Travelling without my headphones or earbuds is non-negotiable for me, and I reckon almost everyone today shares this sentiment. Since they have become essential everyday gadgets, quality of output and comfort matter the most. And we have thousands of TWS earbuds on the market, making picking one best suited to you even harder.
I am using the AirPods Pro 2 — my best investment ever on a smartphone accessory. I have also been lamenting over the lack of design innovation or any utilitarian upgrades to break the monotony in earbuds. Perhaps, because of this fatigue, I leapt at the opportunity to review the newly launched EcoBuds by Skullcandy. While this is my first Skullcandy earbuds experience, a few years ago I could be spotted with red wired Skullcandy headphones clinging to my neck as I travelled in and out of the city.
What particularly enticed me about the EcoBuds is the idea of bringing sustainability into everyday gadgets. A recent report by the UN stated that electronic waste was rising five times faster than documented e-waste recycling. After all, there is a reason that most established smartphone brands are ditching chargers from the retail boxes. When it comes to Skullcandy EcoBuds, the company claims that the tiny device is built using 65 per cent recycled plastics, 57 per cent less heavy metals, and 50 per cent reduced CO2. This could be Skullcandy’s way to lure the recent crop of environmentally conscious buyers around the world.
What’s with the look?
The design would not mean much if we skipped the carefully crafted packaging. The box, much smaller than its counterparts, has a cardboard brown shade and feels like an enclosed, tiny rectangle made using discarded paper boxes. Though minimal, the box is replete with the merits of the brand-new product. Once unwrapped, the user is presented with a tiny earbud case without a lid. The texture is papery on the surface, while the earbud tip that faces your ear is glossy, maybe to make it more comfortable to touch.
Right from the packaging to the choice of colours on the earbuds, the EcoBuds have been built with the aim to foster adoption of eco-friendly products. (Image: Bijin Jose/The Indian Express)
At first glance, it may feel that something is amiss. The colours on the earbuds, which are reminiscent of a clear sky, are also the colour of plastic bags against dark blue waters, as seen in campaigns advocating the conservation of the planet. At the back of the compartments that hold the earbuds is the short USB-C cable tightly clasped across the case. One simply needs to unclasp it and plug it into the USB-C port of their smartphone or charger to juice up the earbuds. A rare feat, but this design change is welcoming if not extraordinary.
With all the Earth-saving abilities, sound quality does remain paramount. The audio quality bears the same signature profile for which the brand is known. It produces a clear sound with the right amount of bass and treble. You can enjoy the classic renditions of Bach or the riotous Dard-e-Disco (no judgments there!). The earbuds offer a dynamic sound profile, and measure up each time a show or movie scene requires cinematic audio. While watching the epic celluloid adaptation of the life of South America’s liberator, Simon Bolivar, I didn’t skip a beat. A show of such scale packs in impeccable sound editing, and the EcoBuds offered a satisfying experience.
Music lovers will not have much to complain about, but gamers may not be particularly impressed. Regardless, the device is not aimed at gamers. When it comes to calls, the EcoBuds performs well, as I could make and answer calls in the most crowded of spaces.
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How do the controls work?
When it comes to any unique-looking device, the first question that comes to mind is how you use it. It is fairly simple but it took me a few trials to get the controls working to my tunes — also because I keep switching earbuds. Starting from the visual elements, the earbuds feature LED lights on the stem that indicate various stages of battery life. For 0-74 per cent, it shows pulsing amber, 75-94 per cent pulsing white, and 95-100 per cent a solid white.
The most striking aspect of the Skullcandy earbuds is the connector with its tiny cable clasped to its case without lid. (Image: Bijin Jose/The Indian Express)
The Skullcandy EcoBuds come with touch controls to experience a hands-free experience. Removing it from the case automatically switches the device on, and placing it back shuts it down. Besides, it can be manually powered on by tapping either of the buds on the logo for a second, and doing this twice can power it off. For pairing, users would need to tap on either of the buds for three seconds. To answer or end a call, one needs to tap on either bud once. For volume up, tap on the right earbud once and the left earbud to turn the volume down. Double tap either bud to play the next track, and three taps to play the previous one. To switch between the EQ modes, four taps on the right earbud. The EcoBuds come with three EQ modes: Music Mode (default), Bass Boost, and Podcast. One can summon Alexa or Siri by tapping four times on the left earbud.
When it comes to battery life, the EcoBuds can last roughly eight hours per charge. While the earbuds take nearly an hour to fully charge from zero, they can give a playback of up to two hours with just 10 minutes of charging.
Should you buy EcoBuds?
While the EcoBuds is priced at Rs 7,199, on Amazon it is currently being offered at Rs 2,499. For anyone who is looking for a pair of budget earbuds, the EcoBuds can be a great option. It has the right notes, is built sturdy, and offers the comfort of charging directly from your smartphone. The music notes are decent but avid gamers may not be the right audience.
