Spec sheets for cheap earbuds all look the same: big battery numbers, noise cancelling, a dozen colors. After months of daily use with five popular pairs, only a few things turned out to matter.
Fit beats features
An earbud that falls out on a run is useless no matter how good it sounds. Pick a pair that ships with three or more tip sizes, and try each one. A good seal also improves bass and blocks noise better than most budget noise cancelling.
Real battery life
Advertised battery life is measured at low volume. Expect about two thirds of the number on the box. What matters more is the case: a case that adds three or four full charges means you rarely think about charging at all.
Calls and connection
Microphones are where cheap earbuds cut corners. If you take calls, read reviews that test calls outdoors. And check that the earbuds reconnect automatically when you take them out of the case, because fiddling with Bluetooth menus gets old fast.