Truly wireless earphones and earbuds are generally more expensive than their regular wired and wireless counterparts. But there are also plenty of more affordable options selling for $100 or less, with some of them outperforming more expensive products. If you are shopping for the best truly wireless earphones under $100, the following products are the best options right now.
The Best Truly Wireless Earphones Under $100
Best Overall: Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2
The Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 are the best all-around truly wireless earphones under $100, offering features usually seen in more premium products. They are better than the previous Liberty Air model in many areas and offer excellent value for the money. You can use them for listening to music during workouts and commutes and in the office. And unlike most products in this price range, they have a companion app, allowing you to customize your listening experience.
Available in either black or white, the Liberty Air 2 are stylish earphones with red accents and a matte finish for a more premium look. They have a short stem extending from each wireless earbud, making them more noticeable in your ears. Their in-ear fit is comfortable, with five different sizes of silicone ear tips to choose from. While they are made of plastic, their overall build quality is good and looks more high-end compared to that of the previous model.
Rated IPX5 for water resistance, the Liberty Air 2 stay securely in your ears, whether you are simply walking or working out, despite lacking stability fins and ear hooks. Their IP rating means they are well protected against sweat. With their secure fit and solid sweat protection – in addition to their breathable form factor and lightweight design – they are especially suitable for sports use.
The Liberty Air 2 have a limited but user-friendly control scheme. Featuring touch controls, the control scheme allows you to manage your calls and music and activate your voice assistant. With the responsive touch controls, you don’t need to push on physical buttons, which can cause the ear tips to go deeper into your ear canals in some truly wireless earphones. You can modify the controls using the companion app, but you don’t get a lot of options.
Compact and lightweight, the included charging case is just as well-built as the earphones. It has a secure lid and supports wireless charging, with the latter being especially notable for truly wireless earphones under $100. Of the products in this guide, the Liberty Air 2 are the only earphones that boast this feature. In addition to serving as a travel-friendly container for the earphones, the charging case holds extra charges to increase the total battery life.
Suitable for most music genres, the Liberty Air 2 are good-sounding truly wireless earphones with a punchy bass, which will please fans of bass-heavy music. You can modify the sound using the decent SoundCore app, with more than a dozen EQ presets to choose from, but there is no parametric or graphic equalizer. On the other hand, the earphones are unimpressive regarding mic performance despite featuring noise reduction technology and are best used for phone calls in quiet places.
If you love listening to music during commutes and at the office, the Liberty Air 2 are recommended earphones. While they lack active noise cancellation (ANC), their noise isolation is good, especially if you can get a tight seal with the included ear tips. They are very effective at blocking out ambient chatter. Moreover, their sound leakage is minimal even at high volume, preventing your loud music from disturbing your fellow commuters and co-workers.
Truly wireless headphones are known for their very short battery life per charge, with even the more expensive ones rarely lasting more than six hours. The Liberty Air 2 are some of the better earphones regarding battery life. They can last up to seven hours per charge and up to 28 hours total with the extra charges in the charging case. Their seven-hour battery life makes them suitable for continuous use during typical work shifts and longer flights and commutes.
Overall, the Liberty Air 2 are an impressive pair of truly wireless earphones. Their sound quality and build quality are both good. Their battery performance is better than that of many products in the same price range while their passive noise isolation is good enough for commuting and office use. They support wireless charging and are decently customizable with a dedicated app.
Best Under $50: SoundPeats TrueFree+
If your budget is limited to $50, go for either the SoundPeats TrueFree or the upgraded TrueFree+, which is only a bit more expensive. You can’t go wrong with either of them – both are some of the best headphones under $50 and offer good value for the money. Both earphones are suitable for all-around use, but the TrueFree+ are better overall, mainly due to their better case and longer total battery life.
Regarding design, the upgraded TrueFree+ are practically identical to the original model. They have the same discreet and comfortable in-ear design that won’t stand out too much like bulkier truly wireless earphones. But unlike the original model, they are available in two colors: black and white. There are multiple ear tip sizes included in the box, along with the charging case and the USB charging cable.
The TrueFree+ are comfortable to wear due to their naturally breathable design and extremely light frames, but you might find their in-ear fit fatiguing after a couple of hours of continuous use. Despite lacking stability fins and ear hooks, they stay securely in your ears, which is especially beneficial when using them for sports. Their overall build quality is surprisingly good for earphones under $50, with their IPX4 rating indicating they have decent protection against sweat.
