If you want to cheat the system a bit and get your hands on incredible, crisp sound from a pair of headphones under $100, we've got you. You no longer need to choose between a cheap pair of headphones and incredible functions like active noise cancellation and active transparency mode.
Sure, you might be doing an IRL side eye emoji regarding Apple's new AirPods Pro — unveiled during the iPhone 15 keynote in Sept. — but these things will cost you over $249. Don't bother dishing out that much money when you can get earbuds for half the price (with almost the same functionality) or, better yet, over-ear wireless headphones that pack a punch arguably as strong as the AirPods Maxes do. Psst... users have been recently reporting that their Maxes are suffering "condensation death" after being exposed to moisture buildup. Fortunately, the over-ear headphones suggestions we have in store here are all ones you can wear on long, sweaty runs — without stressing about their impending expiration date.
If you're still #TeamApple when it comes to headphones, stick with us for a sec. You'll soon see that these top picks from brands like Sony, JBL, and Soundcore are giving Apple a run for its money. Frugal audiophiles rejoice.
What differentiates budget versus higher-end headphones?
In case we weren't clear enough before, cheaper does not mean worse by any means (and vice versa) when it comes to headphones. Not always, at least.
Yet, the general trend still stands that the "higher-end" a pair of headphones is, the more likely you are to get better sound quality (AKA undistorted bass), longer battery life, and cooler tech-like active noise cancellation.
As PCMag, our sister publication, explained:
"Currently, certain technologies — true wireless and active noise cancellation are the two most obvious examples — tend to drive up [headphones'] price. That doesn't mean you can't find affordable true wireless in-ears, but the higher-quality options tend to kick in around $150, while most excellent noise-cancelling headphones start around $300. Iconic branding— think Apple, Beats, and Bose, to name a few—also impact pricing. In short, you can pay as little as $50 for good earphones or headphones and far more than $1,000 for audiophile models."
PCMag was quick to clarify that cheap headphones have really improved in recent years. They noted that budget headphones are currently being sold in "more stylish designs, us[ing] more comfortable materials, and fit[ting] more securely than ever." The downside? A cheap paid probably won't last as long as more expensive headphones will (that is, you likely won't be able to enjoy them for "4-5 years with minimal quality decline," according to Mashable reporter Bethany Allard).
Budget headphones are known to leak sound more often than their pricier alternatives, and they'll likely have fewer extras, like the Ambient Aware technology (which increases your awareness of ambient sounds in the environment) and TalkThru system (which amplifies your convo buddy's voice while reducing music volume instantly) featured in some of the pricier JBL headphone models.
Nonetheless, we made it our mission to find headphones — both earbud and over-ear models — that aren't "higher-end" in price but still borrow a lot of standout features from their more expensive counterparts.
Don't believe it? See for yourself by reading our reviews of the best headphones under $100 below.
