Need the Best Earphones for your audio experiences? Need quality without breaking the bank? Whether you are working out in the gym, binge-watching, or playing a video game, an earphone can take your listening experience a notch higher. However, not all smartphone companies offer earphones in the box, so people need to buy earphones separately. Budget is one of the biggest considerations when choosing an earphone. And do not worry irrespective of what your budget is; there are tons of options for you. Check out our choices for So, you need the Best Earphones Under $300.
Best Earphones Under $300
Many electronic companies offer powerful earphones at economical prices. If your budget is under $300, you will have a lot of options to check out. Here are some of the best earphones under $300 that you can opt for:
1. Bose Sport Earbuds For Running And Workouts
| The first product on our best earphone under $300 list is by Bose, a company that has launched a lot of earbuds in the past. These triple-black earbuds are designed specially to make the workout session more engaging. The StayHear Max three tips, along with the secure fit, make these earbuds suitable for workout sessions. Moreover, the fact that they are lightweight and compact further adds to the accessibility. |  |
Unlike other models of Bose wireless earbuds, this one does not have active noise-canceling abilities. The Sport earbuds feature IPX4 splash-resistant rating and are integrated with Bluetooth 5.1. The Bluetooth offers a solid and seamless connection. Bose has integrated a beamforming microphone array that sets your voice apart from the surrounding noises.
This allows you to get clear music and call sound. The Bose Earbuds comes with a touch interface that allows you to swipe up and down to adjust the volume control, tap to answer calls, and pause or play the music. Lastly, it offers a battery life of up to 5 hours with a complete charge. Additionally, you will get extra two more hours with a quick charge while on the go for 15 minutes.
Specifications
- Color – Triple Black
- Connectivity Technology – Wireless
- Form Factor – In-Ear
- Water Resistance Rating – IPX4
- Battery Life – Up to 5 hours
- Battery Life With Charging Case – Up to 15 hours
- Control – Touch interface
- Bluetooth – 5.1
- Item Dimensions – 0.82×1.05×0.74 inches
- Item weight – 0.30 ounces
Pros
- The touch control is seamless and quick
- The Bluetooth connectivity is prompt
- The sound quality of earbuds is top-notch
- The in-ear fit is stable and does not move during the workout.
- The earbuds are extremely lightweight and easy to carry around.
Cons
- The earbuds lack multipoint pairing.
- The manufacturer has not provided many volume control options.
- There is no active noise cancellation.
2. 1MORE Quad Powered In-Ear Earphones
| When looking for the best earphones under $300, you cannot go wrong with this one by 1MORE. There are four key drivers of this product, including the diamond-shaped carbon dynamic driver, which is like a mini speaker, and three balanced armatures. The latter appears like mini tweeters. Together these drivers work to offer high-quality dynamic power as well as definition. |  |
Additionally, the simplified aluminum sound chamber is designed ergonomically. It is designed to make sure that the wearer gets maximum noise isolation as well as comfort. The rated power of this earphone is 5 Mw. The manufacturer has integrated the in-line controls intelligently to allow you to easily skip songs, make calls, and change volume.
One of the unique selling points of this device is that it is tuned by Luca Bignardi, who is a Grammy-winning sound engineer. The earphone is tuned to perfection to offer a balanced and immersive soundstage. The frequency range can extend up to 40 000 Hz to offer excellent sound quality.
Along with the earphones, the manufacturer also offers a wide range of accessories such as a leather traveling case, premium gift box, 11/4’inch airline adaptors, nine ear tip sizes, and matching clips. Furthermore, the Kevlar core cable offers strength and tangle resistance. The cable covers oxygen-free copper wire to maintain high sound quality.
Specifications
- Type – In-Ear
- Frequency – Between 20 Hz and 40,000 Hz
- Weight – 0.65 grams
- Impedance – 32 Ω
- Plug – 3.5 mm
- Sensitivity – 99 Db
- Wire – 1.25 m
- Drivers – 3
- Color – Silver
- Item Dimension – 1x1x1 inches
Pros
- The earphones offer exceptional sound quality.
- The accessories and packaging add to the value of the product.
