The best headphones Under $100 are harder to find than you might think. Here at WIRED, it’s part of our job to listen to music all day, often on extremely sophisticated and expensive models. We have playlists for testing bass, evaluating details, for dance parties… we get into it. But believe it or not, we still like to try cheap things. It’s like a treasure hunt to find the ones that offer the most technology for the money. And they are getting better every year.
That doesn’t mean our work is done; Retailers are still packed with cheap headphones that sound cheap, so we’ll keep listening and updating our picks every few months. While you’re looking for the next great pair, be sure to check out our many other buying guides, including the best wireless headphones, the best workout headphones, and the best phones with a headphone jack.
Updated May 2023: Added Nothing Ear (a), Soundpeats Air4 Pro, JLab JBuds ANC 3, and Belkin Soundform Mini and replaced older picks. We also review links and prices.
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