Skullcandy EcoBuds are claimed to be sustainable true wi-fi stereo (TWS) earphones. Based on 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 related merchandise available in the market. Off the bat — spectacular claims. Who does 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’d assume 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 assist. Which means when the earphones are positioned within the magnetic case, they merely fulfil storage functions. They don’t juice up like different TWS earphones normally do in charging instances. They’re appropriate with reverse charging by way of an built-in USB Kind-C cable. You may plug it into any USB Kind-C port, together with the one in your cellphone, 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 Gentle and Purposeful
- Measurement (with case) – 102 x 60 x 30mm
- Weight (with case) – 40g
- Water and dirt resistance – IPX4
- Color – Glacier
The Skullcandy EcoBuds include a conventional in-ear design and three gel tip sizes — small, medium and enormous. The medium ones match me the very best. They provide an honest match however usually are not probably 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, for my part. I think about I’d not be finest happy if I needed to search for or carry an extra free cable with me throughout. Though the earbuds are held in place by magnets, the case doesn’t have a canopy. Subsequently, keep away from making the error I manufactured from placing them in a tote bag with a number of different gadgets. In transit, one of many earphones had dislodged from the case, and I panicked briefly earlier than it dropped out of the umbrella folds. Other than 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 score for splash resistance. With the case, they measure 102 x 60 x 30mm in dimension and weigh 40g.
Skullcandy EcoBuds Specs and Controls: Too Easy?
- Driver – 6mm
- Gesture controls – Sure
- Companion app – No
The Skullcandy EcoBuds carry 6mm drivers, in line with the product’s Amazon itemizing. We’ll talk about 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 assist capacitative contact controls, however not like a number of opponents, they don’t include a companion app. This impacted me on two ranges. Firstly, you may 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 on the lookout for a studio-grade expertise from these earphones, the dearth of an app additionally signifies that all controls are primarily based on gestures, which is the second factor. There are just a few gestures you have to to recollect, so let’s get to it.
The charging connectors are positioned on the aspect 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 observe, whereas a triple faucet returns to the earlier observe. A quadruple faucet on the suitable earbud toggles via the EQ modes. A quadruple faucet on the left earbud prompts the assistant for the paired gadget. A six-second maintain disconnects the paired gadget, whereas two faucets and a one-second maintain change 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 vivid sound expertise. The podcast mode focuses on the vocals over every other particulars. True to its title, the bass increase 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 just isn’t outright muddied at any degree, though the upper notes are inclined to crack up at 70 p.c quantity or above. As an example, you may hear the distortions with the excessive notes in Nirvana’s About A Woman. 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.
Despite the fact that the Skullcandy Ecobuds don’t assist energetic noise cancellation (ANC), the corporate claims that the earphones include a “noise-isolating match.” Technically, the declare just isn’t utterly unfaithful. It does isolate some noise, however not a big quantity. If you’re used to ANC earphones and headphones, particularly in public locations, the change to the EcoBuds could unsettle you a bit. Nonetheless, the dearth of ANC didn’t alter my expertise a lot since I largely used them casually (learn: to disassociate) and to not take calls or give attention to work.
The Skullcandy EcoBuds assist Bluetooth 5.2 and join seamlessly with the paired gadget every time they’re taken off the case. You may select to make use of each earbuds or only one. The audio syncs up properly even when you add the second earbuds mid-track. The mic efficiency just isn’t excellent, however purposeful. It picks up environmental noise alongside your voice. The whirring of the fan can muffle your voice when you find yourself utilizing these earphones. If you’re in a crowded place and even outdoor, you would possibly wish to use your cellphone audio to reply calls.
The earphones are available in 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 whole battery life, Skullcandy EcoBuds include about 8 hours of playback time. Which, if in contrast with different common TWS earphones and simply the earphones, is an honest common. On paper, the dearth 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. Nonetheless, I confronted no such challenges. On simply 10 minutes of cost, they provide nearly two hours of playback. For those who can cost the earphones for a full hour, you will 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 largely charged them utilizing my cellphone, and in an hour, they might cost totally. That is environment friendly in additional methods than one. You wouldn’t have to hold a separate charger round (sure, usually, the case would suffice, however when in Rome!), and it doesn’t drain the cellphone’s battery considerably both. The compact dimension of the earphones additionally permits you to proceed your cellphone utilization as standard. You may also use an influence financial institution to cost them, and even your laptop computer, pill, or any gadget with a USB Kind-C port.
That stated, I’ve to just accept that the dearth of a charging case was perceivably bothersome for the primary couple of days, if not virtually so. It grew on me fairly shortly, although. Charging on the go remains to be very a lot potential, and it’s one much less gadget you must 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 steady connectivity, clear sound, and provide the claimed battery life. The sustainability facet 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 depends upon your preferences. Would you place higher sound element and 40-something hours of whole battery life forward of your conscience? For my part, these ought to work high-quality for informal listeners.
If you’re planning to purchase your solely pair of each day use earphones, nonetheless, and never a supplementary on-the-go wearable, you will discover 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 (Evaluation) Rs. 3,299 for an nearly 40-hour whole battery life. On the identical value, you may go for the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Professional (Evaluation) for a greater match and balanced sound expertise.
For simply Rs. 300 extra, you may spend money on the CMF Buds Professional 2, which provides as much as 50dB ANC, as much as 43 hours of whole battery life and ChatGPT-integrated options by way of the Nothing X app.
The dearth of a charging case just isn’t 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 pleasant. Absolutely, there may sometime be a center floor between being an audiophile and an environmentally acutely aware particular person, however perhaps, as Dean Martin says, “In the present day just isn’t the day.”
