Premium earbuds come with a variety of features like Spatial Audio, Adaptive ANC, and many more, which make their price fairly out of reach for many music lovers. For everyday usage, it is not possible for everyone to spend a serious amount of money on earbuds. But thankfully, there are some good quality earbuds that you can get for an affordable rate and with various premium features. Here on the list, we have put a few names with prices in descending order for you to choose according to your budget.
JBL Live Pro 2
In the mid-range price section, JBL has been providing some quality audio products for a long time, and JBL Live Pro 2 is their new addition. At ₹12,999 the JBL Live Pro 2 offers Adaptive Noise Cancellation with Smart Ambient which is surprisingly good and eliminates all unwanted sound. For a better, snug fit and enhanced audio quality with noise cancellation, JBL has designed these earbuds using oval silicon tips and Oval TubesTM. The 11 mm dynamic driver helps to produce JBL’s signature bassy and clear audio, and the companion app is a treat to use and offers several EQ options. Despite the fact that the earbuds have six beamforming microphones and VoiceAware, the call quality is adequate. The JBL Live Pro 2 supports multipoint connection and has a minimalist design with gesture control. Wireless charging support, 10 hours of battery life on a single charge, and IPX5 water resistance make the JBL Live Pro 2 an overall star performer.
Sennheiser CX Plus
From the premium to budget segments, Sennheiser has audio products for all kinds of audiences, and their new Sennheiser CX Plus is proof of that. The Sennheiser CX Plus looks a bit bulky, but its ergonomic design helps it fit comfortably in the ear. The ANC and Transparency Mode are not the best, but offering these features at such a low price is really commendable. The Sennheiser CX Plus supports various codecs like ACC, SBC, and aptX, and its TrueResponse transducer provides very good sound quality with depth and clarity. The touch controls on the panel of the earbuds are responsive, and the companion app is decent. With the ANC off the company claims to provide 8 hours of coverage, but you can get around 6 hours at the best. The IPX4 rating helps it to be worn even in the rain or while exercising, and fast access to Google Assistant and Siri also comes in handy. Leaving the battery and design aside, priced at ₹12,990 the Sennheiser CX Plus is a decent earbud in the mid-range segment.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro
Yes, it is true that the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro has become 2 years older but it still has enough to offer at the price tag of ₹7,999. Available in soothing colors like Phantom Black, Phantom Violet, and Phantom Silver, the earbuds come with both ANC and Spatial Audio support for an immersive sound experience. The ANC is decent indoors, considering the price, with two modes High and Low but is not extremely effective outdoors. The audio quality is loud and crisp, with clear mids and deep bass that is pumped out from the two-way speakers. The battery life is something that Samsung cannot boast about, as it provides around 5 hours, but a 5-minute quick charge via wired or wireless can give you 1 hour of music playback. The call quality is subpar, to be honest, but the connectivity these buds offer is really worth mentioning. The touch controls are responsive, and the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro has a class-leading IPX7 rating. The only drawback of the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro is that a handful of features only work with Samsung devices, which is frustrating.
Skullcandy Push Active
The Skullcandy Push Active is a more activity-centric earbud that costs ₹7,805. The design of the Skullcandy Push Active is unique, with a flexible hook to keep the earbuds from falling while performing any activity. Each bud has a tiny button on the back that can be customized for different uses, but the placement makes it difficult to access. With its Tile tracking system, you will not lose the earbuds and can also use voice control to do a range of things, from turning up the volume to accessing Spotify. The 10 hours of battery life is really something to be praised, and even a 10-minute charge can get you 2 hours. The 6 mm drivers provide adequate sound quality for the price point, but have poor isolation. The absence of Bluetooth multipoint and below-average quality microphones are the drawbacks of this model.
Sony WF-C500
The Sony WF-C500 is ergonomically designed and targeted for commuters or for people on the move. They are lightweight, weighing only 5.4 g, and fit comfortably in the ears of the user. Because the earbuds lack ANC, a snug fit is essential, but the sound quality has not been compromised. The Sony WF-C500 is equipped with DSEE technology, which provides rich details in the audio. With the companion app, you can tweak the sound quality by using the EQ Custom feature, or you can choose from the presets available. Fast Pair and Swift Pair do come in handy for connecting with smartphones and PCs. The 10 hours of battery life are insane at this price, and a 10-minute quick charge can also provide 1 hour. The Sony WF-C500 has access to 360 Reality Audio which helps you drown in the music you are listening to, and the IPX4 rating saves the earbuds from splashes of water and dust. Available in colors like Green, Orange, Black, and White, the Sony WF-C500 will cost you ₹5,990 at this moment.
Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro
Not only has OPPO shocked the world with the release of the Find N2 Flip, which has become a true competitor of Samsung in the clamshell domain, but it is also providing some mind-blowing features with its budget earbuds. At ₹3,499 the Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro is equipped with ANC! which works really in a decent manner. The earbuds come in a pebble-shaped case, which is a bit scratch-prone, but the fit of the earbuds is both enjoyable and comfortable. In-ear detection stops the song when you take it out of your ear, and the IP54 rating makes it dust- and water-resistant. The touch controls are responsive, and the connectivity is decent considering the price. If you are not a ColorOS device user, then you have to download the Hey Melody app, which offers several customization options. The Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro has a balanced sound profile, and the 12.4 mm drivers provide deep bass, rich sound, and clear vocals. The mic quality is average at best, and switching from one device to another seems a bit laggy. With ANC on, the battery can last around 4 hours, while with ANC off, you can get around 6 hours.
OnePlus Nord Buds
A company known for producing premium quality products surprised the world with its Nord CE 2 Lite smartphone and entered the budget segment. It did not only stop there but also came with the OnePlus Nord Buds, priced at ₹2,599 and has already become a technological force to be reckoned with. The physical design of the buds is not enticing and is made of matte black plastic, but this simplicity is not bad. The case is pill-shaped, and the earbuds are IP55-rated and comfortable to wear for short stints of time. If you are not fussy or a perfectionist about your music, then the OnePlus Nord Buds provide a clear and crisp sound in this price range that can compete with many other premium-range earbuds. Call quality using microphones is decent, but the absence of aptX support is a bit of a hit. You get 7 hours of battery life at this price, which is quite good, and 5 hours with a 10-minute quick charge. If you are on a budget, this is a great pair of earbuds that provide great value for money.
BoAt Airdopes 441
BoAt has captured the Indian earbuds market vehemently in the budget segment in recent years, and the BoAt Airdopes 441 perfectly fits in that category. The design and build quality of the BoAt Airdopes 441 are average, but for short periods of time, they are comfortable and convenient. The gestures in the outer part of the earbuds are non-customizable but are responsive. You can wear these earbuds in any environment as they are IPX6-rated, which is quite impressive. Bass lovers will enjoy the loud bass and punchy sound offered by the 6mm drivers, but for others, this may get irritating or uncomfortable. You can get 3 hours on a single charge, which seems to be reasonable given the price is ₹1,349.
Conclusion
On the eve of Holi, it is expected that the mentioned earbuds in this list will get a rebate, making this a great time to buy them. It is true that on a budget you have to sacrifice some cool features in the earbuds, but all the ones mentioned on the list have received positive feedback, and you can choose any one of them according to your capital and desires.
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