Technologies
What’s Free on the Epic Games Store This Week?
This week we’ve got River City Girls, Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms and more. Check out how you can get these games and all their rewards at the Epic Games Store.
Are you eager to play a game but struggling to decide on one? Or perhaps you’re reluctant to spend money on a game that might not meet your expectations. Making the right decision is crucial, particularly with rising gaming costs and 2025 looking unpredictable for the gaming industry. Look no further than the Epic Games Store if you’re after something that makes decision-making easier. Each week, you can download a free game (often two or three, if you’re lucky) and keep it forever—without spending a penny. This is the best way to discover exciting new titles without financial risk.
Fortnite is a major influence in pop culture, and it’s also a video game that helped propel Epic Games into the limelight. Following the game’s success, Epic Games launched its own storefront in 2019, offering various games — from action titles to indie favorites — to attract gamers. It quickly became a direct competitor for Valve’s own gaming store, Steam, especially with its offering of free games to play each week.
Sorry console gamers, but the Epic Games Store is exclusively available on PC. This means you cannot access its free games on systems like the PS5 or Xbox. However, if you have a PC or laptop, now’s the time to dive into the Epic Games Store and take full advantage of its free discounts and deals. Creating an Epic Games account is completely free, and you’ll gain numerous rewards. Don’t miss out.
What is the new free game on the Epic Games Store this week? (April 10 to April 17)
Arcadegeddon
It’s time to head into the future with IIIFonic’s Arcadegeddon, a cooperative rogue-lite shooter multiplayer. It is a third-person POV, and players will go up against a virus injected into the arcade they are part of. To level up and progress, they’ll have to explore multiple biomes, take part in mini-games, search for hidden chests and defeat enemies and bosses.
The game came out in 2023, so its player base isn’t as active as one might expect — so be sure you’ll be able to enjoy the game with friends before you download it. Even so, Arcadegeddon has been praised for its «tight level design» as well as its satisfying gunplay. If you like a challenge, you’ll probably want to take advantage of this shooter.
Players can redeem 5,000 ARC coins, which can be used to purchase items and weapons in-game. So don’t miss out on this limited-time offer.
Arcadegeddon’s offer of 5,000 ARC coins is available for free via the Epic Games Store. Released in 2023, most gamers who enjoyed it liked its diverse characters and found gameplay relaxing. It has a 4.5 out of 5 rating.
Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms: Astarion’s Champions of Renown Pack
Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms is a strategy management game that dares to ask: What if your favorite Dungeons and Dragons characters united and embarked on a grand adventure together? Wouldn’t that be the coolest thing ever? If you think so, then this is the game for you.
If you’ve been a fan of Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms, you’ll already know that Baldur’s Gate 3’s most popular character Astarion is a huge reason to jump into the game. With Astarion’s Champions of Renown Pack, players will receive over $100 worth of rewards for free. You’ll need to hurry, though, because this offer ends on April 17.
The rewards of the renown pack are the following:
- Unlocks for the following Champions: Artemis (Seat 3), Karlach (Seat 4), Kalix (Seat 5), Astarion (Seat 10) and the Dark Urge (Seat 11)
- Exclusive Skin: Tuxedo Kalix
- Exclusive Familiar: Rumble the Angry Flumph
- Artemis Chests: 32 Platinum Artemis Chests with 2 shiny equipment cards guaranteed.
- Karlach Chests: 32 Platinum Karlach chests with 2 shiny equipment cards guaranteed.
- Kalix Chests: 32 Platinum Kalix chests with 2 shiny equipment cards guaranteed.
- Astarion Chests: 32 Platinum Astarion chests with 2 shiny equipment cards guaranteed.
- The Dark Urge Chests: 32 Platinum The Dark Urge chests with 2 shiny equipment cards guaranteed.
- Two Week-Long Buff Potions: 1 potion of the Gold Hunter and 1 potion of the Gem Hunter.
Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms: Astarion’s Champions of Renown Pack is free via the Epic Games Store. Idle Champions is a free-to-play game, with many gamers praising the game for its selection of iconic characters from the Forgotten Realms and how easy it is to jump into a game without worrying too much about controls.
River City Girls
You wake up one morning only to discover your and your best friend’s boyfriends have been kidnapped. What is a girlie to do? Find out who did it and beat them within an inch of their life, duh.
River City Girls can be best described as a chaotic, action-adventure beat-em up with glorious pixel-art aesthetic and graphics that will leave you wanting more. As the tough-as-nails heroines Misako and Kyoko, players who enjoy using an arsenal of weapons, items and wise-cracking dialogue to put the smackdown on their enemies will love the game’s zany energy.
