Budget wireless earbuds

Do you have to spend £200 on a pair of earbuds to enjoy the best audio quality on a personal level? Absolutely not. There are hundreds of cheap wireless earphones out there that sound just as good as more expensive options, but their price sounds a million times better.

But buying cheap earbuds can be a minefield, because you never really know what you’re going to get – especially if it’s from a Chinese brand you’ve never heard of. You could argue that you get what you pay for, except that really isn’t the case, and we’ve found some amazing products at significantly lower prices.

To save you the headache of finding a pair of Bluetooth earphones that impress on more than just price, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite wireless buds. Our expert team have tested all these options, so you can be sure that you’re getting a truly great deal.

1. TAOTRONICS SOUNDLIBERTY 79

Price: £39 from fave.co/32xlvyD If TaoTronics is a brand that’s unfamiliar to you, well it might be time to start paying attention. We recently reviewed its SoundLiberty 53 wireless earphones and found them to be a good choice for those who don’t want to spend Apple prices for everyday Bluetooth earbuds.

Now, the company has updated its line-up to include a new design, extra features, all while holding to an affordable price. We see if the SoundLiberty 79 can take TaoTronics to the next level.

Design

TaoTronic has left behind the AirPod inspired design that featured on the SoundLiberty 53 by removing the dangling stems, going instead for a shape that emulates the curvature of the inner ear. This allows the SoundLiberty 79s to sit comfortably for extended listening sessions and not have weird looking things sticking out of your ears in the process.

The main chassis has a depth of around 20mm, so these might sit slightly tall for some people, but the choice of buds that come in the pack mean you should at least be assured of a snug fit. The short stems are angled so that they allow for a secure seating in the ear canal, bringing with it a good deal of noise isolation.

Controls are touch-sensitive rather that button-based, with the main part of the chassis sensing taps and acting accordingly. Connection is via Bluetooth 5.0 and the design also features an IPX7 waterproof rating, so you can go running in the rain or even venture into the shower with these buds.

The pill-shaped carry-case for the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 79 also doubles as a charger that can hold around five full recharges for the buds. A USB-C slot on the rear is how to power the box itself, while four lights