Not too long ago, you would have been right to doubt the quality of any true wireless earbuds with active noise canceling selling for less than $100. The $60 Aukey EP-N5 thus serve as a pleasant reminder that the technology is no longer as out of reach as it once was. These buds still fall short in features like mic quality and water resistance when compared to pricier competition from the likes of Apple, Samsung, and Sony, but they’re worth checking out if you’re hunting for good sound and decent ANC above all else.
Note: This review is part of our roundup of wireless and true wireless earbuds. Go there for details on competing products and our testing methods.
From a distance, the EP-N5 earbuds look even more expensive than they actually are, in part because the design of both the case and buds pulls so heavily from Apple’s AirPods and AirPods Pro—save for the fact that they only come in black. The difference in build quality is more apparent once they’re actually in your hands, as Aukey crafted them with a lightweight plastic that doesn’t feel super durable but does help keep them comfortable when worn for hours at a time.
