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The best earbuds under $50 right now are the Soundcore P31i: strong noise cancelling (Anker rates it at up to 52 dB), up to 10 hours per charge and 50 with the case, two-device multipoint and an IP55 rating, for about $35. If you want the best sound under $50, the CMF Buds Pro 2 add a two-driver design and a volume dial on the case for $49. On a tighter budget, the Soundcore P30i still bring noise cancelling for about $28. All five picks work with iPhone and Android; three also support LDAC hi-res audio on Android.
How we put this together: specs come from each maker’s own spec pages (see our earbuds and headphones spec database), and prices change often. It is not based on hands-on testing by iTech Level. See how we choose products.
Best earbuds under $50 compared
| Product | Key specs | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Soundcore P31i | Adaptive ANC up to 52 dB; LDAC + AAC; multipoint (works with LDAC on); 10 h per charge, 50 h with case; IP55 | Check on Amazon |
| Best Sound CMF Buds Pro 2 | 11 mm + 6 mm dual drivers; hybrid ANC up to 50 dB; LDAC + AAC; Smart Dial case; 43 h with case (AAC); IP55 | Check on Amazon |
| Cheapest with ANC Soundcore P30i | Active noise cancelling; multipoint; 10 h per charge, 45 h with case; IP54 | Check on Amazon |
| Best Semi-Open Fit SoundPEATS Air6 HS | LDAC, Hi-Res certified; semi-in-ear fit (no seal); 9 h per charge, 45 h with case; Bluetooth 6.0 multipoint | Check on Amazon |
| Smallest JLab JBuds Mini | About 3.3 g per earbud; multipoint; AAC; 5.5 h per charge, 20 h with case; IP55; no ANC | Check on Amazon |
The picks
Best overall: Soundcore P31i
The P31i pack features that cost twice as much a couple of years ago. Anker rates the adaptive noise cancelling at up to 52 dB of noise reduction, it supports LDAC on Android and AAC on iPhone, and its dual connection keeps a phone and a laptop paired at once, even with LDAC switched on (many budget earbuds make you choose). Battery life is up to 10 hours per charge without noise cancelling, 8 hours with it, and 40 to 50 hours with the case; a 10-minute charge gives about 3.5 hours. The buds are IP55-rated against sweat and dust.
Pros
- Strong adaptive noise cancelling for the price
- LDAC and multipoint at the same time
- Up to 50 hours with the case
Cons
- Anker doesn’t publish the earbud weight
- LDAC on both connected devices shortens battery life, per Anker
Check the Soundcore P31i on Amazon →
Check the P31i at Soundcore.com ($32.99) →
Soundcore.com code AFSC20: an extra 20% off full-price items (valid through Dec 31, 2026).
Best sound: CMF Buds Pro 2
The CMF Buds Pro 2 (by Nothing) pair an 11 mm driver with a 6 mm tweeter, and CMF rates the hybrid noise cancelling at up to 50 dB. The case has a Smart Dial for volume and noise modes without your phone. On Android you can turn on LDAC in the Nothing X app; iPhones use AAC. Nothing rates battery life at up to 11 hours per charge and 43 hours with the case using AAC, or 6.5 hours per charge with LDAC, and the buds are IP55-rated.
Pros
- Two drivers per bud
- Smart Dial controls on the case
- LDAC on Android, AAC on iPhone
Cons
- LDAC cuts battery life to 6.5 hours per charge
- Right at the $50 limit
Check the CMF Buds Pro 2 on Amazon →
Cheapest with noise cancelling: Soundcore P30i
If you just want noise cancelling for as little as possible, the P30i do it for under $30. Anker lists up to 10 hours per charge and 45 hours with the case, multipoint for two devices and an IP54 rating. They’re the older sibling of the P31i, with weaker noise cancelling (Anker says the P31i’s is three times stronger) and no LDAC listed.
Check the Soundcore P30i on Amazon →
Check the P30i at Soundcore.com ($49.99) →
Best semi-open fit: SoundPEATS Air6 HS
Semi-in-ear earbuds rest in the outer ear instead of sealing the canal, which suits people who find silicone tips uncomfortable. SoundPEATS lists a 13 mm driver, Hi-Res Audio certification with LDAC at up to 24-bit/96 kHz on Android, up to 9 hours per charge or 45 hours with the case, and Bluetooth 6.0 multipoint. Because they don’t seal, there’s no noise cancelling and the bass is lighter, and SoundPEATS says they aren’t recommended for gaming.
Check the SoundPEATS Air6 HS on Amazon →
Smallest: JLab JBuds Mini
At about 3.3 g per earbud in JLab’s launch announcement, the JBuds Mini are among the smallest earbuds you can buy, which helps if standard earbuds feel too big. They have multipoint, AAC and an IP55 rating, but no noise cancelling, and battery life is shorter: 5.5 hours per charge and 20 hours with the case.
Check the JLab JBuds Mini on Amazon →
iPhone or Android: does it matter under $50?
All five picks pair with both. The difference is the codec: iPhones use AAC, which all of these support. Android phones can also use LDAC, a higher-bitrate codec, on the Soundcore P31i, CMF Buds Pro 2 and SoundPEATS Air6 HS; turn it on in the earbuds’ app. LDAC uses more battery, so leave it off when you need the longest runtime.
Just over $50
The Soundcore Space A40 (LDAC, adaptive noise cancelling, about 4.9 g per bud, up to 50 hours with the case) were about $60 on October 23 and often drop to around $50 in sales. The CMF Buds 2 Plus (up to 61.5 hours with the case) were $59.
Specs from the makers, side by side
Every figure below comes from the manufacturer’s own spec page, taken from our earbuds and headphones spec database. “Not stated” means the maker doesn’t publish it, not that the feature is missing.
| Model | Battery | Weight | Water rating | Connection | Maker doesn’t state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundcore P31i | ANC on: 8 h ANC off: 10 h with case: 40 (ANC on) / 50 (ANC off) | Not stated | IP55 | Bluetooth 6.1 | weight, latency |
| CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 | ANC on: 4.3 (LDAC) ANC off: 11 (AAC) / 6.5 (LDAC) with case: 43 (AAC, ANC off) / 25 (LDAC, ANC off) / 16.6 (LDAC, ANC on) | Not stated | IP55 (earbuds; case not waterproof) | Bluetooth 5.3 | weight, latency, multipoint |
| Soundcore P30i | ANC off: 10 h with case: 45 h | Not stated | IP54 | Bluetooth | Bluetooth version, codecs, weight, latency |
| JLab JBuds Mini | 5.5 h with case: 20 h | 3.3 (launch post; spec table lists 6.6 g for both) | IP55 | Bluetooth 5.3 | latency |
Frequently asked questions
Can you get noise cancelling earbuds for under $50?
Yes. The Soundcore P31i (about $35, rated up to 52 dB of noise reduction), CMF Buds Pro 2 ($49, up to 50 dB) and Soundcore P30i (about $28) all have active noise cancelling.
What are the best earbuds under $50 for Android?
The Soundcore P31i, because they combine LDAC with multipoint and strong noise cancelling. The CMF Buds Pro 2 and SoundPEATS Air6 HS also support LDAC.
What are the best earbuds under $50 for iPhone?
Any of these picks work with iPhone over AAC. The Soundcore P31i are the best all-rounder, and the JLab JBuds Mini are the smallest.
