The 8 Best Headphones Under $100 for ANC and Calls, Ranked & Reviewed

Our verdict: The lightest Sony noise cancelling headband, with adaptive sound and a processor you rarely see below a premium price.

Sony's WH-CH720N is an over-ear wireless noise cancelling headset weighing just 192 grams, which Sony calls its lightest. It uses an Integrated Processor V1 with dual noise sensors, Adaptive Sound control and an adjustable Ambient Sound mode. The listing quotes up to 35 hours of battery life, with three minutes of charging giving up to an hour of playback, and beamforming microphones for calls. A USB Type-C cable is included.

It ranks first because it pairs active cancelling with a feather weight, so you can wear it for a full flight or workday. The V1 processor and DSEE sound engine give it a more refined voice and cleaner mids than the budget sets. It beats the Soundcore on comfort and call pickup, and trades away the Soundcore's longer 40 hour battery.

Buy it if you commute, fly or work in an open office and want the most comfortable ANC pair under $100. We could not confirm a live price bracket, so check the current price. The caveat is that 35 hours is shorter than rivals, and Sony's cancelling is good, not flagship-class.

Weight

192 g

Noise control

Dual-sensor ANC, V1 chip

Battery

Up to 35 hrs

Quick charge

3 min for 1 hr

Our verdict: Four-mic hybrid cancelling, 40 hours with ANC on, and a wired Hi-Res option.

The Soundcore Q20i is an over-ear hybrid ANC headset with four built-in microphones, BassUp bass tuning and a quoted 40 hours of playback with ANC on. A five minute top-up is listed at four hours of playback, and it connects to two devices at once with automatic switching. The app adds EQ presets, HearID, spatial audio, ANC, Normal and Transparency modes, white noise and over-the-air updates.

It ranks second because it gives you near-Sony cancelling and a richer feature list at a lower bracket. The wired AUX cable unlocks Hi-Res certified audio, though the listing notes that noise cancelling does not work in AUX mode. It beats the JBL for cancelling, and loses to the Sony on weight and call clarity.

Buy it for remote work and commutes where you juggle a laptop and phone. It lists in the $30 to $50 bracket. The caveat is that ANC and a wired connection are mutually exclusive, so a long-haul flight with an in-flight jack means no cancelling.

Noise control

Hybrid ANC, 4 mics

Battery

40 hrs with ANC

Top-up

5 min for 4 hrs

App

EQ, HearID, spatial audio

Our verdict: Pure Bass tuning, two beamforming mics per cup and a rated 76 hours.

The JBL Tune 530BT is a foldable on-ear headphone with custom 33mm drivers tuned for Pure Bass sound, two beamforming mics on each earcup and a quoted 76 hours of battery. The listing says a five minute charge gives about five hours, a full charge takes about two hours, and the charging cable is not included. It supports multipoint pairing on Bluetooth 6.0, plus Fast Pair and Swift Pair for quick Android and Windows setup, and an app with Default, Bass and Vocal EQ presets.

It ranks third because call quality and battery are its strengths, but it has no active cancelling. It beats the earbuds for comfort over a long meeting, and loses to the Soundcore and Sony for noisy places. On-ear pads rest on the ear rather than around it, so some people find them tiring after two hours.

Buy it if you take lots of calls and want long battery for under $50. It lists in the $30 to $50 bracket. The caveat is that the box does not include a charging cable, so use one you already own.

Type

On-ear, foldable

Battery

Up to 76 hrs

Mics

2 beamforming per cup

Pairing

Multipoint, Fast Pair, Swift Pair

Our verdict: Compact earbuds with 14.2mm drivers, IP-X7 protection and a pocket-friendly 34 gram case.

The Rinsmola G21Pro is a pair of true wireless earbuds with 14.2mm graphene drivers, Bluetooth 5.4, ENC call noise reduction and an IP-X7 water rating. Each bud weighs 3.6 grams and comes with three ear cap sizes, the pocket case weighs 34 grams, and a dual LED display shows charge levels. The listing quotes 6 to 8 hours per charge and about 40 more from the case.

It ranks fourth because earbuds sacrifice cancelling for portability, and the ENC here cleans up your voice on calls but does not quieten what you hear. It beats the BERIBES on pocketability and sweat resistance, and loses to the on-ear and over-ear picks for battery on one charge. Touch controls handle play, volume, track and calls.