- The cord is strong and durable, offering a solid feel.
- The in-ear fitting of the earphones is truly great.
- The users will not experience any distortion in any situation.
- The control settings are machined well for ease of use.
Cons
- Even though there is a no-tangle design, the cable tends to get tangled.
- The heavy bass makes the sound come muffled.
- The product feels rather bulky as opposed to many other options in the segment.
3. 1MORE Quad Driver Hi-Res High Fidelity In-Ear Earphones
| 1More earphones bag another spot on our list of best earphones under $300 and for the right reasons. It comes with a Hi-Res certified Bluetooth adaptor that works efficiently with LDAC as well as AAC. The addition of a 100 mAh li-ion rechargeable battery allows the earphone to offer non-stop music for up to 8 hours. You need to plug the headphones into the Bluetooth adaptor to facilitate Bluetooth 5 connection. |  |
Additionally, there are quad drivers featuring a diamond-like dynamic driver along with three balanced armatures. The sound is perfectly tuned by Luca Bignardi, who is an award-winning sound engineer to extend entirely balanced as well as an ultra-realistic soundstage. The manufacturer has put special emphasis on crafting the earphones to fit the ears perfectly.
The 45-degree angled nozzles are designed to align the natural formation of the ear canals; therefore, you will get a secure and comfortable fit. By allowing the earphones to sit comfortably in the ears, 1More ensures that you have a seamless workout experience. Owing to the in-built MEMS microphone, which is situated ideally under the jawline, users can have crystal clear and hands-free phone calls.
Specifications
- Form factor – In-ear
- Connectivity technology – Wired, Bluetooth
- Battery – 100 mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery
- Drivers – 4
- Cable length – 1.25 m
- Weight – 18.5 g
- Cable material – Oxygen-free Copper Wire
- Frequency Range – Between 20 Hz and 40,000 Hz
- Sensitivity – 99 Db
- Impedance – 32Ω
- Rated Power – 5 Mw
Pros
- The earphones have balanced sound quality.
- The overall build quality of the product is exceptional
- The remote control work on both iOS and Android
- The earphone offers decent audio reproduction
- It has low leakage, which adds to the audio quality
- The lightweight and ultra-portable design of the earphones come in handy
Cons
- The earphone has below average noise isolation.
- The poor soundstage of the earphones impact the listening experience
- Foam ear tips are not sealed well, so it may feel uncomfortable for long wear
4. Etymotic Research ER3SE In-Ear Earphones
| The limited-edition ER3 SE is the next product on our list of the best earphones under $300. The earphone comes in a standard box featuring a lot of pictures as well as technical specifications. The earphone is integrated with a 12 pc expanded tip assortment as well as a 3.5mm adapter. There is a reinforced and detachable cable that you can pull straight to disconnect from the earphone and simply press together to snap it back in the place. |  |
The manufacturer has designed this earphone for isolation and blocking maximum outside noise. This is achieved by fitting the earphones deep into the ear canal. When you buy the product, you will get an instruction label, which shows how to perfect the tips. The ER3 SE earphones are professional-grade earphones that are developed essentially for monitoring. This implies that the main objective is to reproduce the sound in a detailed, neutral and accurate manner. The volume power can go up to 120 Db, which will make you feel like you are standing close to a jackhammer.
The product has a relatively low resistance and high sensitivity rating, which makes it work efficiently well on any device without needing an amplifier. The isolation is great as you will not be able to hear what the person in front of you is saying. Along with the earphones, you will also get replacement filters and filter tools. Furthermore, Etymotic Research also offers a two-year manufacturer’s warranty with this earphone.
Specifications
- Color – Black
- Connectivity technology – Wired
- Form Factor – In-ear
- Impedance – 22 ohms
- Cable – 4 ft detachable MMCX connectors
- Noise isolation – 35 dB to 42 dB
- Frequency response – Between 20Hz and 16kHz
- Item weight – 6.75 ounces
- Item Dimensions – 7 x 2 x 4 inches
Pros
- The earphone offers a precise sound signature and clarity across all frequency ranges.
