Skullcandy EcoBuds are claimed to be sustainable true wi-fi stereo (TWS) earphones. In accordance with the corporate, they’re made with “65 p.c licensed recycled plastics and 57 p.c fewer heavy metals, ” leading to a 50 p.c decrease carbon footprint than comparable merchandise available in the market. Off the bat — spectacular claims. Who would not wish to be part of an try and make the world a cleaner place? The quantity could also be barely extra initially than you’ll suppose as a result of the price of environmentally pleasant earphones right here is battery, lithium batteries to be particular.
The storage dock of the Skullcandy EcoBuds doesn’t have battery help. Which means that when the earphones are positioned within the magnetic case, they merely fulfil storage functions. They don’t juice up like different TWS earphones often do in charging instances. They’re appropriate with reverse charging through an built-in USB Kind-C cable. You possibly can plug it into any USB Kind-C port, together with the one in your telephone, and it’ll energy up the earphones. Is that this novelty, alongside sustainability, value Rs. 3,999? Let’s discover out.
Skullcandy EcoBuds Design and Options: Feathery Mild and Purposeful
- Measurement (with case) – 102 x 60 x 30mm
- Weight (with case) – 40g
- Water and mud resistance – IPX4
- Color – Glacier
The Skullcandy EcoBuds include a standard in-ear design and three gel tip sizes — small, medium and huge. The medium ones match me the most effective. They provide an honest match however will not be essentially the most comfy for long-duration makes use of. The contact sensors on every earbud are straightforward to find as a result of they’re marked by engraved firm logos. The charging connectors of the earphones are positioned on the within of the stems.
The storage dock comes with a brief inbuilt USB Kind-C cable
The earphones include a magnetic storage dock, which has a built-in USB Kind-C cable that folds again in case it’s not in use. This lightens the blow of the lacking battery, in my view. I think about I’d not be finest happy if I needed to search for or carry an extra unfastened cable with me throughout. Though the earbuds are held in place by magnets, the case doesn’t have a canopy. Due to this fact, keep away from making the error I fabricated from placing them in a tote bag with a number of different objects. In transit, one of many earphones had dislodged from the case, and I panicked briefly earlier than it dropped out of the umbrella folds. Apart from this, the earphones and the case are compact, light-weight, and straightforward to hold.
The Skullcandy EcoBuds can be found in a single Glacier colourway, the place each earphones and storage docks seem in a blue and white marbled sample. The built-in USB Kind-C cable is white with sand-like speckles. The earphones have an IPX4 ranking for splash resistance. With the case, they measure 102 x 60 x 30mm in measurement and weigh 40g.
Skullcandy EcoBuds Specs and Controls: Too Easy?
- Driver – 6mm
- Gesture controls – Sure
- Companion app – No
The Skullcandy EcoBuds carry 6mm drivers, based on the product’s Amazon itemizing. We are going to focus on their sound high quality in a bit, however for this part, we’ll give attention to the management expertise. Like many different TWS earphones, the EcoBuds help capacitative contact controls, however not like a number of rivals, they don’t include a companion app. This impacted me on two ranges. Firstly, you’ll be able to solely shuffle between the three preset EQ modes — music, bass and podcast, and never customise the equalisation. Even when I let this slide as a result of I’m not in search of a studio-grade expertise from these earphones, the shortage of an app additionally signifies that all controls are primarily based on gestures, which is the second factor. There are a couple of gestures you will have to recollect, so let’s get to it.
The charging connectors are positioned on the facet of the stems
A single faucet on both earbud controls playback and calls, whereas an extended press regulates the amount (left for down, proper for up). A double faucet on both earpiece advances to the subsequent monitor, whereas a triple faucet returns to the earlier monitor. A quadruple faucet on the precise earbud toggles via the EQ modes. A quadruple faucet on the left earbud prompts the assistant for the paired system. A six-second maintain disconnects the paired system, whereas two faucets and a one-second maintain swap off the headphones.
Sure, it’s as tedious to recollect because it was to learn (and write), however I primarily handled the play/pause and quantity controls, which had been easy and direct sufficient. The marginally bothersome motion for the primary few makes use of was shuffling between the EQ modes, however it will definitely grew on me.
Skullcandy EcoBuds Efficiency and Battery Life: Chaotic Impartial
- Quick Charging – Sure (claimed 10 minutes for as much as 2 hours)
- Bluetooth – Bluetooth 5.2
How do the Skullcandy EcoBuds sound? Higher than I anticipated. With 6mm drivers, my hopes for the audio expertise had been set fairly low. The violation of these expectations was welcome. Comprehensively, they provide a transparent and brilliant sound expertise. The podcast mode focuses on the vocals over another particulars. True to its identify, the bass enhance mode highlights the bass, whereas the music mode provides a extra balanced audio of the three.
