Listening to music on the go has been a favorite habit of many people since the Walkman first came out. Years later, the mp3 players and iPods were purchased by millions of people around the world who enjoyed listening to music outside the house. The rise in popularity of those devices also increased the production of different earbud models.
In 2022, most people still listen to music on the road, mostly from their mobile phones. Many new models have emerged, taking advantage of the new wireless technology as well as improvements in other fields (drivers, materials, and overall build quality). As a result, hundreds of models have come out, even in the price range that is targeted towards those on a low budget.
Many people have a 50-dollar limit on their budget to spend on earbuds that they use every day. Understanding which earbuds are a real value for money when your budget is 50 dollars can be a challenging task. That’s why I have gathered for you the top 8 earbuds under 50 dollars that you can find currently on the market.
Best Earbuds Under 50 Summary
Top 8 Best Earbuds Under $50 Reviewed 2022
1. MEE Audio M6 Pro
The MEE Audio M6 Pro is a pair of good-quality wired budget earbuds. They deliver crystal clear and crisp sound performance, that is quite balanced across the frequency spectrum. The mids and highs are detailed and the bass is present and punchy. The only drawback in sound performance is that the upper mids are a little too bright. The MEE Audio M6 Pro provides you with pretty adequate passive noise isolation to allow you to listen in noisy environments. Their build quality and design are surprising considering the price.
They come with detachable cables, sweatproof design, and a sturdy casing. They sit comfortably inside your ears and let you wear them for long hours. Two different colour versions are available (clear and black) to choose from. The build quality is exceptional and ensures that they will last for a long time. The package includes a carrying case, a ¼ inch adapter and comply foam pads.
- Robust build quality
- Decent sound performance
- They ship with a lot of extras
- Detachable cables
- The upper middle frequencies are too bright
2. Panasonic ErgoFit RP-HJE120
The second entry on this list falls under the sub-$10 category: the Panasonic ErgoFit RP-HJE120 are wired earbuds that have been very popular among earbuds buyers. They feature 9 mm neodynamic drivers that deliver crystal clear and loud sound performance. They perform equally across the frequency spectrum and cover a range of 5 to 24,000 Hz.
The Panasonic ErgoFit feature a sleek and modern-looking design, and they come in eight different vibrant colours to choose from. Unfortunately, they don’t feature a remote control or a mic, but that is to be expected in this price range. Their ergonomic design lets them sit directly in your ears without falling, and they are very comfortable to wear. Their build quality is surprisingly sturdy, and they ship along with three sizes of eartips (small, medium, and large) to ensure a snug fit.
- Bang for the buck
- Wide frequency range
- Sleek design
- Eight different colours to choose
- No mic or in-line control
3. Symphonized NRG 3.0 Wood Earbuds Wired
The Symphonized NRG 3.0 are high-quality and hand made wired earbuds. They deliver soft and warm sound performance across the frequency spectrum, and they create a pretty wide soundstage. The bass is deep, has crisp acoustics, thus providing studio quality audio. In terms of design, the RHA MA390 has been made with real wood that ensures natural acoustic qualities of wood.
The custom silicone ear tips create noise insulation, thus reducing the ambient noise. They come with an inline remote control that has a single button, as well as an inline mic that lets you take calls. The Symphonized NRG 3.0 Wood Earbuds come with a lot of included accessories such as a shirt clip, a sleek mesh carrying pouch as well as three pairs of eartips in different sizes (small, medium, and large).
- Made out of wood
- Decent sound performance
- Nice array of extra accessories
- 9 pairs of ear tips
- Fragile gauge wire
4. Sennheiser CX 300S
The next model on this list comes from a well-known brand in the audio niche: the Sennheiser CX 300S is one of their most inexpensive models, and comes as an upgrade to the already successful CX 300-II. They are high-quality wired earbuds that deliver crisp and crystal clear sound performance. They perform well across the frequency spectrum, with surprisingly detailed low end.
The CX 300S is one of the best options for bass-lovers on this list. The in-line controls provide you with a single button and the in-line mic lets you take noise-free calls. The plug is L-shaped and gold-plated for maximum quality and durability, while the cord features tangle-free design. The package comes with a soft carrying pouch and four pairs of silicone ear tips in varying sizes (extra small, small, medium, and large). You can choose the eartips that better adapt to your ear for a tighter fit and better noise isolation.
