Audio is the category with the widest price spread in our whole catalogue: a working earphone costs less than lunch, while a flagship over-ear costs more than some phones. That spread is exactly why people overpay — or buy the same cheap earphone four times a year. Here is what each budget genuinely gets you in 2026, with the real products and prices from our shelves.

Under MK 10,000: the daily drivers

This band is about reliability, not luxury. The GearPod-C2 USB-C stereo earphones at MK 1,500 are the honest answer for newer phones without a headphone jack — microphone and volume control included. Oraimo's wired range from MK 3,500 to MK 6,500 (Conch 2, halo 2, Thor, vortex) steps up the bass and the cable strength, and the Xiaomi basic earphones at MK 5,000 are the safe spare pair to keep in a bag. One truth from the returns desk: at this price the cable fails before the sound does, so buy the one with the thicker lead and do not wrap it tight.

The connector question: USB-C, Lightning, or 3.5mm

Check your phone before you check the price. Most new Androids take USB-C audio; iPhones need Lightning (the original Apple EarPods with Lightning connector are MK 30,000); laptops and older phones still use 3.5mm. Samsung's original AKG USB-C earphones at MK 25,000 are the pick for Samsung owners who want the tuning their phone was designed around. Buying the wrong connector is our most common audio return — thirty seconds of checking saves a trip.

MK 30,000 to MK 80,000: true wireless earbuds

This is where wireless stops being a compromise. The Haylou GTI Pro at MK 35,000 is the entry point that does not embarrass itself. Spend into the fifties and sixties and the Soundcore range opens up — the Life Note with 40-hour total play time at MK 55,000, and the R50i at MK 70,000 (marked down from MK 76,300 at the time of writing). The Oraimo FreePods Pro at MK 71,000 and Xiaomi's Buds 3 Pro at MK 75,000 round out the band with active noise cancellation that genuinely helps on minibus rides.

MK 100,000 and up: the no-compromise tier

Above six figures you are paying for sound quality and build, not features. Anker's Liberty Air 2 Pro at MK 130,000 is the earbuds answer for people who take calls for a living. The JBL Tune 760 over-ear at MK 160,000 is for long listening at a desk or on a flight — over-ears carry bigger drivers than any earbud physically can, and you hear it in the first minute. If you are spending here, listen first: you are welcome to test in the Blantyre showroom before you commit.

Speakers: from desk to braai stand

Bluetooth speakers start at the Xiaomi Mi compact 2 at MK 16,500 — small, honest, loud enough for a desk. Oraimo's speaker range runs MK 19,000 to MK 82,000: the music-in-pocket at MK 19,000 (down from MK 21,280) for personal use, the SoundGO OBS-335 at MK 28,000 (down from MK 31,920) for a room, and the bigger party units above that. The Realme pocket speaker at MK 33,000 and itel's immersive stereo at MK 75,000 are the alternatives worth comparing. For outdoor use, buy bigger than you think you need — open air eats volume.

Wired versus wireless, honestly

Wired wins on price, zero charging, and zero pairing friction — and it cannot die mid-call. Wireless wins on freedom of movement and is now reliable enough to recommend without caveats from MK 35,000 up. If your earphone budget is under MK 25,000, wired is still the smarter buy; above MK 50,000, wireless is what we would spend our own money on.

A word on fakes

Audio is the most counterfeited category we see — fake Samsung AKG and fake Apple EarPods are everywhere in the markets, and the tell is always the price. Every audio product we sell is sourced from authorised distributors and carries the manufacturer's warranty. Our longer guide on the blog, how to spot fake electronics, walks through the packaging and printing tells if you are ever unsure.

Buying from us

Every order ships tracked nationwide — 1–2 business days in the Southern region, 2–4 in the Central, 4–7 in the Northern — and is free over MK 500,000. Payment is by bank transfer or cash on delivery, and COD means you inspect before your money moves. Browse the full range at /category/audio, compare what is on offer this week at /deals, or ask the Iconi assistant on this site which option fits your phone and budget.