You don’t have to spend over £50 for top headphones
Whether you want to listen to an upbeat playlist to keep you motivated during a workout, put on an audiobook on the way to work, or enjoy some golden oldies or relaxing background music in your spare time, you'll need a reliable pair of headphones.
But you don't have to spend a lot to make sure you get a great listening experience, we've found these budget offerings deliver quality to match more expensive rivals like Apple's AirPods.
The best headphones under £50 include both wireless and wired options with solid sound capabilities, long battery life (if applicable) and comfortable padding or ear tips so you can keep listening for hours at a time. Whether you need a pair for the commute, a flight, or to wear around the home, we’ve found the top options that don’t come with a high price tag.
We wanted to ensure this roundup is accurate no matter when you’re browsing, so we haven’t picked models on short-term offers and have focused on ones with a recommended retail price (RRP) that’s within our £50 price limit.
Read more: Best true wireless earbuds | Best wireless over-ear headphones | Best noise-cancelling headphones | Best headphones under £50 | Best open-ear earbuds | Best headphones for kids | Best headphones for exercise
Soundcore Q20i
Active noise-cancelling (ANC) is one of those features that tend to add extra expense when you’re comparing different headphone models, so it’s impressive to find it in these Soundcore cans that don’t cost more than £50. These often go on offer, going for as little as £37.99 when on sale.
On test for our Soundcore Q20i review, we liked the capable ANC for silencing background noises during our commute or at the office and the sound quality is excellent for the cost. Its battery life is solid, too, and we’re also happy to report that they’re comfortable to wear for a long time. In fact, they’re more comfortable than the Beats Studio Pro model which costs six times as much.
By default, they’re quite a bass-boosted pair of headphones, but it’s possible to tweak this using Soundcore’s companion app, which gives you many different equaliser options to get the best sound out of the cans. The bass boost makes the thumping overpowering, so we’d switch to “Soundcore Signature” and this sounds great for all our music and podcasts. Of course, it’s not audiophile-level, but it’s excellent for the price.
For a noticeable upgrade, we’d suggest you go with the 1More Sonoflow SE – they cost just a little more but are frequently on offer, so you may be able to pick them up for just over £50. On this pair, the comfort, sound and ANC are excellent.
Sony WF-C500
Sony’s excellent WF-C500 earbuds deliver the kind of sound quality you’d usually have to pay much more to get. These budget buds offer an excellent performance across all genres and tracks, with a punchy bass, crisp high notes and a well-rounded midrange. Although they lack noise-cancelling, the secure fit and detailed sound reproduction make up for it, and we found the passive isolation on these good enough that we forgot they lack ANC.
At only 5.4g per earbud, they’re some of the most compact options around, and they have a charging case that’s small enough to slip into your pocket when heading out the door for a quick walk or even to the gym with their splash and sweat resistance. They’re also stylish overall, coming in orange, black or white in addition to the green model we tried out.
They’ve got 10 hours of battery life on a single charge, with one full extra charge available from the case. They work well with the Sony Headphones app and have reliable buttons for easy and intuitive control. When we first reviewed these, they were just over £50 and good value at that price. So, the recent price drop to under £40 makes them incredibly good value – read our Sony WF-C500 review to find out more.
Soundcore H30i
If you’re after a set of reliable headphones that have a long battery life, we think the Soundcore H30i on-ears are a good value buy. They’re only £39.99 too — and usually drop significantly during sales periods — so they’re also an affordable option.
The headphones weigh just 183g and stay stable during a gym session. The cushions don’t cover your entire ear either, meaning they’re comfortable to wear for a long time — although more padding would be appreciated. Some included features are typically only found in more expensive models, including the huge battery life (up to 70 hours) and a quick five-minute charge can provide about four hours of playback.
The H30i also delivers solid sound quality from its 40mm dynamic drivers, producing a strong bass and a clear mid-range that was decent for most of the test tracks and podcasts we played. The bass, however, can sound a bit muddy, and we didn’t find that the equaliser presets could remedy this.
For the basics though, they’re a good pick. But it’s worth noting that you’ll hear more ambient noise with an on-ear design and those around you may also be able to hear the music you’re playing, depending on the volume level. These also don’t have any noise-cancellation features, but they do deliver a stable Bluetooth connection and handy multipoint to stay connected to two devices simultaneously.
Soundcore P20i
For the super-low price, this is a seriously well-rounded pair of earphones and the first buds we’d recommend to most people on a tight budget.