- Great sound performance
- Enhanced low end
- Four pairs of eartips (XS, S, M, L)
- Durable plug
- The earbuds are made of plastic
5. TOZO T10 Bluetooth 5.0 Wireless Earbuds
The first wireless pair of earbuds on this list is the TOZO T10 Bluetooth 5.0 Wireless Earbuds, which is an affordable pair of Bluetooth earbuds. It comes with an immersive stereo sound performance, thanks to its 8mm sound drivers.
The TOZO T10 Bluetooth 5.0 Wireless Earbuds connect wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.0 & comes with a battery life of 6 hours on a single full charge and the case extends it to 30 hours. They have a sleek and modern-looking design, and they come with touch controls. They sit comfortably on the ears without falling, and you can wear them for hours without any fatigue. The package includes earbuds, 8 ear tips, 1 USB-C charging cable & a quick start guide.
- Great value for money
- IPx8 WaterProof Protection
- Light-Weight
- Good isolation
- Comes with touch controls
- Poor build quality
6. JBL Endurance Sprint
The next entry comes from JBL, a renowned company that creates products that allow you to take your music on the go. The JBL Endurance Sprint is a pair of wireless earbuds that have been specially designed for those who like physical activity while listening to music. They deliver decent audio quality with good tonal balance, with impressive fidelity for a model of this price. They are specially designed to wrap around the ear with the grip allowing them to stay in place. Unfortunately, they have a quite bulky fit that you might not find comfortable.
The JBL Endurance Sprint comes with IPX7 waterproof certification that makes them perfect to wear with any kind of weather. They feature sleek and easy-to-use touch controls as well as a mic that lets you take calls. Their Bluetooth connectivity works flawlessly, and they have a battery life of around 8 hours.
- Ergonomic design that doesn’t let them fall
- Wireless technology and great battery life
- IPX7 waterproof certification
- Sleek touch controls
- Their fit is not very comfortable
7. ANKER Soundcore Life P2
The ANKER Soundcore Life P2 is another pair of wireless earbuds that are targeted for people in a budget. It’s a lite version of Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 earbuds & is available at half the price of former earbuds. The ear wings come in three colours (black, green, and white) along with 4 microphones. Their sound quality is warmer & more forgiving, but lack a boost in the treble.
They come with a wireless charging case that has a playtime of 40 hours. Also note that it comes with physical buttons instead of typical touch buttons (which is again dealbreaker for many).
- Bluetooth 5.0 and 12 hours of battery life
- Bunch of extra accessories
- Comfortable fit
- Decent sound performance with extra bass
- They don’t perform well in the middle frequencies
8. Sony MDR-XB50AP
Last but not least, the Sony MDR-XB50AP is a pair of wired earbuds from a well-known manufacturer that rarely disappoints. The XB in the name stands for “extra bass”, and this is something that these earbuds really produce. Besides the low end, they deliver clear and loud sound performance across the whole spectrum. They come with a tangle-free cable that features an inline remote with a single button, along with a mic that lets you take calls on the go.
The Sony MDR-XB50AP has a robust build quality that ensures that the earbuds will last for long, something that is usually a big problem with cheap earbuds. The earbuds ship with 4 different sizes of replaceable eartips, a cable adjuster and a soft carrying case that adds to portability. The earbuds come in five different colours to choose from: white, blue, yellow, red and black.
- Thumpy bass
- Crisp and loud sound performance
- Sturdy build quality
- 5 different colours to choose
- Not suitable for those who don’t like bass-heavy sound
As you can see, there is a wide variety of options for a pair of earbuds under 50 dollars. However, as you probably have noticed, each of the products listed here has a couple of really good specifications. That is the main issue with inexpensive earbuds: they tend to emphasize on one or two things while neglecting the others.
This is not necessarily a problem, but you need to be careful when choosing a pair. Consider what is important for you: is audio quality an absolute must, or do you care more about getting a durable pair? Is wired connectivity ok, or would you like your earbuds to be connected via Bluetooth? And don’t forget about the looks: if you hate the appearance of your earbuds, you might not be very willing to actually use them.