Better yet, you won’t have to embark on this challenge alone (though you can, if you want to). With 2-player co-op, you and your friend can put the hurt on the bad guys who took your boyfriends while also enjoying the motion-comic story panels and anime cutscenes. If you love anime, you may even recognize some cameo characters featured in-game. And if not characters, recognizable voice actors such as Cristina ‘Vee’ Valenzuela, known for multiple roles in both anime and video games, are sure to entice you.
It isn’t just fights, however. River City Girls also features six large city regions to explore and participate in side quests. Some may even change the ending you get… depending on the choices you make.
Usually $30, River City Girls is now available for free via the Epic Games Store. River City Girls is well-liked, with 79% of critics recommending it, and it boasts a score of Strong on OpenCritic. Most gamers who enjoyed the game liked its appealing aesthetic and diverse characters.
What will be free on the Epic Games Store next week? (April 17 to April 24)
Firestone Online Idle RPG Epic Games Store Offer
If you’re someone who enjoys the aesthetics of fantasy RPGs but doesn’t have time to play them, then you’ll be intrigued by Firestone Online Idle RPG. Alternatively, if you’re someone who prefers the social aspect of multiplayer RPGs, you should also consider jumping in on this game before its offer next week.
While you might be sitting idle, your heroes never are. Even if you don’t have your eyes on the game, your characters will hack, slash and dice their way through waves of enemies. Of course, if you’d like to speed things up, you can treat the game as a clicker, giving you control of the ferocity of battle alongside other players.
With Firestone Online Idle RPG’s Epic Games Store offer, players will get the chance to claim special rewards and an exclusive skin — altogether valued at $100 altogether.
The offer contains the following rewards:
- Exclusive skin for the hero, Boris
- 2 Avatars for your Character Profile
- 10 Common Chests, each containing at least 1 piece of gear for Heroes
- 5 Uncommon Chests containing at least 1 Uncommon gear
- 10 Wooden Chests with at least 1 Heroes Jewels
- 5 Iron Chests with at least 1 Uncommon Jewel
- 360 Strange Dust to help train your Guardians or conduct experiments
- 50 Scrolls to enhance your stats in battle
- 35 Game Tokens to test your mettle at the Tavern
- 5 Prestige Tokens
- 200 Gems
To get this offer, log onto the game through the Epic Games store — it doesn’t matter if you’re a new or existing player. However, new players must reach stage 15 before obtaining the rewards.
Firestone Online Idle RPG Epic Games Store Offer will be available via the Epic Games Store. Firestone Online Idle RPG is a free-to-play game, with a review score of 3.8 out of 5. Many players enjoy the game’s playful visuals and easy controls.
Previous free games on the Epic Games Store
Unsure whether your favorite game has been selected as part of Epic’s free game of the week or curious about what deals you’ve missed? We’ve listed a selection of games from previous weeks.
Epic Games Store free games in 2025
- Firestone Online Idle RPG (April 17 to April 24)
- River City Girls (April 10 to April 17)
- Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms (April 10 to April 17)
- Arcadgeddon (April 10 to April 17)
- Cat Quest II (April 3 to April 10)
- Cat Quest (March 27 to April 3)
- Neko Ghost, Jump (March 27 to April 3)
- Jurassic World Evolution 2 (March 20 to 27)
- Mortal Shell (March 13 to 20)
- World of Warships: Anniversary Party Favor DLC (March 13 to 20)
- Them’s Fighting Herds (March 6 to 13)
- Mages of Mystralia (Feb. 27 to March 6)
- World War Z Aftermath (Feb. 20 to 27)
- Garden Story (Feb. 20 to 27)
- F1 Manager 2024 (Feb. 13 to 20)
- Humankind (Feb. 6 to 13)
- Beyond Blue (Feb. 6 to 13)
- Undying (Jan. 30 to Feb. 6)
- Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery (Jan. 23 to 30)
- Escape Academy (Jan. 16 to 23)
- Turmoil (Jan. 9 to 16)
- Hell Let Loose (Jan. 2 to 9)
- Kingdom Come Deliverance (Jan. 1)
Epic Games Store free games in 2024
- Sifu (Dec. 31)
- [Redacted] (Dec. 30 to 31)
- Orcs Must Die 3 (Dec. 29 to 30)
- Kill Knight (Dec. 28 to 29)
- Hot Wheels Unleashed (Dec. 27 to 28)
- Ghostrunner 2 (Dec. 26 to 27)
- Control (Dec. 25 to 26)
- Dredge (Dec. 24 to 25)
- Darker and Darker: Legendary Status (Dec. 23 to 24)
- Wizard of Legend (Dec. 22 to 23)
- TerraTech (Dec. 21 to 22)
