I love music, but I hate overpaying.
For the last three years, I have exclusively used “Premium” earbuds (the ones that cost $250+). I convinced myself that I needed them. I told myself that the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) was “magic” and the audio quality was “studio grade.”
But last week, my premium earbuds died (battery failure, naturally).
Instead of dropping another $250 immediately, I decided to run an experiment. I bought a pair of $50 budget earbuds (like the EarFun Air Pro 3 or Soundcore Liberty 4 NC) to see if I could survive with them.
The result? I’m returning the $250 ones.
Here is my honest breakdown of the “Brand Tax” in the audio world and why you probably don’t need to spend more than $80 in 2025.
1. The “Diminishing Returns” Curve
In economics, there is a concept called “Diminishing Returns.”
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If you upgrade from $10 earbuds to $50 earbuds, the difference is huge. The sound gets clear, bass exists, and the battery lasts longer.
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But if you upgrade from $50 to $250, the difference is tiny.
I tested my $50 earbuds side-by-side with a friend’s $250 flagship pair.
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The $250 Pair: Has slightly “wider” soundstage and marginally better treble.
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The $50 Pair: Has punchy bass, clear vocals, and supports LDAC (High-Res Audio).1
The Question: Is that 10% improvement in sound worth a 400% increase in price?
My Answer: Absolutely not. Unless you are a professional sound engineer mixing records, your ears likely won’t even notice the difference on Spotify.
2. The Feature Gap is Gone (2025 Reality)
Three years ago, only expensive earbuds had Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).
Today, budget brands have democratized this tech.
| Feature | $50 Budget Buds (Soundcore/EarFun) | $250 Premium Buds (Sony/Apple) | The Winner? |
| Noise Cancellation | Blocks 90% of noise (Traffic/AC) | Blocks 95% of noise (Voices) | Premium (Barely) |
| Battery Life | 9-10 Hours (Single Charge) | 6-8 Hours (Single Charge) | Budget Wins |
| Codecs | LDAC, AAC, SBC | AAC, SBC (Often no LDAC) | Budget Wins |
| App Support | Full EQ Customization | Full EQ Customization | Tie |
| Multipoint | Connect 2 devices | Connect 2 devices | Tie |
Look at the Battery Life. My $50 earbuds last longer than the expensive ones. Why am I paying $200 more for a battery that dies 2 hours sooner?
3. The “Battery Anxiety” Factor
Here is the sad truth about all wireless earbuds: They are disposable.
Batteries degrade. No matter if you spend $50 or $300, the lithium-ion batteries in your earbuds will die in 2-3 years.
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Scenario A: You buy $250 earbuds. In 3 years, they die. Cost per year: $83.
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Scenario B: You buy $50 earbuds. In 3 years, they die. Cost per year: $16.
If both products are destined for the trash can in the same amount of time, it makes zero financial sense to buy the luxury option.
4. When DOES the Premium Price Make Sense?
To be fair, there are two specific reasons to pay the “Brand Tax”:
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The Ecosystem: If you own an iPhone, AirPods switch magically between your Mac and Phone. That convenience is nice, but is it worth $200?
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Call Quality: Premium earbuds usually have better microphones for wind reduction. If you take business calls on a windy street daily, maybe the premium ones are worth it.
But for just listening to music at the gym or on the bus? The $50 earbuds are 95% as good.
Conclusion: Don’t Pay for the Logo
This experiment taught me that I was paying for marketing, not performance.
Big brands spend millions on TV ads and billboards. Guess who pays for those ads? You do, when you buy their $250 product.
Budget brands like Soundcore, EarFun, or Moondrop don’t run Super Bowl ads. They put that money into the product.
My Verdict:
Save your $200. Buy the $50 earbuds and use the extra money to pay for 18 months of Spotify Premium. That is a much smarter investment in your music experience.