- It comes with a detachable cable
- The build quality of the earphone is excellent
- The earphones have great sound isolation
- The MMCX connectors are a great feature
Cons
- There is no mic available in the earphone
- This product is not ideal for bass lovers.
- The ear tips, while secure, may feel uncomfortable
- Highs in the high volumes can come out quite harsh
5. Final Audio True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds With Charging Case
| The last product on our list of best earphones under $300 is the Final Audio Bluetooth earbuds. It comes with a built-in mic along with hands-free touch control, facilitate easy access to music and phone calls. The design of this wireless Bluetooth is inspired by the characters of Evangelion. |  |
Coming to the sound performance, the wireless Bluetooth earbuds balanced high-quality sound with robust bass and clear vocals. The manufacturer has added efficient dynamic drivers for precise sound reproduction. In terms of the battery, the earbuds claim to offer a maximum of 9 hours of playback music on a single charge.
Moreover, you will get 63 hours of battery life when the earbuds are in a fully charged case. The company has incorporated great technologies to make sound performance better. The earbuds are integrated with Bluetooth 5.0 technology, SBC, ACC encoding, and free sound protocol APTX. Additionally, the Final Audio earbuds are designed to be compatible with Android and iPhone smartphones.
The addition of Bluetooth 5.0 makes the pairing quick and easy. Along with the earbuds, you get a portable power charging case, USB Type-C cable, ear tips in different sizes (XS, S, M, L, and XL), and an English user manual.
Specifications
- Color – Purple and Green
- Connectivity technology – Wireless
- Connector Type – USB Type C
- Form Factor – In-ear
- Chipset – Qualcomm QCC3020
- Codec supported – Qualcomm aptX, SBC, ACC audio
- Frequency Response – 20 Hz to 20k Hz
- Communication Format – Bluetooth 5.0
- Battery – lithium-ion battery
- Battery Capacity – 50mAh in earphone units and 950 mAh in the charging case
- Item weight – 3.17 ounces
- Item dimension – 6.89 x 5.98 x 1.73 inches
Pros
- The earphones are quite comfortable to wear
- The bass of the earphones are excellent
- The quality and design of the wireless earphone are top-notch
Cons
- The wireless earphones lack adequate CODE compatibility
- It has a lower high-end emphasis
Buying Guide
Now that you know what your best option for the best earphones under $300 is, you may be still confused as to how to choose among these amazing options. The decision of what earphones you need to buy depends on various factors that include:
Types of Earphones
The earphones industry is expansive, and you will come across a wide range of earphone options to choose from, including:
Open-Back or Closed Back
Open-back headphones are designed more acoustically transparent and enable the outer sound to be heard by the user. They allow air to pass through the ear cups, thereby protecting the pressure build-up. Additionally, many high-end headphones are integrated with open-backs to allow more natural sound. However, they tend to allow a lot of sounds, distracting the listener.
Closed-back headphones feature an outer casing with no vents or holes. This means a lot of sounds are trapped inside the cups while keeping the external noises from entering. Subsequently, your music may come across unnatural as opposed to the sound you hear in open headphones. However, if you are looking for a stronger bass output, then closed-back headphones are ideal for you.
In-Ear
These are also known as earbuds or earphones, which are the most commonly used devices. These range from the ones that you get with your new smartphone to the disposable ones that you are provided on the airplanes. These are majorly lightweight and compact in size, making them highly portable. The core designs of these earphones cater to an active lifestyle, and you get excellent noise isolation. A drawback of in-ear pieces is that they tend to get easily tangled. Moreover, the sound performance they offer is limited due to the compact size.
On-Ear
These are also known as supra-aural headphones and rest on top of the outer ears but do not completely cover the ear. Additionally, the headphone band generally goes behind or over the head of the headphones. On-ear headphones are smaller and lighter in comparison to over-ear headphones and are offered in closed-back and open-back models.
Over-Ear
Over-ear headphones are also reckoned as circumaural headphones, and they completely cover your ears. They are also offered in open-back and closed-back versions. These are among the most comfortable headphones to wear and offer exceptional natural acoustic isolation.
