Best Affordable Bone Conduction Headphones

Bone-conduction headphones are the hot stream topic of the headphones’ lineup nowadays. These top 6 best affordable bone conduction  headphones are getting popular day by day because sadly, listening to music with traditional headphones causing a lot of problems for the users such as conductive hearing loss or ear wax.

That’s why people have turned to these headphones.

If you are new to this discussion then, you don’t need to worry because as always; we are going to start from scratch here.

6 Best Affordable Bone Conduction Headphones

What are Bone-Conduction Headphones?

In your science books, you’ve heard how sound travels as waves and how it reaches the ear. Similarly, you’ll also know those traditional headphones either cover your ear or go inside your ears. But those headphones send the sound from the outer ear, through the ear canal, to the eardrum, then vibrate the bones of hearing and stimulate the hair cells inside of the cochlea.

However, bone-conduction headphones transfer sound via bones and rather than covering the ears or sitting over the ear, these headphones sit on the temples on each side of your ears. So, these headphones vibrate the bone outside of your ear, then transfer the vibration through the eardrum and that’s how you hear the sound.

Here sound bypasses all the outer and middle ear components for stimulating the hearing in bone-conduction headphones. So, a little unconventional technique but pretty effective for people with conductive hearing loss or ear wax.

Today’s Agenda

The unconventional technique of transferring sound makes these headphones not only unique but also expensive. Generally, you can get a good bone-conduction headphones model from $50-$70.

You can also spend $150+ on these headphones for getting a more premium model, but we are looking for the best inexpensive bone conduction headphones that one can get in between the range of $70-$80 (neither too steep and nor too cheap).

Just like other technology, more money means more benefits, so you can’t expect premium quality from the headphones that we are going to discuss because the manufacturers of these headphones have to compromise some things for putting them in this price range.

However, before moving to the list, let’s see the bone conduction headphones side effects and advantages because it’s always better to know the complete detail about something before getting into that thing. So, let’s discuss some main pros and cons of these headphones.

Pros and Cons of Bone-Conduction Headphones

This is just a general overview of bone-conduction headphone’s pros and cons and if you want a complete discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of these headphones, then you can always check our other article with the name bone conduction headphones pros and cons.

Now let’s move to the list.

List for Best Affordable Bone Conduction Headphones

Below, you will find the models that we think are the best budget bone conduction headphones. We’ve done proper testing on these headphones and ranked this list based on our testing’s result and opinion.

So, without wasting any more time, let’s get started!

1. AfterShokz OpenMove

KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Bluetooth Technology:	Bluetooth 5.0
Behavior with Water:	IP55 Water-Resistant Rating
Battery Life:	6 Hours of Continuous Playback and Call Time
Weight:	29 grams
Wireless Transmission Range:	33 Feet (10 Meters)
Forte:	USB Type-C Supported and the Most Affordable AfterShokz Product

The AfterShokz OpenMove is the budget version of the AfterShokz Aeropex and that’s the cheapest model AfterShokz has ever produced. We’ve put this model on top of our list for the best affordable bone conduction headphones because AfterShokz is the leader when it comes to producing bone-conduction headphones and as mentioned earlier.

Bone-conduction headphones are expensive than traditional headphones, so considering we are discussing bone-conduction headphones, that’s a pretty reasonable range.

Results of these Headphones in our Testing:

From the design perspective, this model is pretty similar to the previous models and in fact, it’s slightly lighter than the AfterShokz Trekz Air weighing only 29 grams.

Not only that, but these headphones are a lot softer and more comfortable and that’s the biggest change AfterShokz has brought in these headphones. There’s also a magnet clip here (in OpenMove) that makes these headphones sit comfortably around the neck (when you’re not using these) which is quite handy.

Since these are the latest bone-conduction headphones from AfterShokz, there’s a USB-Type C charging port in these headphones, which means unlike AfterShokz and most bone-conduction headphones on our list, these headphones don’t have proprietary charging support.

Moreover, instead of IP67 (which we’ve seen in the AfterShokz Aeropex), AfterShokz has made these headphones with an IP55 rating. So, these headphones aren’t as protective against water as the Aeropex model because the IP55 makes them sweat-resistant and water-resistant.

Controls-wise, these headphones are simple, just like most bone-conduction headphones from AfterShokz. On one hand, you’ve got a power button, volume up, volume down and on the other side, you’ve got a pause button which is easily accessible even when you are running.

