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We’ve all been there – rummaging around to find our headphones, only to pull them out of our bag or pocket in a tangled heap, then spending an awful amount of time trying to detangle, only to give up and use them with a big knot hanging out in the middle. But with wireless earbuds here to stay, we can all live a tangle-free life, able to listen to what we want, when we want, without dreading the moment we have to fish them out of our bag.
Since not all of us can afford forking out a heap of cash on a pair, we’ve compiled a list of the best earbuds under $100 CAD after plenty of research and tests. Just like the best over ear headphones under $200 CAD are great to have on any occasion, wireless earbuds are a handy option to have when you want something lightweight while exercising, commuting, or even just at the office.
Some models even come with noise cancelling technology, which isn’t always common, as the majority of the best budget noise cancelling headphones to buy in Canada are over-ear or on-ear styles. There are some models on our list, though, with ANC features.
Continue reading for our reviews on the Best Wireless Earbuds Under $150 CAD.
Reviews – Best Earbuds under $150 CAD
1. EarFun Free Pro Wireless
- Noise Cancelling – Yes
- Type – In-Ear
- Microphone – Yes
- BEST FOR: Exercise, Commuting, Office Environments
The Earfun Free Pro earbuds have a great deal of rave reviews online, so we were keen to try them out for ourselves. Safe to say we were more than impressed with everything from design, to quality, to even the way they comfortably sat in our ears. We also liked that you get four ear tip and wing sizes, which made it easier to find our perfect fit.
Connectivity was a standout with integrated Bluetooth 5.2 compatibility with a range of 14.94m. ANC was a welcome feature, and while there are some models out there with ANC, these buds had one of the best integrated ANC we’ve experienced. Turning ANC off and on was also simple with touch control. As well as ANC these buds also have ENC technology, which essentially means 80% of exterior noises are eliminated, resulting in crystal-clear audio when you talk or record your voice.
A well-balanced sound profile was thanks to dual-composite dynamic drivers that delivered punchy bass notes and smooth mid-range. Even though these aren’t built for gaming, we think they worked well when playing mobile games, especially with the Low Latency Mode feature.
Key Features:
- Durable & Lightweight 4.25g Design with IPX5 Water Resistant Rating
- Convenient Wireless Charging Available As Well As Wired USB-C Charging
- ANC Up To 29dB & Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) with 4-Mic Design for Clearer Calls
- 4 Ear-Tip Sizes & 4 Ear-Hook Sizes Included to Achieve Custom Fit
2. Anker Soundcore Spirit Dot 2 Wireless
- Noise Cancelling – Yes
- Type – In-Ear
- Microphone – Yes
- BEST FOR: Commuting, Exercise
Starting at $59.99 the Soundcore Spirit Dot 2 earbuds from Anker are value-packed for such a small price tag. These are quite sports-oriented buds with sweat-resistance, a super snug and comfortable fit, and a sound profile that focuses on deep bass range with their BassUp tech – you know, the type of music most of us like to listen to when we workout, like deep house, rap or techno.
These buds sit completely in your ear without any wing or hook sitting outside, so they look and feel minimal which is nice for workouts when you don’t want to think about what you’re wearing. They feel close-fitting which is helped by the 20% slimmer size when compared to some other buds with the same design.
An IPX7 water resistant rating is higher than some others we’ve seen. Connectivity was also a highlight with dual transmitters that ensure 30% lower latency issues while connected to Bluetooth 5.0.
Key Features:
- Zero-Pressure Silicone Airwings & 20% Slimmer Size Create Snug-Fitting & Comfortable Fit
- High Water Resistance Rating at IPX7 Prevents Sweat Damage
- BassUp Technology Intensifies Bass Range & Integrated Touch Control for User-Friendly Commands
- 5-Hour Playtime with Up To 16-Hours with Charging Case
3. Panasonic RZ-S500W
- Noise Cancelling – Yes
- Type – In-Ear
- Microphone – Yes
- BEST FOR: Exercise, Commuting, Office Environments
The Panasonic RZ-S500W are the brand’s first earbuds they’ve released, and they even come with noise cancelling tech that works much better than expected. This feature is actually called their Dual Hybrid Noise Cancelling which blends Feedforward Noise Cancelling and Feedback technologies to create a truly immersive experience when ANC is switched on.
Sound quality is outstanding across the full range, delivering rich bass notes, detailed mid-range and smooth treble. No matter what we listened to, everything consistently sounded clear. Call quality is also a standout with high performing MEMS mics that worked really well even when we were stuck in winds.