Wired vs. Wireless
Wireless headphones are rapidly becoming the go-to choice for the consumer, especially after the popularity of the 3.5 mm audio jack. Moreover, wireless earphones also eliminate the cable, allowing more mobility. These earphones are also integrated with improved Bluetooth codes, including ApptX low latency, AptX HD, AptX, and AAC to enhance the sound experience.
On the other hand, wired earphones are considered a more reliable choice. The analog signal in wired headphones is capable of handling more data as opposed to Bluetooth models. This allows wired headphones to offer great sound quality.
True Wireless Earphones
These earphones are a new offering and have become extremely popular. True wireless earphones are in-ear models that are stored within a case where they can be charged. These are highly portable and cater to the modern lifestyle. As the name suggests, they completely avoid the need for cables, and premium models come with excellent battery capabilities.
Cables
If you are going for wired earphones, then make sure that the cable is long enough to cater to your particular situation. However, avoid any cables that are too long as they tend to impact the sound quality by introducing noise and lowering volume. Moreover, a premium cable will be well-protected to reduce the noise to the maximum.
Another consideration in this point itself is single-sided cables and double-sided cables. Single-sided designs feature internal circuitry to transmit the signals to the right earpieces. Generally, people opt for single-sided designs as the double-sided cable tends to get tangled easily.
Durability
Contrary to many other consumer electronics, the latest headphones will not be obsolete for the coming 6 to 12 months. In fact, if you have invested in good earphones, they might last you for a long time. So there is no way to consider earphones as a disposable technology.
Make sure to properly assess how well the earphones have been designed. If the earphones fold up to provide easy storage, check whether or not they are prone to easily falling apart. Moreover, also check the wear and tear capabilities of earbuds and earpads.
Comfort
When it comes to choosing the best earphones under $300, you cannot overlook the comfort factor. Headphones that are enclosed or cover your ears tend to get hot, making you feel uncomfortable. Moreover, some bigger sealed earphones with cushy leatherette earpads can get too bulky.
Headphones that focus too much on style often turn out to be bulky and can feel uncomfortable after a couple of hours of usage. You will find that lighter headband-style headphones are more comfortable to wear. Even if they do not offer a high comfort level, they definitely offer better portability. The only way to check the comfort of the earphone is to wear them for ten minutes and see how comfortably they fit in your ears.
Open vs. Sealed
The sealed headphones are noise isolating full-size earcup designs or in-ear models that work to acoustically isolate the ears from the external environment. The degree of isolation varies between one headphone to another. Moreover, the addition of a seal limits the sound’s leakage outside of the room. If you are looking for earphones for private listening, then you can consider sealed models.
On the other hand, open headphones like foam earpad designs or sports designs are designed to offer acoustic transparency. They enable the outside sound to be heard through headphones, and the sound coming from the headphone will be mostly audible to the people standing nearby to the wearer.
Typically, these headphones generate more open sound as compared to sealed designs. This is because they do not block the sound coming from outside. If you are planning to wear earphones during outdoor activities, then open earphones are recommended.
Control Settings
Some earphones and headphones come integrated with a microphone. These are designed to be used with smartphones to facilitate calling. Generally, these earphones come with a button so that you can pick up the call without reaching out to your phone. It is a convenient feature, especially when you are on the go.
On the other hand, some earphones and headphones feature a volume control setting so that you can easily adjust the volume level. Moreover, headphones can extend a more engaging experience, allowing you to wear them for a long time.
Frequency Response
This information is generally mentioned on the packaging. Frequency response informs you regarding the range of sound that an earphone is capable of reproducing. The accepted range for human hearing standard between 20Hz and 20kHz.
However, the earphone’s ability to produce these frequencies does not imply that they produce good sound. There are different frequency responses with their own nickname, such as flat, neutral. Theoretically, a headset or flat frequency response is the one that is capable of reproducing all the notes with proportionate loudness.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, best earphones under $300 hand-picked and comprehensively reviewed for you. Additionally, the buying guide will provide you with the necessary information that you need to make a well-informed decision.
Now that you have the best earphones for you, check out the Best Headphones for Kids.