Best Budget Headphones 2023

Jul 13, 2023

There is no greater joy than slipping on the best headphones and relaxing to your favorite album, audiobook, movie or tv show. While the debate over which setup provides the best audio quality may rage on when comparing high-price items, there are plenty of affordable headphones on the market that can do justice to your favorite content without breaking the bank, allowing users to immerse themselves in the media of their choosing with little compromise.

Product pages for headphones can be littered with jargon that makes finding reliable budget setups challenging. Thankfully though, the large pool of headphones and earbuds on the market nowadays means that there are some fantastic options, no matter what your use case may be.

Best budget headphones for work and travel

Bluetooth Enabled: Yes | Active Noise Cancellation: No | Battery Life: Up to 50 hours | Water-resistant: No | Headphone Fit: On-ear

Sony is a brand synonymous with high-quality audio technology, and its WH-CH520 Wireless headphones stick to that standard closely. Boasting the longest battery life of any wireless headphone on this list, the WH-CH520 can make it up to 50 hours with no need to recharge. A boon for those working long days or traveling long-haul. If you do start to run low, though, they manage to build up an additional 1.5 hours of battery life in just 3 minutes of charge, which is perfect for on-the-go top-ups between meetings.

While the on-ear fit might not be for everyone, they do feature soft, durable pads that offer plenty of comfortable cushioning. Additionally, the Sony WH-CH520 headphones only weigh around 150 grams, so it’s easy to forget you’re wearing them. Control buttons on the outer cups also make answering urgent calls and adjusting volumes a mostly painless process.

Best budget headphones with noise-cancellation

Bluetooth Enabled: Yes | Active Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery Life: Up to 40 hours | Water-resistant: No | Headphone Fit: On-ear

Sometimes you just need to put on your headphones and tune out the world. Thankfully, the Soundcore Life Q20s are a low-cost option that cuts out the outside ambience at a very attractive price point. When listening, the crisp sound is sealed in courtesy of sleek memory foam cushions that mold around your ear instead of pressing into them. This not only helps to block out external noise comprehensively but provides some welcome breathability as you listen.

The Soundcore’s boast an impressive 40 hours of battery life and come with a 3.5mm jack in the box if you happen to get caught out without your charger. The audiophiles out there seeking great sound at a lower cost will be pleased to know the Q20s are also Hi-Res audio certified, courtesy of custom drivers inside the headphones.

The best wired budget headphones

Bluetooth Enabled: No | Active Noise Cancellation: Yes | Battery Life: N/A | Water-resistant: No |Headphone Fit: On-ear

If worrying about your wireless headphones’ charging status is something that bothers you on your daily commute, the Sony ZX series might be the perfect wired listening companion to soothe your worries. With soft pillowy foam ear cushions and a split Y-shaped cable, these Sony headphones put comfort at the forefront. The 1.2m cable is amply sized to stop any unwanted snagging and additionally comes with an in-line remote so you can adjust the sound without having to touch your device.

Portability is also another great draw for the ZX series. With their nimble 120g frame and full foldability, the headphones comfortably fit in most mid-size bags.

The best premium budget headphones

Bluetooth Enabled: Yes | Active Noise Cancellation: No | Battery Life: Up to 30 hours | Water-resistant: No | Headphone Fit: Over-ear

The Sennheiser HD 350BT pairs its polished design and robust feel with high-quality audio for a truly luxurious experience at an approachable price point. 30 hours of battery life can get you through entire days without worry, and thanks to its over-ear fit and plush ear cushions, you’ll be comfortable all day. When you’ve finished up with the HD350BTs, they also fold up in half, ready to slip into a backpack or handbag.

Sennheiser also offers a Smart Control app that gives users a chance to customize their audio, giving anyone the opportunity to tweak things to their liking. More so, the app is the easiest way to keep the device firmware up to date, avoiding any possible problems as time goes on. With longevity in mind, the HD 35BT headphones also have replaceable ear cushions, so when things get a little uncomfortable or scratchy, you can simply swap them out instead of forking out more cash to replace your whole kit.

Best budget headphones for working out

Bluetooth Enabled: Yes | Active Noise Cancellation: No | Battery Life: Up to 12 hours | Water-resistant: No | Headphone Fit: In-ear

When you’re working out, bulky over-ear headphones don’t always suit the occasion. This is where the durability and lightness of the Beats Flex shine. Impressively nimble coming in at approximately 20 grams, they are the perfect grab-and-go headphones.

While 12 hours of battery may seem low compared to others on this list, a quick 10 minutes of plug-in will give you 1.5 hours more playtime. Apple’s ownership of the Beats brand also means the Flex are fitted with their W1 chip. Once you pair the headphones to one of your Apple devices, it will automatically pair to them all for seamless and convenient connectivity.

Magnets in each bud snap together firmly around your neck, securing them when the buds have been removed from your ears, a nice touch if you ever run into friends while at the gym or on the street and don't want to take off your headphones completely. If you’ve ever had trouble with getting inner ear headphones to stay regardless of the bud size, Beats sell additional wings you can attach to create a more snug and secure fit.