The popularity of wireless earbuds is due to their need and practicality. They are best when you’re driving but need to answer a call. If you have passengers with you, you keep the conversation somehow private, and yet the person you’re speaking with hears you clearly and perfectly.
Wireless earbuds are also popular with athletes, sports and gym enthusiasts, or runners. Music keeps them afloat and hyped up but they need wireless earbuds to make sure wires don’t get tangled up in their activities.
However, leading brands always have retailed for about $200 and this is not affordable to all. Good thing there are still the best wireless earbuds under $100. They give you the battery life you need, the sound quality you deserve, and the durability you’ve been looking for.
Here are the 5 best wireless earbuds under $100.
1. AirBuds Pro
Very much like the Apple AirPods, the AirBuds Pro offers almost the same features for a quarter of the AirPods price making it one of the best wireless earbuds under $100. It’s lightweight, minimalist, and comes with a pocket-sized charging case.
The AirBuds Pro features touch controls that let you play and skip music. It also enables voice assistants if you prefer to ask Siri instead of tapping on your earbuds.
The AirBuds Pro is compatible with Apple and Android phones and they all pair quickly with a slim chance of dysconnectivity.
It may not feature ANC but it offers Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) to block out external noise. It may not fully cancel like ANC but it did a great job in making you tune in to your music with its ENC.
Like the AirPods, it’s sweat and water-resistant too so you may take them running or to the gym. The AirBuds Pro also offers up to 4 hours of listening time and up to 24 hours with the charging case.
The AirBuds Pro has a Kate & Spade Co. rating of 5 stars and costs $49 as it’s currently on promotion. It regularly retails for $99.99.
2. Jabra Elite 3
The Jabra Elite 3 offers one of the most incredible punchy basses, and clear and customizable sound making it one of the best Bluetooth wireless earbuds under $100.
It also features the HearThrough technology which picks up external sounds when you want to let the outside noise right in. It provides you with the clearest calls with 4 built-in mics. Hence, you need not worry when you’re outside or on the go, chat all you can.
Another highlight feature that the Jabra Elite 3 boasts about is the 7-hour buds’ battery life. It can even give you up to 28 hours with the charging case. What’s more, a 10-minute charge can already give you 1-hour worth of playback.
Another edge for Android users is the Google Fast Pair, instant Alexa activation, and easy Spotify Tap playback.
It also highlights its IP55-rated rainproof detection where it can withstand a sudden strong downpour. It even offers a 2-year warranty against dust and water.
The Jabra Elite 3 has an Amazon rating of 4.2 stars and retails between $75 and $85.
3. Samsung Galaxy Buds
The Samsung Galaxy Buds feature fast pairing, slim-designed earbuds, and a charging case made with lightweight materials that you can just slip inside your pockets. They also highlight the High-Resolution live sound that specialists from AKG modified specifically for the Galaxy Buds.
It offers dual microphone technology that surely gets your message across between calls. Moreover, it offers up to 6 hours in one single charge. Lastly, it features ANC to block external noise.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds cost between $90 and $100 with an Amazon rating of 4.5 stars.
4. Anker SoundCore Life P3
The Anker SoundCore Life P3 highlights noise-canceling features and thumping bass making it one of the best Bluetooth wireless earbuds. For noise-canceling, it features a multi-mode noise-canceling feature where different external noises are blocked off. This is possible through transport mode that blocks off loud transportation noises, an outdoor mode that eliminates any irritating outdoor noise, and lastly, even background indoor noises are blocked off through indoor mode. They use a specific algorithm to block off particular noises.
It also offers an option to activate the BassUp mode to intensify the bass in real-time. It is possible through Anker’s customized 11mm drivers. Lastly, it offers 6 microphones that make sure you get the clearest calls, may you be out in the groceries, out running, in with the babies, or out driving. This enhanced call performance is an edge for those who use the earbuds mostly for calls, video chats, and live streams.
It offers 7 hours of playtime and could extend up to 35 hours with its charging case. It has an IPX5 rating which means it’s dust, sweat, and waterproof.
The Life P3 has an Amazon rating of 4.5 stars and costs between $75 and $80.
5. Sony WF-C500
The Sony WF-C500 features high-frequency sound, and fine fade-out sound using the Digital Sound Enhancement Engine technology. This technology makes you sound close to the original recording.
Don’t we all love customizations? The WF-C500 offers an EQ setting on its app to perfect your music to your taste. There are presets that you can select from or you can make and save your own.
It is also designed small and lightweight but fits snugly in the ears. Its design is based on research on how earbuds can fit perfectly in the ear cavity. More so, it has touch controls that play and skip music. It can also enable voice assistance and answer calls.
It also offers an IPX4 rating which means it’s resistant to water splashes and sweat. But here’s what everyone's been craving for, it can last up to 10 hours on a single charge and another 10 from its charging case.
The Sony WF-C500 has an Amazon rating of 4.5 stars and costs between $65 and $75.
Verdict
Out of the 5 listed earbuds, we reckon that the best wireless earbuds under $100 are the AirBuds Pro and Anker SoundCore Life P3. What we liked about the AirBuds Pro is that it gave us the best features that we can have for its price. We all know how the ANC feature can be too expensive so the AirBuds innovated with the ENC. It also has touch controls which everyone takes real advantage of and sees as a necessity.
On the other hand, we liked the Anker SoundCore Life P3 because it offers great sound quality, especially the BassUp feature. It also offers noise-canceling features as an alternative to ANC. Its durability is special, having an IPX5 rating. Lastly, the 6 built-in mics are perfect for those who are on the go despite work hours.
You may also check out our blog on cheap alternatives to AirPods for more budget options.