Our pick
1More Piston Fit BT
The Piston Fit BT earbuds sound more expensive than they are, and they come with a nice assortment of features for such a low price. But the earbuds are connected to each other by a cable.
Having reviewed more than a thousand pairs of headphones (and over 200 for this guide alone), we are not easily surprised—but the 1More Piston Fit BT earbuds wowed us. In our tests, these neckband-style wireless earbuds (the two earbuds are connected by a flexible band) offered a balanced, clear sound that all of our testers thought was far better than one might expect from earbuds that cost less than $30. The thin, lightweight neckband rests comfortably around the neck and coils up for easy storage in a pocket. 1More includes four sizes of ear tips in the package, so all of our testers were able to get a secure fit. The aluminum earbuds feel sturdy, and magnets hold them together so you can wear them around your neck when you’re not using them. The controls are easy to manipulate by feel, and the eight-hour battery life will get you through a full workday. The IPX4 water-resistance rating means you don’t need to worry about a little rain on your commute, and the one-year warranty protects you from any other hiccups.
Also great
EarFun Free 2S
The EarFun Free 2S earbuds are completely wireless and come with a lot of features you don’t usually find at this price, but the sound quality isn’t as balanced as on our top pick.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $50.
If completely wireless earbuds are a better fit for your lifestyle and you don’t want to pay more than $50, we recommend the EarFun Free 2S set. You get a lot of features with this affordable pair of earbuds: a wireless charging case, a full complement of tap-based controls, clear-sounding microphones for phone calls, and seven hours of listening time per charge (with 23 more hours in the case). The earbuds have a high water-resistance rating of IPX7, so you don’t need to stress if you drop them into a puddle. Plus, EarFun backs the Free 2S pair with an 18-month warranty. However, these earbuds don’t sound as balanced as the 1More Piston Fit BT pair, with a pronounced high-frequency spike that may be fatiguing for sensitive listeners.
Also great
Moondrop Quarks
This wired set sounds excellent for its super-affordable price, and comes with a three-button remote and microphone to control music playback and take phone calls. It lacks any waterproof rating.
Nowadays, it’s challenging to find affordable wired earbuds that sound decent, let alone that include a microphone. As most companies pivot to making wireless earbuds, the Moondrop Quarks feels a little like spotting an endangered species in the wild. For around $15, this pair feels substantially built, has a three-button remote and mic on the cable, and delivers sound quality on a par with earbuds that cost twice as much. If you’re accustomed to the sound of similarly priced earbuds available at drugstores and truck stops, prepare to have your socks knocked off. The Quarks pair has clear, crisp highs and a broader soundstage than anything we’ve heard under 20 bucks. The inclusion of a three-button remote and mic on the cable is a rarity, and it will control music playback and volume on most devices. (An even cheaper version is available without the remote/mic.) The microphone is a basic analog mic, but it delivered clear-sounding voices. Plus, a one-year warranty protects you against manufacturing defects. While the sound quality can’t match that of our favorite (and much pricier) wired earbud picks, the Quarks pair performs so well for so little money that it’s difficult to complain about much of anything. Unlike our other picks, the Quarks don’t include any sweat or waterproof rating, so we don’t recommend them for working out.
