5 must-have features on budget headphones

There are plenty of good quality budget headphone options out there. However, while cheap headphones are appealing, you shouldn't compromise on certain features.

5. Multiple connectivity options

Even though Bluetooth is almost ubiquitous these days, it's still worth looking for headphones that offer multiple connectivity options. Yes, Bluetooth is ubiquitous — but don't settle for wireless-only headphones. Bluetooth is great and can be sufficient, but your headphones should also support the traditional 3.5mm jack for more flexibility.

One perfect situation where the 3.5mm jack comes in handy is when your headphones run out of battery on a long flight. If you're lucky enough to have a phone with a headphone jack or a suitable adapter, you can plug it in and keep listening.

4. Adjustable sound profile

Each headphone manufacturer tweaks their products to create a unique sound signature that sets them apart from the competition. Some optimize for deep, punchy bass, perfect for hip-hop, EDM, or pop tracks. Others prioritize clear mids and highs, ideal for acoustic music, podcasts , or classical recordings, while others aim for a balanced, neutral profile to please those who prefer sound as close to the original recording as possible.

A sound signature is great, but it might not be to your taste. That's why being able to customize the sound to suit your audio preferences or the type of content you're listening to is so important.

3. Support multi-point connection

Another must-have feature to consider when buying budget headphones is multipoint connectivity. Multipoint means that your headphones can connect to at least two devices at once. This feature used to be only available on high-end models, but is now built into some budget headphones. If you use multiple devices throughout the day, such as a smartphone and a laptop, multipoint support is essential.

If you use multiple devices every day (most of us do), multipoint connectivity makes the headset truly versatile. It's one of those features you'll never want to give up once you try it.

2. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)

ANC is another feature that was once only available on expensive headphones but is now widely available. While budget models don't have the advanced ANC found on high-end models like the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra, it's still a nice feature to have. Thick ear pads can block some sound passively (aka soundproofing), but they can't compete with ANC when it comes to eliminating background noise.

ANC uses microphones to pick up outside sounds and create sound waves that cancel them out. This creates a quieter music or podcast listening experience in noisy places like the subway or office.

1. Great battery life

Listening to music or podcasts wirelessly via Bluetooth is convenient, but your headphones still need to have enough battery life for long listening sessions. Otherwise, you'll find yourself spending more time charging your headphones than actually listening to them, especially with ANC turned on. So battery life is a non-negotiable, even if you're buying a budget pair of headphones.

Even if you're on a tight budget, don't buy your next pair of headphones blindly. To get the most out of your money, make sure your headphones have good battery life, adjustable sound profiles, multi-point connectivity, ANC, and a variety of connectivity options. Choose headphones with these essential features, and you won't regret your choice no matter how tight your budget is.

Samuel Daniel

Update 21 July 2025