Cillso H97

With 40 hours of total battery and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity in the 95th percentile, the Cillso H97 punches way above its sub-$40 price. Sound and mic quality are shockingly good for budget buds. Just note the build feels cheap and they're not the best for workouts.

The Cillso H97 earbuds hit a rare sweet spot for budget true wireless, scoring in the 97th percentile for user sentiment across our database. That's right, owners absolutely love these things, giving them a 4.9-star average across almost 500 reviews. The standout numbers: 40 hours total battery life with the LED case, Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity that lands in the 95th percentile for stability, and a 14.2mm driver that pushes surprisingly clear sound with respectable bass down to 20Hz. But there's a catch, and it's the build quality. At the 33rd percentile, the plastic construction feels cheap compared to pricier options, and the fitness score of 42 suggests they might not survive a truly punishing workout routine. Still, for under $40, you're getting best-in-class connectivity, solid ENC mic performance, and an IP7 rating that handles sweat and rain without breaking a sweat.

Under the hood, Bluetooth 5.4 is the real hero here. We're seeing connection range stretching to 15 meters with noticeably lower power draw than 5.3, which helps that 8-hour per charge earbud figure. In our testing, audio latency is low enough for casual gaming, though serious competitive players might still want a dedicated gaming mode. The 14.2mm dynamic driver isn't the largest we've seen, but with a 20Hz bass floor and treble up to 20kHz, it pushes more low-end than most earbuds in this weight class. Sound quality sits in the 85th percentile, meaning it's a standout for the price—vocals are clean, and the soundstage feels wider than you'd expect from buds this cheap. Call quality is another surprise. The four-mic ENC setup cancels around 85% of background noise, according to Cillso, and our database puts mic performance at the 90th percentile. Wind and traffic get filtered out effectively, so your voice comes through clearly even on a busy street. Active noise cancellation is solid but not mind-blowing; it lands at the 80th percentile, good enough for an office or coffee shop but won't silence a jet engine. Comfort is decent with the 4-gram weight per bud, but the fit might not stay locked in during intense movement—hence that mediocre fitness score.

At prices ranging from $18 to $40, the Cillso H97 is almost impossible to beat on value. You're getting connectivity that matches earbuds three times the price, battery life that outlasts most commutes, and an IP7 rating that means they'll survive a rainstorm. Compare that to the EarFun Air Pro 4+ which costs significantly more for similar features, and these start to look like a steal. The trade-off is in longevity—that cheap build might mean replacing them sooner, but for the initial outlay, it's hard to argue.

When stacked against the EarFun Air Pro 4+, the Cillso H97 holds its own with a longer 40-hour case battery and more stable Bluetooth, but the EarFun offers better app support and ANC that's a notch above. The Soundcore P31i brings richer bass with its BassUp mode, though its mic quality trails the Cillso's impressive ENC. For gym rats, the JBL Endurance Race 2 has a far more secure fit and higher durability, but it costs nearly double and can't match the Cillso's connectivity scores. If you just want cheap earbuds that sound good and last forever between charges, the Cillso takes the crown in this price bracket.

If you're hard on your gear or need earbuds that can take a beating, the Cillso H97's 33rd percentile build quality is a red flag. The plastic housing feels cheap and may crack under heavy use. Fitness enthusiasts who prioritize a rock-solid, locked-in fit during intense workouts should look elsewhere—our fitness score of 42 means you'll be adjusting them more than you'd like. And if top-tier ANC or premium codec support are must-haves, you'll need to step up in price.

The Cillso H97 is one of our highest-rated budget earbuds precisely because it nails what matters most at this price: connection reliability, battery stamina, and call clarity. The 4.9-star rating across nearly 500 reviews isn't hype—real owners are genuinely happy. We're comfortable recommending them for anyone who needs dependable daily drivers and doesn't mind the plasticky feel. Just don't expect them to become your gym partner, and treat them with a little care.