Short answer: the best over-ear headphones under $100 for most people are the JLab JBuds Lux ANC ($84.99): good noise cancelling, 40 hours of battery with it on, multipoint and a full EQ app. The Soundcore Life Q30 ($79.99) is the lab-tested all-rounder, the Edifier W830NB ($79.99) has the longest battery, and if you mostly listen at home, the wired Philips SHP9500 sounds better than any wireless pair at this price.
Check the JLab JBuds Lux ANC on Amazon →
How we put this together: this guide is based on manufacturers’ official specifications and published lab reviews from RTINGS and SoundGuys (linked below). It is not based on hands-on testing by iTech Level. Prices are list prices at the time of writing and change often. See how we choose products.
Best headphones under $100 compared
| Headphones | Best for | Noise cancelling | Battery (ANC on / off) | List price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JLab JBuds Lux ANC | Best overall | Hybrid, up to 35 dB | 40 / 70 hr | $84.99 | Check price |
| Soundcore Life Q30 | Lab-tested all-rounder | 3 modes | 40 / 60 hr | $79.99 | Check price |
| Edifier W830NB | Longest battery | Up to 45 dB | 54 / 94 hr | $79.99 | Check price |
| EarFun Wave Pro | Travel on a budget | Hybrid, up to 45 dB | 55 / 80 hr | $79.99 | Check price |
| OneOdio Focus A6 | Cheapest with LDAC | Hybrid, up to 48 dB | 75 hr (SoundGuys test) | $69.99 | Check price |
| Philips SHP9500 | Wired, music at home | None (open-back) | None needed | $99.99 | Check price |
Specs and battery ratings from each manufacturer unless noted. Noise-cancelling figures in dB are the makers’ claims, not lab measurements.
What you get (and give up) under $100
- Noise cancelling is now standard, and it’s good enough for buses, offices and flights, but it won’t match a $300+ Sony or Bose. Low hums are cut well; voices less so.
- Battery life is often better than premium pairs. Every wireless pick here is rated for at least 40 hours with noise cancelling on.
- Multipoint and app EQ are common. Most picks connect to a phone and a laptop at the same time and let you adjust the sound in an app.
- What you give up: plasticky builds, weaker call mics, and noise cancelling that struggles with chatter. Bluetooth headphones also lag in fast games; see Bluetooth headphones for gaming.
The best headphones under $100 in 2026
1. JLab JBuds Lux ANC: best headphones under $100
The JBuds Lux ANC cover nearly everything people want from a pair of everyday headphones. JLab rates them at 40 hours with hybrid noise cancelling on (up to 35 dB) and 70 hours with it off, with 7.5 hours from a 10-minute charge. They have Bluetooth 5.4, multipoint for two devices at once, a Be Aware mode, and custom EQ in the JLab app (JLab). In SoundGuys’ lab tests they scored 8.1/10 for noise cancelling and 4.5/5 for sound, lasted 44 hours and can play audio over USB-C.
Good to know: some special-edition colors cost more ($104.99 for Navy at JLab), so compare colors before you buy.
Check the JBuds Lux ANC on Amazon →
2. Soundcore Life Q30: best lab-tested all-rounder
RTINGS, which has tested over 425 over-ear headphones, picks the Life Q30 as the best over-ear pair under $100: lightweight, well built and good for all-round use. Soundcore rates them at 40 hours with noise cancelling on and 60 hours off, with 4 hours from a 5-minute charge. There are three noise-cancelling modes (Transport, Outdoor and Indoor), plus multipoint over Bluetooth 5.3 (Soundcore).
Good to know: the sound is bass-heavy out of the box, which you can tone down in the app.
Check the Life Q30 on Amazon →
3. Edifier W830NB: longest battery life
If you hate charging, the W830NB is rated at about 54 hours with noise cancelling on and 94 hours with it off, and SoundGuys names it the best budget noise-cancelling pair under $100, with 4.4/5 for sound. It also supports LDAC for higher-quality Bluetooth audio on Android, Bluetooth 5.4, and noise cancelling up to 45 dB, and it weighs about 267 g (Edifier).