In addition, there’s integrated beamforming tech which helps supress exterior noise to focus on your voice. A 6.5-hour battery life is competitive with the Earfun Free Pro and Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 earbuds, plus you get up to 19.5 hours after using the charging cradle. An IPX4 water resistant rating isn’t the highest we’ve seen, but still useful to have nonetheless for peace-of-mind when sweating during exercise or when it’s raining.
Key Features:
- Dual Hybrid Noise Cancelling Technology Offers High-Performing ANC with Straightforward Touch Control
- 5-Hour Battery Life with Additional 19.5-Hours with Charging Cradle
- Enhanced Mic Quality with MEMs Mics the Repress Wind Noises
4. Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Wireless
- Noise Cancelling – Yes
- Type – In-Ear
- Microphone – Yes
- BEST FOR: Commuting, Exercise, Office Environments
A solid all-rounder, the Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 earbuds are particularly great for workouts due to their stable fit, seamless command system that doesn’t need your phone, and IPX5 water resistance rating that protects them from sweat.
Something we weren’t expecting was how well the mic performed in various conditions – this was because there are actually 4 mics integrated with cVc 8.0 noise reduction tech, so recording and calls were very clear. HearID is a useful feature from Anker which is accessed through their dedicated app, where you can personalise EQ settings to get the perfect frequencies for your listening taste.
The sound profile is well-balanced with diamond-coated drivers and a TPU diaphragm that generates twice the amount of bass. A massive 28-hour playtime with the charging case means these will last all-day, and if you take intervals then you probably won’t need to charge them very frequently.
Key Features:
- 7-Hour Battery Life with Increased 28-Hour Playtime with Wireless Charging Case & 10-Min Charge for 2-Hours Playback
- 4 Integrated Microphones with cVc 8.0 Noise Reduction Tech Enhances Calls
- Stylish & Comfortable Design with All-Black Colouring & Sleek Red Ear Tip Accents
5. 1MORE ColorBuds
- Noise Cancelling – Yes, ENC
- Type – In-Ear
- Microphone – Yes
- BEST FOR: Exercise, Commuting, Office Environments
Another low-budget model starting at around $79.99, the ColorBuds from 1MORE are stylish, comfortable and versatile. We’re loving their unique bean-shape design with a half-circle ear hook. This hook/wing ensures a comfortable fit, as you can push it in without going too far, and they don’t wobble or feel like they’re going to fall out.
This unique build is coupled with unique colouring, with an attractive metallic blue sheen on the top. This isn’t just for looks, though, as this Non-Conductive Vacuum Metallisation (NCVM) eco-friendly coating also stabilises signal transmission for a smoother experience while listening to music or while on a call.
For such an affordable pair you really are getting bang for you buck here, with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) for clearer calls and voice recordings, a 24-hour battery life, and 15-minutes fast charge that gives you 3-hours of use.
Key Features:
- 5-Hour Battery Life with Lengthy 24-Hour Playback Using Charging Case
- ENC Technology, MEMs Mic & Bluetooth 5.0 Connection Ensure Clearer Calls & Voice Recordings
- High-Fidelity Sound Reproduction with Dynamic Drivers & Titanium-Composite Diaphragm
6. HELM Audio True Wireless 5.0
- Noise Cancelling – Yes
- Type – In-Ear
- Microphone – Yes
- BEST FOR: Commuting, Exercise, Office Environments, Casual Wireless Gaming
These Helm Audio True Wireless 5.0 earbuds are another excellent all-rounder, but where they really shine (and the big reason we’ve included them in this list) is for casual gaming. It isn’t always easy finding wireless buds for gaming, so we were excited to try these out.
First off, these are some super stylish buds with a textured, diamond-shell inspired design on the front that we can’t take our eyes off. Sound performance is wonderful with hi-fi quality thanks to the Qualcomm aptX technology.
We could certainly hear the difference when compared to some other models in this range (that didn’t make this list), and this high sound quality also means these are great for a variety of music genres. An ergonomic shape with small, yet effective ear wings made comfort a priority, as they felt stable even during exercise.
Key Features:
- Hi-Fi Sound Quality with Qualcomm aptX & AAC Technology
- Up to 8-Hour Playtime & Additional 30-Hours with Bluetooth 5.0 Auto-Pairing & Long 18.29m Range
- Scratch-Resistant & Finger-Print Resistant Build with Unique & Stylish Diamond-Patter Design
7. RHA True Connect Wireless
- Noise Cancelling – No
- Type – In-Ear
- Microphone – Yes
- BEST FOR: Commuting, Exercise, Office Environments
If you need something for everyday use while commuting to and from work, working out or to get swept away in your favourite tunes at the office, then the RHA True Connect earbuds are a great choice. They aren’t the best for gaming due to some latency during mobile games and watching videos, but they do impressively well with various genres of music. That includes quite bass-heavy songs, which is where we found they performed very well.
