The 10 Best Headphones for Under $50 in 2021

Best Overall, Wired: Audio-Technica ATH-M20x

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The ATH-M20x headphones let you enjoy your music at its best quality within this price range. They have a frequency response of 15Hz to 20KHz, and 40mm drivers with rare magnets and copper-clad aluminum voice coils. These headphones are wired and don’t have Bluetooth capabilities, but they have a single-side 3.0mm cable and come with a one-fourth-inch adapter for enhanced versatility.

The around-the-ear design provides a close seal for good sound isolation, even without active noise cancellation. The ATH-M20x does lose some points for comfort because they're not super adjustable. The earcups swivel 15 degrees and the headband can be resized, but some users say they’re a bit tight.

It seems as though Audio-Technica cut some corners on the adjustments to produce headphones that would still sound great in this price range. If you like to listen to a lot of music—and especially if you’re planning to do any studio monitoring or mixing—then great sound quality is worth the trade-off.

_{Type: Over-Ear | Connection Type: 3.0mm cable | ANC: No | Water/Sweat Resistant: No}

Runner-Up, Best Wired: Shure SRH145m+

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Shure has made huge waves with its range of affordable headphones, and the SRH145m+ has better features (an inline remote and microphone) and better sound quality than its predecessor. Test the SRK145m+ headphones on a track with lots of sub-bass and you’ll get a reasonably powerful sound without audible distortion. The mid- and high-tones are pleasantly accurate, forgoing the current trend of over-intensity. 

The design is attractive—instead of an adjustable headband, the earcups can slide up and down the inside, and hinges allow them to be folded for easy storage. The headphones weigh less than 6 ounces, and the dual-side 5-foot cord gives you increased mobility. The cord has a 3.5mm jack on the end, however, so you may need to use an adapter when connecting to some mobile devices.

To keep the price down there are no other accessories supplied, but SRH145m+ headphones are a great budget choice. These headphones are discontinued by the manufacturer, but you can still find them for sale at some retailers.

_{Type: Over-Ear | Connection Type: 3.5mm cable | ANC: No | Water/Sweat Resistant: No}

Best Overall, Wireless: Mpow Flame

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For athletes and exercise enthusiasts, the Mpow Flame serves as a functional pair of workout headphones for less than $20. The wireless headphones are powered by Bluetooth 5.0 and last for up to nine hours on a two-hour charge, meaning that they shouldn’t trip you up or run out of battery too soon.

Our testing revealed they are IPX7 water-resistant with a nano coating that blocks out sweat and rain, staying snugly in your ears whether you are out in the elements or in a yoga studio. The CSR chip and memory-foam ear tips deliver a rich bass experience that stays contained in your ears. 

Sound quality isn’t too bad either, with 11mm dynamic drivers and built-in noise-canceling microphones. You can listen to music, make calls, or listen in on a Zoom meeting in a crowded place, and you’ll still be able to hear your conversation.

_{Type: Wireless | Connection Type: Bluetooth 5.0 | ANC: Yes | Water/Sweat Resistant: Yes}

Best Airpods Alternative: Mpow MX1 Earbuds

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If you don’t want to shell out so much cash for Apple's Airpods, the MX1 Earbuds by Mpow have some pretty impressive features for their $40 price tag. They boast four-mic noise cancellation, hi-fi sound, IPX8 waterproofing, and up to 35 hours of playtime (five or more hours continuous play and five to six charges in the wireless charging case). The case only takes about 90 minutes to reach a full charge too, as it uses a fast charging USB-C cable. You can even charge the case on a wireless pad.

With two microphones for clear calls and touch stems for easy control, these earbuds perform like higher-end buds. You can use one or both buds at a time, or share an earbud and listen to music with a friend on the 10mm drivers. The MX1 Earbuds don’t look and feel exactly like Airpods, but they’re one of the best alternatives available in this price range.

_{Type: True wireless | Connection Type: Bluetooth | ANC: Yes | Water/Sweat Resistant: Yes}

Best Aesthetics: Skullcandy Uproar

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Skullcandy is known for its budget headphones, and the brand offers one of the best sets under $50 in the Uproar. The battery life is 10 hours and they’re lightweight, coming in at just over 4 ounces. The headphones come in several different vibrant colors, so you can find the design that matches your other devices or your personality. The Bluetooth headphones will work with your phone, laptop, and other Bluetooth-enabled devices, and there’s a microphone for taking calls too.

