Best Bluetooth Headphones under $100

Bluetooth headphones are pretty awesome. You can use them without having to worry about cables and their endurance while they are also as portable as gadgets get. 

That being said, one of their few downsides is that picking the best pair for you can be quite tiresome, to say the least. There are so many things to keep in mind – weight, range, battery life, audio and volume degradation, compatibility, etc. 

Still, once you find the correct fit, you soon see why all the trouble was worth it. So, without any further ado, let’s get right into it!

Things to Keep in Mind

As we mentioned above, there are some things to keep in mind while buying Bluetooth headphones. 

• Compatibility: First things first, make sure that the Bluetooth headset that you’re looking at is compatible with your device. Most wireless headphones work just fine with any device – but some of them are either only compatible with a specific device or work better with it (Ex. AirPods with Apple devices)
• Type: Over-ear, on-ear, headsets, buds, sports – there are tons of different headphones out there; each one with pros and cons. Make sure to pick the one that fits you best
• Communication and Controls: Some of you may need on-board buttons and/or a mic for talking
• Weight: This is particularly important if you’re using on-ear or over-ear headphones. The heavier that a headset is, the sooner that it’ll make you want to take it off
• Battery: Nobody likes charging their headphones every 2 hours – and certainly nobody likes running out of battery mid-flight or mid-run
• Audio and build quality: Pretty self-explanatory. Look for something that’s known for sounding good while also being reliable and solid
• Range and connectivity: Range and connectivity matters more for some – especially those who use their wireless headphones with both their smartphone/tablet and desktop
• Noise cancelling/isolation: Particularly useful for those who travel a lot. Do keep in mind that noise cancelation and noise isolation are two different things. More on that later
• Enclosure: Closed-back headphones sound more bassy – but also less natural while also introducing more fatigue. Open-back, on the other hand, is the exact opposite

Our 6 Best Bluetooth Headphones Under 100

So, those are some of the basics to keep in mind without getting too technical. Some people, *cough* audiophiles *cough* tend to look a bit deeper into the details; things like frequency response, impedance, and more. But, we’ll try to keep things simple for you. 

That being said, let us check out some headphones!

1: Mixcder E9

Best Overall

As far as Bluetooth headphones are concerned, this is one of the best that money can buy at a relatively affordable price. 

• Type: Over-Ear
• Communication and controls: Volume up and down, ANC, track control, call answering/rejection, power – built-in microphone
• Weight: 0.56 pounds
• Battery: About 24 hours with noise cancellation and 30 without
• Range and connectivity: About 10 meters – can only connect to a single device at once
• Noise canceling/Isolation: Includes both Noise Cancelling and Noise Isolation
• Enclosure: Closed-back

At about $85, they may not exactly be cheap. But, they are a great value for what they offer. We’re talking about over-ear headphones with a built-in microphone, noise canceling, 10 meters of range, and at least 24 hours of battery life. 

The audio quality may not be up there with $300+ audiophile headphones – but for a sub $100 gadget, it doesn’t have to be. And it’s definitely not bad. 

The bass is strong without becoming muddy and the mids are decent as well. Of course, that’s something that can somewhat be fixed with the help of an equalizer – if you’re into that. 

Pros: 

1. Decent sound
2. Strong bass that doesn’t overpower the other sounds
3. On-board controls 
4. Built-in microphone
5. Good value
6. Decent range
7. Superb battery life
8. 3.5mm jack is a plus in our book

Cons: 

1. Can only connect to a single device at once
2. Mids and highs could be a tiny bit better – but we can hardly complain at this price
3. Relatively heavy (When compared to earbuds)

2: Marshall Major II

Good for On-Ear Lovers

If you like the Mixcder E9 but prefer something that’s On-Ear instead of Over-Ear, chances are you’re going to love the Marshall Major II!

