Best headphonesSony
Sony WH-CH720N
Light, comfortable noise-cancelling headphones for $95, against $170 for the Beats Studio Pro.
Beats headphones and earbuds cost $150 to $249: the Beats Studio Pro ($170), Beats Solo 4 ($150), Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 ($249) and Beats Powerbeats Fit ($200). These seven picks from Sony, Soundcore, JBL, Bose and JLab cost $38 to $149.
Light, comfortable noise-cancelling headphones for $95, against $170 for the Beats Studio Pro.
A light on-ear design like the Beats Solo 4, with up to 50 hours of battery, for $38.
Adjustable ear hooks, noise cancelling and IP68 sweat protection for $80, against $249 for the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2.
Strong Bose noise cancelling with stability bands for $149, against $200 for the Beats Powerbeats Fit.
| Product | Typical price | Alternative to | Original price | What it matches | What you give up | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony WH-CH520 | $38 | Beats Solo 4 | $150 | Light on-ear design like the Solo 4, with up to 50 hours of battery. | Basic plastic build, plainer sound, and no spatial audio. | Cheapest on-ear |
| Soundcore Q20i | $40 | Beats Studio Pro | $170 | Hybrid noise cancelling and 40 hours of battery. | Cancelling is weaker and the build is basic. | Cheapest noise cancelling |
| Sony WH-CH720N | $95 | Beats Studio Pro | $170 | Light and comfortable, with Sony's app and noise cancelling. | Weaker cancelling on planes. | Closest headphones |
| Soundcore Sport X20 | $100 | Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 | $249 | Adjustable ear hooks, noise cancelling and IP68 sweat protection. | No heart rate sensor or one-tap iPhone pairing. | Closest workout earbuds |
| JLab Epic Sport ANC 3 | $105 | Beats Powerbeats Fit | $200 | Ear hooks, ANC and an IP66 dust and water rating for about half the price. | Bulkier hooks, and no Apple chip features such as one-tap pairing. | Ear hooks for less |
| JBL Endurance Peak 3 | $110 | Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 | $249 | Secure ear hooks, IP68 protection and up to 50 hours with the case. | No noise cancelling or heart rate sensor. | Longest battery |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) | $149 | Beats Powerbeats Fit | $200 | Strong Bose noise cancelling, with stability bands to hold them in place. | No Apple one-tap pairing or Find My support like Beats. | Best noise cancelling |
Every pick is a swap on that Beats product's Cheaper Swap page with a confirmed typical US price, and each costs less than the Beats it replaces. We kept the closest matches and the cheapest picks that still do the job, and list what you give up next to what each one matches.
Prices are typical US prices checked October 2026, not live Amazon prices. Specs come from each maker's page or a dated review.
The Sony WH-CH720N ($95) is light, with noise cancelling and Sony's app, though its cancelling is weaker on planes. The Soundcore Q20i ($40) is the cheapest pick with noise cancelling.
The Soundcore Sport X20 ($100) has adjustable ear hooks, noise cancelling and IP68 sweat protection. The JBL Endurance Peak 3 ($110) has ear hooks and up to 50 hours with the case, but no noise cancelling. Neither has a heart rate sensor.
Mostly Apple extras. The earbud picks here don't have Beats' one-tap iPhone pairing, and the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) ($149) also lack Find My support.
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Every swap is a product sold in the US that does the main job of the original. Close match is another brand with similar features, Same brand, cheaper is an older, smaller or renewed model from the same maker, and Budget pick is the cheapest thing that still does the job. On each page, Closest match is the close match nearest the original in price, and Lowest price is the cheapest swap. We compare published specs, retailer listings and reviews; we don't test products ourselves.
A cheaper product is cheaper for a reason. Each swap says what you give up, like weaker noise cancelling, a smaller screen or a shorter warranty, so you can decide if the savings are worth it.
Prices are typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, last checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices, which change often. When a price couldn't be confirmed, the page says “Check price on Amazon” instead of showing a number.
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