I’ve tested dozens of budget earbuds, these are the best you can get for $99

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Over the past few years, I’ve found Earfun has released some of the best inexpensive earbuds on the market, and the company’s latest pair seriously impressed me.

If you’ve ever purchased earbuds for less than $100, you know it can be a mixed bag. I’ve tested sub-$100 earbuds that sounded flat with zero dynamics and a totally absent soundstage, and I’ve tested some that shine when customized by the accompanying app. 

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It’s a rare occasion that I test a pair of earbuds that sell for less than $100 that make my eyes want to pop out of their sockets and my ears to bask in the quality of the sound, but that’s exactly what the Earfun Air Pro 4+ earbuds did.

My experience

As soon as I unboxed the Air Pro 4+ earbuds, I connected them to my Pixel 9 Pro and fired up Spotify. Scrolling through my Runlist (the playlist I listen to when exercising), I stopped at Rush’s “La Villa Strangiato,” which happens to be one of my all-time favorite songs. I cannot even begin to enumerate how many times I’ve listened to this since the early 80s, but suffice it to say, it’s been a lot.

When I hit play, Alex Lifeson’s wonderful intro kicked in, and immediately, I was taken aback by the clarity of the earbuds. It was almost as if I was listening to the song for the first time. The highs were remarkably crisp, and the lows were dynamic and rich. 

But what really hit me was the soundstage, which was far wider than any sub-$100 earbud I’ve ever heard. Geddy, Alex, and Neil were spaced far enough apart that I could easily discern every note and beat without having to try. 

After Rush’s brilliant instrumental, Concrete Blonde’s “Caroline” greeted my ears to further show off the range of the earbuds’ range. The song came to life with a dynamic sound befitting the musicians. What was really surprising about the song was how well Johnette Napolitano’s bass stood out. 

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In lesser earbuds, you’ll notice the bass, sure, but hearing its depth and intention is often lost. Not so with the Air Pro 4+. I could hear the subtle nuances that make Napolitano’s Fender Telecaster bass stand out. On top of that, her rich, unique voice sounded glorious.

I continued through my playlist, hoping to find just one song that didn’t come to life with the Air Pro 4+ earbuds, and after playing through over twenty songs, I came up empty. From Devin Townsend’s “Kingdom” to Purity Ring’s “The Long Night,” everything was beautiful. “The Long Night” was especially lovely because it highlighted Megan James’ sweet-sounding voice in an all-new way.

Not audiophile, musicophile

While I would never label the Air Pro 4+ earbuds as audiophile quality, I would certainly label them “musicophile” earbuds. In other words, if you love music but aren’t concerned with shelling out a week’s salary for a pair of earbuds that your phone can’t possibly take advantage of, these are just about the best you can find under $100.

ZDNET’s buying advice

If you love music and you want to hear it as it should be heard, the Earfun Air Pro 4+ are your best bet. Don’t skip out on these if you consider yourself a lover of music, especially for just $99.

Earfun Air Pro 4+ tech specs

• Drivers – Balanced Armature and 10mm dynamic), Hi-Res Audio Certification
• Chipset – Qualcomm QCC3091
• Bluetooth – 6.0, supports multipoint connection
• Codecs- aptX Lossless, aptX adaptive, LDAC, LC3, SBC, AAC
• Noise Cancellation – Adaptive Hybrid ANC
• Microphones – 6 microphones with AI for noise reduction (cVc 8.0)
• Battery Life – Up to 12 hours (ANC off), 8 hours (ANC on) total Playtime up to 54 hours with charging case (ANC off)
• Wireless Charging – Yes
• Water Resistance – IPX5
• Other Features – Low latency gaming mode, Auracast™ broadcast, Google Fast Pair, in-ear detection
• Weight 54g for the earbuds and case