4 cheap headphones and earbuds we've tested to avoid 'headphone dodger' fines
they're all cheaper than the 100 you'll pay if you're caught

Date:
Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:49:25 +0000

Description:
UK legislation now means people who play audio aloud on their phone could
face 100 fines on buses.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter UK government cracks down on people who annoy others with phone music Fines of up to 100 for those people It's cheaper to just buy these headphones People who play music, TikTok
videos or out-loud video calls on public transport probably aren't self-aware enough to know how annoying it is, but apparently the UK government does, because it's finally cracking down on so-called "headphone dodgers".

From next Monday, transport authorities will be allowed to fine rule-breakers by up to 100 if they're causing a nuisance. Prime Minister Andy Burnham is fronting the campaign , after previous governments toyed with the idea. It's
a good idea, but the success is dependent on enforcement, as transport safety officers and not drivers are expected to hand out the fines. Given how minimally-staffed most public transport services are, some (me) are dubious that the rules will make a difference. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch
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However if you've been a 'headphone dodger' and you want to turn a new leaf (good on you), it'd make sense to buy a pair of headphones that cost much
less than the 100 penalty fare.

And naturally, we've tested a few that we can recommend You may like The best cheap headphones, all tested by our reviewers 6 budget-friendly pairs of headphones that are actually good The best noise cancelling headphones, all TechRadar tested Sennheiser CX 80U (Image credit: Future) Starting with something nice and cheap, we've got some wired earbuds, which you can easily plug into the USB-C port on a phone and keep bundled up in your pocket the rest of the time. No Bluetooth dropouts, no losing a bud as you board the
bus, no apps, none of that.

The Sennheiser CX 80U sound great, block surrounding noise quite well, and offer a nice simple design. We gave them 4.5 stars out of 5 in our review, only knocking them for some missing features of pricier buds. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Best of all, though, they're really cheap. They launched for $39.95 / 34.99
in January this year, but you can find them even a little cheaper than that
on Amazon . Today's best Sennheiser CX 80U deals 34.99 27.66 View 31.99 View 34.99 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the
best prices Sony WH-CH530 (or even the Sony WH-CH730N) (Image credit: Sony)
If you want great-value headphones, you can't go wrong with a pair from Sony
, and its recently-released Sony WH-CH530N are really affordable at $69 / 50.

We haven't yet finished testing these on-ears, they're that new, but their predecessors the WH-CH520 got 4.5 stars in our review. We praised the
balanced sound and long-lasting battery, and the newer pair will likely bring improvements. What to read next Best earbuds: top buys, all TechRadar-tested and recommended The best headphones you can buy today, all tested by our experts The best travel headphones for all budgets, chosen by our jet-setting reviewers

As you can see in the picture, they come in a wide range of colors, and also have noise cancellation, which isn't something you can say about all options at this price point.

Prefer over-ears? Go for the just-reviewed, all-new Sony WH-CH730N : a solid four stars and they're just under that 99 (or equivalent, in your country of residence) fine line, if you'll pardon the pun Today's best Sony WH-CH530 deals 49 View voucher gift 49 View 60 View Show more We check over 250
million products every day for the best prices Today's best Sony WH-CH730N deals voucher gift 99 View voucher gift 99 View voucher gift 99.99 View Show more We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices JLab JBuds Mini ANC (Image credit: Future) Last, but not least, let's look at some standard wireless noise-cancelling earbuds, which we got to try earlier this year .

The JLab JBuds Mini ANC are tiny you can even clip the case onto your
keyring so you've got no excuse for not having buds on the bus. At $49.99 / 49.99 they won't break the bank either.

We enjoyed the non-ANC JLab JBuds Mini too, when they came out three years ago, and they're ideal for people who want lightweight buds.

Have further thoughts? Drop us a comment or better yet, fill out the poll below this text and then add your comment! Today's best JLab JBuds Mini ANC deals bundle 50 View No price information Check Amazon We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices The best noise cancelling headphones for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best noise cancelling headphones 1. Best overall: Sony WH-1000XM6 2. Best mid-range: Bose QuietComfort Headphones 3. Best under $100/100: 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 4. Best under $60/50: Soundcore Q30 Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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