The best headphones for under £50

You just can't wrong with Sony — it's probably the most trusted and best known electronics brand of them all. And the price of these headphones make them a can't-miss opportunity.

There's another reason to pick them up: shiny colour choices. We don't know why, but a lot of the lowest priced headphones only come in one colour — almost always black — which is a bit disappointing. This isn't the case with the Sony MDR-ZX310 headphones, as you have the choice of four metallic options: Black, Blue, Red, and White. This is just a small thing, but it actually makes a big difference. It's always nice to have choices.

There is much more to like about these headphones besides the colours, like the rich sound, lightweight frame, and portable design. They might not look like the most modern or cutting edge pair around, but with these features at this price, you really can't go wrong.

Selecting a pair of cheap headphones for your 20-minute commute is one thing. Selecting a pair for DJing is something else entirely. But the OneOdio Pro 10 headphones turn up the quality to a near-professional level. They’re powered by 50mm neodymium drivers. The lows and mids are especially good, while some reviewers say the highs aren’t quite up to scratch. 

These are compact and foldable, with an over-ear, closed-back design that prevents outside sound leaking in. The cups are well-cushioned and have a 180-degree swivel which allows you to easily switch to single-ear monitoring. 

One cool feature enables you to connect to other headphones via a “share port” to share your mixes and tunes. These are wired headphones — so there’s no Bluetooth connectivity — but they still connect to smartphones and have an in-line mic for taking calls. They come equipped with a detachable spring cable, and you can hook up via both 3.5mm and 6.35mm audio jacks.

If there's a criticism it’s the cheap build, which is understandable at this price. And despite the cushioned cups, long mixing sessions might irritate the ears. Aside from that, you should seriously consider putting these in the mix.

Skullcandy is a bang-on-trend name. In a short amount of time, the brand has become known for contemporary designs and superb sound. The retro-themed Skullcandy Cassette headphones are from the brand’s budget range.

They do feel budget, with a largely plastic construction. But it’s a trade off for being pleasingly lightweight and nailing that Eighties vibe (if you’re too young to know, the "cassette" refers to little plastic things called cassette tapes that played music). There’s plenty of comfy cushioning around the ears and a metal headband ensures a reasonable level of durability.

The sound is balanced though not mind (or ear) blowing, which is what you expect at this price. But while they’re very much a budget choice, there’s a reasonable selection of features. You can choose between wired sound or Bluetooth connection. There’s also a microphone for phone calls and manual controls built onto the headset for volume, pause/play, and answering calls. 

They boast a competitive 22-hour battery life — the battery life will depend on how loud you play your tunes, though — and they have rapid charging, so you’re good to go after a relatively short burst with a microUSB charger. 

The JBL Tune 510BT headphones are a low-key contender for the best all-rounders for under £50, regardless of specification. The sound is good — a full, hearty sound that thumps along with JBL's signature bass. Some reviewers even say the bass is a little heavy-handed. Ultimately it comes down to how refined you want your sound to be at such a low price. 

They boast solid Bluetooth connectivity. They sync with your device instantly (connection problems are rare) and have an impressive Bluetooth range. You'll have to stray pretty far before your tunes drop out. Buttons are located on the right ear cup and allow you to control the volume, playback, and calls. You’ll have to get used to feeling your way around these buttons — they all feel quite similar. As an added bonus, these have voice assistant connectivity too.

The lack of noise cancellation is a shame. We wouldn't normally cite that as an issue at this price, but JBL do include very good ANC in other mid-range headphones. You'll just have to pay a little over £50. Try the JBL Live 460NC or the JBL Live 660NC — both cracking options for a slightly higher price.

If there’s one complaint, it’s that they can chafe after a long listening session, but that’s certainly not unusual for headphones of this style.

Gaming is a serious business. The hardware has to be just right for an engrossing, well-equipped gaming experience. And for the price, the Corsair HS35 is a marvel of gaming headsets. Design-wise these are punching above their weight — a good-looking headset that combines matte and gloss elements. They're heavier than regular headphones but relatively light for gaming cans.

They’re built with a pair of 50mm neodymium drivers, which deliver stereo sound. It might not meet the expectations of the most serious gamers — there’s no super-realistic surround sound. But at this price, it’s solid performance.

They have memory foam ear cups for added comfort ­— perfect for long shifts at the PC or console. And it really doesn’t matter which computer you prefer to play. The Corsair HS35 headphones are cross-platform, meaning you can use them on the PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and even mobile devices.

The headset comes with a flexible (and detachable) boom mic which has noise cancellation for direct voice pick-up and reducing ambient noise. They also feature easy-to-find volume controls built into the ear cup. 

Closed-back headphones have largely taken over the design department when it comes to mid-level headphones. But these Koss KPH30i headphones are irrefutable proof that there’s still life in the budget, open-back style. 

First thing’s first — and this is the most important point overall — these headphones sound superb, with booming lows, balanced mids, and pronounced highs. The only drawback is that they let in ambient sound. These are at their very best when listened to around the house, while losing yourself in a "me time" music session. And who doesn't like that?

The other major plus for a budget-level option is the comfort. Even at this price point the Koss KPH30i headphones are extremely comfortable, thanks to D-shaped cups which slip effortlessly onto your ears and a headband that boasts an all-new patented suspension system. 

While these are a more basic choice, they’re not so basic that they don’t include must-have modern features. Sure, they’re wired (the leads are fixed to each ear, which is behind the times), but they include a touch remote and in-line mic. 

If you want the best bang(ing sound) for your buck, you can do much worse than the world's best-known audio brand.

The Sony WH-CH510 headphones have on-ear style cups, with a semi-flexible headband that's extendable for larger-headed listeners. The Sony-branded ear cups also swivel at 90-degrees. 

One cool feature that you don't often find on budgets headphones is voice assistant connectivity. This means you can access your phone's voice assistant via the headphones to select music, call your friends, ask directions, or even order a pizza. If you’re more of a manual-type of person, there are easy-to-find buttons on the ear cups for playback and call options. 

Sure, the sound is never going to be as good with budget headphones than from an all-singing, all-dancing pair in the top-tier price range. But for the price you're paying, the sound is pretty much unbeatable. 

You’ll be listening to these for a good stretch too, with a whopping 35-hour battery life. Be warned though: Once you’re out of battery, they need recharging. There’s no cable to connect to your device for old school wired sound. But they charge quickly. Just 15 minutes gives you plenty of juice.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 have a surprisingly robust spec for this price — Bluetooth connectivity, 40 hours of playtime, and active noise cancellation. Anker is a reliable brand, too, so you know the features are at a decent level. It’s doubtful that dedicated audiophiles will expect to be blown away at this price point. But the sound is solid, with a good amount of bass.

The ANC is average (but you’re never going to get the full noise cancelling experience for under £50) but works brilliantly as an entry-level option, or if you need them for everyday use. If you’re working on a building site, they won’t be up to the task, but if you want to immerse fully in your tunes while strolling around or sitting in the office, they’ll absolutely do the job.

And that’s what these are built for: convenience and casual use. The battery life means you can go about your business worry-free, and when you do have to charge they top up relatively swiftly. They’re also pleasingly comfortable, meaning the cans (and your ears) can handle long listening sessions.