The battery life of these headphones is a bit short than the AfterShokz Aeropex because you’ve got 6 hours of continuous playback and call time (with a single charge) and if you’re running with these headphones, it’s going to cover you.

Moreover, you need to charge these headphones for 2 hours to get the complete battery life and the difference between the charging time is noticeable.

When we took these headphones for a test run, these headphones are pretty much similar to other AfterShokz headphones. However, the sound quality isn’t quite as good as Aeropex as it’s a little quieter and there’s not much volume and bass in these headphones.

For example, if you are wearing these headphones on a busy road, then you have to raise the volume to full, otherwise, you’re not going to hear anything. But again, that’s one of the compromises, AfterShokz has to make to put these headphones in this price range.

One other difference we’ve noticed in these headphones as compared to other bone-conduction headphones is, these are less ticklish on the bones (just like Aeropex) and sometimes, you almost forget that you’re wearing these, such as the comfortability these headphones bring.

The connectivity of these headphones is pretty much the same as most modern bone-conduction headphones because these use a Bluetooth 5.0 module which can give you a connectivity range of almost 33 feet. We’ve tested these headphones with iPhone, Android and laptop, but not even once we have faced any connectivity issue.

Overall, for this price range, it’s safe to say that these are the best bone conduction headphones for the money because you are getting features pretty much similar to Aeropex but with compromises on the sound quality and the battery. So, if you’re a runner and want bone-conduction headphones for racing because of safety purposes, these headphones will do the job.

2. Vidonn F1

KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Bluetooth Technology:	Bluetooth 5.0
Behavior with Water:	IP55 Water-Resistant Rating
Battery Life:	6 Hours with 2 Hours of Charge
Weight:	36.28 grams
Wireless Transmission Range:	33 Feet (10 Meters)
Forte:	Best on a Budget Bone-Conduction Headphones

The number two entry on our list for the best affordable bone conduction headphones is the most famous and affordable Vidonn bone conduction headphones named Vidonn F1. Since Vidonn offers good features at an affordable price tag, it’s one of those bone-conduction headphones with a higher number of sales on Amazon. So, let’s see all those features.

Results of these Headphones in our Testing:

If you’ve used its successor F3, you’ll find more power in these headphones and that’s one of the reasons why these headphones are one of the most popular and selling bone-conduction headphones of Vidonn ever.

The headphones feature an ABS + titanium alloy build, which makes these headphones not only lightweight but also durable. Moreover, these headphones have a comfortable fit for people with normal-sized heads and bigger-sized heads.

However, if you have a diminutive head, then these headphones are not made for you and you should try their successor (the F3 model).

The headphones also feature an anti-drop design which makes these headphones perfect for both outdoor and indoor activities because no matter how shaky your gym session is, these headphones won’t fall.

There’s also a CVC noise cancellation microphone that provides you clear communication and it’s pretty much the best you can get in this price range.

If you want more entries for bone-conduction headphones with a mic, then you can check out the other article named best bone conduction headphones with mic. Anyway, in terms of the sound quality, the sound leakage is fairly noticeable and that’s one of the reasons for the downfall of these headphones.

Speaking of bass, Vidonn has promised the bass in the outlet of these headphones, but we’ve hardly found any bass in these headphones, which is a disappointment. Unless you use the provided earplugs, there’s hardly any improvement in the bass of these headphones.

Vidonn has made these headphones IP55 rated which means these are not waterproof but they are water-resistant and sweatproof. So, you can’t use these headphones for swimming or in rain, but you can use these headphones in hot weather conditions, or intense training sessions as sweat won’t be a problem with these headphones.

The battery life of these headphones is pretty much like most bone-conduction headphones of this range. Vidonn has embedded a battery of 180mAh in F1 and this battery can provide a continuous playback and talk time of 6 hours. Moreover, you need to plug in these headphones (via the provided micro-USB cable) for 2 hours.

Vidonn did manage to put a Bluetooth 5.0 module in these headphones (even in this price range) which have set the tone for other brands, so when they produce some cheap bone-conduction headphones, they will also put the same Bluetooth module. With this module, you will get a reliable and faster wireless transmission range of 33 feet (10 meters).

3. Tayogo S2

KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Bluetooth Technology:	Bluetooth 5.0
Battery Life:	Up to 6 Hours of Playback Time
Weight:	29.7 g
Wireless Transmission Range:	Up to 30 ft.
Forte:	Compatibility With both Android and iOS

The third entry on our today’s list of best affordable bone conduction headphones is Tayogo S2, which is one of the good cheap bone conduction headphones because you can easily get these bone-conduction headphones for even a lesser price than $40.

