Wireless earbuds are a must-have, especially for those who travel a lot or commute daily. But even if you mostly stay at home, wireless earbuds are still handy since you can use them to watch videos, play games, or call your loved ones without worrying about wires getting tangled. They're perfect for relaxing anywhere and anytime. Plus, there are loads of budget wireless earbuds options!
If you want to get your hands on budget wireless Bluetooth earbuds, don't worry, as you will surely find many choices online. In this article, we prepared a buying guide to help you get the perfect pair for your lifestyle. We also compiled the best affordable wireless earbuds you can order on E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
Jojo Ariola has been working as a front-of-house live sound engineer for almost 20 years. He also has trained several students regarding the field. He has worked with famous local bands, and he has also worked as a DJ in bars and clubs around the metro. He is the audio engineer for music videos of artists like Miguel Escueta and Leanne & Naara. Lastly, he is also a vendor of sound and lights system rentals.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
To ensure that you’re getting value for money, make sure to check the technical specifications of the wireless earbuds you want to buy. Depending on your lifestyle, you may need your Bluetooth earbuds to have certain features, so take note of their capabilities before purchasing.
The driver diameter size of your earbuds does not solely dictate the sound quality but can contribute to how balanced the audio will sound. A bigger driver diameter is capable of producing a louder sound. However, note that wireless earphones with bigger driver diameters also tend to be more expensive.
If you’re not particular with the nuances of the audio you’re listening to, getting a pair of wireless earbuds with drivers of at least 6mm will be good enough. These will deliver decent audio and have a good amount of bass to let you enjoy your favorite tunes.
To get the best sound quality, especially if you’re planning to use your wireless earbuds for watching movies or gaming, look for the codecs that it supports. A codec encodes and decodes audio into a specific format to deliver good sound quality. Basic budget models usually support an SBC codec, which transmits audio decently and smoothly.
However, suppose you’re looking for something that will give you truly superior sound quality. In that case, you should look for wireless earbuds that support an Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) or an audio processing technology (aptX) codec. These types have higher coding efficiency, resulting in less noise and better sound reproduction.
There’s nothing more annoying than having your earbuds die in the middle of your commute or a video chat, so make sure to take note of the battery life of your wireless earbuds. For budget options, a 5- to 8-hour battery life is the standard.
That’s more than enough to last you during a short road trip or a movie. However, check if the battery life of your wireless earbuds applies to video chats, too, since some have shortened battery life when used for calls.
If you want wireless earbuds that are as good as wired earphones, then make sure it supports Bluetooth 4.0 or 5.0. These newer Bluetooth versions have better connectivity, so there will be less audio delay, and your devices can stay connected across longer distances.
Some wireless earbuds are bulky because of their charging case, so if you’re always on the go, something with a smaller form factor is perfect for you. The smaller the charging case is, the more portable your wireless earbuds will be. This is especially important for those who like bringing small purses or want something they can easily slip in their pockets or belt buckles.
Something to keep in mind, though, is that smaller charging cases may have less capacity for charging. For you to be able to maximize your purchase, check first whether or not it can fully charge your wireless earbuds for at least one full cycle.
Earbuds are not a one-size-fits-all gadget because we all have differently-sized ears. It would be best if you got wireless earbuds with customizable ear tips for a more secure fit. These will form a solid seal on your ear canal to ensure they deliver the best audio quality and don’t fall out.
If you live an active lifestyle and like working out, this is a must-have feature, so you don’t have to keep pausing your activity to fix the earbuds in your ears. Fortunately, many brands provide different sizes of ear tips for free, so you can switch them out for the size that fits your ears best.
Even though these features may add to the cost of your wireless earbuds, they’re still worth checking out, especially if you have specific needs. Depending on what you’re planning to use your earbuds for, the added cost may be worth it.
If you commute in the mornings and want peace and quiet before starting your day, you will love noise-canceling wireless earbuds. They will cancel out external noise, such as traffic sounds, the chatter of people, and the general hustle and bustle of the city.
However, this feature will likely eat up some of your battery life, so you may not be able to use your earbuds continuously as long as you would expect to. If you only use your wireless earbuds on the way to and from work, though, it's definitely worth it.
Some wireless earbuds will have external controls like buttons or certain touch commands that you can use to customize your listening experience. With just a click or a touch, you can pause, skip tracks, or even take phone calls. This is very convenient if you don’t like taking your phone out in crowded places or while traveling.
Some earbuds are sweat-resistant, which is incredibly useful if you plan to use them while working out, running, or hiking. You would know if your earbuds are sweat-resistant through their IP rating, which provides an indication of your gadget's resistance to water and dust.
A good IP rating is IPX5 or IPX7 since this means that they can withstand wetness from sweat or even a drizzle and won't get damaged easily. They also tend to be more secure in general, since they will surely fit snugly in your ear canal.
If you’re looking for wireless earbuds mainly for video chats or phone calls, getting a pair with a good mic is vital. This is so that your earbuds can transmit your voice clearly to whoever you’re talking to, which is very handy for meetings or business calls.
