Tried and tested: the best cheap earbuds

Apple AirPods, Samsung Galaxy Buds and their ilk command a high price. These are the best wireless earbuds to give you change from $200, according to our technology editor.

Belkin sells its Soundform Rise True Wireless Earbuds in a bundle with a power pack. Picture: Supplied

Premium wireless earbuds can set you back more than $500 but there are plenty of solid options for less than $200.

AG COTSUBU

Don’t be fooled by their size — these earbuds are a big deal

$100, addictedtoaudio.com.au

The Ag COTSUBU TWS09R True Wireless Earphones weigh only 3.5g each.

PROS

– Among the smallest earbuds available

– Sensitive touch controls

– Will work with voice assistant

CONS

– No pass-through sound option

– Slight delay to commands

– Five hours per charge

You’d be hard-pressed to find earbuds smaller than these newly released models. The Ag COTSUBU earpieces are about the size of a large vitamin pill, and they weigh just 3.5g each. As a result, they’re surprisingly comfortable to wear and, thank to Final sound tuning, their quality belies their price. These earbuds also feature touch-sensitive controls (with a slight delay), can be used to trigger Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa or the Google Assistant, are sweat-resistant, and come in seven muted colours. They can also cancel background noise to help you focus, though there’s no pass-through sound option.

VERDICT: ★★★★½

AMAZON ECHO BUDS (2ND GEN)

The tech giant’s second set of earbuds are the good kind of Echo

$169-$199, amazon.com.au

PROS

– Decent sound and design

– Optional ‘wings’ keep earbuds secure

– Easy-to-use touch controls

CONS

– Average noise cancellation

– $30 extra for wireless charging

– Fitting them can be tricky

Amazon’s second generation earbuds improve in important ways, offer what you’d expect from a pricier pair, and are compatible with more devices than you’d think. The second Echo Buds have a smaller design than the first – both the buds and charging case – plus they boast a matte finish, straightforward touch controls for music and phone calls, and holding a finger on one earbud triggers active noise-cancellation. Amazon’s assistant, Alexa, works with these earbuds, though they can also summon Apple’s Siri or Google’s Assistant, and plastic ear wings and four tip sizes will help wearers find the best fit.

VERDICT: ★★★★

SONY WF-C500

The sound experts launch a cut-price version of their own premium earbuds

$98, sony.com.au

PROS

– Comfortable design

– Customisable sound

– 10-hour battery life

CONS

– No active noise-cancellation

– Tinny sound compared to top models

– Case feels cheap

Sony knows ears. The company has been producing gadgets to go in them since the Walkman was a hit and their expertise shows in this pair of sub-$100 earbuds. Their design is comfortable and provides easy listening for 10 hours per charge. The C500s don’t offer active noise-cancellation, though their design blocks out most of the most distracting sounds, and their sound is decent and made better by an accompanying app with an equaliser function. The buttons on their sides are also subtle and don’t require much force, they can be used with a voice assistant, and they’re sweat-resistant.

VERDICT: ★★★★

SKULLCANDY GRIND TRUE WIRELESS

Better audio quality than its price suggests

$180, skullcandy.com.au

PROS

– Better sound quality than many

– Comfortable, smart design

– Tile tracking functionality

CONS

– No active noise cancellation

– Very large charging case

– Buttons rather than touch controls

Skullcandy has a reputation for fashionable audio gear but these earbuds prove the brand offers more than just design. The Grind True Wireless earbuds are smartly crafted to sit inside your ear, and come with features you might not expect include sweat-resistance, Tile tracking in case you misplace them, a fast-charging case and, if you download its app, its own voice controls. Most surprising is their sound quality that bests many of their peers at the same price. These earbuds do feature buttons rather than touch controls, which can be uncomfortable, and their case is large, but they are overachievers.

VERDICT: ★★★½

BELKIN SOUNDFORM RISE TRUE WIRELESS EARBUDS

Available in a bundle, these earbuds offer plenty of value

$120, belkin.com/au

PROS

– Packaged with a large battery

– Offer simple volume controls

– Seven hours of battery life

CONS

– Very basic sound

– Tricky playback controls

– Inexpensive, plastic feel

If your phone’s lack of a headphone jack threatens to hurt your wallet, Belkin has a decent solution. The company’s new range of wireless earbuds are inexpensive and offered in bundles, including this one that comes with a 10,000mAh portable battery. The earbuds themselves are basic, with lightweight, plastic bodies and serviceable sound, but they do offer touch-sensitive volume controls, a choice of plastic tips for the best fit, and seven hours of battery life before they go back in their case.

VERDICT: ★★★

Originally published as Tried and tested: the best cheap earbuds