Buying guide for best truly wireless earbuds under $100
Truly wireless earbuds are in-ear headphones that use the power of Bluetooth connectivity along with other advanced digital wireless technology to offer a completely wireless listening experience. It used to be that wireless simply meant being free of a headphone jack. Now users can pair independent earbuds to one or more audio sources and take calls, listen to music, or record voice notes from sometimes completely unnoticeable earpieces.
Styles of these earbuds may vary from those that hook over the ear for extra stability to others that are so well designed they can maintain an extremely low profile and remain firmly placed in the ear, undetected by the casual observer.
When shopping for truly wireless earbuds under $100, the most important things you’ll need to consider are style, battery and charging options, and compatibility. Check out our shopping guide, which is full of helpful tips and recommendations, to decide if truly wireless earbuds are right for you.
Key considerations
Style
Truly wireless earbuds won’t have any wires connecting them to your device or each other. Most bud styles are designed to fit comfortably inside your ear. Others will sport a hook that wraps around the outside of your ear for additional support. You’ll have to consider your activity level and how snug you’ll need your buds to fit. Many of the inner-ear-style earbuds claim they will remain secure, even during vigorous physical activity, and many newer models have gotten increasingly better at this.
Battery and charging
You won’t need any batteries to power your wireless earbuds, but you will need to consider how you’ll be charging them. Many will come with a small carrying compartment that will double as a battery pack and charging station. This means you’ll need to keep the compartment charged, so that when it’s time to store your earbuds, you can recharge them as well. Most of these are powered via USB.
Compatibility
Be sure that the earbuds you consider are compatible with your device. Many of the truly wireless earbuds that are not a part of the Apple family will be compatible with other devices that support Bluetooth (however, that is not the case for all of them on the market). Also, features like Siri, Google Now, and Alexa may require compatible software to work in connection with your earbuds, so be sure to check compatibility before making your purchase.
Features
Range
Range refers to how far your wireless earbuds can be from the device it’s paired with before it loses quality or connection. You’ll have to stay close to your connected device if you’re considering a more inexpensive product, which will typically allow for 15 to 20 feet of distance. This is perfectly fine for most individuals, as we don’t stray too far away from our phones anyway. However, there are some who would like a bit more freedom to move around with their wireless buds. More expensive brands allow users 40 to 50 feet of distance.
Media Audio vs. Phone Audio
Most truly wireless earbuds will support listening to phone call audio and music wirelessly. Where you’ll find a difference in products is whether phone call audio can be listened to in both ears or just one. Some products will only allow for call audio to play from one ear. So, if you’re looking for stereo sound from your music and your calls, be mindful of your product’s audio features before making your purchase.
Expert Tip
Are your earbuds too loud? Try this test: In a quiet setting, turn up the volume to your desired level, then take them off, and extend them in front of you. If you can still hear the music clearly, turn it down.
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Truly wireless earbuds prices
Inexpensive: If you really want to give truly wireless earbuds a try, but are on an extremely tight budget, you can still enjoy wireless freedom at a low cost. Just know that the brands towards the bottom of this range, which is around $20 to $40, will give you the bare minimum when it comes to features and will likely be of low sound quality and material. As you move toward the high end of this scale, however, you should be able to find something that’s comparable to the other more reliable brands.
Mid-range: Between $50 and $60 is where quality and value come together. If you’re on a tight budget, this is the best place to look. At the mid-level price range, you’ll find products that boast high-quality sound and cool features (such as multiple device pairing and long battery life) as well as more stylish designs.
Expensive: Though products ranging from $80 to $90 are still under $100, this is where you can find some of the most durable, stylish, and feature-packed earbuds on the market. All the earbuds here will be made of quality material, have top-notch sound quality, and tout extremely reliable and long-lasting battery life.
Did you know?
Some earbud brands are super flexible and allow you to sync them independently of each other. This means you can connect one earbud to a single device, and the other earbud with a different device.
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Tips
- Most wireless earbuds will come with different-sized rubber earpieces that fit over the speaker end of the earbud. Take advantage of these to ensure that your buds fit securely in your ear, especially if the earbuds don’t fit comfortably right out of the box.
- Every now and then, clean your earbuds. This can be done with a Q-tip or a tissue, and mild water or rubbing alcohol. This will not only extend the life of your earbuds but will also keep your device free of nasty germs or potential viruses that can hang out in neglected headsets.
- Don’t ignore the importance of your earbuds’ carrying case. Not only will they keep your buds safe and secure in one place, but most carrying cases will also double as a charging station that’s capable of charging your earbuds like a mobile battery pack would.
"Keep your carrying case on hand and charged up — that way you’ll never have to worry about losing your earbuds or their battery life. "
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Other products we considered
Finding a quality pair of truly wireless earbuds for under $100 is tricky, but not impossible. Along with our shortlist, here are a couple more products we considered. The Arbily Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds are an excellent choice for users looking for a feature-rich pair of buds at a mid-level price. With these, one button controls everything, including power, voice recording, music control, and answering and ending calls. The Smilism True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds are a more budget-friendly set of buds that look really good and come in a super slim carrying case. Up to four hours of playback time on a single charge, and ten hours when using the carrying case. They also auto-connect to your device once they’re initially paired and will power on and off by themselves when added or removed from the carrying case.
FAQ
Q. Can you charge one earbud while wearing the other?
A. Yes. While not every brand may include this feature, many wireless earbuds will allow you to use one while the other charges. Generally, the right earbud is the dominant one.
Q. Can I hear phone call audio in both ears?
A. Not always. Some brands don’t allow users to hear call audio in both ears, just the dominant earbud. This is considered a safety feature. Music will always play in both ears, however.
Q. Can I control my phone or mobile device from the earbud?
A. Wireless earbuds are very small by nature, so it’s difficult to equip them with a lot of controls. However, some brands do allow you to answer calls, start and stop music, and skip tracks by the press, hold, or tap of a single button located on one of the earpieces.