Best Earbuds Under 50 Buying Guide
Nowadays, listening to music on the go is a favorite habit of most people. MP3 players, iPods, and smartphones allow you to carry your music wherever you go and listen to it with a pair of earbuds. As a result, earbuds have risen a lot in popularity and have become quite inexpensive. That’s why there are many options for those on a sub-50 dollar budget who are looking for a pair of earbuds. However, choosing the right model for you can prove a hard task. To help you out, I have gathered in this guide everything you need to know about earbuds specifications in order to buy the right pair of earbuds for under 50 dollars.
Sound quality
Sound quality can differ a lot between various models in this price range. There are earbuds that produce accurate sound performance across the spectrum, as well as others that put more emphasis on the low end. Some models provide you with a wide soundstage, while others focus more on providing adequate volume output for every occasion. To sum up, you need to pay attention both to the volume output and the frequency performance. Earbuds under $50 sometimes have to sacrifice one aspect of sound performance and put more detail on another. In any case, I would advise you to try on various models to see which one fits your taste in sound performance.
Cable
Most potential buyers don’t pay any attention to the earbuds cable. However, unless you want to buy true wireless earbuds, the cable is important for the durability and ease of use of your earbuds. There are models that come with a special anti-tangle cable, that lets you put the earbuds in your pocket without any worries. There are also earbuds with a detachable cable, as well as models that come with a durable plug that lets them last for long.
Design
Design is not important for everyone, and it is always a matter of taste. There are earbuds under 50 dollars that look beautiful, and there are others that do not look so nice but still do the job. If the looks are important for you, you will probably need to do some more research in this price range. Fortunately, there are many models that come in different colour options, so that you can get at least a colour that you like. Moreover, there are specific models with an ergonomic design that doesn’t allow the earbuds to fall from your ears easily.
Wireless or wired
The technology has advanced, and now wireless earbuds are also available for under 50 dollars. Choosing between wired or wireless earbuds is no easy thing, and you should pay attention to both the advantages and drawbacks of each option. Wireless earbuds might be more comfortable as you get rid of a tangling wire, but you should pay attention at their battery life: if you do long trips daily then maybe they are not the best option. On the other hand, wired earbuds will never power off, but they are not that comfortable if you like to exercise while listening to your favorite songs.
Accessories
I find extra accessories always useful, especially when they are included in the package. In this case, they allow me to save money because I don’t have to buy them separately. Such useful accessories include different sizes of eartips that allow for more comfortable and snug fit, carrying cases that add to portability as well as small things such as cable clips, shirt clips, adapters and micro USB cables that usually prove very necessary if you don’t already have them.
Build quality
Build quality is often the biggest problem with earbuds in this price range. It is true that nobody expects that a pair of inexpensive earbuds will last forever, especially if you mistreat them a lot. On the other hand, better build quality lets the earbuds last longer and saves you money from buying new ones. The materials that have been used to manufacture each model are different, and they are the most obvious indicators about the build quality of the earbuds. As a rule of thumb, aluminium and metal last longer than plastic, while L-shaped plugs are more durable.
Controls
There are many earbuds under 50 dollars that don’t include any controls: you need to control the volume and the skipping of tracks through your device. If you don’t mind doing so, you can skip this category, but if you do activities such as running or hiking while listening to music, you might want to take into consideration the models that come with built-in controls. Many wired earbuds feature in-line controls on their cord that let you control the volume and jump to the next track, or alternatively come with a single button for play and pause. There are also certain models of wireless earbuds that feature incorporated touch controls, which is surprising in this price range.
Extra features
Certain models come with extra features that don’t fall in any of the previously mentioned categories. Waterproof certification is an example: there are models under $50 that are quite waterproof, which makes them perfect for every outdoor condition. There are also models with a sweatproof design that are highly recommended to those who like to do physical exercise while listening to music. Moreover, many models also incorporate a microphone (usually placed in the in-line remote) that lets you take calls on your smartphone.
Final Words
As you can see, picking a pair of earbuds for under 50 dollars is no easy thing. Fortunately, there are dozens of options available on the market. Before rushing to buy your new earbuds, try to spend some time thinking about which of the previously mentioned features is more important for you. Do you want great sound quality or is build quality more important for you? Do you need sweatproof earbuds or you would rather go with nice-looking ones? I hope that this guide has helped you pick a pair of earbuds that you enjoy for under 50 dollars!
Whichever of the previously mentioned pairs of earbuds you finally get, you will certainly be satisfied both by the quality and the price. Don’t forget to take care of your earbuds in order to make them last longer and make this purchase a real bang for the buck!
