Best Earbuds for Students — Calls, Battery, Budget
The earbuds we'd actually recommend for a college student — cheap, durable, with mics that work in class.
Best Earbuds for Students — Calls, Battery, Budget
What a student actually needs
Students need earbuds that work for online classes, music between lectures, and occasional calls home. The two things that matter more than anything else: mic quality (so your professor can hear you), and battery life (so you don't run out mid-class).
ANC is nice-to-have, not essential. LDAC and Hi-Res audio are basically irrelevant for a student. Don't pay ₹1,000 extra for codecs you can't hear.
Our picks
All four picks survived a 30-day student use test: 2 hours of online classes daily, 1 hour of music, plus calls.
Don't buy these for college
Skip neckband earbuds if you wear a helmet — the band gets uncomfortable under a helmet. Skip gaming TWS at this price — they're heavier and the 'low latency' is barely noticeable for non-gamers. Skip anything without a Type-C charging case — microUSB cases are frustrating to charge alongside your phone.
The bottom line
For most students, the Noise Buds VS104 Pro at ₹1,299 is the right pick. If you commute on a metro and need ANC, spend ₹500 more for the Realme Buds Air 3s.