Best Neckband Earbuds Under $100 in 2021

Best

• Neckband Earbuds Under $100
• Android Central
• 2021

Best Overall: JBL Live 220BT Wireless

JBL made the Live 220BT good enough to stay at the top of our list, mainly because of its superb sound quality. You get a balanced soundstage out of the box that stands out for the right reasons. Bass is present without it being too heavy, while the highs and lows complement each other well.

Finding the right fit largely depends on which ear tips offer the best seal. This part is critical to ensuring they fit right and getting the most out of the audio quality. It’s the only caveat regarding comfort because the Live 220BT are lightweight and easy to manage, so you can wear them for leisure or while working out. The Ambient Aware mode makes background noise to hear your surroundings, while TalkThru lets you chatter and hear other people.

You can pair the Live 220BT with up to two devices simultaneously. It’s a great way to listen to audio from your computer while keeping your phone accessible for phone calls or notifications. The headphones will switch automatically when the phone rings, silencing the audio from the computer simultaneously. Amazon Alexa is also built-in through a dedicated button on the neckband, adding the voice assistant to the feature set. Battery life is modest at up to 10 hours per charge. A quick 15-minute charge can get you up to an hour of playback. That’s pretty average for a set of Bluetooth earbuds and is as good as it gets with Micro-USB.

If you’re on a tight budget within various budget options, the Skullcandy Jib Plus Wireless is among the cheapest neckband earbuds. They come in several colors to stand out aesthetically, but you should measure your expectations with anything in this price range.

Sound quality belies their price, coming off better than you might expect. That’s not to say there aren’t some decent features and performance to give you a bang for your buck. Bass is present, with decent highs and mids to make audio playback feel pretty resonant. Onboard controls also include an easy way to get to Google Assistant to make any requests or commands. They are splash-resistant, so they should be reasonably safe to use for workouts and show they’ve got some durability.

You won’t get too far on battery life, with up to six hours per charge — potentially shorter depending on volume. You will recharge them often, but you’ll also have to do it with Micro-USB.

The Mpow Jaws 6 are an excellent fit for a tight budget where battery life matters. They’re among the longest-lasting neck buds available, with up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge. That’s enough juice to pace you over a few days or on a long flight. And if you plan to do a workout with these on, the IPX7 rating should keep them rugged.

These neck buds don’t have ANC but have some echo cancelation for phone calls. Sound quality is what you might expect for something in this range. You get a bass-boosted sound with amplified treble and an okay mid-range to round out a more acceptable audio profile for what you’re paying.

Comfort is a mixed bag. You should be fine for an hour or two, only to then need a break, as the earbuds have a bit of a stuffy feeling afterward. The good thing is that when you need a break, the two earbuds attach through magnets. When they do, the earbuds go into a super low-power mode. That mode allows the neckband to vibrate whenever you get an incoming call.

In addition to the solid battery life, Mpow uses a USB-C port to charge them faster. Keep them plugged in for two hours, and they fully charge. A quick 10-minute charge will deliver up to two hours of playback.

If you haven’t considered Creative as an option, you might want to try the Aurvana Trio Wireless. The sound quality is excellent for the price. What works so well is the solid bass complementing such a lively combination of mids and highs. Call quality is equally up to the task, with impressive clarity on both sides.

Much of the audio performance comes from the wired earbuds the company launched back in 2017. Going wireless is great, but codec support takes it to another level. You get aptX, aptX LL (Low Latency), aptX HD, and AAC support making them great for higher-quality streams and no lag when watching a video or playing games. Creative did include its amazing Super X-Fi (SXFI) technology; it only works with media files you’ve downloaded to your device — not anything you’re streaming.

The fit is comfortable, and the odds are good with both silicone and foam tips included. You’ll find the best possible deal. Whenever you’re not using them, the two earbuds connect with magnets. Battery life hits up to 20 hours, which is excellent, but you, unfortunately, have to charge them via Micro-USB.

Hands-free phone calls are super convenient, and any pair of earbuds are capable, but not all are necessarily great at it. Meeting that challenge, the Samsung Level U is an excellent pair of neckband earbuds if you’re specifically looking for a great team for phone calls.

The earbuds magnetically attach when not in use and don’t turn off when you put them together. They stay in a low-power standby mode, springing back to life when you separate and put them in your ears. The sound quality is decent, though not all that better or worse than any other pair in its range. One of the challenges is comfort, where wearing them for extended periods could make you feel a pinch after a while. The ear tips aren’t as soft as others and would likely be the primary reason for any discomfort.

You get up to 11 hours of battery life per charge, and you will need to use Micro-USB to recharge them again. There’s no fast charging, which means they’ll take roughly three hours to go from empty to full.

It’s never the wrong time to work out; you’ll need a great set of workout buds. As far as neckband earbuds are concerned, the Philips Wireless are standouts. They feature IPX5 water resistance, which can withstand light or moderate workouts and heavy rain. Just don’t dunk them in the water or go swimming with them. They also feature a vibration motor to notify you when you get a call. Both buds magnetically attach when unused, so they’re not just dangling around your neck.

When you’re not working out, the Philips Wireless works well, letting you wear them for extended periods because of their comfortable fit. They sound great, with bass and treble-heavy sound uncommon for headphones in this price range. They’re pretty vibrant and align with how sporty headphones generally sound.

Battery life is good at up to eight hours on a single charge. Unfortunately, there’s no fast charging, so it’ll take roughly three hours to charge from empty to full.

• IPX5 water resistance
• Superb comfort
• Long battery life
• Good bass and treble-boosted sound
• Call notifications

Cons:

• Micro-USB for charging
• No fast charging

Bottom line

Neckband earbuds may not be as popular as other headphone types, but there are some excellent options to select from, especially if you’re on a budget to find the best neckband headphones under $100. The JBL Live 220BT is worth looking at if you’re looking for neckband earbuds that do everything. The Creative Aurvana Trio Wireless is an excellent alternative if sound quality is your primary motivation.

Whether or not you consider neckband earbuds an acquired taste, they are a worthy option if you don’t want something big or don’t trust other wireless earbuds to be comfortable or stay in place. If you’ve broadened your search, you can always look at the best true wireless headphones.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide