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The wireless earbud market has genuinely gotten good at the budget end. Sub-$100 earbuds now routinely offer active noise cancellation, hi-res audio codecs like LDAC and aptX Lossless, and 40+ hours of combined battery life. The hard part is figuring out which ones are actually worth buying. Here are 7 that are.
Best Overall: Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
The Liberty 4 NC is hard to beat at this price point. It delivers 98.5% claimed noise reduction through adaptive ANC that adjusts to both your ear shape and your environment, LDAC hi-res audio, wireless charging, and 10 hours of playback per charge (50 hours total with the case). Multipoint Bluetooth lets it stay connected to two devices at once.
Soundcore Liberty 4 NC — Adaptive ANC (98.5% noise reduction), LDAC hi-res, 10H/50H battery, wireless charging, multipoint Bluetooth
Best for Audio Quality: EarFun Air Pro 4
If you care about sound above everything else, the Air Pro 4 is the pick. It runs Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound with aptX Lossless wireless audio — the same platform found in earbuds costing twice as much — alongside LDAC support, adaptive hybrid noise cancellation, and 52 hours of total battery. Six mics handle call clarity with AI noise reduction.
EarFun Air Pro 4 — Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound, aptX Lossless, LDAC, adaptive hybrid ANC, 52H total battery, 6-mic AI ENC
Best Budget ANC Pick: EarFun Air Pro 4i
The 4i is the more affordable sibling of the Air Pro 4 and still punches well above its price. You get LDAC, a 6-mic AI call noise system, Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint connection, and 40 hours of battery with the case. The ANC is strong for the price, and fast charging gets you 2 hours of playtime from 5 minutes on the cable.
EarFun Air Pro 4i — LDAC hi-res, ANC, 6-mic AI ENC, Bluetooth 5.4, 40H battery, fast charging, multipoint
Best Brand-Name Pick: Sony WF-C700N
Sony’s budget ANC earbud is compact, comfortable, and uses Sony’s own Digital Sound Enhancement Engine for audio tuning. The WF-C700N is IPX4 water-resistant, offers Sony’s Integrated Processor V1 for noise cancellation, and pairs with the Sony Headphones Connect app for EQ customization. A solid choice if you prefer sticking with a known brand that has a proven track record in audio.
Sony WF-C700N — Sony DSP ANC, IPX4 water resistance, Sony Headphones Connect app, compact design, 7.5H per charge
Best Under $60: SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro
The Air5 Pro is the value outlier on this list — it offers both LDAC and aptX Lossless audio codecs, Qualcomm Snapdragon audio processing, and adaptive ANC at a street price well below the competition. You also get IPX5 waterproofing and 37 hours of combined battery life. The tradeoff is a less refined app experience, but the hardware specs are hard to argue with for the price.
SOUNDPEATS Air5 Pro — LDAC + aptX Lossless, Snapdragon Sound, Adaptive ANC, 37H battery, IPX5, multipoint
Best for Samsung Users: Samsung Galaxy Buds FE
If you’re in the Samsung ecosystem, the Galaxy Buds FE are the logical pick. The wing-tip design locks them in place during workouts, and Auto Switch connects automatically to whichever Samsung device you switch to. ANC is effective for the price, and tight Galaxy Wearable app integration gives you more control than you’d expect from a budget earbud. Works best when paired with a Samsung phone.
Samsung Galaxy Buds FE — Wing-tip secure fit, ANC, Auto Switch (Samsung), Galaxy Wearable app, Bluetooth 5.2
Best Battery Life: OnePlus Buds 4
The OnePlus Buds 4 are built for people who forget to charge things. You get up to 45 hours combined battery life, IP55 dust and water resistance, and up to 55dB of adaptive noise cancellation — a strong spec for this price range. Three mics with AI processing handle call quality, and fast charging means 10 minutes on the cable gets you 5 hours of playback.
OnePlus Buds 4 — 45H battery, IP55, up to 55dB adaptive ANC, Tri-mic AI call, fast charging (10min = 5H)
How to Choose
- Audio codec matters if you have the right source. LDAC and aptX Lossless only improve sound if your phone and streaming service support them. Most Android phones support LDAC; iPhones do not.
- ANC performance varies more than specs suggest. Claimed noise reduction percentages are marketing numbers. Real-world performance depends on fit — try different ear tip sizes before giving up on a pair.
- Multipoint Bluetooth is worth prioritizing if you switch between a laptop and phone regularly. Not all earbuds at this price have it.
- Consider the app ecosystem. Sony, Samsung, and Anker Soundcore all have solid companion apps. Lesser-known brands sometimes do not, which limits EQ and ANC customization.
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Prices and availability change frequently — click through for the latest price on each pick.
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