There’s no ANC, but they’re small and convenient, with a USB-C connection for fast charging and a solid and fun bass-filled sound. However, you’re not stuck with the sound that you get initially. You can tweak the equaliser via the companion app – that’s where you can also turn on a low-lag mode to help with gaming and video calls. They’re comfortable to wear for a long amount of time and, even without noise-cancelling, they block out more than enough external sounds in our testing.
The P20i is an impressive and affordable little package, and as they also stay in our ears well and come with a good range of ear tips so that you’ll get the right fit, we think they are a decent option for the gym too.
JLab Go Air Pop
JLab reliably makes some of the best cheap earbuds on the market that aren’t from unknown brands. We like how this no-fuss option comes with a built-in charging cable, making them ideal for anyone who tends to leave their cable at home.
They also deliver an impressive battery life and are lightweight, while offering decent sound quality and loads of colours for personalisation. We love the compact size too, which makes these a convenient and pocketable pick.
Soundcore P30i
We’re quite impressed by the amount of value Soundcore has managed to pack into its well-rounded P30i budget earbuds. They’re small, they’ve got noise-cancelling and transparency modes, app control with loads of sound presets, customisable controls and seven hours of battery life.
They’ve also got a fun innovative feature, which is that the charging case doubles as a phone stand that can hold your handset in a portrait or landscape orientation – it’s ideal for watching TV shows on the train, following along with a cooking video or propping your phone up for a FaceTime call. We’re impressed by how robust it feels and it never seemed like our phone would be unstable when held by it.
The P30i aren’t without a couple of notable drawbacks. They feel like a cheap and plasticky pair of earbuds, the audio quality is quite bass-heavy and only average when compared to key rivals at this price and they weren’t always comfortable until we gave them a good twist in our ears.
If you’re picking these up as someone’s first-ever wireless earbuds, though, they’re a terrific option. And they’re especially great for on-the-go movie lovers who’ll use the phone stand feature. Read our Soundcore P30i review to find out more.
CMF by Nothing Buds
While it’s rare to find proper active noise-cancelling in earbuds that we’d vouch for at a low price point, this is becoming more available. These buds from CMF (a sub-brand of London-based tech startup Nothing) deliver impressive ANC in an affordable package.
We already like the CMF Buds Pro for £49, but the brand now offers many of the features of those buds in a more affordable pair of CMF Buds for £39. That includes noise-cancelling, making these good if your earbuds will accompany you on commuter trains or flights. They won't beat the best. But they do a good job of taking those low-frequency rumbles and transforming them into “anti-noise” that won’t distract you from your playlist or podcast.
The charging case isn’t so large that it’s difficult to carry in your pocket, and the earbuds themselves are small and comfortable to wear for hours on end. They have a shape that’s like the AirPods Pro but at a far lower price. You control them with simple taps and while we find these reliable and customisable, it’s odd that there’s no input for a single tap on the touch surface.
The sound is bass-heavy and booming by default, but you can customise this with the equaliser in the app, and it’s a solid sound for pop and electronic music straight out of the box. We do think the plastic on these feels a little cheap but it’s not a major downside given that they’re comfortable, sound good, cancel a lot of noise and have an impressive battery life.
Soundcore K20i
If you prefer a semi-in-ear fit rather than the style of most wireless earbuds which use silicone or foam ear tips for a tight seal, then Soundcore’s K20i is probably the model for you. They’re affordable, fit just like the original AirPods and offer loads of battery life for uninterrupted listening for up to six hours (with six more charges in the case!).
Of course, the semi-in-ear fit is more designed for a slight awareness of your surroundings, a bit like open earbuds, and these don’t have any noise-cancelling and may prompt you to turn up the volume of your music to hear it over external noise. If you do, though, you’ll find that those around you might also be able to hear your playlists. That’s just a slight word of warning.
The sound quality performance is decent for the low price, even if we think it’s important to acknowledge that seated earbuds generally deliver a much more balanced sound. With that said, these have more bass than we expected and they sound good if you’re listening to most music, podcasts or audiobooks in a quieter environment like your home office.
Audio-Technica M20x
Prepare to be shocked at just how good music can sound. If you’ve been yearning for more nuance from your favourite tracks, these wired over-ear cans are a major improvement that’ll allow you to hear the subtleties of vocalists and the small details you’ve been missing.
