Upgrading to a better pair of headphones doesn’t always require splurging. If you’re looking for a pair of no-frills, no-frills headphones that tick off most must-have lists, we have a few recommendations for $150 or less. The must-have list could be decent audio, a comfortable fit, intuitive controls, a battery that doesn’t always keep you connected to an outlet, and ideally noise cancellation if that’s your requirement.
As a good budget-friendly option, we recommend the fairly new Samsung Galaxy Buds FEproviding excellent ANC, Google Pixel Buds Proa great (and much cheaper) alternative to the Apple AirPods Pro, and Beats Studio Headphoneswhich is also a great Android-friendly option.
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Samsung Galaxy Buds FE
photo: Dua Rashid/Gizmodo
Samsung Galaxy Buds FE is positioned as a product that is suitable for carrying around and is also a pretty good gift.They don’t offer all the bells and whistles you love Galaxy Buds2 ProFor example, but for the price, I think I can live with it.
Think of them like a no-frills pair of headphones that sound great and won’t break the bank. This is a great entry-level product if you don’t have a lot of money to spare or want to buy your child’s first pair of headphones. The ANC performance is much more impressive than you’d expect from such cheap headphones, and the sound isn’t what you’d call terrible. They feature simple, intuitive controls and a tight, secure fit.Battery life (30 hours with ANC off, 21 hours with ANC on) is slightly better Galaxy Buds 2 Buds 2 Pro are more expensive than FE Buds. It might not have the depth of sound one would expect, but that’s forgivable at this price point. read more — Two Rashid
Google Pixel Buds Pro
Compared to Apple AirPods Pro, Google Pixel Buds Pro have better sound quality and much improved ANC performance. They pair with iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks as easily as any wireless headphones. But like AirPods and iPhone, pairing the Pixel Buds Pro with an Android device results in a better, more streamlined experience.
Let’s say you’re an Android user looking for a new pair of headphones. In this case, the Pixel Buds Pro are an excellent choice, offering Google-centric features like instantly accessing Google Assistant by simply saying “Hey Google” when paired with an Android device, without having to press anything. button. If active noise cancellation is a priority, I’d even recommend them over Sony’s WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds, as the Pixel Buds Pro offer competitive ANC performance while being more comfortable to wear. read more — Andrew Lizewski
Beats Studio Headphones
The Beats Studio Buds have a great design, fit, and a pretty premium feel. With ANC constantly on, Beats promises 5 hours of use per earbud and an additional 10 hours with the charging case, resulting in 15 hours of battery life. But if you switch between ANC and transparency modes, you’ll get closer to 8 hours of battery life per earphone, for a total of 24 hours. This is comparable to AirPods Pro. If the battery runs out of power when you’re out and about, 5 minutes of charging will give you an hour of battery life.
At $150, its audio quality and active noise cancellation are impressive, and for those who aren’t Apple fans, the ability to set these up seamlessly with an iOS or Android device is crucial. read more — Caitlin McGarry
one plus headphones 3
These buds cost $100 and are quite large. You get a lightweight design, an easy-to-navigate touch control panel, fairly clean treble, and good dynamic sound. The ANC is excellent and there are some appreciable features like single listening and multipoint connectivity. Battery life is also much longer than competing headphones, especially at this price. $100 is a pretty reasonable price point, so the lack of aesthetics is forgivable. I wish the fit was tighter and the low end maintained clarity at any given volume. read more — Two Rashid
This list is updated regularly with new recommendations.