• Type: On-Ear
• Communication and controls: Volume up and down, track control, call answering/rejection – microphone can be found in the 3.5mm cable
• Weight: 0.48 pounds
• Battery: About 30 hours or more
• Range and connectivity: About 10 meters – can only connect to a single device at once
• Noise canceling/Isolation: Only a bit of noise isolation
• Enclosure: Closed-back

Marshall is one of the most well-known names in the music industry. So, it’s generally hard to go wrong with them. 

Truth be told, the lack of noise canceling can be a deal-breaker for some. But, we feel like the decent noise isolation kind of makes up for it – unless you tend to travel a lot because noise isolation is nowhere near as good at blocking loud, engine sounds. 

Other than that, the microphone seems to only be included with the 3.5mm cable. Not good for those who wish to chat wirelessly. 

But, when everything is said and done, the sound is pretty decent. Audiophiles may find the bass to be a bit too strong, though. 

Pros: 

1. Strong bass (Could be a con for some)
2. Comes with onboard controls and a microphone
3. Great battery life
4. A bit lightweight for wireless headphones
5. The 3.5mm jack is a welcome addition (The included cable is awesome too)
6. Decent range
7. Decent noise isolation

Cons: 

1. No noise canceling
2. The microphone is included on the cable – meaning that you can’t use it while wirelessly
3. Bass can be considered to be a bit too strong by some

3: Anker Soundcore Life Q20

Best Bass

Anker is another very popular manufacturer. They’re very well known for making some of the best Bluetooth speakers and headphones – and the Soudcore Life Q20 is not an exception. 

• Type: Over-Ear
• Communication and controls: Power button, volume, media controls, ANC, and a built-in microphone
• Weight: 0.33 pounds
• Battery: About 40 hours (Probably less if you use ANC all the time)
• Range and connectivity: About 15 meters – can only connect to a single device at once
• Noise canceling/Isolation: Active noise cancelation
• Enclosure: Closed-back

With more than 40 hours of battery life, a closed-back enclosure, and active noise cancelation along with decent bass, these headphones make for excellent travel companions!

As far as downsides are concerned, there really isn’t a lot to mention. The microphone is a bit subpar in noisy environments and the ANC is definitely not as good as high-end options – but still pretty impressive for the price and it does its job well enough. 

Pros: 

1. Strong and balanced bass 
2. Offers a little bit of everything
3. No major downsides
4. Noise canceling
5. Great battery life
6. Superb range

Cons: 

1. Plastic feels a relatively cheap (As expected at this price point)
2. Mic doesn’t work too well in noisy environments

4: Jabra Move Style Edition

Our Value-Pick

For the money that it’s asking, the Jabra Move offers a nice balance between build-quality, features, comfiness, and weight. Just like the Mixcder E9, it may not be up there with audiophile headphones in terms of audio quality – but it doesn’t ask anywhere near the same price tag either. 

• Type: On-Ear
• Communication and controls: Music and call controls – built-in microphone 
• Weight: 0.33 pounds
• Battery: Up to 14 hours
• Range and connectivity: About 10 meters – can only connect to a single device at once
• Noise canceling/Isolation: A bit of noise isolation
• Enclosure: Closed-back

As far as on-ear and over-ear headphones go, they are extremely lightweight and comfortable while also offering a decent listening experience. The overall microphone quality is kind of impressive as well. 

However, the lack of ANC (Active Noise Canceling) may end up being quite the deal-breaker for some people. Battery life is also inferior compared to the other options that we’ve checked out till now. But, to be honest, 14 hours should be way more than enough for most of us. Not to mention that even when they are out of battery – you can still use them with a 3.5mm cable!

Pros: 

1. Very lightweight (Considering that they are On-Ear)
2. Good range
3. Sound is a bit balanced without overly strong bass or painful treble
4. Plenty of onboard controls
5. Feels well-made
6. Decent microphone

Cons: 

1. Mediocre battery life (As far as big headphones are concerned)
2. No ANC

5: Anker Soundcore Life P2

Best Workout Headphones

Over-Ear and On-Ear headphones are generally considered better in terms of audio quality and noise isolation properties – but they are arguably not your best bet for working out. Their relatively high weight and lack of portability can be a deal-breaker for many and that’s where In-Ear earbuds come in!

