How much should a good pair of headphones cost? Some audiophiles swear by the most expensive premium models with refined noise-cancelling tech and voice assistants. But you don't have to spend loads to get impressive sound quality and, in our opinion, the audio itself is the most important feature.
Whether you're after a pair for your home working setup, your commute or a gaming session, we reckon you can spend under £100 (and even under £50) and still find a top-quality pair of headphones.
To prove our point, we've rounded up the best cheap headphones to buy in 2023. Today's budget models pack in specs you'd think would cost far more, and we've made sure our favourite picks deliver when it comes to sound, comfort, and utility. The top models featured in our roundup include wired, wireless, on-ear, over-ear and in-ear ones, and while we've made sure they're all under £100, the majority of these will set you back less than £50.
We've highlighted a few pairs of futuristic true wireless buds here, for complete freedom from cords, and we have a separate list of AirPods alternatives if those are what you're after.
Just looking for recommendations? Here's our quick list of the best cheap headphones to buy:
We try out the best cheap headphones by using them just as you would. We connect them up, whether via Bluetooth or their trusty cable, and we listen to music from a range of genres to check the sound quality. We also listen to test tones to evaluate the high and low-frequency response, and the dynamic range of the audio.
For models with noise-cancelling, we test these out in the most challenging environment available to us: the London Underground during rush hour. We also assessed the design, portability and convenience of each model. Our best cheap headphone picks below are a mix of our hands-on tests and expert recommendations from our rigorous research.
You probably already know which headphone style is best for you. In-ears are ideal if you want small and discreet earbuds for walking and exercise, they'll include a range of different ear tip options to get a good fit, and they'll often come with features like sweat and water resistance. They're also ideal if you find that your ears tend to overheat with on-ear or over-ear models.
On the other hand, we'd recommend those bigger traditional models if you want more immersion in your music. As the names suggest, over-ear models are larger and have soft ear cups to surround your entire ear while on-ear ones sit on top of your ear instead.
Noise cancelling explained
If there's one feature that divides cheaper models from more expensive ones, it’s active noise cancellation (ANC). It's worth it if you're buying headphones for use in a loud environment – like the office, a busy train or flight – as models with ANC can drown out the sound around you so that you'll only hear your music or podcasts. This clever feature works by using external microphones to isolate and neutralise ambient low-frequency sounds. They'll constantly monitor the sound around you, then take that sound, invert it, and feed it back into the headphones as "anti-noise". It's rare to find this feature on cheaper headphones, but we've included an in-ear and over-ear option with noise cancelling in our list.
What to consider when buying headphones
Wired or wireless: It's worth thinking about how your headphones will connect to your phone or laptop and whether you want to pick a wired or wireless option. There are pros and cons to both types. Wires are simpler, there are no batteries to worry about, and there won’t be any lag whatsoever for the microphone and audio. Wireless models can be more convenient and allow you to move around more – they’re often the better choice for today's smartphones that don't come with a dedicated headphone jack anymore.
Battery life: So, you've opted for a wireless pair? Now, you have to think about battery life. The ones on our list will last between nine and 60 hours on a single charge, and it's worth bearing in mind that features like noise-cancelling or a transparency mode will drain the battery more quickly. True wireless models, where both buds are separate, come in a charging case to hold and charge them on the go, and others will need refuelling via a wall plug or the USB port on your laptop.
Weight: If you listen to a lot of music while you work or want a headset for gaming, you'll need headphones that are light enough and comfortable enough to last the whole day. In-ear options are always the lightest and are only a couple of grams. But, while heavier, over-ear models can often be better for prolonged listening, with soft and breathable headbands and earcups. We've included the weight for all the models featured in our roundup.
