Let’s be honest: Most earbuds priced under $50 are junk. They’re uncomfortable, cheaply constructed, and terrible sounding. But the 1More Piston Fit BT defied our assumptions about how good an inexpensive pair of Bluetooth earbuds could sound. Plus, the earbuds are comfortable and solidly built, and they coil up for easy storage. Buy them—and don’t tell 1More that it could be charging more.
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 our testers thought was far better than one might expect from $30 earbuds. 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 everyone on our panel was 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.
If you want to spend the absolute least amount possible and still get quality sound, you can’t beat the Panasonic RP-TCM125 ErgoFit wired earbuds. The RP-TCM125 pair has a nice balanced sound, with airy, mellow highs and present but not dominating bass. Unlike on most competitors in this price range, every sonic frequency plays well with the others, so this pair sounds just as good with acoustic guitar as it does with hip-hop and rock music. This set doesn’t have the depth of field (the sense that music emanates from performers located at various positions in a given space, rather than a flat wall of sound) or bass quality of the 1More Piston Fit BT, and you do have to contend with wires, but for the price, the RP-TCM125 is still great. The ErgoFit earbuds have an optional single-button remote/mic on the cable, and they come in a variety of colors.
1More Piston Fit BT
The best wireless earbuds under $50
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.
EarFun Free 2
If you want true wireless earbuds
The EarFun Free 2 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.
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