Beyond the Apple’s, the Bose’s, the Beats’ and the Sony’s of the audio world, there’s a whole bunch of true wireless earbuds under $200, perfect for Kiwis on the budget! You don’t have to empty your pockets just to have an immersive audio experience for casual and professional music listeners as well as podcast lovers.
The great news is, you only skimp on price — not on audio quality! You can expect great sound with boosted bass, crisp mids, and clear highs. While they’re cheaper than their most popular competitors, they also pack some of the best features such as mobile app support, customisable sound profile, and touch gestures, among many others!
In this league of budget true wireless earbuds in NZ, which ones should you purchase? Here’s a quick guide to the best true wireless earbuds under $200, in no particular order.
What is true wireless earbuds?
What does it actually mean for wireless earbuds to be truly wireless? As the name suggests, you shouldn’t see any wires dangling from your earbuds. Once you’ve put one on your ears, you should be able to listen to your favourite songs or podcasts without cables connecting one earbud to another.
Since there are no cords, all the quick functions such as play, pause, next song, previous song, increase and decrease volume are built-in in the true wireless earbuds. Some higher ends and even some budget ones also have touch commands or dedicated buttons to activate different modes, summon voice commands, and more.
As more and more smartphones nowadays don’t have a designated 3.5mm headphone jack, the market for true wireless earbuds is becoming better and cheaper! Whatever the price point, there’s plenty of options for you!
Check out the best affordable true wireless earbuds now available in the NZ market.
Samsung Galaxy Buds Live
Probably one of the cheapest true wireless earbuds with functional active noise cancellation (ANC), Samsung Galaxy Buds Live is priced for as low as $173.99, inclusive of GST, on some trusted retailers. It’s best known for its ergonomic bean-shaped design that sits comfortably on your ears.
It works best with Galaxy devices, thanks to its easy integration and simple controls through the Galaxy Wearable (Samsung Gear) or SmartThings app. However, they still work perfectly well on supported Android phones, and even on iPhone!
| Price (may vary on the time of purchase) | Expert Infotech - $173.99 Parallel Imported - $179 Mobile Station - $179 (Free shipping) The Market - $189.99 PB Tech - $199 (Inclusive of GST) |
| Battery capacity | Earbuds: 60 mAh Charging case: 472 mAh |
| Play time (on a single charge) | Up to 5.5 hours (ANC and Bixby: ON) Up to 6 hours (ANC or Bixby: ON) Up to 8 hours (ANC and Bixby: OFF) |
| Charging | 1 hour of play time within 5 minutes of quick charge |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0, Codec: Scalable (Samsung proprietary), AAC, SBC |
| Compatibility | Android: At least Android 5.0 iOS: At least iPhone 7 or iOS 10.0 |
| Extra features | Qi-certified wireless charging, IPX2, VPU (Voice Pickup Unit) |
Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds
Low latency is very important for an immersive mobile gaming experience. Wireless earbuds are known to suck at latency, but Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds may be an exception. For as low as $169, you get a low-latency wireless earbuds with touch controls that work both for basic and gaming functions.
Although not the best one, it has an active noise cancellation that works okay to filter ambient noises while working. You can also use it as your workout driver, thanks to its IPX4 support. It can handle moderate water splashes and sweats just fine.
| Price (may vary on the time of purchase) | Harvey Norman - $169 PB Tech - $179 Mighty Ape - $189 |
| Battery capacity | Charging case: 275 mAh |
| Play time (on a single charge) | Up to 4 hours (depends if ANC is on) |
| Charging | Up to 1.5 hours for a full charge |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0, AAC, SBC |
| Compatibility | Android: At least Android 8.0 iOS: At least iOS 11.0 |
| Extra features | IPX4, Active Noise Cancellation, Gaming controls |
Jabra Elite Active 65t
If you live an active lifestyle and want the most secure fit for intense workout sessions, Jabra Elite Active 65t is one of your best options. It creates a seal on your ears, which is also helpful to passively isolate outside noises. You can get one now for as low as $141.62, inclusive of GST, depending on the retailer.
