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Upgrading to a better pair of buds doesn’t always have to cost money. If you’re looking for a simple, no-frills pair of buds that’s on most must-have lists, we have some recommendations for you for $150 or less. The list of must-haves might include good audio, a comfortable fit, intuitive controls, a battery that doesn’t always keep you tied to a socket, and, ideally, noise cancellation if that’s a necessity for you. Could.
As a good budget-friendly selection, we recommend the brand new Samsung Galaxy Buds FEwhich provides excellent ANC Google Pixel Buds ProWhich is a great (much cheaper) alternative to the Apple AirPods Pro, and Studio Beats BudsWhich is also a great, Android-friendly alternative.
Gizmodo’s editorial staff independently tests and reviews every product found in our Buyer’s Guide. If you buy something using our affiliate links, G/O Media may earn a commission. Affiliate linking does not influence our editorial content.
Samsung Galaxy Buds FE
![A photo of the Galaxy Buds FE box and buds](https://i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_60,w_645/e1bbaa66dc825e76b33fa6db52823702.jpg "/></picture></div>
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<p><figcaption class="sc-7s1ndr-0 fPOdhF no-caption">picture<!-- -->, <!-- -->Dua Rasheed/Gizmodo</figcaption></p>
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<p><span data-id="e1bbaa66dc825e76b33fa6db52823702" data-recommend-id="image://e1bbaa66dc825e76b33fa6db52823702" data-format="jpg" data-width="1315" data-height="740" data-lightbox="true" data-alt="A photo of the Galaxy Buds FE box and buds" data-recommended="false" data-hide="false" class="js_recommend"/></figure>
<p class="sc-77igqf-0 fnnahv">The Samsung Galaxy Buds FE are marketed as a pocket-friendly option and make a great gift. They don’t offer all the bells and whistles you might want <span><a class="sc-1out364-0 dPMosf sc-145m8ut-0 jCErAQ js_link" data-ga="[["Embedded Url","Internal link","https://gizmodo.com/samsung-galaxy-buds-2-pro-tv-hi-fi-wireless-earbuds-1849387849",{"metric25":1}]]" href="https://gizmodo.com/samsung-galaxy-buds-2-pro-tv-hi-fi-wireless-earbuds-1849387849">Galaxy Buds2 Pro</a></span>For example, but for the price, I guess I don’t mind.</p>
<p class="sc-77igqf-0 fnnahv">Think of these as a no-frills, no-nonsense pair of buds that look good and won’t cost you a lot of money. If you don’t have money to spare or want to buy your child’s first pair of buds, this is an excellent entry-level product. The ANC is more impressive than you’d expect on this cheap pair of buds, and the sound isn’t what you’d call bad. They feature simple, intuitive controls and a comfortable, secure fit. Battery life (30 hours with ANC off and 21 hours with it on) is slightly better than <span><a class="sc-1out364-0 dPMosf sc-145m8ut-0 jCErAQ js_link" data-ga="[["Embedded Url","Internal link","https://gizmodo.com/samsungs-galaxy-buds-2-set-a-new-standard-for-affordabl-1847461840",{"metric25":1}]]" href="https://gizmodo.com/samsungs-galaxy-buds-2-set-a-new-standard-for-affordabl-1847461840">galaxy buds 2</a></span> and the Buds 2 Pro, which are more expensive than the FE Buds. It may not feature the kind of sound layering one would expect, but at this price that’s forgivable. <span><a class="sc-1out364-0 dPMosf sc-145m8ut-0 jCErAQ js_link" data-ga="[["Embedded Url","Internal link","https://gizmodo.com/samsung-galaxy-buds-fe-review-1851022147",{"metric25":1}]]" href="https://gizmodo.com/samsung-galaxy-buds-fe-review-1851022147"><em>Read more</em></a></span><em> – two receipts</em></p>
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<h2 class="sc-1bwb26k-1 dezcon" id="h80731">Google Pixel Buds Pro<br /></h2>
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<div class="sc-1eow4w5-2 fDJNBs has-data img-wrapper" contenteditable="false" style="max-width:1315px" data-alt="A photo of a person holding the Pixel Buds Pro charging case with the buds inside." data-link-reference="" data-link-target="" data-syndicationrights="true" data-imagerights="in-house-art" data-hide="false" data-hidecredit="false"><span class="sc-1eow4w5-0 knmQPh js_lightbox-wrapper"></p>
<div style="padding-bottom:56.3%" class="sc-1eow4w5-3 hGpdBg"><picture class="sc-epkw7d-0 diKDHf lazy-picture"><source media="(max-width: 37.31em)" type="image/jpeg" srcset="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-srcset="https://i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_60,w_645/ed7a5c9d565051e84ee21b23ab6cf2d4.jpg"/><source media="(min-width: 37.37em)" type="image/jpeg" srcset="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-srcset="https://i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_60,w_1315/ed7a5c9d565051e84ee21b23ab6cf2d4.jpg"/><img alt="Photo of a person holding the Pixel Buds Pro charging case with the buds in place." data-chomp-id="ed7a5c9d565051e84ee21b23ab6cf2d4" data-format="jpg" data-height="740" data-alt=){kind=tracking}
The Google Pixel Buds Pro sound better and offer better ANC performance than the Apple AirPods Pro. They pair with iPhone, iPad, and MacBook as easily as any wireless earbuds. But like AirPods and iPhones, pairing the Pixel Buds Pro with an Android device is a better and more streamlined experience.
Let’s say you’re an Android user looking for a new pair of buds. In that case, the Pixel Buds Pro are an excellent option and offer Google-centric features like quick access to Google Assistant by simply saying “Hey, Google” when paired with an Android device without pressing any buttons. If active noise cancellation is a priority I’d also recommend them over options like Sony’s WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds, as the Pixel Buds Pro offer competitive ANC performance while being far more comfortable to wear. Read more -Andrew Liszewski
Studio Beats Buds
The Beats Studio Buds offer an excellent design, fit and quite a premium feel. With ANC constantly on, Beats promises five hours in each earbud and 10 hours in the charging case, resulting in 15 hours of battery life. But if you toggle between ANC and transparency modes, you’ll get eight hours of playtime in each bud, and up to 24 hours overall. It is equivalent to AirPods Pro. If your battery is on its last legs as you’re heading out the door, 5 minutes of charging will give you an hour of charge.
For $150, the audio quality and active noise cancellation is impressive, and for those who aren’t totally into Apple, the ability to set these up intuitively with an iOS or Android device is clutch. Read more – Caitlin McGarry
This list is regularly updated with new recommendations.
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