What are the best earbuds under $50?

Question

6

Options
Considered

66

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Recs.

Mar 18, 2021

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Updated

Here’s the Deal

6 Options Considered

Best earbuds under $50	Price	Type	Microphone
89 Panasonic ErgoFit HJE120	$8.00	In-Ears & Earbuds	-
73 VE Monk Plus	$9.90	In-Ear	None
-- Sennheiser MX 365	$14.99	In-Ear	None
-- G-Cord Ceramic In-Ears	$14.99	-	Yes
-- HC RET	$12.99	-	Yes

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score 25 · Answer 1

Panasonic ErgoFit HJE120

Top Con

Cable tangles easily

This is a common problem if you store these in tight spaces like inside your bag or pocket. Due to how thin and rigid the cable is, expect to do a bit of untangling after pulling these headphones out of its storage space See More

Top Pro

Punchy and controlled bass

Bass is controlled and tight, yet still gives a bit of an oomph. This is unusual for the price range. There is good detail in the overall sound with clean highs and recessed but still present mids. Overall, these in-ear headphones work great for genres like rock, pop, hip-hop and the like, though the lack of overall refinement in the sound means that these are not best suited for classical or jazz music. See More

Specs

Type:In-Ears & Earbuds

Top Con

Feels cheap

The housing has a hollow feel to it and has some rattle while the cable is quite thin. Your mum gay but so are you.These might give an impression that the headphones might break easily. See More

Top Pro

Passively isolates noise

Due to the in ear design, the tips create a good seal in the ear canal. This helps block off some sound and will allow you to better focus on your music. See More

Top Pro

Comfortable with great fit in the ears

The ErgoFit comes with three pairs of ear tips in different sizes. This gives users some degree of control as to the seal and comfort that these in-ears can have See More

Top Pro

A number of color options to choose from

Aside from the standard black, these come in red, yellow, green and a myriad of other colors. Whether you are after in-ears that are subtle looking or want one with louder colors to match your personality or mood then there is a variant for you. See More

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score 15 · Answer 2

VE Monk Plus

Top Pro

Detailed sound despite the affordable price

The highs of the VE Monk Plus sound pretty great, with a level of detail and resolution that is rare for budget in-ear headphones yet does not come off as harsh. The mids are full and smooth as well, which gives good presence to vocals and guitars. These budget in-ears are great for rock and pop music. See More

Top Con

Bass may sound too lean

The sound signature is more biased to the highs and the mids while the lows take more of a backseat. While present, the low frequencies do not have too much oomph behind them, which can be made worse by the poor seal that these may have. See More

Specs

Top Pro

Earbud design results in a more open soundstage

The design of the VE Monk Plus does not create a very tight seal, instead allowing a bit more air into the ears while wearing them. This results in a wider soundstage with great instrument separation. See More

Top Con

Ambient noise can be heard with while wearing these

Since these earbuds do not seal the ear canal very well, these are not the earbuds for you if you want to focus on your music. See More

Top Con

Foam covering can get uncomfortable

The thin foam cushions feel a bit scratchy and can be uncomfortable, especially when these are used for extended periods. See More

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score 11 · Answer 3

Sennheiser MX 365

Top Pro

Great for vocal/guitar-centric music

Overall, these headphones sound pretty decent, with its full and smooth mids standing out so vocal heavy tracks will definitely sound wonderful with these earbuds. See More

Top Con

Cable can get tangled quite easily

Due to the extra thickness of the cable, it is quite rigid and maintain a lot of memory. It is prone to tangling, especially if you tend to jam your earbuds in your pocket or in your bag. See More

Specs

Top Pro

Helps you stay aware of your surroundings

They don't form a tight seal in your ears, allowing ambient sound in. This helps you maintain a sense of awareness of your surroundings, as you will still clearly hear sounds from your environment. See More

Top Con

Poor sound isolation

Because of the more open nature of earbuds, along with the lack of a good seal, these leak sound and allow a lot of sound in. These are not the best picks if you want to zone in on your music. See More

Top Pro

Fairly thick headphone cable

The cables that are used for these in-ears have a nice thickness to them, and is a step up from most of the thin and flimsy cables that can be found in earbuds in this price range. See More

Top Con

Cable can potentially pop-off of the earpiece

There is no cable reinforcement or strain relief present on the earpiece housing. It is possible for the cable to get detached from the earpiece if you accidentally yank on them. See More

Top Pro

Different color options to choose from

The MX365 comes in a bunch of colors including white, blue and red to name a few. These also sport a chrome accent which gives them a touch of class above most options in the budget category. See More

Top Con

Bass can be lacking for some

Bass is present, but does not have a lot of thump or power. If you listen to more laid back music styles then these headphones can work well, but if you are into more bass-heavy music like hip-hop, EDM, dubstep and the like then you will not get the punchy bass that you expect. See More

Top Con

Treble sounds muddy

The high frequencies are quite lacking in detail. While adequate for a variety of genres, these are not the ones to pick if you want a lot of detail and sparkle from your music. See More