- Astrea: Six Sided Oracles (Dec. 20 to 21)
- Vampire Survivors (Dec. 19 to 20)
- The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria (Dec. 12 to 19)
- Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Dec. 5 to 12)
- Brotato (Nov. 28 to Dec. 5)
- Beholder (Nov. 21 to 28)
- Castlevania Anniversary Collection; Snakebird Complete (Nov. 14 to 21)
- Apex Legends Ash Unlock Bundle; Deceive Inc (Nov. 7 to 14)
- Witch It; Ghostwire: Tokyo (Oct. 31 to Nov. 7)
- Moving Out (Oct. 24 to 31)
- Kardboard Kings; Invincible Presents: Atom Eve (Oct. 17 to 24)
- Empyrion: Galactic Survival; Outliver: Tribulations (Oct. 10 to 17)
- Bear and Breakfast (Oct. 3 to 10)
- The Spirit and The Mouse (Sept. 26 to Oct. 3)
- TOEM; The Last Stand: Aftermath (Sept. 19 to 26)
- Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland; Super Crazy Rhythm Castle (Sept. 12 to 19)
- Football Manager 2024; Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts (Sept. 5 to 12)
- Wild Card Football; Fallout: Classic Collection (Aug. 29 to Sept. 5)
- Gigantic: Rampage Edition; The Callisto Protocol (Aug. 22 to 29)
- Death’s Gambit: Afterlife (Aug. 15 to 22)
- Cygni: All Guns Blazing; DNF Duel (Aug. 8 to 15)
- Lumbearjack (Aug. 1 to 8)
- F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch; Olympics Go! Paris 2024 Exclusive Outfits Pack (July 25 to Aug. 1)
- Maid of Sker; Arcade Paradise (July 18 to 25)
- Floppy Knights (July 11 to 18)
- The Falconeer (July 4 to 11)
- Sunless Skies: Sovereign Edition (June 27 to July 4)
- Rumble Club Free Game of the Week Bonus; Freshly Frosted (June 20 to 27)
- Redout 2; Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms (June 13 to 20)
- Marvel’s Midnight Suns (June 6 to 13)
- Chivalry 2 (May 30 to June 6)
- Farming Simulator 22 (May 23 to 30)
- Dragon Age: Inquisition – Game of the Year Edition (May 16 to 23)
- Firestone Free Offer; Circus Electrique (May 9 to 16)
- Orcs Must Die! 3, Cat Quest II (May 2 to 9)
- Lisa: Definitive Edition, Industria (April 25 to May. 2)
- Town of Salem 2; The Big Con (April 18 to 25)
- Ghostrunner (April 11 to 18)
- Thief; The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition (April 4 to 11)
- Islets (March 28 to April 4)
- Invincible Presents: Atom Eve; Call of the Wild: The Angler (March 21 to 28)
- The Bridge; Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (March 14 to 21)
- Astro Duel 2 (March 7 to 14)
- Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield (Feb. 29 to March 7)
- Super Meat Boy Forever (Feb. 22 to 29)
- Dakar Desert Rally (Feb. 15 to 22)
- Lost Castle; Doki Doki Literature Club Plus (Feb. 8 to 15)
- Doors: Paradox (Feb. 1 to 8)
- Infinifactory (Jan. 25 to Feb. 1)
- Love (Jan. 18 to 25)
- Sail Forth (Jan. 11 to 18)
- Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (Jan. 4 to 11)
- A Plague Tale: Innocence (Jan. 3 to 4)
- 20 Minutes Till Dawn (Jan. 2 to 3)
- Escape Academy (Jan. 1 to 2)
Epic Games Store free games of 2023
- Ghostrunner (Dec. 31, 2023 to Jan. 1, 2024)
- Saints Row (Dec. 30 to 31)
- Snakebird Complete (Dec. 29 to 30)
- Cat Quest (Dec. 28 to 29)
- Cursed to Golf (Dec. 27 to 28)
- Human Resource Machine (Dec. 26 to 27)
- The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition (Dec. 25 to 26)
- Ghostwire: Tokyo (Dec. 24 to 25)
- Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition (Dec. 23 to 24)
- Art of Rally (Dec. 22 to 23)
- Melvor Idle (Dec. 21 to 22)
- DNF Duel (Dec. 20 to 21)
- Destiny 2: Legacy Collection (Dec. 13 to 20)
- Predecessor, Gigabash (Dec. 7 to 13)
- Mighty Fight Federation; Jitsu Squad (Nov. 30 to Dec. 7)
- Deliver Us Mars (Nov. 23 to 30)
- Surviving the Aftermath, Earthlock (Nov. 16 to 23)
- Golden Light (Nov. 9 to 16)
- Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion (Nov. 2 to 9)
- The Evil Within 2; Tandem: A Tale of Shadows (Oct. 26 to Nov. 2)
- The Evil Within; Eternal Threads (Oct. 19 to 26)
- Q.U.B.E. Ultimate Bundle; Blazing Sails (Oct. 12 to 19)
- Godlike Burger (Oct. 5 to 12)
- Soulstice; Model Builder (Sept. 28 to Oct. 5)
- The Forest Quartet; Out of Line (Sept. 21 to 28)
- 911 Operator (Sept. 14 to 21)
- Spelldrifter (Sept. 7 to 14)
- Cave Story Plus (Aug. 31 to Sept. 7)
- Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak (Aug. 24 to 31)
- Dodo Peak; Black Book (Aug. 17 to 24)
- Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You; Europa Universalis IV (Aug. 10 to 17)
- Loop Hero, Bloons TD 6 (Aug. 3 to 10)
- Severed Steel; Homeworld Remastered Collection (July 27 to Aug. 3)