Featuring a single button on each earbud, the TrueFree+ have a limited but easy-to-use control scheme, with the buttons providing decent feedback. You can use the buttons for call and music management and for activating your voice assistant. The earphones also automatically power on and enter pairing mode as soon as you take them out of the charging case.
As mentioned, the TrueFree+ have a better charging case than the original TrueFree. The charging case still has the same compact, lightweight design. But unlike its predecessor, it has an actual lid similar to other charging cases, giving the earphones more protection. In addition, the case holds more extra charges, extending the total battery life.
The TrueFree+ are surprisingly decent-sounding earphones, with their powerful bass and balanced mid-range being their most notable aspects. They are good for listening to music at home, in the office, during commutes, and while running or jogging. Their mic performance is subpar, though, and they lack a companion app for customization, which can also be said for most budget wireless headphones.
With their tight in-ear seal, the TrueFree+ provide good passive noise isolation. They are especially effective for blocking out ambient chatter in the office and during commutes. Their sound leakage is also minimal, allowing you to increase the volume to further reduce background noise. On the other hand, if you prefer better situational awareness while listening to music, you can simply use one earbud in mono mode.
At around three to four hours per charge, the TrueFree+ are not much better than the original TrueFree when it comes to single-charge battery life. This makes them unsuitable for long continuous listening during typical work shifts and longer flights. But on the bright side, their total battery life is significantly longer. With the additional charges in the case, you can get up to an incredible 35 hours of total battery life, which is more than double the original model’s 15-hour total.
While they are limited in features, the TrueFree+ are some of the best budget headphones under $50 and are better than many truly wireless earphones selling for twice the price. They are decent-sounding earphones with good passive noise isolation, simple controls, and impressive total battery life. You can get them for around $30-35. But if you prefer something even cheaper and don’t mind a shorter total battery life and a less secure charging case, get the original TrueFree instead.
Best Battery: Creative Outlier Air
In general, truly wireless earphones have a short battery life per charge, with many of them limited to around three to six hours per charge. But there are some products that can last longer than six hours on a single charge. Of the products under $100, the Creative Outlier Air are the best option if you want truly wireless earphones that can last longer than usual. While they are best utilized for sports, they are fairly versatile wireless earphones that are also decent for office use and commutes.
The Outlier Air are quite bulky, easily protruding out of your ears, which makes for a less discreet look that some might not like. They have a clean aesthetic with an all-black color scheme and minimal branding on both the earbuds and the charging case. Their build quality is good for the price, but they are completely made of plastic. They are rated IPX5 for water resistance, which means they are well-protected against sweat and can survive minor water splashes and exposure to rain.
Supremely breathable and lightweight, the Outlier Air have a comfortable in-ear fit. They lack stability fins or other additional components for better support, but they stay securely in your ears, whether you are walking or running. Bobbing your head or moving it from side to side during exercises will not cause the earphones to fall out easily. However, there are only two pairs of ear tips included in the box, which is fairly uncommon since most products include at least three sizes (Small, Medium, Large).
For controls, the Outlier Air have a single button on each earbud – a common setup for truly wireless earphones. With the earbud controls, you can manage your calls and music, activate your voice assistant, and adjust the volume; the latter function is notable, as many other truly wireless earphones lack onboard volume controls. Unfortunately, the buttons are a bit stiff, causing you to push the earbuds further in your ear canals, especially when adjusting the volume.
The included charging case, like the earphones themselves, is sturdy and durable despite its plastic construction. It has a metallic finish that adds style to its otherwise minimalist design and includes a few indicator lights. Unlike most charging cases, it has a smooth sliding mechanism, with the sliding tray keeping the earphones firmly in place. Although it is not as small as other charging cases, the Outlier Air charging case is still very compact and lightweight and will easily fit into small pockets.
Usable even with only one earbud activated, the Outlier Air are decent-sounding earphones that are most suitable for bass-heavy music genres. They lack a companion app for customization, so you can’t modify the sound if the bass is too much for you. Their wireless range is good, with the earphones allowing for easy pairing with compatible devices, while their integrated mic is adequate enough for phone calls in quiet places.
With their 10-hour battery, the Outlier Air are the best among the products in this guide regarding battery life per charge. Their 10-hour battery puts them in the same league as the more popular (and much more expensive) Beats Powerbeats Pro, which have an advertised nine-hour battery. Their total battery life is 30 hours with the additional charges in the case.
