5 Best Cheap Earbuds in Australia as of 2025
Backed by thousands of five-star reviews, these are the “cheap, simple and good value” earbuds worth hearing out.
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The right earbuds make the perfect wingman, whether you’re smashing your personal best at the gym or living your main character moment through your favourite audio book. And you don’t need to splurge on the latest and most expensive option to enjoy a decent soundtrack, either.
RELATED: Best earbuds to buy in Australia
We’ve compiled a few popular budget friendly earbuds that won’t break the bank, including the Soundcore by Anker P20i which has more than 33,000 five-star reviews – plus, it’s currently on sale for just $27.99 (down from $59.99.) Some say they are “just as good” as the popular Apple AirPods, with one reviewer even claiming “they’ve been through the wash in a pocket and survived twice”.
Another praised the wireless earbuds for the “awesome sound” and “exceptional battery life”.
The EarFun Air Pro 3 is another “very, very good” option under $100, “hitting the sweet spot” for many shoppers when it comes price and performance.
OUR TOP PICKS
BEST TRIED AND TESTED CHEAP EARBUDS
Sony WF-C510 Ultra Compact Truly Wireless Earbuds*, $93.46 (down from $109.65) at Myer
Sony WF-C510 Ultra Compact Truly Wireless Earbuds
Tried and Tested by Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito, Senior Shopping Writer
Retailing a little over the $100 mark, these entry level Sony earbuds offer decent sound and take up minimal space in your pocket and wallet. They’re also perfect if you have smaller ears and struggle to find a pair that’s actually comfortable and stays in your ears.
It offers a generous 11-hour battery life, although this cuts down if you’re using certain functions such as Ambient Sound Mode and EQ Custom mode. (If you’re wanting to use it in the office, I used it for around seven hours and it was fine.)
Belkin SoundForm Play True Wireless Earbuds*, $69.95 at Big W
Belkin SoundForm Play True Wireless Earbuds
Tried and Tested by Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito, Senior Shopping Writer
I’ve always strayed away from the compact and convenient perks of earbuds since they tend to fall out and hurt my ears within a few minutes of popping them in, so there’s no way I’m spending more than $200 on a pair (again, at least). But I do like these Belkin earbuds as a quick and cheap alternative to my Bose on-ear headphones. They’re comfortable, fairly easy to use, sound pretty good and has decent battery.
In saying that, these earbuds are very basic so don’t except the same exceptional audio quality found in models costing four or five times the price.
BEST CHEAP EARBUDS WITH LONG BATTERY LIFE
Soundcore by Anker P20i True Wireless Earbuds, $27.99 (down from $59.99) at Amazon Australia
Soundcore by Anker P20i True Wireless Earbuds
What You Need To Know
More than 33,000 five-star reviews on Amazon Australia praise the budget buy for its “awesome sound” and “exceptional” battery life, with some bargain hunters claiming it’s “just as good as the Apple ones”. The P20i from Soundcore by Anker stands out with two built-in mics and an AI feature to enhance the volume of your voice so you don’t need to shout during calls. The compact case also has a handy lanyard to attach to your bag or keys for convenience.
“Cheap, simple, good value. They’ve been through the wash in a pocket and survived twice, (and) they’re good for running as the little stem stabilises against your ear. The Soundcore app is very handy. Great bang for buck,” a fan commented.
“Exceeded my expectations for the price. Needed a spare pair for gym and commuting, perfect for the job. Very happy,” another posted”
“The music sounds great, calls are clear. Happy with this purchase,” a third wrote.
BEST CHEAP EARBUDS WITH NOISE CANCELLING
EarFun Air Pro 3, $99.99 at Amazon Australia
EarFun Air Pro 3
What You Need To Know
Filter out annoying background sounds with the QuietSmart 2.0 Hybrid noise cancelling technology on the EarFun Air Pro 3. And if you’re a gamer, these earbuds have less than 55ms latency to help prevent any audio lag or syncing issues from ruining your high score.
You can also get two hours worth of playtime with just a 10 minute charge, or up to seven hours on a single charge with the ANC turned on. And unlike some budget options, these earbuds can connect to multiple devices at the same time.