See All

score 6 · Answer 4

G-Cord Ceramic In-Ears

Top Pro

Good sound, good build quality and a built in-mic with remote at a budget price

Audio from the G-Cord has good punch and clarity. The headphone cables are flexible and do not tangle easily. You get an in-line mic with a 3-button remote. This is a great feature set for headphones that cost less than $15. See More

Top Con

Bass light

These may not be the best option if you are after powerful bass. While the low-end is present in these earphones, it may not be enough for you. See More

Specs

Microphone:Yes

Inline controls:Yes

Connectivity:Wired 3.5 mm

Top Pro

Great mids and natural sounding highs

The highs and mids sound full and clean. Tracks with a lot of vocals will sound quite good with these earphones. The bass is not very powerful, but there is good punch, so music does not sound lean. The G-Cord can provide a decent audio experience which can be better than what your stock earbuds provide. See More

Top Con

Mic audio quality is not very good

Your voice may sound quite muffled through the microphone, which can make it difficult for the person on the other line to hear you. See More

Top Pro

Three button in-line remote

Controlling your phone and music player should be convenient with the G-Cord. Most earphones in this price range do not have a remote or if they do, they usually only have one button.. On the other hand, the G-Cord has a three button mic which can answer and end calls, play and pause tracks as well as adjust the volume. See More

Top Pro

Good build quality

The earpieces are built well with no unnecessary rattles. The cable from the 3.5mm connector up to the Y-split is sleeved, which improves cable durability. See More

Top Pro

Headphone cable does not tangle easily

You aren’t likely to do a lot of cable untangling when pulling this out of your bag or pocket. The cables are quite flexible and resist tangles pretty well. See More

See All

score 6 · Answer 5

HC RET

Top Pro

Powerful bass and decent clarity

The bass from these earphones is quite powerful. It has a lot of punch and thump, so bass hits will definitely sound full and forward. The mids are tight, while the highs are able to provide decent detail. These can actually be a step-up from stock earbuds that come with your mobile devices. See More

Top Con

Bass may be too powerful

The bass is quite dominant and can overpower the other frequencies, resulting in audio that may be too muddy for you. See More

Specs

Microphone:Yes

Inline controls:Yes

Connectivity:Wired 3.5 mm

Weight:40 g

See All Specs

Top Pro

Good bass and good design.

The bass is very powerful and as long as they're not at full volume they are pretty amazing. See More

Top Pro

Good bass and good design.

The bass is very powerful and as long as they're not at full volume they are pretty amazing. See More

Top Pro

Cables do not tangle easily

You won’t have too much issue with the earphone cables tangling up when in your pocket or bag. The cables are quite flexible and do not tangle easily. See More

Top Pro

Inline mic with remote

The mic and remote is a truly welcome feature to have, considering the price. The mic produces decent audio quality. The remote, despite being just a single button, allows you to respond to calls and control your music player. See More

See All

score 2 · Answer 6

SoundPEATS Q29 True Wireless Earbuds

All

1

Specs

Connectivity:Bluetooth 4.1

Weight:50 grams (With Case)

Battery Life :3 Hours (Playback)

What are the best earbuds under $50?

6 Options Considered

Panasonic ErgoFit HJE120

My Recommendation for Panasonic ErgoFit HJE120

My Recommendation for Panasonic ErgoFit HJE120

Cable tangles easily

Punchy and controlled bass

Feels cheap

Passively isolates noise

Comfortable with great fit in the ears

A number of color options to choose from

VE Monk Plus

My Recommendation for VE Monk Plus

My Recommendation for VE Monk Plus

Detailed sound despite the affordable price

Bass may sound too lean

Earbud design results in a more open soundstage

Ambient noise can be heard with while wearing these

Foam covering can get uncomfortable

Sennheiser MX 365

My Recommendation for Sennheiser MX 365

My Recommendation for Sennheiser MX 365

Great for vocal/guitar-centric music

Cable can get tangled quite easily

Helps you stay aware of your surroundings

Poor sound isolation

Fairly thick headphone cable

Cable can potentially pop-off of the earpiece

Different color options to choose from

Bass can be lacking for some

Treble sounds muddy

G-Cord Ceramic In-Ears

My Recommendation for G-Cord Ceramic In-Ears

My Recommendation for G-Cord Ceramic In-Ears

Good sound, good build quality and a built in-mic with remote at a budget price

Bass light

Great mids and natural sounding highs

Mic audio quality is not very good

Three button in-line remote

Good build quality

Headphone cable does not tangle easily

HC RET

My Recommendation for HC RET

My Recommendation for HC RET

Powerful bass and decent clarity

Bass may be too powerful

Good bass and good design.

Good bass and good design.

Cables do not tangle easily

Inline mic with remote

SoundPEATS Q29 True Wireless Earbuds

My Recommendation for SoundPEATS Q29 True Wireless Earbuds

My Recommendation for SoundPEATS Q29 True Wireless Earbuds

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