Our cheap headphone deals roundup will not only get you a great price on your next pair of cans, but give you plenty of options no matter what type you’re looking for. Not only are we expert deals hunters here at TechRadar, but we’ve also reviewed all the best headphones from Apple, Beats, Jabra, Sennhseiser, Sony and many more, so you can be sure you’re getting top advice here.
We cover all the best headphones released, including over-ear headphones, noise-canceling headphones, and wireless headphones, so there’s plenty on offer. Even still, readers often ask us whether they should spend a little extra for a branded pair of headphones or simply go for a set of no-name buds you often find at department stores. The answer is – you tend to get what you pay for.
Those $5 / £5 buds can look pretty tempting, but there’s often a false economy at play with cheap tech. With poor audio and chintzy build quality, you’ll often find yourself going through multiple pairs in fairly short order. Subsequently, we always recommend going for one of the more known brands if your wallet will allow.
Luckily, you’ll find some pretty low-cost headphone deals here so you won’t have to break the bank to find a pair that should last. Prices start at around $20 / £20 on our list this week and what’s more, most of these headphones have been impartially reviewed by us, so you know what you’re getting here.
It’s with that in mind that we’ve narrowed down a list of headphones that not only sound good and feel good but are priced appropriately for all you cost-conscious audiophiles out there.
The best headphone deals and prices
Best headphone deals
No longer is true-wireless tech a feature reserved for the most premium of buds, thanks to the JLab Go Air – a pair of totally wireless buds available for the almost unbelievable price of just $29 / £29.
Sure, these are definitely on the more “budget” end of things, and subsequently you shouldn’t expect world-beating audio, amazing build quality, or premium features like active noise cancellation, but for $30 – you’re definitely getting a pair of functional buds here.
Available in white, khaki green, black, and navy blue, the JLab Go Air True Wireless Earbuds feature an IPX5 sweatproof rating, 5 hours of battery life, and three different equalizer settings, which you can use to cater for your tracks of choice. Overall, that’s not bad in our books, and definitely worth considering if you want to get your hands on a pair of true wireless buds without spending the $99 that the (admittedly much better) Lypertek Tevi go for these days.
Read more in our JLab Go Air True Wireless Earbuds review
The Optoma NuForce BE Sport3 isn’t the latest in the range from Optoma (having been superseded by the BE Sport4 earlier this year), but they’re still excellent headphones, and what’s more, you can also pick them up for super cheap these days.
For the average recent asking price of around $20 / £20, it’s pretty hard to beat these great wireless headphones. Not only are you getting full IP55 rating (for rain and sweat resistance), but you’re also getting pretty good sound and a fantastic fit to boot. At just 18 grams, they’re also a super-light option for those who need a pair of headphones for gym use, although they’re plenty fit for other applications if you prefer to just use your headphones for the commute.
Read more in our Optoma NuForce BE Sport3 review.
If you’re looking for a cheap, no-nonsense set of wired headphones for your work desk or home use, check out the Tascam TH-02. These fully over-ear closed-back headphones aim to provide a detailed, studio ready audio experience, but most importantly, retail for just $20 / £20 at Amazon currently.
Tascam is a trusted brand that has been around for many years and the TH-02 is a good choice over the many nameless and unbranded headphones that tend to sit at this price point. You’re getting some powerful drivers here, as well as a fairly robust (albeit slightly dated) plastic design that should last for a good time.
Of course, you probably won’t want to be seen out with these giant old-school headphones, but for home use and sitting at the office desk, these headphones will give you plenty of quality and isolation for the price.
When it comes to headphones, the general consensus is that you very much get what you pay for. But with AKG’s K92, what you’re getting is so much more. These headphones offer a level of sound quality that far outstrip their budget price tag. That being said, these are some of the largest cans you might ever find, and therefore might not be the best choice for anyone out there who has a petite noggin. Specs-wise, however, it’s all good. The K92’s professional 40mm drivers offer an extended 16 – 20,000Hz frequency response with a 113 dB SPL/V sensitivity level. It has a cable length of about 9 feet (3 meters) and weighs around 200 grams.
Want a pair of extremely solid, Bluetooth headphones that also pack in excellent active noise cancellation for under $100? Check out the JBL Tune 750BTNC.
While the JBL Tune 750BTNC have an official listing price of $129 / £120, we often see them go for as little as $99 / £89, which makes them one of the best headphone deals around right now. For that price, you’re getting a ton of excellent features for the money, including active noise-cancellation, great audio, and a pretty damn sturdy pair of headphones for the price.
The only downsides we’ve found with these headphones is the lack of the latest Bluetooth support. These are on a slightly older version so don’t quite have the wireless range of the newest premium headphones. There’s also no waterproofing on these JBL’s either, but otherwise, they get a hearty recommendation for us.
Read more in our JBL Tune 750BTNC review
The Lypertek Tevi firmly get our nod for the best true wireless earbuds you can buy under $100, and even better news for headphone deals hunters is that they are often discounted to just $89 / £89.
For that price, what’s on offer here is pretty unbeatable. Not only have they got a great, balanced sound, but the excellent battery life, USB-C charging and waterproofing just make for an overall awesome value package here.
While their asking price is firmly on the higher end, especially when compared to the cheaper options on our list, these headphones look, feel and sound like a much more premium set in themselves. Subsequently, if you’re happy to spend that little extra that week, you definitely won’t be disappointed with these great mid-range earbuds from Lypertek.
Read more in our Lypertek Tevi true wireless earbuds review
One for the audiophiles among you, the 1MORE Triple Driver offer quite simply some of the best audio quality available for under $100, and even better news, they also happen to go on sale frequently for as little as $70 / £80 right now.
For that price you’re getting a pair of specially tuned, audio engineer approved earbuds that have a pretty novel set of (as the name suggests) proprietary drivers to blast out all your favorite tunes in perfect clarity. Subsequently, you can expect great performance from these, and the built and fit isn’t too shabby either.
Remember though, these are fully wired earphones and therefore are subject to tangles, snagging and general noises unless careful. If you’d prefer wireless, then definitely check out the other great recommendations on our list.
Read more in our 1MORE Triple Driver review.
The Amazon Echo Buds were released this past September with an affordable starting price of $129.99. The earbuds include Active Noise Reduction technology that was developed by Bose and feature an advanced microphone that allows you hands-free access to Amazon Alexa. The Alexa-enabled earbuds allow you to skip songs, adjust the volume, ask questions, and more completely hands-free. The sweat-resistant earbuds provide up to five hours of battery life and come in three different sizes for a secure and comfortable fit.
Don’t discount the Apple AirPods; while they may indeed be a pricier option, recent sales have driven prices down to an almost bargain price point, so much in fact, you can often pick them up for as low as $120 / £120.
There’s a lot about the AirPods that we like. They sound great, their battery life and charging speeds run laps around the competition, and it’s hard to overstate just how seamless the pairing process is. If the prices go down even further, as we expect later this year, they could just be a great value pickup – especially for those with an iOS device.
Read more in our Apple AirPods (2019) review
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