The 9 Best Headphones for Under $50 in 2021

Best Overall, Wired: Audio-Technica ATH-M20x

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The ATH-M20x headphones have exceptional sound quality and clarity, allowing you to 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 ¼-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 it’s not super adjustable. The ear cups swivel 15-degrees and the headband can be resized, but some users say they’re a bit tight. It seems like 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.

Best Overall, Wireless: Mpow Flame

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Mpow brings athletes and exercise enthusiasts a functional and exciting 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 that 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. 

Runner-Up, Best Wired: Shure SRH145m+

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Shure has been making huge waves with its range of affordable headphones, and the SRH145m+ set is the cream of the crop. Plus, it 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 distortion. The mid- and high- tones are pleasantly accurate, forgoing the current trend for over-intensity. 

The design is neat – instead of an adjustable headband, the earcups can slide up and down the inside of it, and hinges allow them to be folded for easy storage. The headphones weigh less than six ounces, and the dual-side five-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.

Best Aesthetics: Skullcandy Uproar

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Skullcandy is known for its great budget headphones, and they offer one of the best sets under $50 in the Uproar. The battery life is 10 hours and they’re lightweight (at 123 grams). They 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. Basically, if you feel like other headphones often don’t have enough bass in the mix the Uproars might be for you.

Best for Exercise: Hussar Magicbuds

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Hussar’s Magicbuds check all the right boxes for a solid pair of workout headphones. They’re wireless, which is 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 one meter of water for up to 30 minutes, meaning they 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. While they don’t have active noise cancelation, the earbuds come with the added perk of Qualcomm’s CVC 6.0 noise reduction. They also 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.

Best for 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 life-like audio quality at an entry-level price and do their job well. They include a powerful 40mm driver and have a frequency response of 20Hz-20Khz with an impedance of 32Ohm. The comfortable over-ear design provides a fair amount of noise isolation to support the sound. Volume could stand to be a bit louder, but the range and bass provides an impressive sound even at lower volume sound. 

Best Portable: Sony MDRZX110 ZX Series Stereo Headphones

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The Sony MDRZX110 is the true commuter and traveler’s companion. It’s about as basic as can be in terms of functionality, but it does a few things very well: it’s comfortable, folds down to almost nothing, and costs even less. Maybe you find earbuds uncomfortable. Maybe you don’t want to bring a pair of expensive headphones into work every day. And maybe you just need something that fits in your bag without weighing you down. The Sony MDRZX110 checks all the boxes, delivering decent but budget-quality sound in a compact and easy-to-wear package. For a sub-$20 pair of headphones, it has a surprisingly broad response range that’s suited to casual listening or video-watching. These headphones are wired, come with or without an in-line microphone, and are available in black, white, and pink.

Best for Gaming: Razer Kraken X

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In the sub-$50 price range, gaming headsets have a tall order to fill. They need to deliver immersive audio, include a decent microphone, wear comfortably, and work with your game system. For the most part, the Razer Kraken X delivers on all fronts. It’s still a budget headset, but it does a lot for this 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 only available for PC gaming. But it delivers immersive, positional audio that makes you feel like 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 set of headphones.