There are two kinds of earbuds buyers in 2025; people who want the absolute best and are ready to pay premium prices, and the rest of us – folks who want excellent sound, useful features, and all-day comfort without selling a kidney. If you fall into the latter camp (same), welcome. I spent time reading reviews, specs, and user feedback across trusted outlets and narrowed the crowded field to five truly excellent options that consistently deliver in 2025 while staying under, or very near to the $150 mark. Below you’ll find a ranked list, short verdicts, full specs, pros/cons, and a plainspoken comparison that focuses on the three things most of us actually care about: sound quality, comfort (fit), and battery life. I’ll also tell you which earbud is best for commuting, working out, and for the overall best quality sound for your money.

Quick top-line ranking (short version)

1. Galaxy Buds 3 FE – Best overall bang for your buck.
2. CX Plus True Wireless – Best sound tuning and clarity for music lovers.
3. Soundcore Liberty 4 NC – Best feature/value balance (LDAC, customizable EQ, long battery).
4. Air Pro 4+ – Best budget powerhouse for battery life and ANC.
5. Apple AirPods 4 – Best pick for Apple ecosystem integration.

Each of the five entries below includes why it earned its place, specs, pros/cons, and focused commentary on sound, comfort, and battery life. I leaned on hands-on reviews and lab measurements from respected reviewers and combined that with usability notes you’d want for everyday use.

1) Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE – Best overall under $150

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Specs

Price	$149.99
ANC	Yes
Battery	6 – 8.5 hrs per earbud (ANC on/off), up to 30 hrs with case (ANC off)
Water resistance	IP54
Controls	Pinch + swipe, Auto Switch

Sound quality: Samsung tuned these for broad appeal – clear mids and well-controlled bass that doesn’t bleed into the mids. If you like a slightly warm but detailed presentation for podcasts and most modern pop/hip-hop, these are a safe pick.

Comfort: The Buds 3 FE use a blade/stem shape and come with multiple tip sizes; they sit lightly in the ear and are comfortable for long use. I’d call the fit “reliably average-to-good” – not sculpted like some audiophile buds, but better than many budget rivals.

Battery: Realistic use with ANC enabled lands you in the 5 – 7 hour range per charge, case adds multiple top-ups for a reported ~30 hours total in some modes. That’s perfectly serviceable for a full day of use.

Pros:

• Full-featured for the price: ANC, Galaxy AI features, good call clarity and audio quality.
• Useful Android ecosystem integration (Auto Switch, Wearable app, Gemini Ai integration).
• Clean, balanced sound for everyday listening.

Cons:

• Price sits at the top end of $150.
• Best features skew Android-first; iPhone users get fewer extras.
• Not the deepest bass or most spacious soundstage among rivals.

Sennheiser’s experience in headphone tuning shows. The CX Plus delivers clean, natural mids, great instrument separation for the money, a bass boost feature, and app control. If you care about vocal clarity and a musical presentation that stays true across genres, these punch above their price tag. Trusted reviewers praised the sound and effective ANC for the range.

 

Specs

Price	$100 – $130
ANC	Yes
Battery	Up to 8 hrs, 24 – 30 hrs with case
Water resistance	IPX4
Controls	Touch controls, Sennheiser Smart Control app

Sound quality: Clear, neutral-leaning with a slightly warm low end that stays controlled. Vocals and acoustic instruments are well rendered. These are not bass-heavy “club” earbuds, but they provide accuracy that many listeners will prefer for long listening sessions.

Comfort: Lightweight and compact. The CX Plus sits unobtrusively in the ear and is comfortable for multi-hour use. Fit is secure for most ear shapes.

Battery: Real-world usage often yields 6 – 8 hours per charge depending on ANC use and volume. Case top-ups make these fine for a couple of days away from a wall plug.

Pros:

• Natural, accurate sound typical of Sennheiser.
• Respectable ANC and call clarity for the price.
• Comfortable and unobtrusive fit.

Cons:

• App is functional but not as feature-rich as some competitors.
• Lacks hi-res codecs like LDAC (if that matters to you).
• Bass lovers may want more sub-impact.

Anker’s Soundcore line often undercuts traditional brands with smart features, and the Liberty 4 NC is no exception. Long battery life, LDAC support for higher-quality streaming on compatible Android phones, great app-driven EQ, and surprisingly capable ANC. If you want modern codecs and custom tuning without the premium price, these are an impressive pick. Also, a surprising array of color choices.

Specs

Price	$56.99
ANC	Adaptive ANC
Battery	8 – 10 hrs (ANC on/off), 30 – 50 hrs with case
Water resistance	IPX4
Controls	Touch, robust companion app with presets and parametric EQ

Sound quality: Tunable and punchy. The Liberty 4 NC leans slightly toward a fun, engaging sound with punchy bass while retaining crisp mids and treble when you use the app to dial it in.