On each bud there is a button that lets you control calls, playing/pausing/skipping tracks, and voice assistant on your phone. A huge highlight for us was the amount of noise these buds could remove – they block out over 22dB of noise in total which is highly impressive considering they don’t have ANC tech.
The design is one of our favourites for earbuds with a unique shape that reminds us of a blend of the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ and the original Apple Airpods with the long tail. We like that they don’t stick out of the ear too much, and we got a snug fit choosing from the range of silicone and foam ear tips.
Key Features:
- 5-Hours of Playback Plus Extra 20-Hours with Durable Hard Fast-Charging Case
- Sweat-Resistant Perfect for Exercise with Water-Resistant IPX5 Rating
- Speedy Bluetooth 5.0 Connection & Impressive 22.44dB Noise Isolation Rating Despite No ANC Feature
8. Skullycandy Smokin’ Buds 2 Wireless
- Noise Cancelling – No
- Type – In-Ear
- Microphone – Yes
- BEST FOR: Commuting, Exercise, Office Environments
The Smokin’ Buds 2 Wireless from Skullycandy are one of the most cost-effective on our list, so they’re not going to be comparable to some other models here. But, if you’re looking for a cheap pair of earbuds that get the job done with a no-frills attitude, these are a solid choice. These are not a true-wireless pair since they are connected to a neckband, but they offer hands-free listening all the same.
We’ve also actually always liked small remotes on earphones with built-in mics as they are so easy to use and can get impressively clear audio quality while talking. The sound profile is pretty much what you’d expect for this price range – nothing fancy, but still fairly dynamic and able to handle bass-range notes well.
The neckband is so lightweight we barely felt it, and the ear tips are pretty standard, so if you prefer buds with hooks then we suggest going for something like the Anker Soundcore Spirit Dot 2. We found these great for running as they felt secure in the ears, especially with the neckband for added security.
Key Features:
- Lightweight & Comfortable Neckband with Removable & Adjustable Flex Collar
- Dynamic Soundstage with Straightforward Controls Using Mini Remote with Built-In Mic
- Bluetooth Connectivity with 6-Hour Continuous Playtime
9. Sony WFXB700 Truly Wireless
- Noise Cancelling – No
- Type – In-Ear
- Microphone – Yes
- BEST FOR: Exercise, Commuting, Office Environments
The Sony WFXB700 earbuds are from their Extra Bass series of earphones, meaning they’re designed to pack a punch when it comes to the bass range. That being said, they don’t go overboard, and you still get an impressive soundstage across all frequencies.
With a 10-hour playback time they have the second-longest battery life of all earbuds we’ve tested, just behind the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ at 13-hours. The in-ear design also reminds us of the Galaxy Buds+ and Panasonic buds with the rounded shape and subtle ear hook, which we found unique in the way it hugged the ears.
Commands are simple with the left bud controlling volume, and the right bud for everything else from playing/pausing and skipping, and for the voice assistant in your device. The hard case is one of our favourites with its super compact, smooth shell design, and it delivers an additional 18-hours of battery life. IPX4 water resistance makes these sweat and moisture resistant, perfect for working out or when you get stuck in a drizzle.
Key Features:
- Simple, Stylish Design with Comfortable Ear Hooks & IPX4 Water Resistance Rating
- Designed for Bass-Heavy Music with Well-Rounded Soundstage
- Long 10-Hour Charge with Additional 18-Hours with Charging Case
10. Samsung Galaxy Buds+
- Noise Cancelling – No
- Type – In-Ear
- Microphone – Yes
- BEST FOR: Commuting, Exercise
The Samsung Galaxy Buds+ are one of the best earbuds on the market, and also one of the most competitive to the Apple Airpods. Now, we’ve decided to include them last on the list since they are a little over the $100 price mark, but we’ve included them for those who don’t mind spending that little extra for a premium pair. (And for this price, we think you’re getting massive value-for-money.)
The design is completely in-ear without any wings or hooks coming out, and it’s an ergonomic design which means you get a really comfortable fit. An IPX2 water resistant rating isn’t the best, but still good enough to protect them if you sweat while working out. iOS and Android app connectivity is available, and the app is useful for letting you know when you need to charge.