- The Elder Scrolls Online; Murder by Numbers (July 20 to 27)
- Train Valley 2 (July 13 to 20)
- Grime (July 6 to 13)
- The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos (June 29 to July 6)
- The Hunter: Call of the Wild; Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms (June 22 to 29)
- Guacamelee 2; Guacamelee Super Turbo Championship Edition (June 15 to 22)
- Payday 2 (June 8 to 15)
- Midnight Ghost Hunt (June 1 to 8)
- Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition (May 25 to June. 1)
- Death Stranding (May 18 to 25)
- The Sims 4 The Daring Lifestyle Bundle (May 11 to 18)
- Kao the Kangaroo; Horizon Chase Turbo, Against All Odds (May 4 to 11)
- Poker Club; Breathedge (April 27 to May 4)
- Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna); Beyond Blue (April 20-27)
- Second Extinction; Mordhau (April 13 to 20)
- Shapez; Dying Light: The Following — Enhanced Edition (April 6 to 13)
- Tunche; The Silent Age (March 30 to April 6)
- World of Warships Starter Pack: Ishizuchi; Chess Ultra (March 23 to 30)
- Warhammer 40,000: Gladius — Relics of War (March 16 to 23)
- Call of the Sea (March 9 to 16)
- Rise of Industry (March 2 to 9)
- Duskers (Feb. 23 to March 2)
- Warpips (Feb. 16 to 23)
- Recipe for Disaster (Feb. 9 to 16)
- Dishonored: Death of the Outsider; City of Gangsters (Feb. 2 to 9)
- Hell Is Others, Adios (Jan. 26 to Feb. 2)
- Epistory: Typing Chronicles (Jan. 19 to 26)
- Gamedec: Definitive Edition; First Class Trouble; Divine Knockout (Jan. 12 to 19)
- Shadow Tactics: Aiko’s Choice; Kerbal Space Program (Jan. 5 to 12)
Epic Games Store free games of 2022
- Eximus: Seize the Frontline; Dishonored: Definitive Edition (Dec. 29, 2022 to Jan. 5, 2023)
Epic Store free games FAQ
What do I need to do to get free Epic Store games?
To get free games from the Epic Store each week, you must sign up and make an account.
To register as a user for the Epic Store, first head to the Epic Games website. At the top right-hand corner, click the Sign In button and then Create Account at the bottom of the page.
Can I play the free Epic Store games on Steam?
The Epic Store is different to Steam, so the games that you own on the Epic Store will not be available to play on Steam. If you want to play the free games you’ve downloaded from the Epic Store, you must play them via Epic’s launcher.
Technologies
Internet Providers Can Monitor Their Own Cybersecurity Standards, Says Trump’s FCC
Technologies
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Friday, Nov. 21
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Nov. 21.
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? It’s not too tough today, but read on for the answers. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Pump iron
Answer: LIFT
5A clue: Peer
Answer: EQUAL
7A clue: Like the music of Rick James and James Brown
Answer: FUNKY
8A clue: Animal that can’t change its stripes, per an old adage
Answer: TIGER
9A clue: Pointed part of a fork
Answer: TINE
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Dominant hand for Shohei Ohtani when batting, but not pitching
Answer: LEFT
2D clue: Resignation proclamation
Answer: IQUIT
3D clue: Mushrooms, mold, mildew, etc.
Answer: FUNGI
4D clue: «Is this seat ___?»
Answer: TAKEN
6D clue: U-shaped instrument in ancient Greece
Answer: LYRE
Technologies
Best Budget Noise-Canceling Headphones Under $100 for 2025
Get a set of premium noise-canceling headphones that are great for a budget.
Our Experts
- Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
What to consider
How cheap?
You’d be surprised what difference an additional $20 makes when buying budget headphones.
Design
The right design, especially weight, means a lot for how headphones fit your head.
Comfort
Whether you’re only wearing these every couple of days or you plan to rarely take them off, the right headphones make a huge difference.
Durability
If headphones look cheap, there’s a good chance they may not last long.
Return policy
Know where you’re buying from, and what options are available to you if you end up not enjoying your purchase.
Editor’s note, Nov. 20: Black Friday falls on Nov. 28 and Cyber Monday is on Dec. 1, but the holiday deals are already in full swing. That means there should be plenty of opportunities to save on noise-canceling headphones and earbuds, as many top headphone brands, including Apple, Sony and Bose, discount certain models to their lowest prices of the year — or close to their lowest prices. Several models on this list should be on sale.