You’ll need to connect them to a device with a standard audio jack (like a DAB radio or CD player) or use an adapter to get them connected to your phone or iPad.
We find them comfortable to wear for a long time, they’re lightweight enough to carry in your backpack and the design is understated, even with the large logo on the headband. At this price, you won’t find a better value pair for sound quality.
Soundcore A20i
While they’re similar to the similarly priced P20i from Soundcore, the smaller charging case makes them more pocketable and the more rounded (rather than stem-style) fit may make them more appealing if you’d rather have a subtler look. We’re big fans of this option and we think these are one of the best options for great sound quality at a reasonable cost. Just like the P20i, they deliver a fantastic battery life without demanding features like active noise-cancelling, giving you nine hours of uninterrupted listening time on a single charge.
They have the same 22 different equaliser presets via the app, and we like the “Soundcore Signature” approach with the “BassUp” switched off. In this mode, they deliver a pleasing sound that has a satisfying amount of bass rumble while reproducing crisp vocals. The treble from these buds isn’t quite as sparkly as what you’ll get from pricier models, but they’re overall a terrific pair if you want pop music to sound fun and engaging. They’re also ideal if you want to use them for podcasts.
The soundstage is impressive also, and they don’t start to sound crackly at higher volumes. Despite the lack of noise cancellation, we’re pleased with the amount of passive isolation available with the ear tips and find them comfortable to wear for a long time. And, like the P20i, they also come with a handy lanyard included. At this price, there aren’t any major downsides – they’re one of the best options for sound under £50.
JLab JBuds Mini
Do you wish that wireless earbuds were just that much smaller? Little enough to fit on a keychain, perhaps? These JLab earbuds are the most petite pair we’ve ever come across, and they’re fantastic if you find other rival ones too big for your ears, just want something tiny to keep with you at all times, or if you’re after a backup set of headphones in addition to your main ones.
These are capable and convenient, with a decent sound quality for pop music and podcasts, and an app that allows you to tweak an equaliser, set a safe volume limit and customise the bud touch controls to your liking. They may not have noise-cancelling but they do have a “Be Aware” mode to let in outside sounds, which we’ve found great for maintaining a sense of the world around us while listening.
We like that the case has a little built-in loop so you can put them on your keychain and that even with them being tiny they still offer a substantial battery life. You’ll get continuous listening for over five hours on a single charge, and up to 20 hours of listening once you factor in the charging case. They’re not the best for blocking outside noises or for audiophile quality, but they’re a brilliant little option that delivers great value for the price.
JLab Go Air Sport
Several of the best headphones for workouts that you’ll find recommended in guides across the internet come with higher price tags than many of us would want to pay for a pair that might get mishandled when tossed in a gym bag or hastily scrunched into a pocket after a run.
If you’re keeping the budget low, we suggest checking out this JLab pair that delivers the necessary sweat resistance, battery life and secure fit ear hooks to keep them in place during vigorous exercise.
Final E3000
These minuscule wired earbuds pack a serious punch and deliver far more detail and clarity than you’d expect for their tiny size. We love the wide soundstage and the level of definition you can hear from these, and it’s so impressive that this level of performance is available for under £50.
Of course, they’re not wireless, so you’ll need to make sure you’re using them with a laptop or via a dongle (either a Lightning to headphone jack or USB-C to headphone jack adapter).
Soundmagic E11C
Not convinced by wireless earbuds that you’re worried you might lose down the drain anyway? We understand. That’s why we’ve included several wired options on this list.
One of our favourites is the E11C from SoundMagic, which fits just into our budget at £49.99, but is also available at £37.99 if you’re happy to skip the in-line remote and microphone. If you go for the model with those, though, they’re fantastic for controlling volume and playback without having to dig your phone out of your pocket, and you’ll get an in-line microphone that’s excellent for phone calls.
When it comes to sound, these are fantastic. They pump out an entertaining and rich music reproduction, with fantastic passive isolation from the outside world and loads of detail and clarity. They’re a well-balanced set, and we’d have no complaints with the sonic capabilities, premium finish and comfortable fit at this price. They’re excellent, and we prefer them when compared to several more expensive wired in-ear headphones.
How the GH Tech Team tests budget headphones
When testing the best headphones under £50, we’re looking for great value for money. That means models that deliver surprisingly good specs and sound quality to rival mid-range and premium contenders.
