LBB Tried & Tested: 9 Best Earbuds That Cost Less Than The AirPods 3

One of the latest I've tried, the Boult Audio Red Wireless AirBass Livebuds are great competition for hi-tech earbuds that have both button control and Voice Assistant Controls. Unlike other earbuds where you fumble about with many taps and buttons, this one has one multi-function button, and then like a good AI product listens when you talk via Siri or Google Assistant. At least you can look like you have friends when you're running in the park now! Its noise-cancellation is good, and unless it's loud honking, you're fine. The bass is a bomb, and the sound, for the price, is not tinny at all. I like that you can use these as a monopod without compromising on sound quality - voice or music. The earbuds have a nano coating which can apparently make these and the case washable. Naturally, I have not tried it yet. But it did get wet in a proper monsoon rain, and they're still alive! 

Run Time: This lasts 5 hours on charge, but if you have a fully charged case, you can recharge four more times so hello 20 hours of play time!

Price: INR 8,999 (currently at INR 1,500)

When in doubt, JBL it out, right? Right. And you won't go wrong with the new JBL Tune 130NC TWS. Not only are these kitted out with active noise cancellation up to 40dbs, but they also come with an app connection that allows you to retrofit the sound to your preference. Love bass? Jank it up on the app. Oh, and my two favourite aspects of this one is the Talk Through and Smart Ambient. The first lets you just pause for a quick chat without needing to actually take out your ear buds. The second one lets ambient sounds filter in so you're in tune with the surroundings. I especially appreciate this one as a woman because lets face it, you need to be on guard at ALL times. So, this helps. 

More on this soon though, as I've only just got it two weeks ago. 

Run Time: 40 hours on the box. And though I've only used it a few times, I've not had to recharge the box yet. And I am at about 25 odd hours of listening. 

Price: INR 5,249

Weighing a meagre 4g each, the pTron Bassbuds offer a comfortable user experience with a heavy bass output and a smooth, touch control system. Throw in passive noise cancellation, voice assistant support, and up to 15 hours of playtime, and you have a winner right there. These are available in black, brown, and rose gold. Be warned that they are a bit flimsy. In fact, these are not the best if you're using it for a run (though they are rain and sweat resistant), or while on a bike. This is a bit more office or home kinds!

Run Time: 15 hours on a full charge; but some times, it dies out at about 4 hours. It's fairly inconsistent!

Price: INR 4,999 (Available for INR 999 currently)

These small and light earbuds will give you 2.5 - 3 hours of listening time on the buds, and about 10 hours on a double case charge. While it's water/sweat resistant, is tiny enough to fit in your pocket with the case, and has a single button to control volume, tracks and take calls, my favourite feature is that both the buds have mics. This means, the can function as monopods, and you can save power, if you are on calls. OK, maybe there's another cool feature too. It comes with Tile Bluetooth trackers which means you won't lose your pods again...hopefully! 

Run Time: 2.5 - 3 hours

Price: INR 7,999

No audio list is ever complete without boAT, our very own homegrown brand. These true wireless Airdopes 441 by boAt offer a sporty design, with an immersive sound, IPX7 dust and water resistance, and voice assistant support. What truly sets them apart is the large battery life - up to 25 hours - and the 'insta wake n' pair' feature which results in seamless connectivity as soon as the case is opened. Available in black, red, yellow, blue, and lime.

Run Time: On a full charge, this ones gives you an easy 20+ hours.

Price: INR 5,999 (Available for INR 2,499, currently)

Team LBB's current favourite, we actually got four of these and took it for a proper test run and to give you a proper lowdown on these new trending buds in the market. Some features we loved were the little dots on the ear buds to represent left or right, they are quite a snug fit and don't plop out while doing heavy exercise, and music comes through with good quality sound, bass included. The biggest testament for the battery life is that our sales lead used it for five hours straight and it did not die on her! WIN!

Watch our honest review here.

Run Time: 8-10 hours on a full charge. 

Price: INR 5.499

Among all the true wireless earphones on this list, the Samsung Galaxy Buds+ offers the best sound by a long stretch. The 2-way speaker system means the high notes sound super clear, while the bass is amazingly powerful. You don't have to worry about calls too, cause the three in-built mics limit surrounding sounds and make sure you're being heard well. There's also wireless charging through any Qi-compatible wireless charger and with a playback time of up to 22 hours, these buds will keep playing your music for quite some time. Available in black.

Run Time: This one genuinely is a solid one on battery life at 22 hours and more. And it has not reduced with over a year of use too.

Price: INR 13,990 (Available for INR 10,490, currently)

With four LBB Crew Members vouching for this one, we think it's a winner. Not only are they a bit drizzleproof (please don't go dancing in the rain and expect them to survive!), have three size options for a snug fit and give decent quality sound, but they cost only INR 1,499. The battery life is approximately 4-6 hours, on a single charge, officially; from experience though, it is more between 3-4 with non-stop use. What is noteworthy though is that it auto switches off when not connected to a device for more than 2 minutes.

Run Time: This one's a bit low at 6 hours. But a quick charge of even 10 minutes give it another 60 minutes.

Price: INR 4,999 but it is pretty much always available for INR 1,499 

Another homegrown brand, TAGG has a range of impressive audio accessories, including this very sturdy pair of Liberty Lite true wireless earphones. The snug design of this one means it's a great choice for those intense workouts and the up to 30 hours of playback time is truly a blessing. Music and calls both sound crystal clear on this one and it is IPX4 water-resistant too. Available only in black.

MRP: INR 3,999 (Available for INR 3,499, currently)