The charging cable neatly folds again into the dock when not in use
The sound will not be outright muddied at any stage, though the upper notes are likely to crack up at 70 p.c quantity or above. As an example, you’ll be able to hear the distortions with the excessive notes in Nirvana’s About A Lady. For the bigger half, the sounds are clear however lack particulars that you’d get with bigger drivers. From tracks like Gooey by Glass Animals to Ramble On by Led Zeppelin (the latter within the bass mode), you get a ok audio output to maintain you engaged while you’re on a cleansing binge or strolling to the native market.
Regardless that the Skullcandy Ecobuds don’t help lively noise cancellation (ANC), the corporate claims that the earphones include a “noise-isolating match.” Technically, the declare will not be fully unfaithful. It does isolate some noise, however not a major quantity. In case you are used to ANC earphones and headphones, particularly in public locations, the swap to the EcoBuds might unsettle you a bit. Nevertheless, the shortage of ANC didn’t alter my expertise a lot since I principally used them casually (learn: to disassociate) and to not take calls or give attention to work.
The Skullcandy EcoBuds help Bluetooth 5.2 and join seamlessly with the paired system every time they’re taken off the case. You possibly can select to make use of each earbuds or only one. The audio syncs up nicely even in the event you add the second earbuds mid-track. The mic efficiency will not be excellent, however practical. It picks up environmental noise alongside your voice. The whirring of the fan can muffle your voice when you find yourself utilizing these earphones. In case you are in a crowded place and even outside, you may wish to use your telephone audio to reply calls.
The earphones are available plastic-free, recyclable packaging
In a market the place a number of main manufacturers throughout the board are competing with TWS earphones that supply 30 to 40 hours or extra complete battery life, Skullcandy EcoBuds include about eight hours of playback time. Which, if in contrast with different common TWS earphones and simply the earphones, is an honest common. On paper, the shortage of battery within the storage dock appears too jarring. Earlier than utilizing them, I couldn’t cease the premonition of being stranded within the metro with out functioning earphones. Nevertheless, I confronted no such challenges. On simply 10 minutes of cost, they provide nearly two hours of playback. Should you can cost the earphones for a full hour, you may get round eight hours of utilization out of them. I clocked eight hours and 13 minutes of playback in a single charging cycle.
Charging the earphones is fairly easy. You pull the USB Kind-C cable out from the again of the storage dock and plug it right into a USB Kind-C port. In my case, I principally charged them utilizing my telephone, and in an hour, they’d cost absolutely. That is environment friendly in additional methods than one. You do not need to hold a separate charger round (sure, generally, the case would suffice, however when in Rome!), and it doesn’t drain the telephone’s battery considerably both. The compact measurement of the earphones additionally means that you can proceed your telephone utilization as typical. You can even use an influence financial institution to cost them, and even your laptop computer, pill, or any system with a USB Kind-C port.
That stated, I’ve to just accept that the shortage of a charging case was perceivably bothersome for the primary couple of days, if not virtually so. It grew on me fairly rapidly, although. Charging on the go continues to be very a lot doable, and it’s one much less gadget you need to fear about plugging in earlier than mattress.
The compact design of the earphones and the dock make them straightforward to hold
Skullcandy EcoBuds: Verdict
The Skullcandy EcoBuds are good TWS earphones. They’ve secure connectivity, clear sound, and supply the claimed battery life. The sustainability side of the product additionally provides brownie factors to your consciousness as a citizen of the world (how a lot ever it’s value). Are these earphones value Rs. 3,999, although? Sure and no. The reply relies on your preferences. Would you set higher sound element and 40-something hours of complete battery life forward of your conscience? In my view, these ought to work fantastic for informal listeners.
In case you are planning to purchase your solely pair of day by day use earphones, nonetheless, and never a supplementary on-the-go wearable, you will see different choices that include higher match, extra options, charging instances (albeit unsustainable) and companion apps inside this value vary.
You will get the Realme Buds Air 6 (Assessment) Rs. 3,299 for an nearly 40-hour complete battery life. On the identical value, you’ll be able to go for the OnePlus Nord Buds Three Professional (Assessment) for a greater match and balanced sound expertise.
For simply Rs. 300 extra, you’ll be able to spend money on the CMF Buds Professional 2, which provides as much as 50dB ANC, as much as 43 hours of complete battery life and ChatGPT-integrated options through the Nothing X app.
The dearth of a charging case will not be a deal breaker for me. Even the audio high quality is sweet for informal listening. On this aggressive value vary, many different options could make the sound expertise extra fulfilling. Absolutely, there may sometime be a center floor between being an audiophile and an environmentally acutely aware individual, however perhaps, as Dean Martin says, “In the present day will not be the day.”
