6 brilliant, budget-friendly headphones for students — including 5-star earbuds, and Sony cans that deliver 'flagship-level features' for an astoundingly low price

Great headphones don't need to cost the earth.

<![CDATA[ <article> <p>Great headphones don't need to cost the earth. If you're heading back to school and in need of a budget-friendly pair of cans or earbuds to help you block out distractions while you study, I'm here to help. </p><p>At TechRadar, we review dozens of pairs of headphones every year, and while we've tested some superb premium models, we've also been blown away by a few budget-friendly options. Below, I've rounded up the affordable headphones we rated most highly in our tests, and the ones we'd recommend to any student seeking maximum auditory bang for their buck. </p><p>If it's over-ears you're after, our top pick is the <a href="https://www.techradar.com/audio/wireless-headphones/cmf-by-nothing-headphone-pro-review">CMF Headphone Pro</a>, which our tester commented "could easily cost twice as much", after being impressed with their "surprisingly zealous and bass-hungry sound quality" and "outstanding battery life". For in-ears, the <a href="https://www.techradar.com/audio/earbuds-airpods/nothing-ear-a-review">Nothing Ear (a)</a> are our #1 recommendation — they earned a perfect five stars in our tests. </p><p>Read on for more brilliant, budget buys — and hit the 'Read more' button for a rundown of what we thought of each one. </p><h2 class="article-body__section" id="section-affordable-audio"><span>Affordable audio</span></h2> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_standard" data-id="fc9cb01a-9a4f-11f1-936a-cbb54d0e2ed4"> <div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NSLxC3USyoxkqi78CM7wtZ.jpg" alt="Nothing Ear A on a white background."></p></div> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Nothing</div> <div class="featured__title">Ear (a)</div> <div class="stars__reviews"><span itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating" class="chunk rating"><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><meta itemprop="bestRating" content="100.0" /><meta itemprop="worstRating" content="0.0" /><meta itemprop="ratingValue" content="100" /></span></div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p><p><a href="https://www.techradar.com/audio/earbuds-airpods/nothing-ear-a-review">Read our full review</a></p></p> </div> <div class="pro-con"><div class="list-pros-wrapper"><h4 class="list-pros-label">Pros</h4><ul class="list-pros"><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Fun, zealous, expansive sound </li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Vastly improved active noise cancellation</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Smaller, more pocketable case </li></ul></div><div class="list-cons-wrapper"><h4 class="list-cons-label">Cons</h4><ul class="list-cons"><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>No wireless charging support</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>No flagship sound profile curation</li></ul></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_standard" data-id="fc9cb40c-9a4f-11f1-9631-c11ff479f187"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DY8TS92J?th=1" data-model-name="Sony WH-CH720N headphones" data-model-brand="" ><div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2JEcstMeA4yuDjyrbdfgpV.jpg" alt="Sony Wh-Ch720n Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones, Pink"></p></div></a> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Sony</div> <div class="featured__title">WH-CH720 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones</div> <div class="stars__reviews"><span itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating" class="chunk rating"><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><meta itemprop="bestRating" content="100.0" /><meta itemprop="worstRating" content="0.0" /><meta itemprop="ratingValue" content="80" /></span></div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p><p><a href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/sony-wh-ch720n-review">Read our full review</a></p></p> </div> <div class="pro-con"><div class="list-pros-wrapper"><h4 class="list-pros-label">Pros</h4><ul class="list-pros"><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Great sound balance</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Lots of detail in audio</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Effective noise cancellation</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Full of useful features</li></ul></div><div class="list-cons-wrapper"><h4 class="list-cons-label">Cons</h4><ul class="list-cons"><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Sound feels constrained</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Noise cancellation leaks in low sounds</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Plastic feels a little cheap</li></ul></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_standard" data-id="fc9cb196-9a4f-11f1-8985-4702c0644c97"> <div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/g9VYBnQCUPKbc6bShHvUMW.jpg" alt="OneOdio Focus A6"></p></div> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>OneOdio</div> <div class="featured__title">Focus A6</div> <div class="stars__reviews"><span itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating" class="chunk rating"><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star half"></span><meta itemprop="bestRating" content="100.0" /><meta itemprop="worstRating" content="0.0" /><meta itemprop="ratingValue" content="90" /></span></div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p><p><a href="https://www.techradar.com/audio/headphones/oneodio-focus-a6-review">Read our full review</a></p></p> </div> <div class="pro-con"><div class="list-pros-wrapper"><h4 class="list-pros-label">Pros</h4><ul class="list-pros"><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Sensational sound quality</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Extensive software features</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Comfy, quality construction</li></ul></div><div class="list-cons-wrapper"><h4 class="list-cons-label">Cons</h4><ul class="list-cons"><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>On-ear controls are a little sensitive</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>ANC is good rather than