Best Earphones Under Rs.500 (March 2019)

After analyzing all the budget earphones available in the market based on important factors like sound quality, comfort level, build quality, availability of microphone etc, we have made a comprehensive list of the best earphones under Rs.500.

All the earphones on our list sound incredibly good for the price and most of them come with decent build quality as well.

Here are the best earphones under Rs.500 which that are worth buying and offer the best audio experience.

Best Earphones Under Rs.500

Artis is a Mumbai based IT peripherals marketing company which deals with a whole array of budget-friendly products ranging from Bluetooth speakers to power banks.

The Artis E400M is a popular in-ear style earphone priced under Rs.500 which offers excellent audio and commendable build quality.

Design and Build Quality

Made of high-quality ABS plastic, the outer casing of this earphone has a glossy finish that adds to the overall aesthetic appeal.

The two-tone black and red colour combination blends well with the design and makes it look like a premium product when worn in your ears.

The ergonomic tube design along with the soft silicone ear tips makes wearing this device, a comfortable and rewarding experience.

Speaking of the cable, the Artis E400M features a comparatively long 1.5m braided double layered cable that can withstand abuses like a champ.

Speakers and Sound Quality

The Artis E400M, although a relatively unknown brand stacks up right against the established players in the market.

This in-ear wired earphone has large 15mm speaker drivers which deliver exceptional sound clarity and dynamic stereo output consistently across various genres of music.

With the frequency response range covering the spectrum anywhere between 20-20,000Hz, every bit of detail in your favourite music is captured and reproduced gracefully.

For you bass lovers, the large drivers and the snug fit inside the ears provides a treat, when it comes to listening to EDMs and hip-hop music.

The mids and highs are clear and clean, allowing you to enjoy vocals and light music in its entirety.

In-line Microphone and Voice Calls

The Artis E400M comes equipped with a decent quality in-line remote and a microphone which allows you to take voice calls on the go without much hassle.

The microphone captures sound pretty well even when you’re speaking in the middle of a crowd. The quality of voice on the receiver’s end is all good and clean, and downright OK for the price.

Since the length of the cable is longer, the remote tends to tangle too much and cause slight discomfort while attending calls on a ride.

Verdict

If you’re in search of a good quality in-ear earphone with the top of the line sound and build quality for a budget under Rs.500, we’d like to suggest you try out the Artis E400M.

Equipped with large 15mm drivers which delivers excellent sound quality, no matter what genre of music you’re into, this is definitely one of the best in the business.

The boAt bassheads 152 is the latest offering from boAt under its bassheads lineup of in-ear styles earphones.

Priced very competently under Rs.500, this budget earphones aims at first time earphone buyers who don’t want to spend a lot of money on the same.

Design and Build Quality

The boAt bassheads features a lightweight design and attractive aesthetics for an earphone priced under Rs.500.

The earpiece is made using plastic material and slides inside the ear canal without any obstruction.

The silicone eartips are sweat proof and offer excellent grip to the earpiece to stay intact inside the ear.

The boAt bassheads 152 comes with a braided lower half cable to minimize the wires from getting tangled and a regular upper-half cable.

Speakers and Sound Quality

The boAt bassheads 152 features a 10mm dynamic driver speaker which covers a frequency response range of 20 – 20000 Hz.

The sound output from these speakers is loud and clear and has a medium bass, unlike the kind of deep bass notes from former basshead models.

There is minimal to zero distortion in sound output from the speakers even at maximum volume levels.

The bass, vocal and treble notes gracefully complement each other to deliver an allround tonally balanced sound output.

In-line Microphone and Remote

The boAt bassheads 152 comes with an inline remote and microphone for hands-free calling and media controls.

The single button remote can be used either to accept/reject calls or to play or pause the music.

The quality of the microphone on this earphone is decent and without any major issues.

Verdict

If you are planning to purchase a budget earphone with overall balanced sound output, the boAt bassheads 152 is one of the best choices in the sub. Rs.500 category.

Blaupunkt is a German electronics equipment manufacturer known for its car audio systems around the world.

The company has been recently seen spreading its product portfolio including LED TVs and other white goods.

The Blaupunkt EM-01 is the companies entry level wired earphone recently released in the Indian market targeting users with a strict budget under Rs.500.

Design and Build Quality

The Blaupunkt EM-01 is entirely made from plastic. However, the quality doesn’t feel cheap and the use of plastic has made the earphones feel very light and comfortable.

The right angle in-ear style canal phone arrangement perfectly fits inside the ear without any wobbling.

The silicone ear tips are sweat resistant and offer a noise tight fit. It also contributes towards a passive noise cancellation effect which is indeed a welcome addition to the feature list of a sub- Rs.500 earphone.

