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Article updated on January 31, 2024 at 12:00 PM PST

5 True Wireless Earbuds Worth Buying for Under $40

All the best dirt-cheap true wireless earbuds that we’d recommend

Our Experts

Written by 
David Carnoy
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David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
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Our Picks

$25 at Amazon
The Baseus Bowie MA10 earbuds are an impressive value
Top wireless earbuds under $30
Baseus Bowie MA10
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$24 at Amazon
Ankers Soundcore P2 Mini buds deliver decent performance for less than $35
Decent-sounding buds for less than $35
Soundcore by Anker Life P2 Mini
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$48 at Amazon
soundpeats-air3-deluxe-hs-blue-background.png
Best cheap open earbuds
Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS
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$40 at Amazon
The Tranya T20 earbuds sound good for their low price
Good sound for under $40
Tranya T20
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$32 at Amazon
Image of Earfun Free 2S (Currently unavailable)
Top budget wireless earbuds pick
Earfun Free 2S (Currently unavailable)
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If you’re looking for an affordable pair of earbuds, you’ll be pleased to know that we’ve tried and tested a wide range of options, and found a really great selection of low-cost models. 

You obviously shouldn't expect the world at this low price, but these options will suit you if you're shopping for an affordable pair that does a decent job. Only a few under-$40 earbuds stand out for being a cut above and decent for the price. As a bonus, you can throw any of these cheap wireless earbuds in a gym bag and not feel heartbroken if you happen to lose them.

Here are my current dirt-cheap true-wireless favorites, listed from lowest to highest price (although they're all pretty darn cheap). I've tested them all, and I'll update this list of options for the best budget wireless earbuds under $40 periodically.

Read more: Best Cheap True-Wireless Earbuds for 2024

Best cheap true-wireless earbuds deals of 2024

$25 at Amazon

Top wireless earbuds under $30

Baseus Bowie MA10

Priced at just $21 after you click an instant $9 discount coupon on Amazon, the Baseus Bowie MA10 delivers surprisingly good sound along with active noise canceling for its low price (you just don't see too many active noise canceling earbuds at this price). They're IPX6 water resistant (can withstand a strong spray of water) and also have multipoint Bluetooth pairing and connect to a companion app. They stick out of your ears a bit but they did fit my ears comfortably.

The earbuds deliver impressive battery life, offering up to 8 hours on a single charger at moderate volume levels with an extra 132 hours in the charging case. Yes, you heard right -- 132 hours. The one big downside to these buds is that their charging case is rather large and bulky. If you can live with that, these are a very nice bargain. 

$24 at Amazon

Decent-sounding buds for less than $35

Soundcore by Anker Life P2 Mini

The Soundcore by Anker Life P2 Mini buds have been out for some time but remain a good budget earbuds option. Available in several color options (the navy model is shown here), they're compact and lightweight and offer decent sound with 3 EQ modes to choose from. While these don't have active noise canceling, battery life is good, running up to 8 hours at moderate volume levels. The P2 Mini is IPX5 splash-proof and performs well but not exceptionally well as a headset for making calls.

I also like Anker's buds, which retail for around $50 and do have active noise canceling. They're superior to these buds, but cost about $15 to $20 more.

$48 at Amazon

Best cheap open earbuds

Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS

What makes these Soundpeats Air3 Deluxe HS buds special is that they sound surprisingly good for open earbuds -- they're pretty close to what you get from Apple's AirPods 3 for sound. On top of that, they support Sony's LDAC audio codec for devices that offer it. Not too many cheap open earbuds have good sound but these Soundpeats have good bass response and clarity. They're also good for making calls and have a low-latency gaming mode. Battery life is rated at 5 hours at moderate volume levels, and these are IPX4 splash-proof.

Clip the on-page coupon to get an additional 15% off, bringing the price down to $41 -- a very good deal if you're looking for open-style earbuds.

$40 at Amazon

Good sound for under $40

Tranya T20

The Tranya T20s reminds me a little of a cheaper version of Samsung's Galaxy Buds 2 without the noise canceling. They're pretty no-frills and are missing more premium features such as an ear-detection sensor that automatically pauses your music when you take a bud out of your ears. They sound surprisingly decent for their modest price. If you get a tight seal, they sit flush with your ears (they don't stick out much) and they have decent battery life -- up to eight hours at moderate volume levels. They also work pretty well for making calls and are IPX7 waterproof.

The case feels a little cheap and the buds are lightweight. The Galaxy Buds 2 definitely feels more premium. However, the buds are well-tuned and have a relatively wide soundstage. Don't expect the world from them and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. 

$32 at Amazon

Top budget wireless earbuds pick

Earfun Free 2S (Currently unavailable)

I was a fan of the original Earfun Free 2 buds, which have been subsequently upgraded to the 2S (it now comes in a new, slightly updated version). They're not a huge upgrade, but like the originals, they fit my ears well and deliver decent value with strong sound -- it has just a touch of treble and bass push (there's plenty of bass) -- and extra features such as wireless charging.

Battery life is rated at up to seven hours at moderate volume levels, and these buds are fully waterproof with an IPX7 rating. These are equipped with Bluetooth 5.2 and their firmware can be upgraded via the Earfun app, which allows you to tweak the sound profile a bit. Note that these do not have active noise canceling.