Compared to most truly wireless earphones, the Outlier Air are more suitable for continuous use in the office and can last through a typical work shift. Their 30-hour total battery life also makes them suitable for particularly long flights and extended layovers while traveling. However, their subpar passive noise isolation prevents them from being mentioned among the best headphones for commute and travel. While they are good at blocking ambient chatter – which is especially beneficial for office use – they are mediocre at blocking noises like the sound of airplane and bus engines.
All in all, the Outlier Air are the best option under $100 if you want truly wireless earphones with a much longer battery life per charge. Their build quality is good while their sound quality and earbud controls are decent. If you can spend a bit more, you can also check out the Creative Outlier Gold, which boast an incredible 14-hour battery life per charge.
Best for Sports: JBL Endurance Peak
Due to their secure fit and breathable design, truly wireless earphones are ideal for sports. All products listed in this guide are actually good for sports, especially those with stability fins. But out of all the options under $100, the JBL Endurance Peak stand out as the best for sports use – not only for running but also for both light exercises and rigorous training. They are basically the truly wireless equivalent of the JBL Endurance Sprint.
Available in black, blue, and red models, the Endurance Peak are truly wireless earphones with thick, flexible ear hooks for a much more secure fit. They are lightweight and stay securely in your ears, but their in-ear design can be fatiguing for long continuous use. Their plastic construction is good and feels durable, with an IPX7 rating for water resistance. Three ear tip sizes are included in the box, all of which are made of silicone.
The Endurance Peak, like some premium truly wireless earphones, feature touch controls, but their implementation is mediocre and not the most user-friendly. The touch surface on the right earbud is quite small and too sensitive sometimes, causing you to activate some functions while simply adjusting the fit. This makes the control scheme more difficult to use in the middle of a workout. With the touch controls, you can manage your calls and music and adjust the volume.
Although it lacks a more secure locking mechanism, the included charging case is good. It has a solid plastic build and holds the earphones firmly in place. Due to its extremely compact design, it’s easy to carry for daily workouts and will easily fit into small pockets. The case – which matches the color scheme of the earphones – also has additional charges to increase the total battery life, with JBL claiming up to six extra charges in the official specs.
Capable of reproducing clear and detailed vocals and instruments, the Endurance Peak are some of the best-sounding truly wireless earphones under $100. Their bass is deep while their treble is balanced, but as expected from closed-back earphones, their soundstage is mediocre. They are suitable for most music genres. However, their battery performance is a mixed bag: On one hand, their total battery life with the additional charges in the case is 28 hours, which is good. But on the other hand, they are limited to just four hours per charge, which is mediocre.
With their tight in-ear seal, the Endurance Peak provide good passive noise isolation. They are very effective at blocking out the sound of ambient chatter. And for a pair of sports headphones without ANC, they are also quite decent at blocking the sound of airplane and bus engines – which is useful if you plan to use them regularly for commute and travel as well.
On the whole, the Endurance Peak are the best sports-oriented truly wireless earphones under $100, featuring ear hooks for a more secure fit and an IPX7 rating for water resistance. They charge fast and boast an excellent wireless range. You can use them for training and exercising both indoors and outdoors, with their good noise isolation allowing you to stay more focused in noisy environments like a crowded gym.
Best for Mobile Gaming: Razer Hammerhead
Like most regular Bluetooth earbuds, truly wireless earphones are not recommended for gaming due to their latency issues. But if you are adamant about using them specifically for gaming on your smartphone or tablet, then the Razer Hammerhead are the best option. Their dedicated gaming mode lowers their latency, making them suitable for casual gaming on mobile devices, but not for serious competitive gaming. They are also a cheaper, more Android-friendly alternative to the regular Apple AirPods and are decent earbuds for casual everyday use.
Unlike all the other products in this guide, the Hammerhead have an earbud fit – a less common design in which the ear tip doesn’t enter your ear canal and simply rests on the concha (the area just outside the ear canal). They have sealed backplates featuring the Razer logo and include short stems extending from the earbuds, similar to the AirPods. Their earbud fit is universal, with no multiple ear tip sizes to choose from.