Speakers and Sound Quality

The Blaupunkt EM-01 comes equipped with a 10mm speaker driver.

The sound quality is excellent with this speaker as it offers a more balanced tonal output rich in bass and supporting treble.

This speaker covers the standard 20 – 20,000 Hz frequency response range and ensures you don’t miss any significant notes on the music you’re listening to.

With a sensitivity level of 102 dB/mW, this in-ear style budget earphone offers loud sound output but without any distortions even while listening to maximum volume levels.

Inline Remote and Microphone

The Blaupunkt EM-01 comes with an inline remote and a microphone for handsfree calls and media control operations.

The single button remote support multiple click operations such as clicking once for play/pause the track, twice for skipping to the next track and thrice for previous track.

The microphone is of decent quality and picks up the voice well to give a pleasant hands-free calling experience.

Miscellaneous

This earphone has a normal 1.2m cable which isn’t the tangle-free type.

If you carelessly keep the earphone in your pocket or backpack, expect to spend some time unwinding the chords.

The 3.5mm jack is gold plated and isn’t angled. Also, the company provides a one-year warranty on this earphone,

Verdict

If you are looking for an allround performing budget in-ear style earphone, the Blaupunkt EM-01 is definitely worth taking the look at.

The powerful sound quality and the decent quality microphone is all that you might need under such a tight budget of Rs.500.

Xiaomi doesn’t need any introduction to the Indian market.

With the introduction of best quality affordable smartphones, they have captured the hearts of millions of people in India and here they are, with a new accessory to their wide product catalogue – the Mi Basic earphones.

Minimal Design Combined with Excellent Build Quality

There was a time when we all considered that the Chinese products had the cheap build quality and that’s why they are priced less.

But Xiaomi has changed that perspective with their products and with these earphones, they are taking it to the next level.

The design of this earphone is minimal at best. But at first glance, we noticed the level of detailing Xiaomi has done on designing this product.

From the unique shaped earpiece to the attractive button on the in-line mic, the Mi Basic earphone has exceeded our expectations.

The silicone eartips are comfortable to wear and don’t easily slip away from the ears.

The mic and the button is of excellent quality and lets you operate the phone handsfree for listening to music and attending voice calls.

The gold-plated angled earphone jack provide minimal resistance to the signal and play a significant role in clean and clear sound output.

Sound Quality is Great for the Price

The Mi Basic comes with a 10mm neodymium driver inside that sounds really loud and clear with distinct vocal clarity.

The level of bass is OK to say the best and it doesn’t overshadow the mids and highs in genres of music such as EDMs and hip hops.

However, if you’re a die-hard bass head, we advise you to consider other models listed in this article.

The in-line mic works well and delivers HD quality voice calls.

With the combination of neodymium drivers and a wider frequency response range, the details in the music are really pronounced and a treat to listen to.

The aluminium alloy sound chamber inside the earpiece amplifies the sound further and enhances the sound output.

Comfort Factor

Xiaomi has designed this earphone with the consumers in mind.

The high-quality silicone earbuds are soft and very comfortable to wear for longer durations.

Also, they are gentle to the skin and doesn’t cause any pain or rashes on prolonged use.

The angled main earpiece body is very well designed to fit inside the ear canal without slipping out even during intense movement of your head.

Should you buy it?

Yes, you should.

If you’re looking for a budget earphone that sounds decent and is comfortable for your ears for longer listening sessions, the Mi Basic is an apt choice.

Also, the built quality of this product is impeccable and for the price at which this product is retailing, there are only a few models that can match this.

Sound One is an Indian company popular for its affordably priced earphones and headphones that became popular among the masses with its fine build quality and attractive designs.

The Sound One 616 is a budget in-ear earphone priced under Rs.500 that promises to deliver a full spectrum sound out for enjoyable music listening experience.

Sleek Design, Comfortable Fit

The Sound One 616 comes with a dual tone colour design that looks attractive to the eyes at the first glance itself.

The vertical in-ear earpieces are cleverly designed at an angle to sit flush in the ear canal, providing a sort of passive noise cancellation.

The 1.2m wire is sufficiently thick but the rubber support at the ends of connections are absent. This makes it highly fragile even with a slight pull.

The in-line remote button feels a bit excess plasticky but works well with the controls.

Sound Output and Voice Call Quality

If we’re to say a high point about the sound output from this earphone from Sound One 616, it will be about the bass.

The bass reproduction is light but very much enjoyable. It won’t make your eardrums vibrate, but certainly, enough for an average joey to get satisfied with.

The mids and highs are distinct and listening to vocal rich songs is a breeze.

