Enjoy the convenience of a wire-free life. By Dani Maher
THE TIKTOK GIRLIES and likes of Bella Hadid and Lily Rose-Depp may be trying to bring back the Y2K aesthetic of wired headphones, but the truth is, nothing beats wireless when it comes to convenience.
The freedom of going about your day untethered, without a cord getting unceremoniously yanked from your ears or from their port in your phone outweighs aesthetics in our opinion — though as the just-dropped Beats x Kim K collab shows, aesthetics hardly have to be sacrificed in the world of wireless earbuds.
If you’re on the hunt for your next pair, read on for everything you need to know, and the best new buds to soundtrack your life.
You may hear both “wireless” and “true wireless” being used to describe earbuds. The difference is that true wireless earbuds completely lack any sort of cable or connecter between each earbud and your device; while wireless earbuds don’t need a wire to connect to your device, but are still connected to each other with a connector — like overhead headphones or around-the-neck sports buds.
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The just-announced Galaxy Buds2 Pro are Samsung’s latest top-of-the-line audio offering. Compact in design, and offering seamless connectivity, they fit snugly in your ears so you can get on with any activity — even exercise. Active noise cancelling allows you to be fully immersed in music, podcasts, streaming and calls; while Voice Detect recognises when you speak and activates Ambient sound, so you can continue your conversation without removing your earbuds. They come in black, white, and a playful purple, and are currently available for pre-order to be shipped on September 1.
The go-to choice for iPhone users for a reason, AirPods Pro deliver all the premium features you could want from your wireless earbuds. There’s active noise cancellation to block out your environment, and transparency mode to let the outside noise in when you need it. Conversation Boost makes it easier to hear people during face-to-face conversations in noisy environments, too. Customise the fit of your earbuds with three sizes of silicone tips, and use the charging case to recharge on the go for over 24 hours of battery life.
Huawei’s new FreeBuds Pro 2 are impressively intelligent. Co-engineered with acoustical engineering company Devialet, they offer crystal clear sound quality that automatically tunes details according to volume level, your wearing posture, and even your ear canal structure. Active noise cancellation eliminates wind and other sounds, while the pure voice call noise cancellation picks out human voices for easy calls. Gesture control features on each side mean you can operate the earbuds without touching your phone, controlling volume, enabling and disabling active noise cancellation, pausing, playing and more. They’ll withstand 18 hours with the charging case and ANC switched on, or 30 hours without ANC.
Google’s new Pixel Buds Pro use Silent Seal to adapt to your ear, maximising the amount of noise that’s being cancelled, while built-in sensors measure the pressure in your ear canal to maintain comfort. Active noise cancellation brings full, immersive sound, and multipoint connectivity means that it’s easy to automatically switch between your previously paired Bluetooth devices, from laptops and tablets to TVs, and Android as well as iOS phones. With IPX4 water resistance, they’ll withstand sweat or light rain, and they come in three colours: charcoal, fog and lemongrass.
When it comes to premium sound quality, you can’t surpass Bose. Their QuietComfort Earbuds have thousands of five-star reviews for a reason. Equipped with breakthrough acoustic innovations and world-class noise cancelling, they produce crisp and clear audio and rich, deep bass. Sweat and weather resistant, they have a secure and comfortable fit with up to six hours of battery life per charge.
Beats’ Studio Buds come at a lower price point than most premium earbuds, making them an ideal entry-level option. Engineered to prioritise high-quality sound, they feature active noise cancelling and transparency modes to block unwanted external noise and let in the world around you as needed. The pocket-sized charging case maximises the battery life at up to 24 hours, with just five minutes of fast charging offering an hour of battery life.
Kim Kardashian’s collaboration with Beats has naturally created the most stylish collection of earbuds imaginable, available in a Skims-esque range of three nude colours — but they’re more than just a pretty face. Designed for comfort, secure-fit wingtips flex to fit your ear, and have pressure-relieving vents for all-day wear. Powerful, balanced sound is delivered via a custom acoustic platform, with adaptive active noice cancellation. One-touch pairing makes connectivity easy, and audio sharing with another pair of Beats headphones or AirPods means you can share your favourite tunes with all your friends. Up to 24 hours of battery life with the charging case, water and sweat-resistance, and Android compatibility are just a few more of the quality features to expect.
It’s really a matter of preference: An Apple user will likely jump to say AirPods are the best; while your Samsung devotee would say the Galaxy Buds reign supreme. Meanwhile, sound enthusiasts would likely tout Bose or Beats — there’s no one answer. The best choice for you is going to be the option that best serves your needs — consider the battery life, shape, noise cancelling options, price point, automatic functions, and any other features you may desire.
Anyone who has made the switch to wireless earbuds will immediately say yes: The convenience offered makes them well worth the investment. It’s much easier to go about your daily activities unburdened by wires, and ongoing technological developments make them super reliable in terms of sound quality and performance.
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