If you’re in the market for affordable true-wireless earbuds, we’ve got a long list. And if you’re on a serious budget and hoping to spend as little as possible, the number of good wireless earbuds under $40 is growing rapidly. Only a few, however, stand out for being a cut above and decent for the price. Now, you shouldn’t expect the world at this low price, but these options will suit you if you’re shopping for an affordable pair that do a decent job. As an added bonus, you can throw any of these cheap wireless earbuds in a gym bag and not feel heartbroken if you happen to lose them.
Here are my current dirt-cheap true-wireless favorites, listed from lowest to highest price (but heck, they’re all pretty darn cheap). I’ve tested them all, and I’ll update this list of options for the best budget wireless earbuds under $40 periodically.
Read more: Best Cheap True-Wireless Earbuds for 2023
Best cheap true-wireless earbuds deals of 2023
Priced at just $21 after you click an instant $9 discount coupon on Amazon, the Baseus Bowie MA10 delivers surprisingly good sound along with active noise canceling for its low price (you just don’t see too many active noise canceling earbuds at this price). They’re IPX6 water resistant (can withstand a strong spray of water) and also have multipoint Bluetooth pairing and connect to a companion app. They stick out of your ears a bit but they did fit my ears comfortably.
The Soundcore by Anker Life P2 Mini have been out for some time but remain a good budget earbuds option. Available in several color options (the navy model is shown here), they’re compact and lightweight and offer decent sound with 3 EQ modes to choose from. While these don’t have active noise canceling, battery life is good, running up to 8 hours at moderate volume levels. The P2 Mini are IPX5 splash-proof and perform well but not exceptionally well as a headset for making calls.
What makes these Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS buds special is that they sound surprisingly good for open earbuds — they’re pretty close to what you get from Apple’s AirPods 3 for sound. On top of that, they support Sony’s LDAC audio codec for devices that offer it. Not too many cheap open earbuds have good sound but these Soundpeats have good bass response and clarity. They’re also good for making calls and have a low-latency gaming mode. Battery life is rated at 5 hours at moderate volume levels, and these are IPX4 splash-proof.
Battery Life Rated up to 8 hoursNoise Canceling NoMultipoint NoHeadphone Type Wireless earbudsWater-Resistant Yes (IPX7 — can be submerged for 30 minutes up to 1 meter)
The Tranya T20s remind me a little of a cheaper version of Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 without the noise canceling. They’re pretty no-frills and are missing more premium features such as an ear-detection sensor that automatically pauses your music when you take a bud out of your ears. But they sound surprisingly decent for their modest price. If you get a tight seal, they sit flush with your ears (they don’t stick out much) and they have decent battery life — up to 8 hours at moderate volume levels. They also work pretty well for making calls and are IPX7 waterproof.
I was a fan of the original Earfun Free buds, and now there’s an upgraded version called the Earfun Free 2 (which has been subsequently upgraded to the 2S). They’re not a huge upgrade, but like the originals they fit my ears well and deliver decent bang for the buck with strong sound — it has just a touch of treble and bass boost (there’s plenty of bass) — and extra features such as wireless charging.