You can usually find the mic in the right earbud. However, some brands may have mics in both earbuds, so you can switch between them, which can come in handy if the right earbud loses charge before the left one.
Finding the perfect pair of wireless earbuds that will fit comfortably can be tricky if you have small ears. Fortunately, options like Audio Technica's SQ1TW, with a compact and lightweight design, are on the market now. It is said to be one of the most comfortable earbuds for small ears, thanks to its unobtrusive design that fits various ear shapes.
Aside from portability, it also has a combination of long battery life and plenty of features that make it an excellent buy. One feature that makes it unique is its hear-through function that captures ambient sounds to ensure you stay aware of your surroundings, even while blasting music or making calls. That said, it's perfect when commuting or jogging outside.
If you're searching for wireless earbuds that tick all the boxes without breaking the bank, Soundcore P2i by Anker is a great pick! It’s perfect if you're always on the go— with just a quick 10-minute charge, you can get up to 1 hour of playtime. And if it's fully charged, you can enjoy listening to your favorite tunes for up to 8 hours, with an extra 28-hour power from its charging case.
Fast-charge feature and long battery life aside, perhaps its most notable feature is its sound quality. It has dual EQ modes that let you switch between bass and podcast modes. Simply choose the former if you want a deep, thumping bass when blasting music and the latter if you want to hear clear and audible vocals when listening to dialogues.
Marketed to be compact yet mighty, Soundpeats' Air3 earbuds possess a super lightweight body that's equipped with user-friendly features. Since it's light, it stays intact in your ears even if you move a lot. It also has touch controls that let you control your music without using your phone, making it suitable even for those with an active lifestyle.
But active people are not the only ones that will love these earbuds— if you play games frequently, these are for you, too! Unlike other wireless earbuds that can have an audio delay when you're playing games, this pair has a low-latency game mode for a smooth and reduced audio lag while gaming. To switch to this mode, simply triple-tap the left bud!
If you want noise cancellation but don't like wearing bulky headphones while going on your day, some wireless earbuds offer that—cue in Earfun's Air Pro 2! These earbuds have a 10mm titanium composite dynamic driver, giving them a rich, high-fidelity sound. But more than that, they are equipped with QuietSmart™ 2.0 Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation technology.
Being ergonomic, compact, and dust and water-resistant, the JBL Wave Buds are the best wireless earbuds to get if you're always down for new adventures! Aside from portability and durability, it has a whopping 32 hours of battery life combined with speed charging, so you can use it during long road trips or sightseeing all day.
It also has a design that will fit in your ears comfortably, plus, it comes with three sizes of ear tips, ensuring that you get the most secure seal and the best fit possible. Sound-wise, these earbuds let you listen to your favorite music with rich bass as they are equipped with 8mm drivers featuring JBL Deep Bass Sound.
Sporting an ergonomic design, these wireless earbuds are built for comfort, letting you enjoy your favorite music and podcasts comfortably. They also feature Qualcomm®'s second-generation aptX™ adaptive technology that offers high-definition audio and low latency to give you the best audio experience, depending on what you’re listening to.
These wireless earbuds feature an ergonomic design with three different sizes of ear tips to make sure they fit comfortably and that you enjoy your music to the max. It also has 13 mm driver diameters, delivering amazing sound quality. Many customers love this product, saying that their music sounds crisp with good bass.
What sets Sabbat’s wireless earbuds apart are their fun designs that you definitely won't find anywhere else. They're available in eight different colors and prints that you will surely love, especially if you're tired of the usual black or white earbuds in the market. Aside from their design, they also have useful features.
For one, they have incredible 14.2 mm driver diameters that will give you superb sound quality for an immersive listening experience. Many customers vouch for them, saying that their sound quality is top-notch and that they're a premium pair at a budget-friendly price. If you want something that is both stylish and capable, this is for you!
If you're looking for wireless earbuds that are as light and portable as they get, this option from Baseus is for you. With the charging case having such a small size and weighing only 3.8 g, you can bring this pair of earbuds anywhere and store it even in small pursesーmaking it perfect for traveling.
These earbuds also come in different colors and have PU polymer composite film speakers that offer a balance of rich detail and bass. And with additional features like active noise canceling and touch control, they don't just look goodーthey're also capable of giving you an immersive and convenient experience. Overall, this is a great product that strikes the right balance between performance and affordability.
If you're on the hunt for super affordable wireless earbuds that still have decent sound quality, Xiaomi’s Redmi Airdots 2 is a great pick. What's even greater is that it has good battery life, enough to sustain a few hours of listening to music or watching your favorite shows.
Moreover, each earbud features a multi-function button that you can press to answer calls, control media playback, and open the Google Voice assistant. According to several reviewers, its bass is not that remarkable, but it has a decent sound quality that can satisfy you if you're not very particular about it.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by front-of-house live sound engineer Jojo Ariola.
It depends on the user if they take good care of their earbuds!
Listening to music and watching movies are just some ways to have fun and destress after a long day. To get the best listening experience, check out these other products that we've found online, so you can have a truly relaxing time.
Author: Bianca Angela Dela Cruz
Editor: R. Umlas
Re-editor: R. Victoriano
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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