Soundcore R50i vs Baseus WM02: Best Budget Earbuds PH (2026)

Search for budget wireless earbuds on Shopee or Lazada and two names keep coming up: the Soundcore R50i and the Baseus Bowie WM02. Both cost under ₱1,500, both go on sale almost every month, and both have people swearing by them in local tech groups. Past the first week of use, though, they're good at different things, especially fit, calls and battery.

How we put this together: nobody paid for it, and we didn't run lab tests. We compared the brands' spec sheets, published third-party reviews and what owners in Filipino buyer communities and verified marketplace reviews keep reporting. Specs below are as advertised and can change between versions, so check the listing you're buying from. Prices are typical ranges and drop during sales.

The short answer

For most people, the Soundcore R50i is the better buy. It has more bass, roughly twice the battery per charge, an IPX5 water rating, two microphones for calls and an app with a proper EQ. The Baseus WM02 is the one to get if you have small ears or want something you can sleep in. And if you can stretch your budget a little, the R50i NC adds active noise cancellation.

Specs side by side (as advertised)

*Some sellers list the WM02 as IPX4, but Baseus doesn't publish a rating consistently. Treat it as splash-safe at best, not gym-proof.

Current listings: Soundcore R50i on Shopee and Baseus Bowie WM02 on Shopee.

Baseus Bowie WM02: small and comfortable

The WM02's whole appeal is how little it weighs, around 3.8 g per bud. It sits flush in the ear, so it doesn't press when you lie on your side, which is why people who fall asleep to podcasts keep recommending it. It even has automatic in-ear detection, which you don't often see at this price.

The sound is fairly balanced but light on bass. That's fine for podcasts and acoustic music, less so for hip-hop or a gym playlist. Some buyers also mention a faint hiss at low volume. Battery is the weak spot, at around 5 hours per charge and about 25 with the case. A recurring complaint from long-term owners is uneven battery drain after a year or two, with one bud dying noticeably faster than the other. At this price that isn't a dealbreaker, but it's worth knowing. People with bigger ears also say it can slip out during workouts.

Soundcore R50i: bass, battery and a real app

The R50i is a little bulkier, which works in its favor during exercise. It seals better and stays put when you're running. With an IPX5 rating it can handle sweat and a sudden downpour on the walk home. The case is on the larger side but comes with a lanyard.

Its sound leans toward bass and treble, which suits pop and gym music. Some people find the default tuning a bit harsh, and this is where the app earns its place: the Soundcore app is free on Android and iOS and has a set of EQ presets plus a custom equalizer, so you can fix it in a minute. Most budget earbuds don't give you that much control.

Battery is around 10 hours per charge and up to about 30 with the case, roughly double the WM02 per charge. A 10-minute top-up adds about two hours, which helps on mornings when you forgot to charge.

Is the R50i NC worth the extra?

If you commute daily, probably. The standard R50i only blocks sound with the seal of the ear tip. The NC version adds active noise cancelling that's advertised to cut a big chunk of steady background noise, like an electric fan or the drone of a jeepney engine. It also has four mics for calls, an IP54 dust and water rating and Bluetooth 5.4. With ANC on, battery per charge drops to about 7 hours. For commuters and anyone in a noisy dorm, the extra few hundred pesos is usually money well spent.

Calls, Zoom and WFH

For calls, the R50i is the safer choice. Buyer reviews consistently say voices come through clearly on indoor calls, with background chatter filtered reasonably well. The WM02 is fine for a quick Messenger call at home but tends to sound muffled on a busy street or next to a loud fan.

Keep expectations sensible with either one. They're budget earbuds, so wind and traffic will still get through. They're fine for daily meetings and online classes, but if you're on calls eight hours a day for a BPO shift, a headset with a boom mic is still the right tool.

Gaming

Both are fine for casual mobile gaming. The WM02 has a dedicated low-latency mode, and the R50i turns on Game Mode through the app. Buyers generally say the delay is hard to notice in Mobile Legends, PUBG or CODM, and lip-sync on Netflix and YouTube is fine. Every Bluetooth earbud has some delay, though, so serious ranked players who listen for footsteps still tend to use wired earphones.

Buying without getting a fake

Fake Baseus and Soundcore earbuds are common on local marketplaces. Our guide to spotting fake products covers the signs. Buy from the official brand store with a Mall or LazMall badge, and be suspicious of any price that's far below it. An R50i for ₱200 is not a lucky find. If you want it cheaper, wait for a sale and stack legitimate vouchers. Our guide to stacking Shopee vouchers shows how.

Keep the receipt and the box. Warranty terms differ by brand, seller and region, so check the term on the official store's product page before you buy, and know that claims are usually easier through official stores than through third-party sellers. Pay inside the app, whether by ShopeePay, Lazada Wallet, GCash or card, so you keep your buyer protection.

If you get a fake or defective unit and the seller refuses to refund it, the Consumer Act backs you up. You can complain through DTI Consumer Care (consumercare.dti.gov.ph) or call 1-384. If you were scammed outright, for example by sending GCash to a fake seller outside the app, report it to the CICC at 1326.

Which one we'd pick

For most commuters, students and gym-goers, the R50i, or the R50i NC if you can afford it. It has better battery, more bass, clearer calls, a useful app and a water rating you can trust. The WM02 still has its place for one kind of buyer: if you have small ears or sleep with earbuds in, it's one of the most comfortable options under ₱1,000.

Add your pick to the cart and wait for the next double-day or payday sale, when both usually hit their lowest prices. Our sale calendar shows when those are. And if you're also looking at mid-range options, we cover the Huawei FreeBuds SE 3 in our viral TikTok finds, with more cheap tech in our budget buying guide.