoughtfully designed ergonomics provide a comfortable fit for prolonged listening sessions.

Specifications:

• Battery Life: 7.5 hours (ANC on), 25 hours with the case.
• IP Rating: IPX4.
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2.

Why It Stands Out:
With dynamic sound clarity and effective ANC, these earbuds are perfect for work calls, music, and podcasts.

Pros:

• Compact design.
• Reliable ANC performance.
• Great for long listening sessions.

Cons:

• Slight ear pressure for some users.
• There is no wireless charging option.

3. Tozo NC7

The Tozo NC7 is ideal for users prioritizing deep bass and rugged durability. Its IPX6 rating makes it perfect for workouts or outdoor activities.

Specifications:

• Battery Life: 8 hours (ANC off), 32 hours with the case.
• IP Rating: IPX6.
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3.

Why It Stands Out:
These earbuds offer a V-shaped sound profile and exceptional water resistance, making them versatile.

Pros:

• Strong bass performance.
• Long-lasting battery.
• High water resistance.

Cons:

• A bulky design may not suit all users.
• Limited mid and treble clarity.

4. Edifier TWS 1 Pro2

The Edifier TWS 1 Pro2 balances lightweight comfort and balanced audio performance, making it a great everyday option.

Specifications:

• Battery Life: 6 hours (ANC on), 24 hours with the case.
• IP Rating: IPX5.
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2.

Why It Stands Out:
Its simple yet effective design caters to users who need reliable earbuds for daily tasks.

Pros:

• Affordable and lightweight.
• Balanced sound profile.
• Decent durability.

Cons:

• Lower battery life compared to competitors.
• No wireless charging feature.

5. Samsung Galaxy Buds FE

The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE provides seamless integration with Samsung devices, decent ANC, and a compact design.

Specifications:

• Battery Life: 6 hours (ANC on), 21 hours with the case.
• IP Rating: IPX2.
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2 with Samsung Scalable Codec.

Why It Stands Out:
These earbuds offer Samsung users a quick device switch and smooth functionality.

Pros:

• Compact and portable.
• Easy integration with Samsung devices.
• Decent sound quality.

Cons:

• Limited water resistance.
• Battery life could be improved.

6. OnePlus Buds 3

The OnePlus Buds 3 packs features like spatial audio, customizable EQ, and low-latency gaming mode, making it a top contender.

Specifications:

• Battery Life: 7 hours (ANC on), 30 hours with the case.
• IP Rating: IP55.
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3.

Why It Stands Out:
Its immersive soundstage and gaming-friendly features make it versatile for various users.

Pros:

• Excellent sound balance.
• Dust and water-resistant.
• Comfortable for extended use.

Cons:

• There is no wireless charging option.
• Limited app functionality.

7. Soundcore Liberty 4NC

The Soundcore Liberty 4NC offers personalized audio through its app-based hearing test and excels in active noise cancellation.

Specifications:

• Battery Life: 8 hours (ANC on), 36 hours with the case.
• IP Rating: IPX4.
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3.

Why It Stands Out:
Its customizable app features and reliable performance make it a top choice for users seeking control over their audio experience.

Pros:

• Advanced ANC capabilities.
• Long battery life.
• Supports wireless charging.

Cons:

• It’s a slightly bulky case.
• Average soundstage.

8. Earfun Free Pro 3

The Earfun Free Pro 3 is designed for active lifestyles. It offers secure wing tips, clear sound quality, and lightweight comfort.

Specifications:

• Battery Life: 7 hours (ANC on), 30 hours with the case.
• IP Rating: IPX5.
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2.

Why It Stands Out:
Its secure fit makes it ideal for workouts and daily use.

Pros:

• Stable fit with wing tips.
• Wireless charging.
• Clear audio performance.

Cons:

• Limited mids clarity.
• Basic app features.

9. CMF Buds Pro

The CMF Buds Pro emphasizes deep bass and reliable ANC, making it a strong choice for bass-heavy music users.

Specifications:

• Battery Life: 6.5 hours (ANC on), 25 hours with the case.
• IP Rating: IP54.
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3.

Why It Stands Out:
Its boomy bass caters to fans of genres like hip-hop and EDM.

Pros:

• Strong bass response.
• Comfortable for long use.
• Affordable price.

