Wireless earbuds come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the category is now dominated by true-wireless options. As opposed to wireless earphones that use a cable between the left and right earbud to transmit signals, true wireless earbuds don’t require a cable between earbuds – all data transmission is carried out wirelessly. Also, active noise canceling (ANC) is hot; this effectively removes many of the outside noises that impact your audio experience. We take a look at two new options that deliver good bang for your buck.
Skullcandy Rail
Skullcandy Rail is pricey at Rs 5,997, but it’s impressive and easy to recommend. It delivers big, detailed sound with high-end drivers and ergonomically designed ear gels for better acoustics and a comfortable, all-day fit. These are IP55 sweat and water resistant. There’s a whole lot of technology inside. To begin with, there’s Skull-iQ smart feature technology. Essentially, this is a voice-driven platform from Skullcandy that enables hands-free control of audio and other features on the Rail, allowing users to interact with their earbuds using voice commands like “Hey Skullcandy”.
Multipoint pairing makes it possible to pair your earbuds to two devices at once, so if your phone rings while you’re watching a movie on your laptop, your connection will switch so you can take the call. Rail also comes with Tile finding technology built-in. If an earbud is misplaced, you can just ‘ring’ it from the free Tile app. Among others, there’s an adjustable Stay-Aware Mode; this feature allows you to hear your surroundings while listening to music, offering a balance between enjoying audio and staying connected to your environment. It can be adjusted via the Skull-iQ app.
The earbuds come with a whopping 42 hours of total battery. A rapid charge of 10 minutes will give you two hours of battery life.
Elver Active Gen One
This is a neckband at an affordable price point of Rs 1,499. The Active Gen One has a sleek design and is ideal for active lifestyle, workouts and commutes. Its AI environmental noise cancellation (ENC) technology ensures clear calls even in noisy environments. The Gaming Mode feature offers low latency of up to 50ms, providing a lag-free and smooth audio for immersive gaming.
The Active Gen One is equipped with the latest Bluetooth 5.3 technology, ensuring seamless pairing and stable connectivity. Its dual-device pairing feature allows users to stay connected to two devices simultaneously and switch between them effortlessly. The neckband offers an impressive playtime of up to 50 hours. There’s fast charging too; just 10 minutes of charging provides up to 20 hours of playback, making these ideal for users constantly on the move.