The Hammerhead are made of plastic, but their build quality is solid, with an IPX4 rating for water resistance. They are lightweight and breathable and stay securely in your ears despite lacking stability fins and ear hooks for additional support. The included charging case feels slightly cheaper compared to the earbuds and lacks a more secure locking mechanism, but it’s still decent nonetheless. A USB-C charging cable is provided for the case, along with a wrist strap.
While limited in functions, the touch controls on the earbuds are satisfactory and should be easy to use once you are familiar with the gestures. You can use the touch controls for call and music management and Bluetooth pairing and for activating your voice assistant. In addition, you can easily activate the dedicated gaming mode with the earbud controls.
Capable of running up to four hours per charge – and up to 16 hours total with the additional charges in the case – the Hammerhead are fairly decent-sounding earbuds. But they have an overemphasized bass and are not the most accurate. They come with a companion app, which is notable for truly wireless earbuds under $100, but the customization options are minimal.
When gaming mode is activated, the Hammerhead have lower latency, making them more suitable for wireless gaming than other truly wireless earbuds. Razer claims 60 milliseconds of latency in gaming mode, which is significantly lower than average and allows for better audio/video synchronization. The Hammerhead, however, are not suitable for serious competitive gaming and are best paired with Android mobile devices.
In addition to mobile gaming, you can also use them for listening to music and podcasts – either at home, in the office, or while working out. But don’t count on them to block out ambient noise, as their passive noise isolation is poor, even against background chatter. On the bright side, their sound leakage is low at high volume. You can increase the volume to mask ambient noise without worrying about the audio bleeding out too much – which is especially useful when gaming or listening to music in quiet places with the volume set to a high level.
There are better and more versatile earbuds than the Hammerhead. But if you are looking for truly wireless earbuds that are suitable for mobile gaming, they are the best option under $100. They are also recommended for those who prefer an earbud fit instead of a typical in-ear design. While they are not as flashy as other Razer gaming accessories, their overall design and build quality are decent.
More Options
Below are a few more good options if you are shopping for the best truly wireless earphones under $100, with most of them sitting in the $50-70 price range.
JLab Audio JBuds Air
The JLab Audio JBuds Air are truly wireless earphones suitable for sports and commuting, with their passive noise isolation being especially beneficial for the latter. They are comfortable to wear, featuring angled nozzles and stability sleeves for a more secure fit. Their overall build quality is good for budget earphones under $50; their IP55 rating means they are protected against dust and sweat. There are three ear tip sizes included in the box, but only one pair of stability sleeves. The included charging case has an integrated charging cable, which is quite uncommon.
Recommended for fans of bass-heavy music, the JBuds Air have three EQ presets that you can select without using an app. You can simply switch between them using the earbud controls, which also allow for call and music management and volume control. With their tight in-ear seal, the JBuds Air provide good passive noise isolation. They are effective at blocking the sound of ambient chatter at the office and in public transport. In addition, their sound leakage is minimal even at high volume, which means you won’t disturb other people while listening to very loud music in quiet places.
You may also like some of these top in-ear headphones from our list. Take a moment to check them out.
Skullcandy Sesh
Skullcandy offers three truly wireless earphones under $100: the Sesh, the Indy, and the Push. Of the three, the Sesh are the most affordable and best-built and offer the best value for the money. Like all other Skullcandy headphones, they are available in different colors, with the option to choose between black, red, and blue models. They are on the small side and don’t protrude out of your ears too much, making for a more discreet look that many will prefer for casual everyday use.
Although the Sesh are made of plastic material, their build quality is good. They are protected against both dust and water (IP55 rating) and include three pairs of ear tips. They are decent-sounding truly wireless earphones, but their bass is overemphasized, which is either good or bad depending on your music preferences. You don’t get a dedicated smartphone or desktop app to modify the sound, which can also be said for the Indy and the Push.
The Sesh are decent at passively blocking out ambient noise and are suitable for commuting and office use. And their sound leakage is minimal regardless of the volume level, preventing your loud music from disturbing fellow commuters and co-workers. On the other hand, their battery performance is the worst among the three Skullcandy truly wireless earphones. They are limited to three hours per charge, with their charging case only providing an additional seven hours of battery.
Here are some of the best wireless headphones under $100. Check them out.