Buy it for the gym, errands and light commuting. It lists under $30. The caveat is fit: a poor seal in the ear kills bass, so try each ear cap size.

Battery

6 to 8 hrs, 40 hrs case

Drivers

14.2 mm graphene

Water rating

IP-X7

Case

34 g, LED display

Our verdict: A 0.38 pound folding over-ear rated over 120 hours, with Bluetooth 6.0.

The BERIBES is a folding over-ear headset with dual 40mm dynamic drivers, six EQ modes, a 1000mAh battery rated for more than 120 hours and Bluetooth 6.0 with a listed range of about 33 feet. It weighs 0.38 pounds, uses memory-protein ear cushions, connects to two devices, and ships with a 3.5mm cable and a Type-C charging cable.

It ranks fifth because the battery and wired fallback are outstanding at the price, but it has no active cancelling and the listing names no warranty. It beats the Picun on EQ choice and Bluetooth generation, and loses to the JBL on call microphones, since it lists no beamforming mics.

Buy it if you want a long-life, light headset for desk work and travel. It lists under $30. The caveat is that, as with all headsets of this class, the pads and hinge are the weak points over time.

Battery

120+ hrs rated

Bluetooth

6.0

Weight

About 0.38 lb

Sound

6 EQ modes

Our verdict: A folding over-ear rated above 120 hours with dual 40mm drivers.

The Picun B8 pairs dual 40mm drivers with a 1000mAh cell and a runtime above 120 hours, plus Bluetooth 5.3 and a listed 33 foot range. You get three EQ modes cycled by pressing the EQ button twice, touch controls, a built-in mic and cups that rotate 60 degrees on a folding frame wrapped in PU leather.

It ranks sixth because endurance is the headline and the tuning options are narrower than the BERIBES. It beats the earbuds in this guide on runtime between charges, but loses to every set above it on features. The listing warns owners to charge only from a 5V/1A or 5V/2A adapter and to avoid fast chargers, which is easy to forget when you travel.

Buy it if you are a student or traveler who hates charging. It lists under $30. The caveat is that PU leather can run warm and touch panels are fiddly with gloves.

Battery

120+ hrs rated

Drivers

Dual 40mm

Bluetooth

5.3, about 33 ft

EQ

3 modes

Our verdict: Earhook earbuds with Bluetooth 6.0, an LED case display and an IPX7 case.

The Fhumsh A10 is a Bluetooth 6.0 earbud set with 13mm drivers, ENC call noise reduction, reinforced earhooks and three sizes of gel tips. The listing quotes about 8 hours per charge with 50 hours in total, an IPX7 water-resistant case, and an LED display that shows the charge level of the case and each bud. The case weighs about 0.09 pounds.

It ranks seventh because the earhooks and the display make it a sound gym choice, but the claims are ambitious and the brand is unproven. It beats the sleep mask for general listening, and loses to the Rinsmola on published specifics such as weight per bud and driver size.

Buy it for workouts if you value secure hooks. It lists under $30. The caveat is that earhook designs do not suit everyone, and ENC only helps your callers.

Battery

About 8 hrs, 50 total

Drivers

13mm

Bluetooth

6.0

Fit

Earhooks, 3 gel tip sizes

Our verdict: A 3D contour sleep mask with built-in Bluetooth 5.4 and a machine-washable bamboo-cotton cover.

LC-dolida's sleep headphones combine a 3D contour bamboo-cotton blend mask with a built-in Bluetooth 5.4 module. The listing says the mask blocks light, wicks sweat, has an adjustable strap, and is machine washable. It lists in the $30 to $50 bracket, and it does not state driver size or battery runtime.

It ranks last because it is a sleep product first and a headphone second. It beats the earbuds for side sleepers, since there is nothing in your ear canal, but it loses to every headset on audio, mics and controls.

Buy it if you listen to podcasts or white noise as you fall asleep. The caveat is that runtime and drivers are unlisted, so treat it as a comfort item.

Type

Sleep mask with Bluetooth

Bluetooth

5.4

Fabric

Bamboo cotton blend

Care

Machine washable