These last a healthy 13-hours on a single charge, and that’s extended to 22-hours with the case. They do not have ANC, but we think they do a great job all the same, since you get such a snug fit, and that closed-back design blocks out a lot of exterior sound.
Key Features:
- Lengthy 13-Hour Battery Life with Extended Battery with Buds+ Charging Case
- Ideal for Sports with IPX2 Water Resistance Rating
- Adaptive 3-Mic System with Dual Outer Mics Blocks Outward Sounds on a Call
Things to Look Out For Before Buying Budget Wireless Earbuds
Although many brands have come out with their own version of wireless buds, it’s important to know that not all are made the same. Plus, since a lot of us will use them everyday to commute to and from work, exercise and so on, you’ll want to know what to look out for to choose the best pair based on your needs.
Playback Time
Also known as battery life, most (good) models in the $100 and below price range will offer anything between 5 and 14 hours of playtime.
- Choose one with a charging case because they extend the battery life by topping them up with charge
- Remember that the battery life also depends on how loud/soft you’re listening to the audio
Price
An affordable pair of earbuds can set you back more than $200 in some cases, which is why the $100 price range and below is ideal for some. That being said, we recommend sticking to models above $50, as models below that price point are often too cheapy and won’t last you as long.
Comfort
Comfort in earbuds is achieved through the ear tips (the silicone or foam tips that sit directly in your ears) and the overall shape of the bud. Ear hooks or wings are also a big part of comfort, as they can help the buds sit more snug in your ears.
- If you’re going to be doing some intense work outs wearing the earbuds, we suggest choosing a style with ear hooks or wings
- You’ll know they fit correctly when there is a seal created with your ears and the ear tips. This seal ensures they won’t fall out
- Many models come with various ear tip sizes, so you can find the perfect one for your ears
Commands
- Many buds come with touch-control, where you can touch on the top with one finger to manage different settings like volume, pause/play, voice assistant activation, etc.
- Some models come with physical buttons, which can sometimes make it easier to know exactly what you’re controlling at any one time
- Some brands come with apps where you can manage other settings – this isn’t always essential for everyone but can be handy when you need to know when to charge
Noise Isolation
Not all models are going to come with this feature, so make sure to look out for it if that’s something you want.
Keep in mind, though, that typically noise cancelling technology in earbuds isn’t going to be as incredible as on-ear or over-ear headphones. This is because on-ear and over-ear models have the advantage of a larger surface area over the ears, creating a larger seal which can cancel out more noise in itself without ANC, when compared to earbuds.
Nonetheless, there are plenty of buds out there with great noise cancelling technology, enough to block out general chatter, music playing over speakerphones at the gym, noises while jogging outside, or the soft hum of a fan.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I spend on earbuds?
This will greatly depend on your own personal budget, as well as the types of features you want in your earbuds. If you want things like noise cancellation or multi-device connectivity, you will generally have to spend more than models without.
Just like you’ll notice in our list, there are a plethora of great earbuds under the $100 price range, but don’t go for anything under $50, as that’s where quality starts to take a turn. Build and audio quality also come into play, and buds between $50 and $100 can have excellent build and sound quality that can compete with some high-end pairs.
Are wireless earbuds better than wired?
One isn’t better than the other, as it all comes down to personal preference.
Wired style headphones often generate improved sound quality, and are more suited to audiophiles or those that simply want quality when listening to music or watching other media.
Wireless earphones can still have excellent sound quality, plus they offer hands-free use and you’ll barely feel yourself wearing them. They are also more breathable than on-ear or over-ear headphones, so are better for working out.
Should I get headphones or earbuds?
Again, this depends on personal preference. If you want something extra compact and portable that doesn’t feel heavy during wear, then go for earbuds. Buds are also better for exercise, as they let your ears and head breathe.
On the other hand, headphones will generally deliver a more intense sound quality when compared to buds. If noise cancellation is important to you, then we’d also suggest headphones.
Final Thoughts
No matter what model you might end up choosing from our list of the best wireless earbuds under $100, we’re confident you’ll enjoy every second of their hands-free freedom.
The Earfun Free Pro buds are one of the best all-rounders and value-for-money models, with a simplistic design and great sound profile. If your budget is on the lower end of the spectrum, the Anker Soundcore Spirit Dot 2 earbuds and Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds 2 are both solid options for casual, everyday use.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds+ finished off our list, coming in at a little over $100, but well worth the price for those willing to pay, as they offer class-topping battery life, a stylish and comfortable design, and seamless connectivity.