“You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a really great pair of ANC earbuds. I found the EarFun Air Pro 3 sound quality (for) music and phone calls to be very, very good,” a reviewer praised.
“(I) was pretty keen on the idea of something sweat proof to complement my new gym membership, as well as noise cancellation and, my favourite feature, multi connect. Enter these bad boys – they have the features I wanted, they sound great and I didn’t need a small loan to afford them,” agreed another.
“I love that I can listen to my audio book on my phone, pause it, pull out my Steam Deck and connect to it in a jiffy without the hassle of unpair/pairing every time, then unpause when I put the Deck away and not skip a beat. Definitely hits the sweet spot for me as far as price vs. performance.”
BEST MID-RANGE EARBUDS
Soundcore by Anker Liberty 4, $133.54 (down from $160.24 at Amazon Australia)
Soundcore by Anker Liberty 4
What You Need To Know
With more than 10,000 five-star reviews on Amazon Australia, this mid-range “banging set” of noise cancelling earbuds are worth checking out if you’re wanting a somewhat wallet friendly option that’s still under $200.
There are five adjustable levels of noise cancellation to switch between, as well as two transparency modes and four modes for the train, bus, plane and car. The wireless earbuds also offer up to a whopping 50 hours of playtime with the case, and can even give you up to four hours of battery life with just a quick 10-mnute charge.
“The Liberty 4s are great and do great job for the price... I have only used wired Apple earphones before and these are a world above,” wrote a reviewer, rating it five stars.
“Literally the most comfortable buds I have used in years. I believe these are a nearly perfect blend of performance, price, NC, beautiful connection with BT, sound, bass, details – all of it,” rave a second shopper.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING CHEAP EARBUDS
Shopping for earbuds can be pretty tricky, especially if you’re hunting down a budget friendly pair. We’ve listed a few important factors we usually take into account when compiling our roundups.
Fit and comfort
Earbuds usually come with a few different sized silicone ear tips to make it easier to find a more comfortable fit. Choosing the right fit also prevents the earbuds from constantly falling out, plus creates a better seal to improve the audio quality as well as reduce any background noise from leaking through.
Battery life
Many earbuds can give you around eight hours of playtime from a single charge, and you can get more battery life by popping them into a charging case. Some products only need a 10-minute power nap in the case before giving you an extra two or so hours.
Depending on the model, using certain modes like Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) can shorten the playtime by a couple of hours or even a few hours.
Touch controls
You can typically control the earbuds without having to manually change the settings via the accompanying app. This usually includes tapping or swiping the buds to change the volume, hit pause or play, and skip tracks.
Water and sweat resistant
You’ll likely come across a description along the lines of IPX4 or IP68. This refers to the Ingress Protection Rating (IP Rating), which indicates how durable and resistant the earbuds are towards certain factors like sweat, dust and water. The higher the rating, the better (but more expensive).
Keep in mind earbuds are generally sweat-proof and a pair of earbuds with an IPX4 or IPX6 will be fine to use in the gym and won’t have trouble if get caught in the rain.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
With plenty of models available, it’s impossible to test every model out there. To help you find the best cheap earbuds we tested several well-known brands at different price points. In addition, our shopping team read hundreds of customer reviews and looked at test results and ratings from product review sites to find the best cheap earbuds to help you find the right one for your ears.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can you use earbuds in the water?
It’s best to stay away from swimming with earbuds, unless they’re waterproof earbuds specifically designed to be used underwater. These are totally different to water resistant earbuds, which can’t actually be submerged (but are fine against sweat, splashes and light rain).
How to make earbuds last longer
The easiest way to get the best bang for buck is by keeping your earbuds well maintained. Certain bad habits can impact the sound quality or shorten both the maximum battery life and lifespan.
• Clean the earbuds regularly to get rid of earwax, dead skin, oil, moisture and more.
• Try to avoid waiting for the battery to drain completely before recharging it.
• Store earbuds in the case to minimise dust accumulation, moisture exposure and accidents.
• Avoid leaving them in your pocket (without the case) to prevent dust build-up and potential damage.
*Product was provided by Belkin and Sony for an independent and honest review.
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