The light bass in the background compensates with the wide frequency range that distinctly delivers notes from either end of the spectrum.

Voice call clarity is one area where this earphone trumps others in this list comfortably.

The voice on either side was crisp and crystal clear, to begin with. There were no distortions in between the calls as well.

The angled earpiece design cancels background noises effectively. Also, the ear cups are comfortable enough to be used for longer duration without any irritation.

Valued Added Bonuses

The Sound One 616 comes with a lot of goodies along with the main product, ie the earphones.

There is a soft pouch included in the box for safe keeping the product inside when not in use.

It is a nice gesture for companies to do this as most of us throw our earphones in the bag carelessly and easily damaging them while doing so.

The company also gives a carry case that can be used for long-term storage of this product while on a trip or a backpack.

Final Verdict

The Sound One 616 is a very good choice for those who want a good quality earphone for voice calls.

This earphone also delivers a decent sound quality that is actually pretty good for the price.

The attractive colour options and sleek design makes this earphone look like a product worth a lot more than just Rs.500.

Flipkart is a popular e-commerce marketplace in India selling thousands of varieties of goods from mobile phones to air-conditioners to cosmetic products.

Smartbuy is an affordable consumer electronics lineup from Flipkart mainly targeting budget-constrained consumers in India looking for a decent product.

The Smartbuy V23MM is a wired headset from Flipkart that costs just Rs.375.

Honestly, we’d say this earphone has all the features and then some that earphones priced under Rs.500 usually have.

Metallic Build!

The casing of the speaker unit of this earphone from Flipkart is made of metal. This makes it slightly heavy but gives a pleasant feel when inserted into the ear canal.

The anti-slip ear tips help in keeping the speaker unit in place even while you are not stationary. The earbuds also have a sweat repellent silicone coating as well.

Wider Soundstage for Enjoyable Music Listening

The sound is the number one priority when it comes to the purchase of an earphone. This earphone feature a 9mm driver unit with neodymium magnets inside.

The sound clarity is very good with the mids and highs getting pronounced over a wide frequency range – boring jargons aside, treble and vocals are clearly defined and is pleasant to hear.

The bass is a bit on the softer side. This might be an issue for those who need extra bass even for Carnatic music, but for no one else.

 Voice Calls and the Build Quality

The inline mic comes with noise cancellation that works pretty well. The mic is sensitive to our voice and picks it up easily.

One important thing to mention about the Smartbuy V23MM is its braided nylon cable. The cable is 1.2m long.

It is strong and can handle mild abuses without hampering the functionality of the earphone.

Afterwords

If you have a budget of under Rs.400 and need a nice sounding earphone, this product is well worth considering.

Philips releases a plethora of budget in-ear earphones in India which combines excellent build quality and decent sound quality under an affordable price range.

The Philips IN-SHE1515BK/94 is one such earphone that is really popular among budget-conscious buyers looking for a reliable earphone from a reputed company, priced under Rs.500.

Design and Build Quality

The Philips IN-SHE1515BK/94 has a minimal yet elegant design that looks posh and premium, despite its plastic build.

The black and metallic silver paint job masks the average build quality of this device to an extent that you won’t notice it much.

The soft silicone tip and the earpiece tube fits snug inside the ear canal and offers a sort of passive noise cancellation effect. The only major downside of this earphone is that the 3.5mm jack is neither gold plated nor angled.

Speakers and Sound Quality

The Philips IN-SHE1515BK/94 features smaller 8.6mm speakers, compared to most of its competitors in this price segment.

The drivers, though small deliver decent quality sound output with perfectly natural bass and equally audible mids and highs. If you are the kind of guy, who loves listening to vocals and light music, this earphone will suit you the most.

The frequency response range between 10-20,000Hz in paper should equate to deep bass, but with this earphone, you shouldn’t expect anything spectacular.

Maybe the non-gold plated jack dampens the signals, thereby reducing the effect of low pitch sounds in the final output.

In-line Microphone and Voice Quality

This in-ear style earphone comes equipped with an in-line remote which has a single button to accept/reject incoming voice calls.

The quality of the remote is in conjunction with the overall build quality of this earphone, which is just OK for the price.

The microphone inside picks up voices quite well, and there is no sound distortion on the other end of the call.

Verdict

If you would love to spend your hard earned money on an earphone from a reliable brand, the Philips IN-SHE1515BK/94 might be a good choice.

Perfect for listening to vocals and light music, this earphone offers clean and crisp mids and highs that will satiate the true music lover in you.

That sums up our list of the best earphones under Rs.500.

We have put together some incredible value for money earphones here.

We hope that we have helped you pick the right product. If you can extend your budget, do check out our best picks under Rs.2,000 and Rs.1,000 here.

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