• Type: In-Ear
• Communication and controls: No controls – built-in microphone 
• Weight: 0.13 pounds
• Battery: 7 hours on a single charge – 40 when paired with their charging case
• Range and connectivity: About 10 meters – you can use the earbuds independently  
• Noise canceling/Isolation: Only for the microphone
• Enclosure: Closed-back

That’s not to say that In-Ear headphones don’t come with their disadvantages. For once, the battery life isn’t anywhere near to what Over/On-Ear headphones can achieve. Thankfully, the charging case partially solves that issue – but it’s definitely one more thing to worry about. 

Other than that, you also sacrifice the multiple onboard buttons along with a bit of noise isolation. Is portability worth this price to pay? Well, that’s a question that you must answer. 

Pros: 

1. Extremely portable
2. Very lightweight
3. Great range – especially for their size
4. The two earbuds can work independently from each other
5. Great for sports
6. IPX7 waterproofing is a welcome addition and a necessity for some
7. Pure wireless

Cons: 

1. Poor battery life (But good as far as In-Ear headphones are concerned)
2. While pure wireless means that you never have to worry about cables – it also means that you can’t use the headphones with a 3.5mm cable when you’re out of battery (But 10 minutes of charging are enough for an hour of listening – pick your poison)
3. No noise cancelation for the audio – only for the microphone

6: Sennheiser HD 4.40

Our Over-Ear Pick

Sennheiser is one of the go-to choices for audiophiles and this is one of their entry-level headphones. We’d say that they are at the very least worth checking out if only for the colossal name that stands behind them!

• Type: Over-Ear
• Communication and controls: Call and music controls, volume – built-in microphone 
• Weight: 0.49 pounds
• Battery: Up to 25 hours
• Range and connectivity: About 10 meters – can only be used with a single device  
• Noise canceling/Isolation: Only a bit of noise isolation
• Enclosure: Closed-back 

If there’s one downside to it, then that’s probably going to be the lack of ANC. Still, it doesn’t make much of a difference if you’re only using the headphones at home or in a silent location in general.

Other than that, the bass response is great and the same goes for mids – but the treble isn’t that great. Those of you who are a bit tech-savvy may be able to improve the situation with an equalizer, though. 

Pros: 

1. Pretty comfy
2. You can fold them for extra portability
3. 3.5mm connectivity is always a welcome addition for improved compatibility and when you are out of battery
4. Beautiful design that fees kind of durable
5. Ear-Pads have a lot of padding which is a bit of a rarity these days
6. Decent bass response
7. Good battery life

Cons: 

1. No ANC

Wrapping Up

That’s probably quite a lot of info to take in at once. So, here’s everything that we mentioned as quickly as possible: 

1. Mixcder E9: Best overall choice as it offers a little bit of everything without any major downsides
2. Marshall Major II: Our On-Ear choice. Offers pretty good base and audio quality in general – but the microphone is included in the 3.5mm cable and there is also no ANC
3. Anker Soundcore Life Q20: Our bassy pick. All-around a great Over-Ear option with the only downside that the mic doesn’t work too well in noisy environments
4. Jabra Move Style Edition: Audio and build quality are great for the money – but the lack of ANC and the mediocre battery life may be deal-breakers for some
5. Anker Soundcore Life P2: Best option for working out and/or having something that’s ultra-portable – but there’s no ANC and the battery life is nowhere near as good as the bigger headphones
6. Sennheiser HD 4.40: Great sound and relatively cheap – but no ANC

That’s all for now. Hopefully, this made your decision much easier. If you’ve got any questions, feel free to let us know about them in the comments down below!