>If you want inexpensive, SE 215 is what you're looking for, for $99.
Shure has jumped the shark. I own these and have stopped endorsing them, the sound quality is utterly rubbish compared to some alternative wireless pairs, which might cost a little bit more, but even a punt on some of the cheaper pairs like Airdots et al. would be worth it.
They get better when an EQ increases the high frequencies.
I can recommend the 1more E1001 triple driver for a similar price point but better sound.
For sound quality I have a pair of in-ear B&O but they are falling apart after a couple years which is pretty annoying because the sound quality is really good.
* the sound quality is utterly rubbish compared to some alternative wireless pairs*
Compared to airpods?
I would pick Airpods over Shure, but they don't fall in the $99 category! I was replying on the basis of a specific model and made it explicitly clear that an alternative pair meant either a foray into slightly expensive pairs (still cheaper than Airpods) or go all the all way to the bottom, for the more adventurous.
I have the 535's, which are a step up in drivers, and I love them. They aren't reference quality (which I recommend Etymotics for, and you can buy the isolating sleves for them), and are a bit on the warm side. The 425s are fairly similar, but the 535s are a bit clearer in the high-mids.
Any Shure headphones will have better sound quality than Apple, Beats, or Boise at similar price ranges, since they're built for listening, not fashion.