Best Wireless Headphones Under $100: 6 Top Picks

Wireless headphones under $100 can offer useful features such as active noise cancellation (ANC), multipoint Bluetooth, and app-based equalizer settings, but not every model includes all three. Prices also fluctuate with retailer promotions, so a headphone that fits this budget today may cost more tomorrow. This guide compares five over-ear models and one on-ear alternative to help you choose based on sound, comfort, battery life, and everyday use. The catch is that “under $100” is a moving target, because many of these models are discounted often. It also explains which trade-offs are real and which are marketing.

ElectriFinds may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Our recommendations reflect product performance and value, not potential affiliate earnings

Best Wireless Headphones Under $100 at a Glance

Headphones	Best for	Battery (ANC on / off)	Main limitation
Sony WH-CH720N	Lightweight everyday use	Up to 35 / 50 Hours	Price often sits near the $100 ceiling
Soundcore Space One	Feature-rich listening	Up to 55/40 Hours	Weakest call quality in this group
EarFun Wave Pro	ANC and long battery life	Up to 55 / 80 Hours	Audio scores below average in lab testing
Soundcore Q20i	Affordable ANC	Up to 60/40 Hours	No ANC over the wired cable
Soundcore Life Q30	General-purpose over-ear listening	Up to 60/40 Hours	Older design (2020)
Sony WH-CH520 (on-ear)	Lightweight, no-ANC listening	Up to 50 Hours	No noise cancellation

How We Selected These Budget Wireless Headphones

ElectriFinds did not physically test these headphones. We compared manufacturer specifications with independent reviews and published testing from SoundGuys, RTINGS, What Hi-Fi, Trusted Reviews and other relevant sources.

Our comparison focused on active noise cancellation, sound quality, battery life, comfort, microphone performance, connectivity, and value. We considered both reported strengths and documented limitations rather than relying on manufacturer claims alone.

Battery-life figures are manufacturer-rated unless otherwise identified as independent measurements. ANC performance and sound-quality observations are attributed to the relevant testing publication. Prices can change, so we recommend checking the current price and return policy before purchasing.

Our recommendations are research-based comparisons, not results from hands-on ElectriFinds testing.

The Best Wireless Headphones Under $100

Best Overall: Sony WH-CH720N

Sony introduced the WH-CH720N at about $150 as the follow-up to the WH-CH710N, pitching it with a 35-hour battery (Tom’s Guide). Street pricing has since come down: What Hi-Fi put it at roughly $100 when comparing it with EarFun’s Wave Pro. That matters because this is the pick most likely to sit above $100 when no sale is running, so check the price before you buy.

It earns the top spot on comfort. GSMArena reports that it is Sony’s lightest over-ear ANC model at 192 g and that it uses the same V1 processor as the flagship WH-1000XM5. iFixit’s product page also lists multipoint connection, which makes switching between a phone and a laptop easy.

Limitations: GSMArena’s review found a warm, bassy sound, no automatic pause when you take the headphones off, and ANC that adjusts automatically instead of letting you set the strength. Choose something else if you want manual control over ANC.

Best for Sound Quality: Soundcore Space One

Trusted Reviews lists LDAC support among the Space One’s key features, with 40 hours of battery life using ANC and 55 hours without. SoundGuys lists the price at $99.99 and measured almost 43 hours of battery life with ANC on, which matches Soundcore’s rating. Trusted Reviews described the sound as more balanced than forceful and more natural than a rival tested alongside it, though Sony’s WH-CH720N hits harder on bass.

LDAC only helps if your phone supports it. Many Android phones do, but iPhones use AAC instead, so iPhone owners won’t get the LDAC benefit. If you listen mainly on an iPhone, weigh the Space One’s ANC and battery more heavily than its codec.

Limitations: Trusted Reviews called call quality the weakest part of the feature set.

Best for Noise Cancellation: EarFun Wave Pro

EarFun lists the Wave Pro at $79.99 on its official store. SoundGuys’ lab data puts its ANC score in the top quarter of over-ear headphones it has measured, and What Hi-Fi noted five noise-control modes, with the strong ANC setting giving the most satisfying result.

The trade-off is audio quality. The same SoundGuys data places the Wave Pro’s overall audio score in the bottom quarter of over-ears measured, and its written review called the sound acceptable for casual listening. In practice, that means strong noise reduction paired with unremarkable sound.

Limitations: EarFun’s store notes that ANC, microphones and touch control are disabled in wired mode, so the cable is a backup, not a feature.

If strong noise cancelling matters more than staying under $100, the best noise cancelling headphones under $200 offer a step up in ANC for a modest increase in price.

Are Budget Wireless Headphones Good for Calls?

Treat any “best for calls” label at this price with caution, including ours. Sony markets the WH-CH720N’s microphone design for call clarity, but that is a manufacturer claim. We found no independent microphone measurements for any headphones in this guide. Trusted Reviews called the Space One’s call quality its weakest point.

For important meetings, use a dedicated headset or your phone’s own microphone. Think of these headphones as fine for casual calls, and Sony’s design is the one we would look at first if calls matter to you.

Best for Battery Life

SoundGuys’ EarFun coverage lists up to 80 hours with ANC off and 55 hours with it on, well above everything else here, so the Wave Pro wins this category too. Two cheaper routes exist if you don’t need that much:

• Soundcore Q20i: Soundcore lists 40 hours with ANC and 60 without, and a 5-minute fast charge gives 4 hours of playback.
• Sony WH-CH520: SoundGuys lists 50 hours and 147 g with no ANC, at around $38 on Amazon.