During our tests, we listen to a range of music genres – everything from rock and pop to classical and electronic, and we use them to play podcasts too. We evaluate the battery life (for wireless models), and we look at how comfortable they are and how effective any noise-cancelling technology is.
Is there really a difference between cheap and expensive headphones?
While it’s possible to find decent headphones at low prices, we still think high-quality expensive headphones are worth it. Most people can tell the difference once they make the step up.
If you’re picking up a set under £20, it’s hard to view it as a long-term investment and you should be aware that it may not be built to last for a long time. On the other hand, the pricey pairs are more durable, deliver much better audio performance with a wider soundstage and have advanced features like impressive active noise-cancelling, high-quality smartphone apps, spatial and 3D sound support and better water, dust and sweat resistance.
It is also worth knowing that sometimes the price difference isn’t due to these improvements but more due to materials, branding or style.
Sometimes, as we hope this list proves, you can get great value headphones at a much lower price than you’d expect – but, if you have the ability to increase your budget, it’s worth looking at mid-range and premium pairs too.
At what age can kids wear headphones?
There’s no specific recommended age at which kids can start wearing headphones, but it’s important to pay attention to how loud the volume is. This applies to adults as much as it does kids, but you don’t want children to be blasting the music so loud that it starts to damage their hearing.
We have a separate roundup of the best headphones for kids (all of which come with built-in volume restrictions) for this exact reason. If they’d prefer a pair with a more “grown-up” design like those on this list, it’s worth knowing that you can also set a maximum level within your iPhone’s sound settings (look for the “Headphone Safety” section).
The location of this option may differ between various Android devices (and it isn’t available on some), but there should be an option to set a volume limit on the majority of handsets. We’d recommend not only doing this for kids but also for yourself – and we’d advise a limit of 85 decibels.
How to pick the best budget headphones
We’re sure you already know some of the key things you’re looking for in a new pair of headphones, but these are the most important specs that we’d keep in mind:
Sound quality
Of course, this is one of the major differences between more expensive models and budget pairs. But, having tried many of both categories, we can say that there are many less expensive pairs that deliver far better quality than you’d expect and that not every pair that costs hundreds of pounds sounds that much better.
The models on this list deliver better audio than we’d expect for under £50, and it’s worth remembering that it can be hard to tell the difference if you haven’t trained your ears to notice musical subtleties.
Mainly listening to podcasts and audiobooks? You’ll get on fine with affordable headphones.
Fit
In-ear models are the most convenient and portable type of headphones. You insert them directly into your ear canal, and they come with a range of silicone ear tips. If you find in-ear headphones uncomfortable, though, over-ear headphones sit around your ears and have pads made of materials like foam or leather for added comfort.
Look for a pair of noise-cancelling headphones if you'll be using them in a loud environment, such as a busy train or when you’re on a flight. If you're buying headphones for exercise, sweat-proofing and water resistance are must-have features, along with a cable clip and ear hooks or wings that keep them secure when you’re moving around.
Wireless or wired
With smartphone manufacturers including Apple, Google, Sony and Samsung now having ditched the 3.5mm headphone socket on their products, there's no doubt that wireless headphones are the future.
However, wired models do deliver less lag, better longevity (because there are no batteries to run down) and the potential for higher audio quality. We know most shoppers are looking for wire-free options, though, so almost all of the headphones on this list are wireless options.
Battery life
The wireless models on the list all offer solid battery life, going for at least six hours on a single charge. The truly wireless earbuds that don’t have a cable connecting each bud will also recharge themselves whenever you place them back in their charging case, making it rare that they’ll run out unless you’re wearing them for a very long time between charges.
Charging
We’d recommend looking out for models that have a quick charge functionality, as this can be handy when you’re running low on juice. Just a few minutes connected to the mains or a portable charger can reward you with several hours of playback time.
The ability to fast charge via USB-C is invaluable in our experience, and you’ll find those models that charge with an older USB-A or Micro-USB cable can’t charge up as fast.
Also, for added convenience, it’s worth looking out for wireless charging. With these models, you can simply place the case on a charging pad (we recommend the EarFun Air, which costs £49.99) and it’ll start to top up with power.
Controls
You don’t want to have to reach for your phone to control music playback, so headphones and earbuds will come with built-in buttons or touch interfaces to skip backwards and forwards or play and pause your tracks. These can sometimes be customised within a companion app on your smartphone that offers you a range of extra features too.
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