The best noise-cancelling budget headphones are for those who want to keep the noise out while not spilling all of their money on expensive brand names that tend to feel like a waste for the price. These are for those who still want wireless headphones, too, as many of these are thankfully wireless. Just keep in mind that you’ll need an adapter to game with these since consoles don’t currently support Bluetooth audio natively, which are the first two items on this guide. If you want wireless earbuds, you can check out our guide on that, too.
If you want to play it on PS4, you’ll need an adapter. The same goes for the Switch.
- Buy the 1Mii USB Bluetooth Adapter for PC PS4 Bluetooth 5.0 Audio Transmitter
- Buy the ZIOCOM Bluetooth Adapter Audio Transmitter for Nintendo Switch
There are a few types of over-ear, noise cancelling, and wireless headphones that are a little on the expensive side of the budget types, but they may be worth it. The COWIN E7 is one of those. Not only do they look slick, but they can also cancel noise in their wired and wireless modes (which is around 30 hours). And they also come in a ton of different colors, which is the cherry on top. There’s also a newer Pro version with better specs.
- Buy the COWIN E7 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones Bluetooth Headphones
- Buy the COWIN E7 PRO [Upgraded] Active Noise Cancelling Headphones Bluetooth Headphones
The TREBLAB Z2 headphones are a little more expensive and push the boundaries of budget, but budget is a relative term. They come with a case and have a long 35-hour battery that complement their noise-cancelling capabilities. They’re not fully waterproof, but are IPX4, which is still higher than other types of bigger headphones like this as they can withstand a few splashes. That means they are specifically great for workouts but might not be worth the extra money if you don’t want the extra features.
The Anker Soundcore amps up the battery life even further, claiming to have 40 hours. Their fairly basic look makes up for their functionality. Anker even claims it has exclusive bass-boosting tech, which might be worth it for those who want them for home use. It even has four microphones to help with its noise cancelling.
The Boltune headphones don’t have any special features that top the rest. It’s got noise cancelling and a decent 30-hour battery, but not the best of either. However, they’re still functional and would be worth it for those looking for a slightly cheaper set or for those who like its metallic look even more.
The Utaxo headphones are in a similar boat as in they aren’t the best, but have a still impressive set of features that are perfectly serviceable. The slight red accent is appealing, too, and might oddly be the thing for you if you don’t need the best of the best.
The Vankyo headphones might appear to be in the same camp as the last few headphones — as if to say, decent but not the best in many (or any) regards — but it does have two distinct advantages over the rest: it can be folded and has USB-C charging. Folding headphones is quite rare in this lineup and that alone is worth a look, especially if you travel a lot. It obviously comes with a case, too.
The Mpow headphones are the most budget of the budget headphones. However, they claim to have a 45-hour battery life that charges quickly, which is nothing to scoff at. They also fold and are pretty light, making them for people who want to use these for travelling. The mic only works in Bluetooth mode and it doesn’t have the most impressive set of features, but they’ll get the job done.
