We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-03 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a pocketable, app-tunable pair of earbuds with the longest battery runtime in this comparison, choose Anker Soundcore; if you need full over-ear cups with active noise cancellation, memory-foam comfort and a foldable frame for travel, choose MGHOAQFRS Headphones Over Ear.
• Anker Soundcore — biggest strength: 10mm oversized drivers plus 22 EQ presets in the soundcore app, so you can reshape the sound yourself. Up to 30 hours total playtime with the case, and a 10-minute top-up gives roughly 2 hours.
• Anker Soundcore — biggest trade-off: These are in-ear buds with no noise control at all, and they rely on a charging case, so you can't just toss them on your head and go.
• MGHOAQFRS Headphones Over Ear — biggest strength: True over-ear design with memory-protein earmuffs, active noise cancellation, a foldable frame and a 3.5mm jack as a wired fallback.
• MGHOAQFRS Headphones Over Ear — biggest trade-off: Shorter runtime (about 8–10 hours per charge, roughly 9 hours average) and a smaller 200mAh battery, with no app or EQ customization mentioned.
• Pick Anker Soundcore if you want cheap headphones that disappear in a pocket and last days between charges.
• Pick MGHOAQFRS Headphones Over Ear if you want cheap headphones that cover your whole ear, cut background noise and fold flat in a bag.
The Soundcore P20i is a true wireless earbud built around one idea: big sound from a tiny package. The 10mm dynamic drivers are oversized for this category, and the tuning leans bass-forward on purpose. If your playlist is bass-heavy, or you mostly listen while commuting, walking or working out, that low-end emphasis is the whole point. The 16-ohm impedance and 20Hz–20kHz frequency range tell you these are easy to drive from any phone — no amp, no fuss.
What really separates them from a random pair of budget buds is the software. The soundcore app gives you 22 EQ presets, customizable tap controls, a gaming mode for lower-latency in-game audio, and a "Find My Earbuds" feature that makes a lost bud emit noise. That last one sounds like a gimmick until you've lost an earbud on a couch. Battery is the other headline: 10 hours on a single charge, 30 hours with the case, and a 10-minute quick charge buys about 2 hours. Bluetooth 5.3 and a 10-meter range keep the connection stable in crowded places. The case has a lanyard and is small enough to clip on a bag or keys — 1.6 ounces for the buds themselves.
MGHOAQFRS Headphones Over Ear: Who It's For
The MGHOAQFRS P2961 is the classic budget over-ear formula, executed with a few genuinely useful extras. The cups use memory-protein foam that fully surrounds the ear with no pressure, and both the headband and earcups adjust to fit different head shapes and sizes. That's the real advantage of this form factor: nothing sits inside your ear canal, so long listening sessions and glasses-wearers tend to find it far more comfortable. Foldable hinges mean it collapses into a school bag or suitcase instead of demanding a dedicated pouch.
On the tech side, it runs Bluetooth 5.3 with a 33-foot (10-meter) working range, the same frequency range as the earbuds at 20Hz–20,000Hz, and it supports intelligent noise reduction — the spec sheet lists active noise cancellation as the noise control type. That's a meaningful difference if you fly, ride trains or work in a noisy room; the earbuds in this comparison have none. Calls are covered by a built-in microphone, and there's a 3.5mm jack, so you can go wired when the battery is dead or when you want zero latency. It even takes a memory card, which is unusual at this end of the market and handy if you'd rather leave your phone in your pocket.
The trade-offs are honest ones. The 200mAh battery delivers roughly 8–10 hours of listening (about 9 hours average per the specs), and a full charge takes about 1.5–2 hours. There's no quick-charge claim, and no companion app or EQ presets — what you hear out of the box is what you get. The cups are black memory foam and plastic, and the whole thing is bulkier than a case you can clip to your keys.
Who should buy it? Travelers, students, desk workers and anyone who wants over-ear comfort plus noise reduction without spending much. Who should skip it? If you need maximum runtime, pocketability, or app-level control over your sound, the earbuds win those categories outright.
• Best for battery life → Anker Soundcore. 30 hours with the case versus roughly 9 hours per charge on the MGHOAQFRS.
• Best for quick top-ups → Anker Soundcore. A 10-minute charge yields about 2 hours; the MGHOAQFRS needs 1.5–2 hours for a full charge.
• Best for blocking outside noise → MGHOAQFRS Headphones Over Ear. It lists active noise cancellation; the P20i lists no noise control.
• Best for all-day comfort on long sessions → MGHOAQFRS Headphones Over Ear. Memory-protein over-ear cups and an adjustable headband beat in-ear tips for many people.
• Best for sound customization → Anker Soundcore. 22 EQ presets, tap-control remapping and gaming mode in the app.
• Best for travel and storage → MGHOAQFRS Headphones Over Ear. It folds flat for a bag; the earbuds win on pure pocketability instead.
• Best for wired fallback and offline playback → MGHOAQFRS Headphones Over Ear. It has a 3.5mm jack and memory card support; the P20i is wireless only, with no headphone jack.
• Best for workouts and portability → Anker Soundcore. Water resistance, a 1.6-ounce build and a lanyard case make them the easier gym companion.
In my opinion, the Anker Soundcore P20i is the safer buy for most people shopping cheap headphones, because 30 hours of playtime, fast charging, water resistance and app-based EQ give you more ways to fix what you don't like about the sound. That said, if you know you want over-ear cups, active noise cancellation, a foldable frame and a wired option, I'd pick the MGHOAQFRS Headphones Over Ear — it does things the earbuds simply can't. Match the form factor to how you actually listen, and you'll be happy either way. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since budget models shift around.
how to make cheap headphones sound better
Start with fit. On the Soundcore P20i, a proper ear tip seal is what gives you bass, and the soundcore app's 22 EQ presets let you reshape the tuning without buying anything. On the MGHOAQFRS, make sure the cups fully surround your ear and use the app-free approach: adjust the headband and earcups so the seal is even, and try the 3.5mm wired connection if your source has a better DAC than Bluetooth.
how to get cheap headphones
Buy the form factor that matches your use instead of chasing specs you won't use. If you want pocketable earbuds with app control and long runtime, the Anker Soundcore P20i is built for that. If you want over-ear cups, noise cancellation and a foldable design, the MGHOAQFRS is the one to look at. Compare the specs here, then check the current price on Amazon.
how to pair cheap headphones
Both of these use Bluetooth 5.3, so the process is the same: charge them first, then put them in pairing mode and select them from your phone's Bluetooth list. The P20i pairs from the case, and the MGHOAQFRS has a straightforward pairing routine with a stated 33-foot range. If pairing fails, forget the device on your phone and start over.
what is the cheapest headphones
There's no single answer, and I won't guess at numbers. In this comparison, the Anker Soundcore P20i and the MGHOAQFRS Headphones Over Ear are both positioned as budget options, but they're different products — earbuds versus over-ear. The right question is which one fits your ears, your commute and your charging habits. Check the current price on Amazon for both before you commit.
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