Amazon Basics - 3.5mm Review
A cheap but disappointing set of buds that fit strangely and have poor sound quality, but have admirable noise-blocking capabilities
Credit: Matt Lighthart
By Rachael Lamore ⋅ Senior Review Analyst ⋅ May 1, 2026
Contributions From: Wendy Schmitz
RELATED: The Best Wired Earbuds
Our Verdict
The Amazon Basics wired earbuds have a 3.5mm jack (or USB-C) and an in-line microphone. They're low-priced and couldn't be more basic without being useless. They come with 3 sizes of silicone ear tips and a relatively long 49-inch cable. The best thing about the Basics is the longer cord and impressive noise-blocking abilities, which help dampen ambient sound so you can focus on the sound coming through the buds. However, that sound isn't anything to write home about, offering some of the worst sound quality in the group. If your goal is making calls or taking meetings, these won't be the best partners as the caller's voice struggles to compete with environmental sounds, and depending on how the jack is twisted in the port, one of the buds cuts out completely. Overall, we think there are better choices for the money with significantly better options that only double the price.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Amazon Basics - 3.5mm | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best for Most Listeners |  Favorite for Better Sound | |||
| Price | $10.08 List Check Price at Amazon | $22 List Check Price at Amazon | $20.00 List Check Price at Amazon/a> | $51 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $18.00 List Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Poorly fitting buds with disappointing sound, but they passively block noise well | Trades wireless ease for great sound, comfort, and a pleasantly low price | A good-sounding pair of cheap buds for stationary tasks, as the wire rub sound is off-putting | A nice pair of headphones, but they don't perform that much better than their cheaper brother | Forgoing flash for a great fit and impressive sound at a great price, these wired earbuds are hard to argue with |
| Rating Categories | Amazon Basics - 3.5mm | Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X | JBL Endurance Run 2 | Linsoul KZ ZS10 Pro | UliX Rider - 3.5mm |
| Sound Quality (45%) | |||||
| Comfort & Fit (25%) | |||||
| Passive Noise Isolation (15%) | |||||
| Call Quality (15%) | |||||
| Specifications | Amazon Basics - 3.5mm | Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X | JBL Endurance Run 2 | Linsoul KZ ZS10 Pro | UliX Rider - 3.5mm |
| Available Jack Type | 3.5mm/USB-C | 3.5mm | 3.5mm | 3.5mm | 3.5mm |
| Call Mic | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ear Tip Sizes | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Passive Isolation | 17.3 dB | 19.1 dB | 17.6 dB | 16.3 dB | 2.6 dB |
| Detachable cable | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Ear Magnets | No | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Cable Length | 49 in | 46 in | 50 in | 46 in | 49 in |
| Measured Weight | 12.4 g | 30.1 g | 16.9 g | 31.1 g | 17.6 g |
| IPX Rating | N/A | N/A | IPX5 | N/A | N/A |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Our Experience
The Amazon Basics are just that, basic. They are about what you'd expect for the price, but still disappoint with their lackluster delivery of what makes earbuds earbuds.
We didn't like the fit, and we could feel the plastic edges on the insides of our ears. They almost feel too small for larger ear canals, even with the larger tips, and the wire rubbing sounds were very apparent, making them better suited to stationary desk-type wear than on-the-go activities, though, in fairness, there are worse offenders in the group.
While it is hard to be mad at a cheap pair of buds that cost less than a foot-long sub, we think most listeners will wish they'd spent a bit more to get a better overall listening experience and buds that can be comfortably worn for a significantly longer period. We recommend skipping takeout a time or two to get a more pleasing pair.
We like the longer cord on the Amazon Basics. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Likes
We like the price of the Amazon earbuds and that they offer a microphone. They come with 3 silicone tips and offer a choice of 3.5mm jack or USB-C connection. The cord is one of the longest at 49 inches, and they are fairly lightweight. Their best performance was in passive noise isolation, where they blocked more ambient noise than many competitors.
The Amazon Basics come with two ear tips. Credit: Matt Lighthart
Dislikes
While they have a microphone, the call quality is below average, and it struggles to isolate voices from the background din. They also aren't very comfortable as the hard plastic rubs the ear, but they are pretty stable. The most egregious part is the sound.
They offer some of the worst sound in the group and would be better suited to podcasts and audiobooks than music. The soundstage is hollow and sounds fake with artificial representations of the music. The bass is almost non-existent, and the vocals don't sound balanced in the mix.
Should You Buy the Amazon Basics?
No, probably not. While the price is intriguing and we understand the desire for a cheap set of buds that are “good enough,” there are better buds in this price range that offer just a little bit more. While $10 won't get you much, doubling that can get you one of the best in the group. This makes the Amazon Basics a hard sell, and we wouldn't recommend it to a friend.
What Other Earbuds Should You Consider?
If this price is your hard line and you don't have money to spare, we think the Skullcandy Jib is the better buy. Often on sale for the same price, the Jib offers better sound and better call quality. If you can stretch your budget to about twice that of the Amazon buds, the Linsoul KZ ZSN Pro X provide significantly better sound, some of the best call quality, and are comfortable with impressive noise blocking.
—Rachael Lamore and Wendy Schmitz
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