For reference, SoundGuys measured the Space One at about 43 hours with ANC on, which roughly matched Soundcore’s rating. Battery claims aren’t always this reliable, so independent confirmation is worth checking.

Best Over-Ear Headphones Under $100

Soundcore Life Q30. RTINGS includes the Life Q30 among its recommendations for budget over-ear headphones. Soundcore says it offers up to 50 hours of playback with active noise cancellation enabled and up to 70 hours in standard mode. A 5-minute charge provides up to 4 hours of listening. Its multiple ANC modes and dual-device connectivity make it a useful all-round option, although it is an older model. Check the current price before buying.

Soundcore Q20i. This is the budget option if you want ANC without extras. Soundcore’s page lists hybrid ANC that reduces up to 90% of noise, an app with 22 EQ presets, and ANC, Normal and Transparency modes. It lists Bluetooth 5.0. The cable has one catch: Soundcore’s product page confirms there is no noise cancelling when you listen over the AUX cable. Soundcore’s US store lists it at $69.99, and discounts are common, so confirm the current price before buying.

On-ear alternative: Sony WH-CH520. On-ear headphones rest on your ears instead of surrounding them. They are smaller and lighter, but they isolate less. SoundGuys scored it in the bottom quarter of on-ear headphones overall, while praising its battery. That makes it a sensible cheap backup, not a first choice.

What to Look for in Wireless Headphones Under $100

Noise cancellation. Budget ANC mostly handles steady, low-frequency noise such as engines and air conditioning. It does much less with voices and sudden sounds. If you mostly work in a quiet room, passive isolation from a good fit may be all you need.

Sound quality and EQ. Choose headphones with an app EQ. At this price, the factory tuning is rarely the final word, and a few EQ adjustments can improve a bassy or thin default sound.

Battery and charging. Anything above 35 hours with ANC is more than most people can use in a week. Fast charging matters more than headline capacity if you forget to plug in.

Bluetooth connectivity. Look for multipoint if you switch between a phone and a laptop. LDAC matters only for Android users with high-quality music sources.

Comfort and fit. Weight and clamp force decide how long you can wear them. Sony’s 192 g (GSMArena) is notably light for an over-ear model, so compare listed weights across the others. Check return policies, since fit is personal.

Microphone. Plan on average call quality at this price and treat anything better as a bonus.

Over-ear vs. on-ear. Over-ear cups enclose the ear, so they isolate better and generally suit ANC. On-ear designs are lighter and more compact but leak more sound.

Are Budget Wireless Headphones Good for Music?

Yes, with realistic expectations. The Wave Pro shows the trade-off clearly: strong ANC and a huge battery, but lab audio scores in the bottom quarter. The Space One shows the other side, with LDAC and a balanced tune but weaker calls. No headphone under $100 matches a $300 flagship for detail, but most listeners using streaming services on phones will find several of these more than adequate for everyday music. If sound quality is your priority, shop on tuning and codec support. If you’re buying for commutes and travel, ANC and battery matter more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is $100 enough for ANC? Yes, but quality varies. SoundGuys places the Wave Pro’s ANC in the top quarter of over-ear headphones it has measured, while others in this range are weaker in noisy spaces.

Do I need LDAC? Only if you use an Android phone or player that supports it and listen to high-quality sources. It makes no difference on an iPhone.

Are these good for gaming? EarFun lists a game mode with latency under 55 ms for the Wave Pro, which is useful for video and casual play, but it won’t replace a wired gaming headset for competitive use.

How long will budget headphones last? Manufacturer warranties are the clearest guide, and they vary by brand and region. Soundcore covers all its headphones, including the Life Q30 and Q20i, with an 18-month warranty from the date of purchase. The warranty is limited to the country where you bought them, and it applies to quality-related defects on items bought from Soundcore or its authorized resellers. Check the warranty and return terms for any other brand before you buy.

Should I wait for a sale? Probably. Prices move: the Sony WH-CH720N launched at about $150 (Tom’s Guide) and now sits near $100 (What Hi-Fi), so checking a price tracker before buying is reasonable.

Final Verdict

Pick by what you’ll actually do with them:

• Everyday comfort and flexibility: Sony WH-CH720N, if it’s under $100 when you shop.
• Best sound for an Android phone: Soundcore Space One.
• Quietest and longest-lasting: EarFun Wave Pro, accepting average audio.
• Cheapest decent ANC: Soundcore Q20i.
• Proven all-rounder: Soundcore Life Q30.
• No ANC, tiny budget: Sony WH-CH520.

Whichever you choose, check the return policy first. A comfortable fit and an honest idea of your priorities will serve you better than the longest spec sheet.

Sources

• Tom’s Guide: Sony WH-CH720N launch
• GSMArena: Sony WH-CH720N review
• iFixit: Sony WH-CH720N
• What Hi-Fi: EarFun Wave Pro review
• SoundGuys: EarFun Wave Pro data
• SoundGuys: EarFun Wave Pro announcement
• EarFun official store: Wave Pro
• SoundGuys: Soundcore Space One review
• Trusted Reviews: Soundcore Space One review
• SoundGuys: Sony WH-CH520
• RTINGS: best over-ear headphones under $100
• Soundcore US store: Q20i
• Anker: Soundcore Life Q30
• Soundcore warranty policy