Good to know: SoundGuys found it slightly heavier than rivals, and taming its treble peaks in the EQ takes some fiddling.
4. EarFun Wave Pro: best for travel on a budget
The Wave Pro lists at $79.99 but has sold for under $60, and it’s SoundGuys’ pick for travel: 8.0/10 for noise cancelling and 80 hours of battery. EarFun rates it at 55 hours with hybrid noise cancelling (up to 45 dB) on, with wind-noise reduction, LDAC and multipoint (EarFun).
Good to know: LDAC and multipoint can’t be used at the same time, and SoundGuys rates the sound as only okay (3.5/5).
Check the Wave Pro on Amazon →
5. OneOdio Focus A6: cheapest with LDAC and Bluetooth 6.0
At $69.99, the Focus A6 is the cheapest pick here and one of the most up to date: Bluetooth 6.0 with dual-device connection, LDAC with Hi-Res Audio certification, hybrid noise cancelling rated up to 48 dB, and a light 240 g aluminum-finish design (OneOdio). SoundGuys measured 75 hours of battery and rated it 7.9/10 for noise cancelling and 4.4/5 for sound.
Good to know: there’s no wired playback option, so you can’t plug it in when the battery runs out.
Check the Focus A6 on Amazon →
6. Philips SHP9500: best wired headphones for music at home
If you listen at a desk and don’t need wireless, the SHP9500 is RTINGS’ pick for audiophile headphones under $100. They’re open-back, which gives a wider, more natural sound than closed headphones, with 50 mm drivers, a steel headband and a detachable 1.5 m cable. They weigh 320 g and plug into any 3.5 mm jack, including a laptop, a game controller or a DAC.
Good to know: open-back means sound leaks both ways: people nearby will hear your music, and you’ll hear the room. They’re not for commuting.
Also worth a look
- Soundcore Space One: it had the strongest noise cancelling at $99.99 (40 hours with it on, LDAC), but Soundcore replaced it with the Space 2 in April 2026 at $129.99 (TechRadar). Buy the Space One only if you find it discounted below $100.
- JBL Tune 760NC: RTINGS’ pick for calls under $100, but its price moves around, so check it’s actually under $100.
- Prefer earbuds? See our best earbuds under $100.
Black Friday tips for budget headphones
Black Friday 2026 is November 27. Budget headphones are often discounted well below list price, so a $79.99 pair can drop toward $50. Compare the exact model name, since brands sell similar-looking older versions (the Space One against the Space 2, for example), and check the battery figure with noise cancelling on, not just the headline number.
Our verdict
The JLab JBuds Lux ANC are the best headphones under $100 for most people. Choose the Soundcore Life Q30 for a proven all-rounder, the Edifier W830NB for the longest battery, the EarFun Wave Pro for travel on a tight budget, the OneOdio Focus A6 for the newest Bluetooth and LDAC at $69.99, and the wired Philips SHP9500 for the best sound at home.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best headphones under $100?
The JLab JBuds Lux ANC for most people: hybrid noise cancelling, 40 hours of battery with it on, multipoint and an EQ app for $84.99. The Soundcore Life Q30 is RTINGS’ top over-ear pick under $100, and the Edifier W830NB has the longest battery.
Are noise-cancelling headphones under $100 any good?
Yes, for everyday use. Budget models cut low, steady noise such as engines and air conditioning well, but they’re weaker with voices and sudden sounds than $300+ models from Sony or Bose.
Which cheap headphones have the longest battery life?
The Edifier W830NB, rated at about 94 hours with noise cancelling off and 54 hours with it on. The EarFun Wave Pro (80 hours off) and OneOdio Focus A6 (75 hours in SoundGuys’ test) are close behind.
Is the Soundcore Space One still worth buying?
Only on sale. Soundcore replaced it with the Space 2 ($129.99) in April 2026. If you find the Space One below $100, it still has strong noise cancelling and 40 hours of battery.
Are wired headphones better than wireless under $100?
For sound quality at home, often yes: the wired, open-back Philips SHP9500 sounds more natural than wireless pairs at this price. For commuting and travel, wireless noise-cancelling headphones are far more practical.