HEADPHONE DEALS OF THE WEEK
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$248 (save $152)
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$298 (save $131)
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$170 (save $180)
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$250 (save $200)
After evaluating hundreds of wireless headphones over the last 10 years, I always look forward to testing the latest top premium noise-canceling models from Sony, Bose, Apple, Bowers & Wilkins and others. But I know a lot of people can’t afford those higher-end models or simply don’t want to spend that much on a headphone. That’s why I’m always on the lookout for value noise-canceling headphone options that fit comfortably and perform well for their more modest prices. While you probably aren’t going to get audiophile-grade sound in a sub-$100 headphone, you can get a set of cans that sounds quite good and has solid noise-canceling and voice-calling performance. If you prefer earbuds to over-ear headphones, I also have a lists for best cheap earbuds of 2025 and top wireless earbuds of 2025 that you should check out.
What’s the best cheap noise-canceling headphone overall?
The new Bose-infused Baseus Inspire XH1 lists for $150 but often sells for closer to $100 and delivers very good bang for the buck. I also like theSony CH-720N, which carries a similar street price to the Baseus and is one of my favorite value headphones.
Best cheap noise-canceling headphones for 2025
Pros
- Comfortable fit with an attractive, sturdy design
- Affordable price
- Very good sound for the price
- Decent noise-canceling and voice-calling performance
- Strong battery life
- Hard case included
Cons
- Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio mode doesn’t really improve the sound
- Noise canceling could be a little better
- No USB-C audio or ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off
Why I like them
Baseus has two new-for-2025 earbuds — the Inspire XP1 and Inspire XC1 — and one set of full-size headphones (the Inspire XH1) that feature Sound by Bose, and they’re all good values. They have impressive sound for their price, a more premium design than most «value» headphones and good performance overall. The XH1 are not only fairly lightweight (275 grams) and comfortable to wear, but they have decent build quality, respectable noise canceling and voice-calling performance, as well as very good battery life. I also liked how they not only fold up but fold flat and come with a carrying case and a 3.5mm cable for wired listening. Their controls for playback are also good, though I had to dig into the instructions to figure out that you hold down the volume buttons to advance tracks forward and back. Read review.
Reasons to buy
You’re looking for a comfortable, well-designed set of noise-canceling headphones that sound good and cost a lot less than premium models from Sony, Bose and others.
Reasons to skip/keep looking
Premium flagship models from Bose and Sony offer better sound and noise-canceling performance. In other words, you can only expect so much from headphones at this price.
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Good sound with very good noise canceling and ambient sound mode
- Good voice-calling performance
- Multipoint Bluetooth
- 35 hours of battery life
- Robust EQ settings
Cons
- No carrying case or pouch included
- Missing more advanced features like ear-detection sensors, LDAC audio codec support and Sony’s Quick Attention and Speak-To-Chat
Sony’s improved entry-level noise-canceling headphones, the CH-720Ns, have a bit of a plasticky, budget vibe, but they’re lightweight and very comfortable. Part of me was expecting them to sound pretty mediocre, but I was pleasantly surprised. No, they don’t sound as good as the WH-1000XM5s. But they sound more premium than they look (and feel), and their overall performance is a step up from their predecessor, the CH-710Ns. Are they worth $150? Maybe — or maybe not. But the good news is that, like the CH-710N and WH-XB910 before them, these have already seen significant discounts, with prices dropping to as low as $90 during flash sales.
Pros
- Well-designed and comfortable to wear
- Good sound quality and noise-canceling performance
- Strong feature set
- Strong battery life
Cons
- Voice-calling suffers in windy environments
- Carrying pouch leaves headphones vulnerable to damage
Why I like them
The well-designed and comfortable JBL Live 770NC offers some modest improvements over its predecessor, including better battery life (up to 65 hours with ANC off and 50 hours with ANC on) and Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio (via a future firmware upgrade). Equipped with 40mm drivers, you get bold, nicely defined sound with powerful bass that’s relatively tight. JBL’s Ambient Aware and TalkThru features are on board along with multipoint Bluetooth pairing (the one feature that’s missing is ear-detection sensors that pause your music when you take the headphones off). I thought the headphones’ noise muffling capabilities were good and callers said they could hear me well even in noisier environments except when the wind picked up around me. The headphones fold up and a simple carrying pouch (no hard case) is included along with a cable for wired listening.
Reasons to buy
If you can’t afford premium noise-canceling headphones from Bose, Sony and Apple, the JBL Live 700NC are a good alternative, offering good performance for a more modest price.
Reasons to skip/keep looking
These are easier to recommend when they’re on sale for less than $200 (or even less). They’re a bargain in the $150-$170 range.
