Best Earbuds Under $500
Earbuds with recorded US reference prices below $500, ranked by editorial score. Reference prices are not current retailer quotes.
Ranked by the weighted Specdex score — editorial judgments on a 0–100 scale. Independent benchmark references are identified separately on product profiles.
- #1Apple
AirPods Pro 3
H2 chip · IP57 · 8 h ANC
Apple's third-generation AirPods Pro — H2 chip, IP57, up to 8 hours of listening with ANC on a single charge (24 hours with the case), Bluetooth 5.3, and four charging methods including USB-C.
Frequently asked
What is the best earbud right now? +
AirPods Pro 3 leads our Best Earbuds Under $500 list. Apple's third-generation AirPods Pro — H2 chip, IP57, up to 8 hours of listening with ANC on a single charge (24 hours with the case), Bluetooth 5.3, and four charging methods including USB-C.
How does Specdex rank products? +
Specdex does not run benchmarks in-house. Rankings reflect editorial judgement based on manufacturer-published specs and public reviewer consensus. See the methodology page for sources and how the verdicts are formed.
How often is this list updated? +
The list reflects the current published catalog and available editorial ratings. Source and product updates are reviewed before publication; retailer prices can change independently.