The problem: My AirPods Pro died after 18 months
I've been fully remote since 2022. My AirPods Pro lasted exactly 18 months before the battery started dying mid-meeting. Classic Apple battery degradation.
I refused to pay another $250 for the same thing to happen in 2027.
But here's what I realized: most "best earbuds" lists are useless for developers. They focus on:
- Bass response (I listen to ambient/lo-fi, not EDM)
- Brand prestige (paying for Apple/Sony logos)
- "Premium feel" (it's my home office, not a fashion show)
What I actually need for 8+ hours daily of remote work:
- Low latency (<100ms for video calls without lip-sync issues)
- Decent microphone (so I don't sound like I'm underwater on Zoom)
- 8+ hour battery (I forget to charge things)
- Under $100 (because I'm replacing these every 18-24 months anyway)
So I did what developers do: tested a bunch, measured what matters, documented the results.
The testing setup
I bought 10 pairs of wireless earbuds under $100 from Amazon, tested them for 2 weeks each, and returned the ones that sucked (thanks Prime).
What I measured:
1. Latency (Video call performance)
I recorded myself playing a YouTube video with clear audio-visual cues (someone clapping) using OBS, then measured the frame delay in Premiere Pro.
# Extract audio from video for analysis
ffmpeg -i test_recording.mp4 -vn -acodec pcm_s16le audio.wav
# Visual inspection in Premiere Pro for frame-accurate delay measurement
# Target: <80ms for imperceptible delay on Zoom/Meet
Why this matters: Anything over 100ms and you'll notice audio lagging behind video. On Zoom calls, this is annoying as hell.
2. Microphone quality (Can you actually hear me and how well?)
Recorded 5-minute Zoom calls with each pair, then ran the audio through FFmpeg to analyze signal-to-noise ratio:
# Analyze microphone clarity
ffmpeg -i zoom_recording.wav -af "highpass=f=200,lowpass=f=3000" \
-f null - 2>&1 | grep "RMS"
# Higher RMS level = better voice clarity
3. Battery life (Real-world usage, not marketing claims)
Ignored manufacturer claims. Actually timed how long they lasted playing Spotify at 60% volume until they died.
4. Codec support (Future-proofing)
Checked what codecs each pair supports:
- LDAC: Lossless, best quality (Sony's tech)
- aptX/aptX Adaptive: High quality, low latency (Qualcomm)
- AAC: Standard, good enough for most (Apple/Android)
- SBC: Basic Bluetooth, lowest quality
The results: Top 4 winners
After testing 10+ pairs, here's what actually worked out the best:
1. CMF Buds 2 Plus - $59 (Best overall)
- Latency: 68ms (imperceptible on video calls)
- Codec: LDAC (overkill for Zoom, but future-proof)
- Battery: 9 hours actual use
- Microphone: Solid, not amazing
Why it won: Best performance-to-price ratio. The 68ms latency is better than my old AirPods Pro (75ms). LDAC means if I ever start doing audio work, I'm covered.
2. SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro - $69 (Best microphone)
- Latency: 75ms (still great)
- Codec: LDAC
- Battery: 8 hours
- Microphone: Best in class for under $100
Edge case: If you're on calls 6+ hours/day and need people to actually hear you clearly, get these. The noise cancellation on the mic is noticeably better than CMF.
3. EarFun Air Pro 4 - $89 (Best battery)
- Latency: 70ms
- Codec: aptX Adaptive (different tech, same quality)
- Battery: 11 hours actual use
- Microphone: Good
Why it's here: Longest battery I tested. If you're a "charge once a week" person, this is it. Also has better ANC than the others.
4. JLab Go Pods ANC - $29 (Budget Option)
- Latency: 85ms (borderline acceptable)
- Codec: AAC only
- Battery: 8 hours
- Microphone: Mediocre (you'll sound a bit tinny)
Budget king: If you just need "good enough" and want to save $30-60, these work. The 85ms latency is noticeable on video calls if you're paying attention, but not deal-breaking.
Latency comparison (Most important for all Devs out here)
CMF Buds 2 Plus - 68ms - Perfect sync
EarFun Air Pro 4 - 70ms - Perfect sync
SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro - 75ms - Barely noticeable
JLab Go Pods ANC - 85ms - Slightly noticeable
Reference: <80ms is the threshold where most people don't notice lag. Above 100ms, it's annoying on every call.
Microphone test results
I recorded myself on actual Zoom calls and had coworkers rate the audio quality blind (they didn't know which earbuds I was using).
Winner: SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro
- Best background noise cancellation
- Clearest voice reproduction
- No "hollow tunnel" effect
Loser: JLab Go Pods ANC
- Noticeable background noise
- Voice sounds compressed
- Fine for occasional calls, not all-day use
What I actually bought
I went with the CMF Buds 2 Plus for $59 because:
- Best overall score for my use case (music + calls + battery)
- $59 is the sweet spot (not cheap garbage, not overpriced)
- LDAC codec means I'm future-proofed
- 68ms latency beats my old AirPods Pro
They've been my daily drivers for 3 months now. Zero regrets.
But: Your use case might differ.
If you:
- Talk on calls 6+ hours/day → SoundPEATS Capsule3 Pro (best mic)
- Forget to charge daily → EarFun Air Pro 4 (11-hour battery)
- Just need something cheap that works → JLab Go Pods ANC ($29)
Full comparison & where to buy
I wrote up the complete breakdown with detailed feature tables, pros/cons for each model, and where to buy them here:
Best Budget Wireless Earbuds Under $100 (2026)
The site (Elyvora US) also has reviews for other remote work gear, like: mechanical keyboards, ergonomic mice, monitors, webcams. If you're optimizing your home office setup, worth checking out.
Key takeaways
- Latency matters more than sound quality for remote work. Test it yourself—don't trust marketing claims.
- Microphone quality varies wildly even at the same price point. The $69 SoundPEATS mic destroys the $89 EarFun mic.
- Codec support is future-proofing. LDAC/aptX means better quality when you inevitably upgrade your phone/laptop.
- Brand names are overrated. The $59 CMF buds objectively beat my $250 AirPods Pro on latency and battery.
What wireless earbuds are you using for dev work? Any hidden gems under $100 I should test next? Drop recommendations in the comments.
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