The sound quality is pretty good, but there’s a slight amount of distortion on the loudest volume levels, especially when you travel any distance away from your device. The bass is boosted, so if you’re looking for reference sound then look elsewhere. This might be most noticeable in classical music. However, the bass doesn’t overpower the mids, and the highs are well balanced. If you often feel that other headphones don’t have enough bass in the mix, the Uproars might be for you.

_{Type: Over-ear | Connection Type: Bluetooth | ANC: Yes | Water/Sweat Resistant: No}

Best for Exercise: Hussar Magicbuds

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Hussar’s Magicbuds are wireless, which makes them far more convenient for exercising and unrestricted movement. With silicone ear hooks and different-sized ear tips (including a memory foam option), you’ll get a comfortable fit. They will stay in your ears even during high-impact workouts and running.

These headphones are IPX7 rated, which means they can be immersed in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes and can withstand even the sweatiest of workouts. On a full charge, you can get up to nine hours of battery life, which is not bad for a set of wireless earbuds.

Sound-wise, Hussar says the earbuds will satisfy most bass-heads with deep bass and a clear treble. The earbuds come with the added perk of Qualcomm’s CVC 6.0 noise reduction, but they don’t have the active noise cancellation you’d get with some higher-end headphones. They have a pretty decent wireless range of up to 33 feet. For the increased IPX7 rating, sound quality, and noise reduction, the Hussar Magicbuds gives you the basics on a budget.

_{Type: Wireless | Connection Type: Bluetooth | ANC: No | Water/Sweat Resistant: Yes}

Best Sound Quality: Edifier H840

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These wired over-ear headphones from Edifier deliver high fidelity sound in a comfortable and classic design. The headphones are engineered to deliver lifelike audio quality at an entry-level price, and they do the job pretty well. 

They include a powerful 40mm driver and have a frequency response of 20Hz to 20Khz with an impedance of 32Ohm. The comfortable over-ear design provides a fair amount of noise isolation to support the sound. The volume could stand to be a bit louder, but the range and bass provides an impressive sound even at lower volumes. You can opt for the P841 model and get an in-line microphone.

_{Type: Over-ear | Connection Type: 3.5mm cable | ANC: No | Water/Sweat Resistant: No}

Best Portable: Sony MDRZX110 ZX Series Stereo Headphones

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The Sony MDRZX110 headphones are about as basic as can be in terms of functionality, but they do a few things very well. The headphones are comfortable, fold down to almost nothing, and the price is unbeatable. 

Maybe you find earbuds uncomfortable, maybe you don’t want to bring a pair of expensive headphones into work every day, or perhaps you just need something that fits in your bag without weighing you down. The Sony MDRZX110 check all the boxes, delivering decent but budget-quality sound in a compact and easy-to-wear package. For a sub-$10 pair of headphones, it has a surprisingly broad response range that’s suited to casual listening or video watching.

_{Type: Over-ear | Connection Type: Y-type cable | ANC: No | Water/Sweat Resistant: No}

Best for Gaming: Razer Kraken X

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Gaming headsets need to deliver immersive audio, include a decent microphone, wear comfortably, and work with your game system. In the sub-$50 price range, this is a tall order to fill. For the most part, the Razer Kraken X delivers on all fronts. It’s still a budget headset, but it does a lot for the price point. 

One of the main selling points is its 7.1 surround sound. This is a software-enabled feature, so it has to be activated and is available only for PC gaming. But the headset delivers immersive, positional audio that makes you feel as if you’re truly in the game. The Kraken X has a 3.5mm connection and is compatible with Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch. 

The all-plastic design looks somewhat flimsy but is otherwise neutral, and it makes for a super lightweight headset that’s comfortable to wear all day. The cardioid microphone is adjustable and “noise-canceling,” meaning it filters out background sound so your teammates can clearly hear your voice. Where the Kraken X falters is with audio quality—if you aren’t taking advantage of the surround sound feature, it sounds more like a budget pair of headphones.

_{Type: Over-ear | Connection Type: 3.5mm cable | ANC: Yes | Water/Sweat Resistant: No}