If you don't have a lot of money for a pair of headphones, there are many options that are under $100. They have a variety of styles to choose from. You would have to start with the Soundcore Life Q30 because of its excellent sound quality, comfort, and consistency.

Wearing the Anker Soundcore Life Q30.

(Image credit: Ted Kritsonis / Android Central)

Do you need a long battery life? When we reviewed the Soundcore Life Q30, we got plenty, so you can expect up to 40 hours of play time, but when ANC is not used, that number goes up to 60 hours. Fast charging for a pair of budget headphones is now possible thanks to the addition of theusb-c. Get four hours of playtime if you plug in for five minutes.

That kind of long battery life makes it more important to have a good night's sleep. The design and materials from the previous iteration were improved, with a nice headband with deep and wide ear cups. It's easier to listen to music on your head and ears. They deliver better passive noise isolation.

The ANC does a good job of handling higher-frequency sounds. These are unique because they are at this price range. You might appreciate the help if you live with screaming children. Three different settings are available on the app.

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Thanks to a lively sound stage out of the box, sound quality is excellent for the price. You can get more bass through the Soundcore app, which has over 20 preset and a customization option. The sound is changed to find a better combination.

Lifetsyle shot of Sennheiser HD 350BT.

(Image credit: Sennheiser)

The company is very consistent in its audio prowess. The HD 350BT are one of the best-sounding wireless headphones under $100 and prove that you get real bang for your buck. It might be a bit surprising, but they're a bargain and sound just as good as some that are more expensive.

The sound signature here isn't on a regular level, but instead goes with a more crowd pleasing soundstage that slightly increases the bass. It works well for multiple genres because it pushes a vibrant sound that never feels unbalanced. If you listen to hip hop or rock on these, you will probably conclude the same thing. It's convenient to use call quality when you need to speak.

The best way to get more out of them is to use the company's Smart Control app, which will allow you to adjust the sound to your liking. The aptX Low Latency support may not always work as advertised. Passive noise isolation is the only way to block out the noise.

It is easy to manage when they are comfortable. The battery life can go up to 30 hours per charge.

Anker Soundcore Life P3 lifestyle shot.

(Image credit: Anker)

Good earbuds are easier to find on a budget than at the higher end of the price range. The Soundcore Life P3 is firmly in that category. Bass will punch through with a boost to the highs and consistent mids for exceptional performance.

To get everything the sound can offer you, you need a good seal and a comfortable design. You can hear what the larger drivers are capable of delivering, which is impressive at this price. ANC has an effective ambient mode that will help you hear the background around you.

The Soundcore app can be used to change how the earbuds sound. It's pretty strong for phone calls to be made with aBluetooth connection. The IPX5 rating is not particularly rugged, so maybe not the ideal pair to work out in, but at least they are not very fragile.

The battery can last up to six hours with ANC on and three charges in the case, keeping the music playing. Wireless charging support is added to the list of perks.

Wearing the Cowin E7 Pro in London.

(Image credit: Cowin)

COWIN gave the E7 Pro an extra boost over the regular E7 model thanks to larger drivers and better ANC performance. The bass is more visible off the bat with the extra power. The drivers push the mid-range, but only do a small upgrade for the highs.

It is always nice to see an improvement in ANC performance. It does a better job of blocking out low frequencies. It's useful to get ANC at this price. The overall size of the ear cups makes them a good choice for noise isolation. The Pro version is a little heavier than the E7, but they will fit in any circumstance.

The E7 Pro has a smaller battery. It's not hard to complain about going up to 30 hours. There's a lot of time to play music. It's possible to do it with some style because of the colors it comes in.

Close up view of JLab Epic Air Sport ANC.

(Image credit: Ted Kritsonis / Android Central)

JLab Audio has been making workout earbuds for a while now, and we noticed when we reviewed them that they were made to break a sweat. They can work out or go on a run with the rating. They aren't made to be waterproof so be careful around water.

If you don't mind a little extra bulk, the ear hooks and ear tips make these comfortable and stable enough to stay in your ears. JLab changes things up with the tips so you get different sizes and lengths and materials. When you need to block out noise, a good passive seal is always helpful. You can use the Be aware mode if you need to hear what's happening.

Bass gets an extra boost in the default soundstage, which is par for the course for a pair of J Lab earbuds. If you don't feel like it, you can always change it in the Air ANC app, which has a nice mix of ANC controls.

JLab claims up to 15 hours of battery life per charge, which is really high, but that number is relative because it applies when ANC is off It goes down to about 10 hours if you keep it on. It is still a respectable number if you raise the volume. The case has a built-in cable that you can use to charge your device.

Jabra Elite 45h

(Image credit: Jabra)

Over- ear cans are more popular than on- ear headphones, but they are less heavy and easier to wear. They will not give you much in the way of passive noise isolation. What's on the inside of the Elite 45h matters more than what's on the outside.

The sound quality is superb, even though it is played safe by default. You can create your own preset through the Sound+ app, or you can use existing ones. It's possible that the two-mic array needed a third one to amplify your voice because phone call quality doesn't follow suit. Being in this price range is a trade-off.

If you listen to the default volume throughout the day, you'll get crazy battery life. You'd be north of 30 hours without blinking an eye if you raised it. In the past, the company used Micro-USB for its on- ear models.

Man wearing Sony WI-C400 neckbuds.

(Image credit: Sony)

When you want the earbuds' weight to fall on your neck, neckbuds are a great option. Over the years, Sony has made a lot of them, and in our review of the WI-C400, the results spoke for themselves. Excellent sound quality is one of the reasons they did so. There is a lively combination of mids and highs in these earbuds. Both sides of the call quality are clear.

There is a lack of ANC and a lack of compatibility with the Headphones Connect app. It would have been great to be able to modify what you hear, but what you hear is what you get. If you prefer a more balanced soundstage, it's probably not your best choice.

Silicone and foam tips were included for the best possible seal. When you don't use them, the earbuds connect with magnets. It would be great if you didn't have to charge them via Micro-USB with the battery life hitting up to 20 hours.

Lifestyle shot of Audio-Technica ATH-SR30BT

(Image credit: Audio-Technica)

The ATH-SR30BT can play up to 70 hours at their default volume, making them one of the best headphones you can buy. It's enough to listen to music for a long time. The only downside is that they use micro-usb instead of the more efficientusb-c

The good news is that they sound great when you listen to them. Some of the highs are sacrificed to push the middles and lows. The intent seems to appeal to a wider range of people. You won't be getting ANC to block out noise, but the fit and comfort will help with passive isolation.

The larger ear cups allow most ears to fit snug inside. The headband is sturdy even though these aren't premium headphones. They shouldn't feel heavy compared to other people. Despite no carrying case to keep them in, they fold to make it easier to move.

Good sound doesn't have to cost you a fortune

There are good headphones out there that will not break the bank. Wireless headphones come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The Soundcore Life Q30 is the best wireless headphones under $100. Wireless headphones that sound good and don't cost a lot are an excellent place to start.

The timing is perfect. There's plenty to like in the affordable category when it comes to headphones. They come in a variety of styles, including over- ear, on- ear, and wireless earbuds. There are many options to consider.