But surely, the manufacturer (Tayogo) has to make some compromises to put these headphones at this lesser price tag. So, let’s see those compromises.

Results of these Headphones in our Testing:

Starting with the connectivity, Tayogo did manage to maintain the tone set by Vidonn of putting Bluetooth 5.0 module in even the cheapest bone-conduction headphones. So, these headphones will provide a range of 30 feet which is almost 10 meters.

However, we’ve faced some connectivity issues because when we’ve placed the connected device in the opposite pocket (opposite to the side of headphones that contain the Bluetooth module), we’ve experienced syncing issues.

But considering that we haven’t faced any such issue with Bluetooth 5.0 module in any of our previous testings of these headphones, we think that it will be because of the environment.

For beginners and people with a limited budget, these bone-conduction headphones can be a wonderful choice. You can pair these headphones with wearables and with a single charge, you can listen to music for 6-hours such as the powerful battery of Tayogo S2.

Even if you have a large head, the headphones will fit 99% of the users. The headphones won’t slip down from your head because of the soft rubber pads, which are not only comfortable but will also not impede the vibration transmission. These comfortable rubber pads will make your audiobooks, podcasts, audio tracks and movies more fun.

If you use these headphones with full volume, the person sitting next to you can hear almost everything and that’s because there’s no sound leakage protection in these bone-conduction headphones, which will be a disappointment for most users. But again, these are the kinds of compromises manufacturers have to make to create a cheaper product.

However, if you want to use these headphones in a quiet place, then you need to listen to the music at normal or less volume.

4. Vidonn F3

KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Bluetooth Technology:	Bluetooth 5.0
Behavior with Water:	IP65 Sweat and Light Rain Waterproof
Battery Life:	7-9 Hours with 1.5 Hours of Charge
Weight:	29 grams
Wireless Transmission Range:	33 Feet (10 Meters)
Forte:	Affordable with Good CVC Noise Cancellation for Calls

At number four on our list of the best affordable bone conduction headphones, we have another entry from Vidonn bone conduction headphones and its name is Vidonn F3. These headphones are the predecessor of Vidonn F1 and Vidonn has made these headphones for people with smaller heads. Let’s see the insights of these headphones.

Results of these Headphones in our Testing:

Starting from the most worth mentioning thing, the headband of these headphones is 1-inch shorter than Vidonn F1 and it’s one of the best cheap bone conduction headphones for people with mini heads.

The one-inch shorter headband also makes these headphones a little lighter as compared to their predecessors because these headphones weigh around 29 grams

Just like Vidonn F1, these headphones also have a titanium build and the rest of the build is pretty much similar to its predecessor. As Vidonn has made these headphones for smaller heads, so that means the fitting of these headphones for people with normal-sized heads or bigger heads won’t be as good as other bone-conduction headphones. Moreover, the headphones aren’t as flexible and durable as other bone-conduction headphones on our list.

In terms of connectivity, these headphones feature the same Bluetooth 5.0 module which provides a wireless range of 33 feet and we have tested the connectivity with MacOS system, windows system, Android, or iOS device, but there are hardly any connectivity issues.

Another difference we’ve noticed with these headphones is the availability of a battery that can provide a battery life of up to 7-9 hours, which is quite an improvement as compared to the predecessors. Plus, you need to charge these headphones for 1.5 hours to get the complete battery life.

The availability of CVC noise cancellation is one of the noticeable things in these headphones. Vidonn claims that noise cancellation will also be helpful while listening to the music, but we haven’t experienced any noticeable difference. However, the noise cancellation clearly has provided a better conversation during phone call testing.

The headphones are rated as IP65, which means as compared to their predecessor, these headphones will provide a reasonable amount of sweat resistance and protection against light raindrops. So, you can wear these headphones in rain or you can wear these headphones during a sweaty activity and these headphones won’t cause any issue.

Being a budget range bone-conduction headphone, the bass isn’t as noticeable as premium bone-conduction headphones unless you use the provided earplugs. However, the volume of Vidonn F3 is pretty loud as compared to its predecessor.

Speaking of the provided controls, there are no physical volume buttons provided with these headphones. So, to control the volume, you have to increase and decrease the volume from the connected device. Moreover, Vidonn has only provided a play or pause button, but again in our testing, those buttons aren’t easily accessible because of their small size.