Pros
- Eye-catching design with decent build quality and easilyswappable ear pads
- Good sound quality for sub-$100 headphones with strong bass performance
- Decent noise-canceling performance
- Support the LDAC audio codec for Android devices
- Good battery life
Cons
- Voice-calling performance could be a little better
- No USB-C audio
- A cloth carrying pouch is included but not a hard carrying case
- No ear-detection sensors to automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off
Why I like them
Nothing started out with a few different wireless earbuds but has now branched into the over-ear headphones market with its eye-catching Nothing Headphone (1) and the budget-oriented CMF Headphone Pro, which also have a pretty unique look and feature interchangeable ear pads in a few different color options.
I was expecting all that much from these headphones, but after using them for a week, they check a lot of boxes for a top value headphone, including a comfortable fit (they pretty lightweight at 283 grams), decent build quality and good sound quality that’s highlighted by powerful bass that can be dialed up or down with a slider control on the left ear cup (you can also tweak the sound in the companion app). The Skullcandy Crusher 2 headphones have a similar slider, but the CMF’s bass doesn’t get to head-rattling levels (the Crusher 2’s bass literally makes the headphones vibrate).
The CMF Headphone Pro don’t offer quite as good sound quality (they lack a little bit of clarity) as the Baseus Inspire XH1 , which cost a little more and come with a hard carrying case instead of a cloth pouch and not only fold flat but fold up (the CMF Headphone Pro only folds flat). But like the Inspire XH1, they have support for the higher-resolution LDAC audio codec for Android users and strong battery — up to 100 hours with noise canceling off at moderate volume levels.
I should also point out that the noise-canceling is decent and that you get a good amount of passive noise isolation from the plush memory foam ear pads. While voice-calling performance is decent enough (I give it a B or even a B-), it’s far from top tier in terms of reducing background noise while picking your voice up clearly. And I felt the same way about the transparency mode. A cable is include for wired listening but there’s no USB-C audio.
Reasons to buy
The CMF offer a better design, fit and sound quality than many budget noise-canceling headphones that cost a little less. While they’re not exceptionally good in any one area, they’re solid all-around headphones that deliver good bang for the buck, especially when they go on sale for $15-$20 less. They also have customization options with the swappable ear pads.
Reasons to skip, keep looking
Not everybody will love the look of these headphones and you can only expect so much from a set of headphones in this price range from a performance standpoint (they sound quite good for the price but not great).
Pros
- Comfortable fit for long wear
- Respectable sound with punchy bass
- Decent noise-canceling and voice-calling performance with two levels of ANC
- Support for high-quality LDAC audio codec with compatible devices
- Included hard carrying case and cable for wired listening
Cons
- Bit generic looking
- ANC disabled when in wired mode
- They’re a bit lacking in clarity and bass definition compared to more expensive models
Why I like them
Earfun has made some very solid budget earbuds, and now it’s entered the full-size ANC headphone space with a few different over-ear models, including the Wave Pro (add the code EWPROCNET at checkout on Amazon to receive an additional 10% off). While they may not sound as good as premium noise-canceling headphones from Bose or Sony, they’re comfortable to wear, feature decent sound with punchy bass (they’re a bit lacking in clarity and bass definition compared to more expensive models), and they offer respectable noise canceling (you can toggle between two levels of ANC) and voice-calling performance. The headphones do come with a cable for wired listening — you can plug into an inflight entertainment system — but the noise canceling cuts off when you’re in wired mode, which is unfortunate.
Reasons to buy
For less than $60, you’re getting decent sounding headphones with effective noise canceling that are comfortable to wear and have long battery lfie. They’re also one of the few budget headphones that come with a carrying case.
Reasons to skip/keep looking
If you’re a critical listener, these probably aren’t for you as these headphones lack the treble clarity and bass definition found in higher-end models.
Pros
- Comfortable fit for on-ear headphones
- Folding design
- Good sound quality
- Active noise canceling
- Very good battery life
Cons
- No case included
JBL’s Live 670NC and Tune 670NC are among the relatively small number of on-ear models that offer active noise canceling. They’re both relatively affordable, but the Live 670NC version has a more premium look and feel to it, with better ear pads that are clearly more durable. It also has sound that’s a little better, with 40mm drivers that offer good detail and punchy bass. Battery life is rated at up to 65 hours (or 50 hours with ANC on), and an extra four hours of battery with just five minutes of charge. This model includes the latest Bluetooth 5.3 (with LE Audio) and multipoint Bluetooth pairing. It also has JBL’s Ambient Aware (transparency mode) and TalkThru features. It’s available in black, white, blue and sandstone and comes with a cord for wired listening.
The headphones list for $130 but regularly dip to less than $100.