It’s a power performer with voice command support for Amazon Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant. Best of all, it has a multi-connect function for up to two devices simultaneously! You don’t have to disconnect your phone just to connect to your computer.
| Price (may vary on the time of purchase) | PB Tech - $141.62 (Inclusive of GST) Harvey Norman - $146 The Market- $179.99 (Free shipping) |
| Battery capacity | Charging case: 500 mAh |
| Play time (on a single charge) | Up to 5 hours (depends on usage) |
| Charging | Up to 2 hours for a full charge 1.5 hours of play time within 15 minutes of quick charge |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0, SBC, AAC |
| Compatibility | Optimised for Android and iPhones, but works fine with PC and MAC too |
| Extra features | IP56, Multi-connect, Auto-on, Auto-pause |
Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus
Another excellent true wireless earbuds from Samsung is Galaxy Buds Plus! If you simply want a wireless earbud that sounds great, this should be your top choice. Whether you listen to R&B, pop, rock, or EDM, you can tweak your preferred sound profile on the Galaxy Wearable (Samsung Gear) app. The great news is, it costs as low as $161.99, with free shipping included!
One of its biggest differences against Galaxy Buds Live is its design. It uses a wingtip for better passive noise isolation. While it may not have ANC, it still supports Ambient Sound, so you don’t have to take out your earbuds while talking to someone.
| Price (may vary on the time of purchase) | Expert Infotech - $161.99 Mobile Station - $162.99 (Inclusive of GST) Parallel Imported - $169 Mighty Ape - $179 PB Tech - $199 (Inclusive of GST) |
| Battery capacity | Earbuds: 85 mAh Charging case: 270 mAh |
| Play time (on a single charge) | Up to 11 hours |
| Charging | 1 hour of play time within 3 minutes of quick charge |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0, Codec: Scalable (Samsung proprietary), AAC, SBC |
| Compatibility | Android: At least Android 5.0 iOS: At least iPhone 7 or iOS 10.0 |
| Extra features | Qi-certified wireless charging, IPX2, 2-way speaker |
JBL Live 300TWS
JBL is better known for their quality speakers, but they also manufacture some of the best-sounding true wireless earbuds. Live 300TWS has the JBL Signature Sound with heavy bass without overpowering the highs. What’s more, you can customise different sound stages through the My JBL Headphones app. It’s currently priced for as low as $157.
It has a fast pairing system, which instantly connects to your device once you take them out of the case. You can also summon voice assistants such as Google Assistant or Siri to do basic controls like telling your current notifications, set alarms, and more.
| Price (may vary on the time of purchase) | The Market - $157 |
| Battery capacity | Charging case: 450mAh |
| Play time (on a single charge) | Up to 6 hours |
| Charging | Up to 2 hours from empty |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Compatibility | Optimised for Android and iPhones, but works fine with PC and MAC too |
| Extra features | IPX5, Ambient Aware and TalkThru technology |
Xiaomi Redmi AirDots
For an ultimate budget find, Xiaomi Redmi AirDots costs as low as $44! This is one of the best value true wireless earbuds, considering it sports features like an IPX4 rating, quick charge tech, low latency, mono or dual pairing, and more! Most of these features are only reserved for higher-end true wireless earbuds!
It’s also very simple and straightforward to use. It only has a single button to control everything — from playing and pausing music playback to answering an incoming call. The best part is, it’s all encased in a lightweight package to not weigh down your ears.
| Price (may vary on the time of purchase) | Expert Infotech - $44 Mighty Ape - $59 The Market - $62.03 |
| Battery capacity | Earbuds: 40 mAh (each) Charging case: 300 mAh |
| Play time (on a single charge) | Up to 4 hours |
| Charging | Earbuds: Up to 1.5 hours Charging case: Up to 2 hours |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Compatibility | Optimised for Android and iPhones, but works fine with PC and MAC too |
| Extra features | IPX4, Low latency, Mono or Dual pairing, Automatic sync |
Upgrade to a compatible mobile phone
If your mobile phone isn’t supported by any of these budget true wireless earbuds, it’s time to upgrade! Just this 2021, the smartphone market in New Zealand has offered phones with extreme zoom capabilities, futuristic design, fast processing power, and many more! You’re never out of options, so make sure to upgrade to a quality mobile phone that matches your needs and budget.
Read: Best Smartphones For Every Budget And Use (As Of May 2021)
While you’re at it, pair them with an unlimited mobile plan! Listen to your favourite music and podcasts or ask your voice assistants any questions anytime you want, as long you’re connected online. For as low as $40 per month, you get unlimited data credits, which can also be used as a hotspot across your different devices.
Get the best mobile plan today, using our comparison tool, right here at CompareBear.