Cons:

• Treble clarity is limited.
• No wireless charging.

10. Redmi Buds 5 Pro

The Redmi Buds 5 Pro offers a balanced sound profile, long battery life, and a comfortable fit, making it a great all-rounder.

Specifications:

• Battery Life: 8 hours (ANC off), 28 hours with the case.
• IP Rating: IPX5.
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2.

Why It Stands Out:
Its affordable pricing and balanced soundstage make it ideal for budget-conscious users.

Pros:

• Long battery life.
• Comfortable fit.
• Great value for money.

Cons:

• Limited app features.
• There is no wireless charging.

Our Verdict

• SoundPEATS Air4 Pro: Score of 7.5. You get single, double, triple tap, and extended hold functions. You can control everything except skipping tracks; there’s no customization.
• Wearing detection works great, but you can’t customize ambient control switches, so you’re locked to switching between transparency, noise canceling on, and noise-canceling off.
• Tozo NC7: Score of 7.5. You get complete control with decent customization. Wearing detection works well unless the sensor is face down on a surfactant. You can’t turn off wearing detection.
• Sony: Score of 7.5. They are the only pair with physical button controls. You can control everything, including a quad tap to adjust the volume.
• You get barely any customization and no wearing detection, but at least you get everything you need.
• Soundcore Liberty 4NC: Full customization with everything you need. The wearing detection works excellently; the sensor can face down on a desk without activating.
• CMF Buds Pro: The exact amount of control, but the wearing detection will activate if placed face down on a desk.
• Earfun Free Pro 3: There is no wearing detection, but you have the most freedom of customization. Unlike other earbuds, which are slightly limited, you can set any function to whatever you like.
• The Redmi Buds 5 Pro gets an 8.5. Solid customization allows you to control everything, and the wearing detection works even if you put the Bud in a pocket. They don’t advertise skin detection, which works like that, so they get the extra half point.
• The OnePlus Buds 3 also has effective wearing detection and gets an extra point for having a swipe gesture for volume up and down or track forward and back. With these, you can control everything: play/pause, track forward and back, ambient control, and volume up and down, even when using just one earbud.
• The swipe gesture to skip tracks forward and back gives you even more options. They would get a score of 10 if they had squeeze controls instead of touch, as sometimes going for the swipe can accidentally activate the single tap if you miss the swipe, but this rarely happens. Earbuds and smartwatches are the ideal companions for fitness enthusiasts.

Call Quality

• Moving on to call quality, I conducted three tests: a quiet room simulation, loud kid noise (to mimic spontaneous voices), and a windy city simulation with construction noise.
• The final score is the average of these tests. I’ll share some samples shortly, as some earbuds struggle with wind noise andante. But first, you can’t mute your microphone using these earbuds.
• The touch controls on the earbuds mentioned today, including the Eun 3 Pro 3, Soundcore Liberty 4NC, SoundPates A4 Pro, and Tozo NC7, do not allow you to switch between noise-canceling and transparency modes during a phone call.
• When you answer a call, you’re stuck with the last setting you used, which can be pretty frustrating.
• Edifier TWS 1 Pro2 is the only earbud with a self-voice feature that allows you to hear your voice, but the quality isn’t excellent. I prefer using transparency mode during calls, as it provides clearer audio.

Conclusion

Finding quality earbuds under $100 is easier than ever, with modern technology offering premium features like ANC, wireless charging, and customizable controls.

Options like the SoundPEATS Air4 Pro, Sony WF-C700N, and OnePlus Buds 3 stand out for their performance, while models like Earfun Free Pro 3 excel for workouts.

With this guide, you can choose earbuds that match your needs, delivering great sound and value without exceeding your budget. Enjoy premium audio at an affordable price

FAQs

1. What Are the Best Earbuds Under $100?

The SoundPEATS Air4 Pro, Sony WF-C700N, and OnePlus Buds 3 stand out as the best options for their features and affordability.

2. Are These Earbuds Suitable for Workouts?

Yes! The Earfun Free Pro 3 and Tozo NC7 are excellent for workouts, offering secure fits and water resistance.

3. Do These Earbuds Support Noise Cancellation?

Many of these earbuds offer ANC, including the Soundcore Liberty 4NC and Sony WF-C700N.