Battery life: 6 hours, 26 with case | Noise cancellation: Yes, active | Quick charging: Yes | Voice assistant: Google, Siri | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Compatibility: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS

While I much prefer full-sized headsets, the Ugreen HiTune X6 earbuds are some of the most impressive I’ve come across. The battery life is comparable to what you’d find in 3rd gen AirPods: 6 hours on a full charge and an additional 26 with the charging case for a total of 30 hours of playback. They also have a quick-charge feature where just 10 minutes gives you a few hours of play. And while the audio isn’t quite what you’d get with AirPods, the HiTune X6 still deliver high quality sound for a fraction of the price. 

They even have active noise-canceling technology that is seriously remarkable for a $50 pair of earbuds. I often use the HiTune X6 when I want to enjoy some time on my deck or in my backyard where traffic noise is such an issue. But with the ANC turned on, it’s barely noticeable, which means that I can read, watch videos, or listen to music and podcasts while enjoying some sunshine or nice weather. The onboard touch controls let you quickly adjust volume, mute, pause/play media, and activate voice assistants like Hey Google and Siri.

Battery life: 7 hours, 24 with case | Noise cancellation: Yes, active | Quick charging: Yes | Voice assistant: No | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Compatibility: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS

The HiTune T3 earbuds from Ugreen are great for iPhone users due to their one-step pairing, dual microphone array for calls, and resemblance to AirPods. The HiTune T3 earbuds sell for around $40, which is $130 less than the third generation AirPods, but they still give you great features. 

These budget-friendly earbuds have active noise-canceling tech that is solid for the price. I have a pair and live next to a busy highway, and when I have the ANC feature turned on, I can barely hear the heavy traffic noise when I want to sit on my deck. 

They’re also pretty comfortable, offering different silicone tips for the perfect fit; they stay in place fairly well and don’t feel like they’re digging into your ears or ear canal. On a full charge, you can get up to 7 hours of playback and a total of 24 hours of use with the included charging case. And just 10 minutes of charging gives you about an hour of use, which is great for when you forgot to charge overnight and want to catch up with lecture recordings or play music on your walk to class. The dual microphones also use noise-canceling tech to isolate your voice from background noise for clearer calls.

Battery life: 10 hours, 40 with case | Noise cancellation: Yes, active | Quick charging: Yes | Voice assistant: No | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Compatibility: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS

The JBL Tune 230NC earbuds have one of the best battery lives you can find, no matter your budget. On a full charge, you can get up to 10 hours of playback, and the included charging case gives you an additional 30 hours for a total of 40 hours of play. This means you can listen to music and podcasts or jump into Zoom meetings and Slack calls all week before you need to recharge. And just 10 minutes of charging time gives you up to 2 hours of play, which is great for when you forgot to charge overnight and need your earbuds for your morning commute. 

The earbuds are also IPX4-rated for water resistance against sweat, rain, and spills. The Tune 230NC also uses ANC technology to eliminate background noise so you can focus on your audio; the six-microphone array uses two mics to monitor and cancel out background noise while the other four capture your voice clearly for calls. And when you need to keep an ear open to your surroundings, you can switch to the Ambient Aware mode so you won’t miss travel announcements, side conversations, or traffic noise.

Battery life: 6 hours, 30 with case | Noise cancellation: Yes, active | Quick charging: Yes | Voice assistant: No | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Compatibility: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS

The EarFun Air S earbuds are an excellent mid-range option if you’re looking for affordable earbuds you can use across multiple platforms and devices. With Bluetooth 5.2 and a dual-pairing mode, you can wirelessly connect to up to two devices simultaneously and easily switch between them; which means that you can take calls on your phone and listen to music or hop into virtual meetings on your PC without having to disconnect your earbuds. They’re also a good choice for gaming with the 100ms latency for nearly lag-free audio. 

The 10mm drivers give you rich, clean audio while ANC technology actively blocks out background noise to let you focus on your music, podcast, game, or work. But if you need to keep an ear open, you can use the ambient sound mode so you can hear quick side conversations or travel announcements. The EarFun Air S earbuds also have a great battery life, giving you up to 6 hours of play on a full charge while the case gives you 24 more for all-day playback; and if you’re in a hurry, just 2 minutes of charging gives you 2 hours of play. The charging case also supports wireless charging, so you don’t have to keep track of yet another USB-C cable.

Battery life: 9 hours, 33 with case | Noise cancellation: No | Quick charging: No | Voice assistant: Google, Siri | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Compatibility: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS

If you’re working with a very limited budget when shopping for new earbuds, you can pick up the Skullcandy Jib True 2 for about $40. And just because they’re ultra budget-friendly, that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on features. You can use either earbud by itself to keep an ear open to your surroundings so you don’t miss important travel announcements and stay safe when crossing busy intersections. The earbuds also feature intuitive touch controls for quickly adjusting volume, skipping songs, taking calls, and activating your voice assistant so you never have to take your phone out of your pocket. 

They’re also IPX4-rated for water resistance, so sweat, light rain, and accidental spills won’t ruin your new earbuds. And if you have a hard time keeping track of your things, the Jib True 2 have Tile locating technology built-in so you can always find them. On a full charge, you can get up to 9 hours of playback with these earbuds, and the included case gives you 24 more for a total of 33 hours; which means that you’ll have plenty of juice to listen to music and podcasts on your commutes or while you work.