Pros
- Affordably priced
- Comfortable and well-designed
- Sound reasonably good for their low price
- Noise-canceling does a decent job muffling ambient sound
Cons
- No wired mode
- Clarity could be slightly better
- No carrying case
JLab still sells its older Studio Pro ANC wireless headphones for around $100, but its latest budget noise-canceling model is the Lux ANC Wireless. While they list for $80, they’ve dipped to as low as $46 during flash sales, and they’re a good value at $60. For budget headphones, they look pretty good (they don’t stick out from your head too much), are comfortable to wear with nicely padded ear cups and seem pretty well built (they fold up but no carrying pouch or case is included). As far as sound goes, while they just don’t offer the clarity of more premium headphones, they sound fairly decent and kick out a good amount of bass. Everything could be a little more well defined, but since they’re a bit on the warm side and have no treble harshness, you don’t experience any listening fatigue, which is one of the key things you want to avoid with headphones.
Noise canceling performance is decent (you can toggle between «smart» ANC on, ANC off and a transparency mode using the NC button on the headphones) and callers said they could hear me pretty well (though not great) when I used the headphones in the noisy streets of New York. They don’t have a port for a headphone cable so you can’t listen to them in wired mode (there’s no USB-C audio either). But they’re simple to use and the JLab companion app for iOS and Android allows you to tweak the sound profile, customize the touch controls and receive firmware updates. There’s also Bluetooth multipoint pairing and Android users can take advantage of support for Google Fast Pair and Google Find My Device.
Pros
- Strong feature set
- Very good sound quality for their price
- Decent noise canceling and voice calling
- LDAC audio codec support
Cons
- Bit bulky-looking
Available in three color options, the Soundcore Space One is Anker’s latest noise-canceling headphones. They’re a good value for around $100, offering a strong feature set along with good sound quality and performance. They can’t quite compete sound-wise with many of the premium noise-canceling models, but you don’t feel like you’re giving up that much on the sound front to save a good deal of money. They lack a bit of that natural, refined quality you look for in a great set of cans, but the Space One sounds respectable, with decent clarity and bass definition and measures up well to the more expensive Soundcore Space 45.
Noise-canceling and voice-calling performance are also good for headphones in this price range, although the transparency mode is only OK. Anker has developed a version of Sony’s Speak-to-Chat feature — Anker calls it Easy Chat — that automatically pauses your music and enters a transparency mode when you walk up to someone and start a conversation. The headphones are equipped with wear-detection sensors, a feature not usually found at this price, and include a carrying pouch. LDAC audio codec support is available for Android users.
I found them comfortable to wear, but they do look a bit bulky compared to more premium models.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Decent build quality for their price
- Good sound for their price
- Good battery life
Cons
- Voice-calling performance could be better
- Noise-canceling performance is fine but not great
As far as sound, comfort level and build quality go, you’d be hard-pressed to do better than Anker’s Soundcore Life Q30 for the money. It doesn’t have quite the clarity or bass definition as some of the top premium models, but it’s less than a third of the price and gets you about 75% of the way there in terms of sound. It’s well-balanced overall, with punchy bass, and there’s an app that allows you to tweak the sound. Noise-canceling is good for the price, although certainly not up to the level of the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones. Battery life is rated at an impressive 40 hours with USB-C charging.
The only area where the Q30 falls a little short is for voice calls. It picks up your voice fine in quieter environments but it just doesn’t reduce background noise all that well.
Compared to the Q20 (see below), the Q30 does offer improved sound (it’s not a huge difference, but it definitely is a notch up) and a more premium design. There’s also the newer Life Q35 ($100, currently out of stock), which adds support for Sony’s LDAC audio codec for high-resolution audio streaming with music services that support it.
Factors to consider when buying budget ANC headphones
How cheap?
Budget active noise-canceling headphones tend to range in price from $50 to $100. The question you’ll have to ask yourself is whether you’re looking for the cheapest ANC headphones, or are you willing to spend closer to $100? There usually is a significant difference between a set of ANC cans that cost $50 to $60 and ones that cost $80 to $100, particularly when it comes to build quality. If you’re looking for a step-up in audio performance, your best bet is to stick to the higher end of a budget price range.
Design
Budget headphones tend to be a little bulkier than more premium models and can also look and feel a little, well, cheap. All our picks on this list offer a reasonably good design (at a minimum), but some are more appealing than others. Finding a design that’s appealing to you is obviously important.
Fit
It’s key that the headphones you buy fit your head well. The key to good noise canceling headphones is the fit of the ear cups around your head, so the best pair should offer a comfortable fit that’s snug, yet not too snug. Ideally, you want headphones you can wear over a day with minimal breaks. Budget headphones can offer a comfortable fit, but more premium headphones tend to feature better memory foam and more ergonomic designs.
Durability
You want headphones that hold up well over time, so look for models that we note have sturdy build quality. Even budget models can come equipped with excellent resiliency in several tougher conditions.