game-changing</li></ul></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_standard" data-id="fc9cb09c-9a4f-11f1-9367-1d6dcf284e60"> <div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QzSfGsBf7jHzwAeQYrS3og.png" alt="JLab Go Pods ANC"></p></div> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>JLab </div> <div class="featured__title">Go Pods ANC</div> <div class="stars__reviews"><span itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating" class="chunk rating"><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><meta itemprop="bestRating" content="100.0" /><meta itemprop="worstRating" content="0.0" /><meta itemprop="ratingValue" content="80" /></span></div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p><p><a href="https://www.techradar.com/audio/earbuds-airpods/jlab-go-pods-anc-review">Read our full review</a></p></p> </div> <div class="pro-con"><div class="list-pros-wrapper"><h4 class="list-pros-label">Pros</h4><ul class="list-pros"><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Solid ANC</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Lightweight build</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Truly low price</li></ul></div><div class="list-cons-wrapper"><h4 class="list-cons-label">Cons</h4><ul class="list-cons"><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Poor eartip fit</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Lean battery life</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Aggressive transparency mode</li></ul></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_standard" data-id="fc9cb38a-9a4f-11f1-a32d-b7e3d22d3842"> <div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TAuf9bnLhzcLRnJyxvREpj.png" alt="Huawei FreeArc in green on white background"></p></div> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Huawei</div> <div class="featured__title">FreeArc</div> <div class="stars__reviews"><span itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating" class="chunk rating"><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star half"></span><meta itemprop="bestRating" content="100.0" /><meta itemprop="worstRating" content="0.0" /><meta itemprop="ratingValue" content="90" /></span></div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p><p><a href="https://www.techradar.com/audio/earbuds-airpods/the-huawei-freearc-are-the-best-sounding-open-ear-headphones-ive-ever-tested-and-theyre-surprisingly-cheap">Read our full review</a></p></p> </div> <div class="pro-con"><div class="list-pros-wrapper"><h4 class="list-pros-label">Pros</h4><ul class="list-pros"><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Top-tier sound</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Competitive price</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Comfortable fit</li></ul></div><div class="list-cons-wrapper"><h4 class="list-cons-label">Cons</h4><ul class="list-cons"><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>App download pains</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Middling battery life</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Would benefit from ANC</li></ul></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_standard" data-id="fc9cb2e0-9a4f-11f1-a523-15c895428bba"> <div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:100.00%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qAJeN6aeCeFgoFJcPLBUzD.jpg" alt="cmf headphone pro"></p></div> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>CMF</div> <div class="featured__title">Headphone Pro</div> <div class="stars__reviews"><span itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating" class="chunk rating"><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star half"></span><meta itemprop="bestRating" content="100.0" /><meta itemprop="worstRating" content="0.0" /><meta itemprop="ratingValue" content="90" /></span></div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p><p><a href="https://www.techradar.com/audio/wireless-headphones/cmf-by-nothing-headphone-pro-review">Read our full review</a></p></p> </div> <div class="pro-con"><div class="list-pros-wrapper"><h4 class="list-pros-label">Pros</h4><ul class="list-pros"><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Excellent hearing tests; unexpected at the level</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Emotive, circumaural sound</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Exemplary battery life</li></ul></div><div class="list-cons-wrapper"><h4 class="list-cons-label">Cons</h4><ul class="list-cons"><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>ANC isn't amazing</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Energy slider feels a tad gimmicky</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>No hard carry case or USB-C charger in the box</li></ul></div></div> </div> </div> <div class="featured_product_block featured_block_standard" data-id="fc9cb114-9a4f-11f1-ad4e-1721a25ecc81"> <div class='product-image-widthsetter'><p class='vanilla-image-block' data-bordeaux-image-check style='padding-top:125.06%';><img style="width: 100%" class="featured_image" src="https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PoaEspRCnuDCMV2B92iPdC.jpg" alt="SoundPeats Clip1 open-ear earbuds"></p></div> <div class="featured_product_details_wrapper"> <div class="featured_product_title_wrapper"> <div class='featured__brand'>Soundpeats</div> <div class="featured__title">Clip1</div> <div class="stars__reviews"><span itemprop="reviewRating" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/Rating" class="chunk rating"><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><span class="icon icon-star"> </span><meta itemprop="bestRating" content="100.0" /><meta itemprop="worstRating" content="0.0" /><meta itemprop="ratingValue" content="80" /></span></div> </div> <div class="subtitle__description"> <p><p><a href="https://www.techradar.com/audio/earbuds-airpods/soundpeats-clip1-review">Read our full review</a></p></p> </div> <div class="pro-con"><div class="list-pros-wrapper"><h4 class="list-pros-label">Pros</h4><ul class="list-pros"><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Fantastic listening test</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Comfortable build</li><li class='list-item list-item-pros'>Competitive value</li></ul></div><div class="list-cons-wrapper"><h4 class="list-cons-label">Cons</h4><ul class="list-cons"><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Low max volume</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Cheap-feeling case</li><li class='list-item list-item-cons'>Touch control issues</li></ul></div></div> </div> </div> </article> ]]>