Anker SoundCore Life P2
If the Anker SoundCore Liberty Air 2 are too expensive for you, check out the Life P2 instead. They are more affordable earphones with fewer features than our top overall pick. But they are similarly suitable for all-around usage, featuring the same in-ear design that is both comfortable and secure. While they are not as bulky as some truly wireless earphones, they have small stems extending from the earbuds, which makes them more noticeable. Their overall build quality is good and feels durable, with their matte finish making for a more premium look.
With their IPX7 rating, stable in-ear fit, and breathable design, the Life P2 are best used for running and sports. They have limited but user-friendly controls for easy call and music management on the move. Their decent passive noise isolation is useful in a crowded gym while their advertised seven-hour battery life per charge is good for extended training. Similar to the Liberty Air 2, these cheaper Anker SoundCore earphones have decent audio reproduction, with a balanced sound profile that makes them good for different music genres. Overall, the Life P2 offer great value for the money and are some of the best truly wireless earphones under $100.
Our guide to the best headphones under $200 offers more affordable options you may like. Check them out.
1More Stylish
Available in black, green, pink, and gold colors, the 1More Stylish are good wireless earphones for casual everyday use. As their name implies, they are stylish-looking earphones, with their sleek design and metallic finish making for a more appealing aesthetic. Their build quality is decent, but they are not as well-built and water-resistant as some of the other products on this list. They have angled nozzles and ear tips and feature small stability fins for a more secure fit.
The 1More Stylish are some of the better truly wireless earphones on the market regarding battery performance, capable of running up to six and a half hours per charge, with the charging case extending the total battery life up to 24 hours. They also charge fast, providing three hours of playback after just 15 minutes of charging, which is especially useful if you frequently forget to charge your electronics overnight. Their battery life per charge makes them more suitable for long continuous listening in the office and while traveling than many other truly wireless earphones.
For the best sound quality, take a look at our list of the best-rated headphones for audiophiles.
Treblab X5
The Treblab X5 are excellent truly wireless earphones for running and sports. Compared to the JBL Endurance Peak, their fit is more comfortable while their controls are more user-friendly. They have a rather unusual design, featuring stability fins and short stems that extend from the earbuds. They stay securely in your ears during intense workouts with lots of movement and are protected against sweat (IPX4 rating). However, their overall build quality feels cheaper compared to the Endurance Peak. Their charging case, which is similarly made of plastic, also doesn’t feel very durable.
On the other hand, the X5 include more fit customization options than the JBL sports earphones. In addition to their multiple silicone ear tips and stability fins, they come with foam ear tips that some will prefer for better passive noise isolation. You can mix and match different ear tips and stability fins for the best fit for your ears. Their passive noise isolation is decent, with the earphones blocking a good amount of ambient chatter, while their battery performance – six hours per charge, with four additional charges in the case – is good for truly wireless earphones.
Be sure to also check out our selection of the best noise-canceling wireless earbuds and in-ear headphones.
Sony WF-1000X
Of the products in this guide, the Sony WF-1000X are the only noise-canceling headphones. They are some of the most affordable noise-canceling earphones on the market, but their overall noise isolation with ANC enabled is only decent at best; many of the other earphones listed here provide better or similar passive noise isolation. Still, they are suitable for blocking out ambient noise at the office and during commutes. And with their low sound leakage, you can blast your loud music to further reduce background noise without disturbing other people.
The WF-1000X are truly wireless earphones with a comfortable and secure in-ear fit, but they are quite bulky, which makes for a less discreet look. Their build quality feels high-end, with a mix of metal and plastic parts in the construction. They have stability fins and include multiple ear tip options, including three pairs of foam ear tips. Unfortunately, with only three hours per charge – and only nine hours total with the additional charges in the case – the WF-1000X are disappointing regarding battery performance.
JBL Free
Featuring stability sleeves for a more secure fit, the JBL Free are versatile earphones that are good for all-around use. They are good for sports and commuting and are decent headphones for office use, with their in-ear seal providing effective passive isolation against background noise. They are more comfortable to wear than most truly wireless earphones and stay securely in your ears. While limited in functions, their controls are easy to use, with the buttons providing good tactile feedback. You can use the earbud controls for call and music management.
Rated IPX5 for water resistance, the Free are good-sounding earphones that are suitable for most music genres. They can run up to four hours per charge, with their compact charging case providing additional charges for a total battery life of 24 hours. Like the earphones themselves, the charging case is well-built, protecting the earphones from scratches. All in all, the Free are some of the best truly wireless earphones under $100, offering better value for the money than the newer JBL Free X.