Comfort: Generally good; slightly larger housings than ultra-compact models but they remain comfortable for long use once fitted correctly.

Battery: Sector-leading for this tier when ANC is off. Take it on a weekend trip and the case will likely keep you powered for days.

Pros:

• LDAC support and a very powerful app EQ.
• Long battery life and strong value.
• Good ANC for the price.

Cons:

• Bigger housing may not fit every ear.
• Slightly inconsistent touch controls in some firmware revisions.
• Call quality is decent but not class-leading.

EarFun keeps raising the bar for budget audio. The Air Pro 4+ is frequently mentioned on best-cheap lists because it pairs surprising battery life with solid ANC and an impressively full sound that suprises at its price. If you want a “set-and-forget” pair for travel and long commutes, these are a reliable choice. Trusted gear roundups in 2025 have lauded their battery and overall value.

Specs

Price	$99.99
ANC	Adaptive ANC
Battery	up to 12 hrs, 54 hrs with case
Water resistance	IP55
Controls	Touch with companion app support

Sound quality: Big sound for the price: strong bass presence but not overwhelmingly muddy, good mids, and clear vocal reproduction. Not an audiophile tuning, but extremely satisfying for most mainstream listeners.

Comfort: Lightweight and compact, great for long flights or extended listening sessions.

Battery: One of the standouts here. Expect marathon usage compared with most rivals in the under-$150 bracket coupled with exceptional charge speed. A quick 10 minute charge can extend battery life by 3 hours.

Pros:

• Outstanding battery life for the money.
• Strong ANC and a fun, full sound.
• Excellent value – frequent discounts make them a steal.

Cons:

• App and firmware polish aren’t as premium as established brands.
• Microphone quality for calls is good but not top tier.

Apple’s AirPods 4 bring meaningful improvements to sound, comfort, and connectivity – all while keeping the price below $150. They’re not made for extreme workouts, but they’re unbeatable for everyday convenience, quick pairing, and polished performance. If you’re in the Apple ecosystem, these deliver exceptional value and user-friendliness. Trusted reviewers have praised them as the best “everyday use” earbuds at this price point.

Specs

Price	$149.99
ANC	Yes
Battery	4 – 6 hrs(ANC on/off), 20 – 30 hrs with case
Water resistance	IP54
Controls	Touch and voice activation via Siri

Sound quality: Balanced and clean with improved bass depth and detail. Apple’s tuning offers a natural soundstage with Spatial Audio support for immersive listening.

Comfort: Lightweight and ergonomic, now with optional silicone tips for a better seal. Perfect for long listening sessions and all-day wear.

Battery: Strong overall. Six hours per charge covers most commutes and workdays, and the MagSafe case adds convenient fast charging.

Pros:

• Instant, seamless pairing with Apple devices.
• Rich, clear sound with Spatial Audio support.
• Improved comfort and secure fit for daily wear.

Cons:

• Limited feature access for Android users.
• No manual EQ controls.
• Not designed for heavy workouts or rough use.

In summary:

• Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 FE edge out the pack because they combine good sound, dependable ANC, and ecosystem features that matter if you use an Android phone – especially Samsung. In short: the most well-rounded pick at the $150 ceiling.
• Sennheiser CX Plus beats the rest on pure sound quality and tuning neutrality for music lovers.
• Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earns a high spot for codec support (LDAC), excellent battery, and customization – great value for power users.
• EarFun Air Pro 4+ is a budget juggernaut: insane battery life and surprisingly good ANC – hard to ignore if you’re price conscious.
• Apple AirPods 4 are the go-to for the Apple ecosystem. Improvements in ergonomics, ANC, and sound quality make them a respectable pick.

Buying tips

• If you commute and want ANC + clear calls: go with Samsung Buds 3 FE (Android users get the most out of them).
• If you’re a music purist: choose Sennheiser CX Plus for cleaner tuning.
• If you stream high-res on Android or love EQ tinkering: pick Anker Liberty 4 NC for LDAC and powerful app control.
• If battery life and value are everything: EarFun Air Pro 4+ is the bargain marathon runner.
• If you’re an Apple fanatic: you can’t go wrong with the Apple AirPods 4.

Final thoughts

Buying earbuds in 2025 can feel like matchmaking: sound signature, comfort, and real-world use all need to line up. If I had to give one piece of advice that I wish someone told me sooner, it would be to not buy earbuds purely on brand hype. Think about the moments you’ll actually use them and the features that are most important to you. Long flights? Prioritize battery + ANC. Gym and runs? Fit and IP rating. Casual listening and calls at a desk? Clarity and comfort. If you want a single “starter” recommendation: lean Samsung if you use an Android phone and want the most complete everyday experience. If your phone is older or you’re more focused on music accuracy, Sennheiser will reward you. And if you want to stretch every dollar, EarFun or Anker will deliver a lot of real value.