Best Headphones under $250 in 2026
The top-rated headphones you can buy for under $250, ranked by value for money. Specs, benchmarks, and our verdict for each.
Updated March 2026 · 19 products
Quick picks
- Ear (a) Earbuds — $60 · Score 66/100
- Tune Beam Earbuds — $60 · Score 62/100
- WH-CH720N Headphones — $100 · Score 72/100
Nothing Ear (a) Earbuds
In-ear TWS · ANC · 9.5h/42.5h · LDAC · BT 5.3
$60
Score 66/100
JBL Tune Beam Earbuds
In-ear TWS · ANC · 10h/40h · AAC · BT 5.3
$60
Score 62/100
Sony WH-CH720N Headphones
Over-ear · ANC · 35h · LDAC · BT 5.2
$100
Score 72/100
Samsung Galaxy Buds FE Earbuds
In-ear TWS · ANC · 6h/21h · BT 5.2
$80
Score 64/100
JBL Tune 770NC Headphones
Over-ear · ANC · 44h · AAC · BT 5.3
$100
Score 68/100
Sony WF-C710N Earbuds
In-ear TWS · ANC · 7.5h/20h · AAC · BT 5.3
$100
Score 68/100
JBL Reflect Aero Earbuds
In-ear TWS · ANC · 8h/32h · AAC · BT 5.3 · IP68
$100
Score 70/100
Nothing Headphone 1 Headphones
Over-ear · ANC · 40h · LDAC · BT 5.3
$150
Score 76/100
Google Pixel Buds A-Series Earbuds
In-ear TWS · 5h/24h · AAC · BT 5.0
$70
Score 55/100
JBL Live 770NC Headphones
Over-ear · ANC · 65h · AAC · BT 5.3
$150
Score 74/100
Apple AirPods 4 Earbuds
Open-fit TWS · 5h/30h · H2 chip · BT 5.3
$130
Score 70/100
Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) Earbuds
In-ear TWS · ANC · 6h/30h · H2 chip · BT 5.3
$200
Score 86/100
Beats Fit Pro Earbuds
In-ear TWS · ANC · 6h/24h · H2 chip · IPX4
$160
Score 78/100
Apple AirPods 4 (ANC) Earbuds
Open-fit TWS · ANC · 5h/30h · H2 chip · BT 5.3
$180
Score 78/100
Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro Earbuds
In-ear TWS · ANC · 7.5h/30h · BT 5.4
$230
Score 86/100
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 Earbuds
In-ear TWS · ANC · 8h/30h · Tensor A1 · BT 5.4
$230
Score 84/100
Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds
In-ear TWS · ANC · 8h/24h · LDAC · BT 5.3
$230
Score 84/100
Sony LinkBuds Fit Earbuds
In-ear TWS · ANC · 5.5h/21h · LDAC · BT 5.3
$180
Score 76/100
Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2 Earbuds
In-ear TWS · ANC · 6h/27h · aptX · BT 5.4 · IP57
$230
Score 82/100
FAQ
What is the best headphones under $250?
The best headphones under $250 is the Ear (a) Earbuds at $60, scoring 66/100 overall with In-ear TWS · ANC · 9.5h/42.5h · LDAC · BT 5.3.
Is it worth spending more than $250 on a headphones?
It depends on your needs. The best headphones under $250 already delivers solid gaming and productivity performance for most users. Spending more gets you higher frame rates and more VRAM or cores, which matters most for 4K gaming or professional workloads.
What can I expect from a $250 headphones in 2026?
In 2026, a headphones under $250 can handle smooth 1080p and solid 1440p performance in most titles. The sweet spot in this range is the Ear (a) Earbuds at $60.