Maximize performance and features for your budget
You want the best-sounding headphones with the best noise canceling, call quality and features like wireless charging for whatever you’re able to spend. Be sure to pack in as many features as you think you’ll need when choosing a set of headphones, even on a budget.
Return policy
It’s critical to buy your headphones at a retailer that has a good return policy, in case you have buyer’s remorse. Some people who are having trouble deciding between two models sometimes buy both, try them out for a few days, and then return one.
How we test budget noise-canceling headphones
We test budget noise-canceling headphones based on six key criteria: design, sound quality, noise-canceling performance, voice-calling performance, features and value.
Design
We assess not only how comfortably the headphones fit (their ergonomics) but also their build quality and how well the controls are implemented. Only a few full-size headphones have water- and dust-resistance ratings, so those that are more durable are noted in this list.
Sound quality
We evaluate sound quality by listening to a set playlist of tracks from various music styles and comparing headphones to top competing products. Sonic traits such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range and how natural the headphones sound are key factors in our assessment, especially as noise-canceling features can sometimes hinder audio production. If your biggest use case is listening to music, this factor will be a key determinant in choosing your new headphones.
Noise-canceling performance
Because each model on this list features Active Noise Canceling (ANC), we evaluate ANC performance by wearing the headphones in the same spot indoors near a noisy HVAC unit to see how well they do at muffling lower frequencies. Then we head out onto city streets to test the headphones in a real-world environment where we see how they do at muffling not only traffic noise but also people’s voices.
Additional features
Some great-sounding budget noise-canceling headphones aren’t loaded with features, but we do take into account what extra features are on board. These include everything from quick-access awareness with touch controls to transparency modes (your music pauses and the headphones open up to the outside world so you can have a conversation) to special sound modes to ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off your ears. We also take a look at the companion/control app for the headphones (if there is one) and how user-friendly the app controls are.
Voice-calling
When we test voice-calling performance, we make calls on noisy city streets and evaluate how well the headphones or earbuds reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear our voices.
Value
We determine value after considering the strength of the headphones against all these criteria and what they’re able to deliver compared with other models in their price class. Because the models on this list are priced similarly, we’re sure to compare each one head-to-head to deliver you the best value.
Other budget noise-canceling headphones we tested
Edifier W830NB: The Edifier W830NB remain a good value noise-canceling headphone pick. They look slightly more premium than their predecessor, W820NB Plus, and and are fairly lightweight (265 grams) and comfortable, with cushy memory foam ear pads. They also sound very good for their price, offering decent clarity and fairly well-defined bass with an amply wide sound stage (they lack the refinement and depth of higher-end headphones, but you can’t expect the world from sub-$80 headphones). You can tweak the sound profile in Edifier’s companion app for iOS and Android.
QCY H3 Pro: QCY is another Chinese brand like Tribit, Earfun and plenty of others that make budget-priced headphones that sound better than you’d think they would for their relatively low price (the company says the Q stands for quality, C stands for creative and Y stands for youth). Its new-for-2024 H3 Pro headphones are similar to models in this price range from 1More, Tribit and Edifier, but they arguably sound a touch better and I found them relatively comfortable to wear, as they feature a lightweight design and memory foam ear pads.
1More SonoFlow: The design of 1More’s SonoFlow headphones reminds me a little of some earlier Sony headphones and also the newer Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 4. They’re a bit generic looking but sleek enough and more importantly, comfortable to wear. They also feature very respectable sound quality. It doesn’t quite measure up to the sound quality of what’ll get with more premium models like the Momentum Wireless 4, it isn’t that far off. The SonoFlow headphones deliver smooth sound with good clarity and relatively well-defined bass (they’re just not quite as rich or dynamic sounding as those premium models I mentioned). They also have support for the LDAC audio codec.
OneOdio A10: The OneOdio A10s deliver more than you’d expect for their relatively modest price. They’re not only built better than you think they would be for around $80 and are pretty comfortable to wear. They have a dual-hinge design and feel sturdy, weighing in at 395 grams. They sound surprisingly decent and have reasonably good noise canceling with a transparency mode (which has a slight audible hiss). No, they’re not as comfortable as Bose’s and Sony’s models (they do feel a tad heavy) and their sound lacks that extra bit of clarity, bass definition and depth that more premium headphones tend to deliver. They did exceed my expectations and come with a decent carrying case, even if the OneOdio logo splayed across it is a bit garish.
JBL Tune 670NC: The JBL Tune 670NC is one of a relatively small number of on-ear headphones to offer active noise canceling. It’s something of a value model — no carrying case is included — but it does have memory foam ear pads that get you a comfortable fit for an on-ear headphone. Deliver clear sound with punch bass, it has 32mm drivers and improves on its predecessor’s battery life, offering up to a whopping 70 hours (or 44 hours with ANC on), and an extra three hours of battery with just five minutes of charge.
Budget noise-canceling headphone FAQs
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