Wireless earbuds under $100: five reviewer picks and what each one gives up

How these five were picked

This roundup is based on published reviews. We did not use any of these earbuds ourselves. The shortlist comes from the SoundGuys guide to wireless earbuds under $100, updated October 15, 2026, which gives each pick a category. We then checked it against full reviews from SoundGuys and Expert Reviews. Noise-cancelling and battery figures are SoundGuys lab measurements unless the text says otherwise. Manufacturer claims are labelled as claims.

All five had a list price of about $100 or less when we checked in November 2026. All five also support LDAC, a Bluetooth codec for higher-bitrate audio on compatible Android phones. They differ in what each one gives up: noise-cancelling strength, battery life, case design, out-of-the-box tuning, or extras like wireless charging.

EarFun Air Pro 4+: the all-rounder with merely average noise cancelling

SoundGuys names the Air Pro 4+ its best overall pair under $100, at a list price of around $99.99 (seen November 2026). The manufacturer lists Bluetooth 6.0, LDAC and aptX Lossless support, and an IP55 dust and water rating. Expert Reviews gave it a Best Buy badge in March 2026 and called it a “new budget benchmark.” The reviewer praised the balanced, detailed sound and a comfortable, stable fit, with five eartip sizes and over three hours of wear on a coach trip without discomfort. The app also drew praise. It includes a 10-band equaliser, a hearing-test sound profile, a low-lag gaming mode and a volume limit.

The trade-off is noise cancelling. SoundGuys measured an 80% reduction in outside noise and rates it as only average. Expert Reviews found it handles constant droning well but is weaker on voices. Its wind-noise handling was poor, even in the dedicated wind mode. That reviewer also called the build plasticky and said the Soundcore Liberty 5 and OnePlus Buds 4 cancel noise better at a similar price. Battery life is another gap: EarFun claims up to 8 hours with noise cancelling on, but SoundGuys measured 6 hours 17 minutes.

Who it suits: buyers who want one pair that does most things well and care more about sound and fit than about blocking out every voice on a train.

Soundcore Liberty 4 NC: the strongest noise cancelling, the bulkiest case

Anker's Liberty 4 NC is the noise-cancelling pick in the SoundGuys guide. It cut outside noise by 84% on average, which SoundGuys says ties for the highest it has measured under $100. The list price was around $99.99 (seen November 2026). SoundGuys' full review lists adaptive noise cancelling plus five manual strength levels, a wind-reduction setting and a transport mode. Battery life is the other strength: 9 hours 53 minutes with noise cancelling on in SoundGuys' test, and about 50 more hours in the case. It also has Qi wireless charging, multipoint pairing, Bluetooth 5.3 and LDAC.

The compromises are physical and tonal. SoundGuys calls the case chunky and hard to pocket, and says its matte finish scuffs easily. Comfort was rated average, fine for a couple of hours. The earbuds are rated IPX4, but the reviewer says they are not designed for running or the gym. Out of the box, bass and treble are boosted, and SoundGuys found many of the 22 EQ presets too bassy. Signing in to the Soundcore app requires sharing personal data.

Who it suits: commuters and frequent flyers who want the quietest listening and the longest battery in this group, and don't mind a bigger case.

Nothing Ear (3a): the most features, but bassy until you tune it

Nothing released the Ear (3a) in July 2026 at $99, and SoundGuys picks it for features, with an 8/10 score. It measured 80.9% noise reduction, and battery life with noise cancelling off matched Nothing's claim of about 10 hours. Nothing estimates about 6 hours with noise cancelling on, but SoundGuys could not verify that because the wear sensor interfered with its test setup. The earbuds have Bluetooth 6.0, LDAC, multipoint, an IP54 rating and an 8-band parametric EQ in the Nothing X app. Other features include Audio Snapshots, which saves up to 32 MB of clips when you pinch both earbuds. Call recording and paid transcription need a Nothing account. ChatGPT voice (which needs a subscription) and Essential News briefings work on Nothing phones.

SoundGuys rated the microphones “a lot better than most $99 earbuds” in wind and street noise, though they pick up echo in reverberant rooms. The main drawback is tuning: the reviewer calls the stock sound “far too bassy,” though a few EQ changes fix it. The in-ear sensor was finicky, noise cancelling sometimes dropped out when the fit wasn't snug, and the buds need care to seat correctly in the case or they may not charge.

Who it suits: people who make lots of calls, Nothing phone owners, and anyone happy to spend a few minutes in an app adjusting the sound.

SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+: the sound pick with the shortest battery

SoundGuys rates the Capsule3 Pro+ the best-sounding earbuds under $100. The list price was around $99.99 (seen November 2026). They use xMEMS solid-state drivers and support LDAC, Bluetooth 5.3 and multipoint. SoundGuys' review is older than the others here (December 2024). It gave sound quality 4.9 out of 5 on its MDAQS measurement and noted mildly emphasised bass. The reviewer found the roughly 5 g earbuds light and comfortable for hours, and the app offers a 10-band EQ with nine presets.

The cost is battery life and convenience. SoundGuys measured 3 hours 53 minutes with noise cancelling on, the shortest here, and called it disappointing. There is no ear-detection sensor, so music doesn't pause when you take a bud out, and no wireless charging. Noise cancelling blocked up to 30 dB of steady noise like fans, but sudden sounds such as clanging dishes got through and sometimes seemed amplified. The water rating is IPX4. The microphone is clear in quiet conditions but filters background noise imperfectly.

Who it suits: listeners who care most about sound and mostly listen in shorter sessions, at a desk or on short trips, where a quick recharge is easy.

CMF Buds 2 Plus: the lowest price, fewer extras

SoundGuys names the CMF Buds 2 Plus, from Nothing's lower-priced brand, its best-value pick. The list price was around $69 (seen November 2026), and SoundGuys notes it often sells for less. The guide measured 83% noise reduction and 10 hours 22 minutes of battery with noise cancelling off. The full review adds about 60 hours with the case, and says a 10-minute charge gives more than 8 hours of playback. Features include LDAC, Bluetooth 5.4, adaptive noise cancelling and a Personal Sound hearing test that builds a custom profile. The reviewer described the sound as clean and detailed.

The savings show in the details. There is no wireless charging. The rotating Smart Dial from earlier CMF earbuds is gone; the dial on this case turns but does nothing, which the reviewer calls the main disappointment. There is also no single-tap play/pause. Noise cancelling is advertised at 50 dB, but SoundGuys measured just past 40 dB in some frequency ranges. Battery life fell short of the 14 hours CMF advertises, and the microphone was weaker indoors. The rating is IP55.

Who it suits: buyers who want noise cancelling and LDAC for the lowest price and don't need wireless charging or extra controls. SoundGuys suggests the older CMF Buds Pro 2 may be better value for anyone who wants the Smart Dial.

Picking between them

Most of the measurements here come from one lab, SoundGuys, so they are most useful for comparing these five with each other. They don't predict how a pair will fit your ears. Prices also change often, so check current listings before buying.

• Quiet commutes and long flights: Soundcore Liberty 4 NC

• A balanced all-rounder: EarFun Air Pro 4+

• Calls, app features or a Nothing phone: Nothing Ear (3a)

• Sound quality in short sessions: SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+

• Lowest spend: CMF Buds 2 Plus

Sources

• The best wireless earbuds under $100 – SoundGuys
• EarFun Air Pro 4+ review – Expert Reviews
• Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC review – SoundGuys
• Nothing Ear (3a) review – SoundGuys
• SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro+ review – SoundGuys
• CMF Buds 2 Plus review – SoundGuys