Best Value Headphones Under $50 in 2025 – Sound, Comfort & Battery Reviewed

For most users, headphone is an indispensable piece of equipment in daily life. Whether running, working out, commuting, or watching dramas at home, headphones play an important role. In today’s headphone market, while high-end headphones can easily cost hundreds of dollars, not everyone is willing or needs to spend such a high budget.

But if your budget is limited, for example, you only want to spend less than $50, can you still get headphones with good sound quality, long battery life, and full features?

The answer is yes. With the spread of technology, more and more brands are launching high-value products under $50. This article will list the best headphones under $50 in 2025, so you can choose the one that best fits your needs.

How to Choose Headphones Under $50?

Before diving into recommendations, let’s look at the core points to focus on within this budget range:

Headphone Type: Open-ear vs in-ear, depending on sport/commute needs. If you like sports activities, open ear headphone is best for pursue comfort and environmental awareness, if you are bass lovers, in-ear earbuds may be helpful to you.

Sound Performance: Are bass, mids, and treble balanced? Suitable for music/podcasts/workouts?

Wearing Comfort: Stable for long wear, without ear pressure or falling off.

Waterproof & Durability: Is the waterproof rating sufficient for sports use? If you would like a waterproof swimming headphone, consider those headphones with IPX7 or above. Also don't missed the warranty the headphone manufacturer provided.

Battery Life: At least 6 hours of continuous playback.

Best Headphones Under $50 in 2025 – Recommendations

NANK Clip Pro —— Best Choice for Sports Headphones ($40)

Among headphones under $50, the NANK Clip Pro is a very special product. It is not a traditional in-ear headphone but uses an open-ear ear-clip design, which can be firmly worn on the ears while avoiding the stuffiness of long-time wearing.

It is well-built, with a strong and reliable battery life. Therefore, if you want a durable audio device that can support hiking, commuting, or running, this headphone will absolutely meet all your needs.

For running, cycling, and other activities where environmental awareness is important, this design is especially valuable.

Core Features:

Open-ear ear-clip design: No ear canal blockage, lightweight and comfortable, stable during workouts, prevents falling off.

AI intelligent noise cancellation + dual-mic call noise reduction: Clear calls even outdoors.

Hi-Fi level sound quality: Equipped with Super Sound OS2.0, Omni-SSA panoramic sound technology, and DS2.0 directional audio transmission, delivering sound beyond its price range.

Bluetooth 5.4 technology: Stable connection, lower latency, suitable for media and gaming.

32 hours ultra-long battery life: 8 hours per charge + 24 extra hours with the charging case.

IPX5 waterproof rating: Sweat- and rain-resistant, great for outdoor running, cycling, or gym use.

Best For:
If you often exercise—especially running, cycling, or gym training—where you need both safety and music, the NANK Clip Pro is undoubtedly the No.1 choice under $50.

✅  Pros: Lightweight fit, perfect for sports; sound quality beyond price; long-lasting battery.

❌  Cons: Due to open-ear design, bass is weaker than in-ear; noise isolation is limited in very loud environments.

TOZO T10 —— Powerful Bass & Waterproof Performance ($29.9)

The TOZO T10 is very popular in the budget headphone market, focusing on powerful bass and a very high waterproof rating. It uses an in-ear design with silicone tips that help block out noise.

Core Features:

Fit Experience: In-ear silicone tips, secure but may feel slightly pressuring after long wear.

Sound Quality: TOZO ORIGX acoustic technology.

Waterproof Rating: IPX8, usable even in the shower or swimming.

Battery Life: Up to 45 hours total with wireless charging.

✅  Pros: Strong bass, excellent waterproofing, high cost-performance.

❌  Cons: Mids and highs are average; less comfortable for long in-ear use.

TOZO OpenReal —— Balanced Open-Ear Headphones ($39.99)

The TOZO OpenReal is an open-ear headphone, positioned for sports use, but with better sound than most competitors.

It uses an innovative open-earcup design for all-day comfort. With air-conduction technology, it delivers clear and focused music.

Its sound quality is one of the best we’ve tested among open-ear headphones. However, the volume is already loud at just 10%, which may be annoying if you want background music while staying aware. It features a minimalist design with matte black/gray colors.

Core Features:

Volume Performance: Very loud even at low settings; clear, layered sound.

Waterproof Rating: IPX8, highly waterproof.

Design & Comfort: Silicone-coated shell, skin-friendly, flexible ear hooks, but may sacrifice comfort after long wear.

✅  Pros: Good sound among open-ear headphones; waterproof and durable; strong battery life.

❌ Cons: Requires special charger; comfort decreases after long wear; sound too loud at low volume.

Soundcore P2 Mini —— The Balanced Performer ($23.25)

The Soundcore series is known for balance, and the Life P2 Mini is an “all-rounder” under $50. Weighing only 0.16 oz (4.4 g), it feels almost weightless in your ears.

In standard mode, its sound leans towards strong mids and bass. The sound is typical of Soundcore—rich and punchy, though not the fastest or most precise, but still powerful.

Core Features:

Wearing Comfort: Lightweight and compact, comes with multiple ear tips for different ear shapes.

Sound Quality: Three EQ modes, overall balanced, suitable for pop, jazz, classical.

Call Quality: Dual-mic noise cancellation, clear for calls and meetings.

Battery Life: 8 hours per charge, 32 hours total with case—rare for under $50.

✅ Pros: Balanced sound, adjustable EQ; lightweight; strong battery life.

❌ Cons: Average waterproofing (IPX5); bass not as strong as TOZO T10.

JBL Tune 520BT —— Reliable Big-Brand Choice ($49.95)

The JBL Tune 520BT is the upgraded version of the previous 510BT, a simple Bluetooth headphone with improved battery life. Despite the affordable price, it supports app integration for extended features.

It offers warm but balanced sound. If you prefer custom sound profiles, you can adjust EQ presets or settings in the app. It has easy button controls and even a volume limiter. However, it has weak isolation, and glasses wearers may find bass weaker. Also, its hardness makes it less comfortable for long wear.

Core Features:

Sound Quality: Warm and balanced, supports EQ customization.

Controls & Functions: Button controls, app EQ, volume limiter.

Battery Life: Up to 57 hours; 5 min charge = 3 hours use.

Comfort: Hard build, less comfortable for long sessions; bass affected when wearing glasses.

✅ Pros: Big brand reliability; balanced sound; outstanding battery life.

❌ Cons: Poor isolation; comfort not ideal for long wear.

Summary

If your budget is under $50, here are the best picks for different needs:

Sports Users: NANK Clip Pro (safe open-ear fit, balanced sound, long battery life).

Bass Lovers: TOZO T10 (heavy bass + IPX8 waterproof).

Open-Ear Experience: TOZO OpenReal (good sound, waterproof, durable).

Daily Commuters: Soundcore Life P2 Mini (balanced, portable, great for students/office workers).

Brand Followers: JBL Tune 520BT (super long battery, stable sound).

At this price point, every headphone has trade-offs, but by matching your needs, you can easily find a practical, high-value pair.

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