5. Pyle PSWBT550.5

KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Bluetooth Technology:	Bluetooth 4.1
Behavior with Water:	IPX6 Rating
Battery Life:	240 Days of Standby Time
Weight:	41 grams
Wireless Transmission Range:	35 Feet

At number five on our list for the best affordable bone-conduction headphones, we have an upgraded model of Pyle bone-conduction headphones and its name is PSWBT550.5. This model is the upgraded version of PSWBT550 and let’s see what are the things that Pyle has changed in this upgraded version.

Results of these Headphones in our Testing:

These ergonomic headphones are a great alternative to traditional earbuds because, unlike traditional earbuds, these headphones won’t fall while working out. Moreover, the IPX6 rating makes these headphones safe from any kind of high-pressure water splashes. So, you can use these headphones for outdoor activities.

Just like its previous version, Pyle has used the Bluetooth 4.1 module in these headphones. However, we did get a long enough range of 35 feet in our testing of these headphones. But this old Bluetooth module might create audio dropout issues if you try to use these headphones with devices having later versions of Bluetooth (especially 5.0 or 5.1).

Unlike most bone-conduction headphones we’ve tested so far, Pyle has provided a magnetic cable for charging these headphones, which is great. Speaking of charging, these headphones feature a 200mAh Li-ion battery which will provide a battery timing of 3-4 hours (at full volume) and 240 days of standby battery timing.

The headphones contain all the controls on a side panel and you can skip or play the tracks without interacting with your connected device. Moreover, you can increase or decrease the volume of the playing track using the provided volume buttons.

The headphones also feature a built-in microphone through which you can answer the incoming calls on your android or iOS device.

For finding out the current battery level of these headphones, Pyle has also provided an LED that will show the battery timing of these headphones.

6. Barcley A9

KEY HIGHLIGHTS
Bluetooth Technology:	Bluetooth 5.0
Behavior with Water:	IPX56 Sweatproof and Waterproof
Battery Life:	6 Hours with 15 Days of Standby Time
Weight:	48 Grams
Wireless Transmission Range:	10 Meters (33 Feet)
Forte:	Cheapest Bone-Conduction Headphones Ever

The number sixth entry might be unknown for some users, but this is from a Chinese brand named Barcley. This is the A9 model of Barcley and recently we’ve come across these headphones and we’ve thought of giving these headphones a shot. We’ve put these headphones on the last number on our list for the best affordable bone conduction headphones, so let’s see its insights.

Results of these Headphones in our Testing:

One of the reasons for putting these headphones in the last spot is their unknown brand because even when we went online to purchase these, there were no ratings. Despite that, we’ve purchased these headphones because they hardly cost us $20. This price range makes these headphones, the cheapest bone-conduction headphones on our list.

These headphones have one of the most flexible bodies we’ve ever seen in bone-conduction headphones because you can bend these headphones to 360-degrees, but that won’t affect these headphones.

Just like other bone-conduction headphones on our list, these headphones also feature a Bluetooth 5.0 module which provides faster transmission and more reliable connectivity with devices like laptops, Androids, or iOS.

To assist the users more, these headphones have a noise-canceling microphone and even if you are listening to music, you can easily switch to answer the call and back to music with the help of its one-button control.

The battery life of these headphones is pretty reasonable because we’ve charged these headphones for 2 hours and later on, we’ve used these headphones for at least 5-6 hours which means these headphones can provide 5-6 hours of listening time.

Whether you want to use these headphones for running or cycling, sweat won’t bother these headphones as these headphones have a waterproof and sweatproof rating of IPX56. Even against harmful dust particles, these headphones can withstand easily. Not only that, but you can also use these headphones for indoor activities as well such as using in the office.

One of the great things we’ve liked about these headphones is their compatibility with Google Assistant and Siri, as we’ve thoroughly tested these headphones for both voice assistants and in fact, we’re impressed by the outcome.

Our Verdict

To conclude our today’s discussion, $70 is a pretty reasonable range for finding an affordable but good quality bone-conduction headphones model and when we say the word quality in the bone-conduction headphones lineup, there’s none better than AfterShokz, so our winner for today’s list is AfterShokz OpenMove.

If you want bone-conduction headphones for $50, then Tayogo S2 and Vidonn F1 are worth trying as well. We won’t recommend you Barcley A9 because we know that users like to buy products from trusted brands and Barcley is still an unknown brand, so it’s better to avoid that model if you are a beginner.

However, you won’t find the best bone conduction headphones 2023 in this price range and if you want the best, then check out our other article what are the best bone conduction headphones.

In the end, we wish you good luck and have a ***HAPPY SHOPPING***.