yo, honestly, I feel u. Those official Canon Speedlites are lowkey a ripoff when youre on a budget. I've been shooting with mid-range Canon bodies for like a decade now and tried a ton of gear along the way. I remember when I first swapped my pop-up for a real speedlite on my old 70D... it was a literal game changer for my indoor shots! For your 80D and that 90D you're eyein', Godox is 100% the way to go. Here is what I recommend after years of trial and error:
* Godox TT685II-C Flash for Canon: This is basically the gold standard for budget TTL/HSS. It's reliable and works flawlessly with Canon's metering.
* Godox V860III-C TTL Li-Ion Flash for Canon: Slightly more expensive but uses a lithium battery. Recycle times are reallyyy fast!
* Yongnuo YN685 II Speedlite for Canon: Super cheap, but tbh the build quality feels kinda "meh". In my experience, the Godox TT685II-C Flash for Canon is the best choice cuz their wireless ecosystem is sooo much better. I think the 90D handles the HSS timing a bit better? maybe? but you wont regret going Godox. gl!

Adding my two cents here since I've been shooting Canon for over 15 years... ok so before you buy anything, basically you gotta understand why TTL and HSS actually matter. TTL is like auto-mode for your light—it saves so much time when you're moving around cuz the camera calculates the exposure for you. But HSS is the REAL game changer for your 90D. Without it, you're stuck at 1/250s sync speed, which means shooting outdoor portraits with a wide aperture is literally impossible without blowing out the highlights. I would suggest being a bit cautious with the super cheap brands tho. Ive seen way too many people buy $40 flashes that just die after a year or overheat. For those mid-range bodies, here is what I recommend: 1. Godox V1-C Flash for Canon - This is honestly the gold standard right now. The round head makes the light look way more natural than a standard rectangle speedlite. Plus, it uses a lithium-ion battery. Trust me, swapping AA batteries in the middle of a shoot is the WORST. Recycle times are SO much faster on this thing.
2. Godox V860III-C TTL Speedlite for Canon - If you dont care about the round head, get this one. Its basically the same power and has that amazing lithium battery life but for a bit less cash. It even has a built-in modeling light which helps with focusing in dark rooms.
3. Yongnuo YN685 II TTL Speedlite for Canon - If youre on a TIGHT budget, this is a solid workhorse. It supports HSS and TTL perfectly with the 80D/90D, though it takes AAs so be careful about those recycle times when the batteries get low. Make sure to check if the firmware is updated when you get it! Some older third-party gear acts weird with the newer 90D electronics. Anyway... good luck with the upgrade, the 90D is a beast. peace.

Tbh, looking at the market research right now, Godox is definitely the big player, but there are a couple of other brands if ur really trying to squeeze every penny and want a different vibe. I’ve spent way too much time comparing these Chinese brands, and basically, it comes down to whether you want a clone of the Canon system or a proprietary ecosystem. - **The OG Clone:** Yongnuo YN600EX-RT II is a solid choice if you want something that mimics the Canon 600EX-RT. It actually works with Canon’s own radio triggering system, which is super handy if you ever find a cheap used Canon transmitter later. - **The Budget Sleeper:** Neewer NW880 is surprisingly decent for the 80D/90D. It’s a bit more "plasticky" than the higher-end stuff, but it hits that TTL and HSS requirement perfectly for way less than a used Canon unit. But yeah, like, keep in mind that once you buy a trigger for one brand, ur basically locked in. I’d lean towards Yongnuo if you want that Canon-compatible radio signal, or maybe the Neewer if you just need a single unit and don't plan on a massive 5-light setup right away. Just my two cents!

Just caught this thread and tbh there is one major factor no one mentioned yet which is the DIY maintenance aspect of these cheaper units. I have been using third party gear for years and the biggest win is not just the initial price but the fact that you can actually service them yourself. Official Canon units are basically black boxes but with the Godox ecosystem you can buy replacement parts like battery doors or even the entire hot shoe assembly for next to nothing online. I suggest looking at these specific units because they have the best track record for user-end firmware stability on the 80D and 90D:

• Godox V860III-C Speedlite
• Neewer NW655 for Canon
• Godox V1-C Round Head Flash Basically the 90D can be picky with the E-TTL II communication protocol so you want a unit with a USB-C port for easy firmware updates. I always tell people to skip the professional service route and just learn to flash the firmware yourself using the Godox G3 software. It is a literal lifesaver when a camera firmware update messes with the HSS timing or the recycle signaling. I have saved hundreds of dollars by doing my own hot shoe foot replacements instead of sending gear back to the manufacturer. Just keep a small toolkit in your bag and you will be fine.

ngl, the advice so far is spot on. Godox is definately the way to go for the 80D/90D ecosystem. From a reliability standpoint, what you really want to watch out for is the consistency of the firing cycle and how the unit handles heat. Some of those dirt-cheap units have terrible thermal protection and can literally fry your hot shoe if they short out, which is a nightmare on a mid-range body like the 90D. Honestly, just go with any of the Godox units that run on lithium-ion batteries instead of AAs. I've been shooting pro for a long time and the recycle times are just so much more consistent, plus you don't have to deal with the voltage drop you get with traditional cells. Basically, as long as you stick to that brand, the build quality is solid enough for daily use. The firing consistency is way better than the older third-party stuff, so you won't be dealing with misfires in the middle of a shoot. Tbh, as long as it has the dedicated Canon pin layout, you're pretty much set for safety and performance.

Late to the party but if you want to save a few more bucks check out the Neewer NW655 Camera Flash for Canon. It handles TTL and HSS just fine on the 90D and its dirt cheap. Quick tip for ya... dont waste money on those plastic tupperware diffusers. Just grab a thick white rubber band and a business card to bounce the light off the ceiling. Works better than most of the stuff you'd buy at a shop and costs zero dollars. Tbh thinking about the 90D makes me miss my old EOS 3 film body. I spent the whole morning in the garage looking for my old developing tanks because my neighbor wanted to learn how to shoot film. I couldnt find the tanks but I found a box of old slides from a road trip in 99... the colors on those old Fuji stocks were something else. Anyway, go with the Neewer if youre pinching pennies.