With a never-ending list of wireless earphones and headphones available out there today, how daunting it must be shopping for new ones. There are so many things to consider when choosing one, it can sometimes cause quite a headache. To help make that experience less painful, we’ve rounded up a few headsets for your consideration. Even if nothing suits your fancy, at least you’re walking away better-informed!
Beats by Dr Dre’s Powerbeats Pro
Ask any music-listening athlete and they’ll agree that good workout earphones need to be comfortable, have a secure fit and a battery that lasts. No better way to ruin a workout than with a dead pair of earphones. Dr Dre’s Powerbeats Pro ticks all the boxes. 23% smaller and 17% lighter than its predecessor, over 20 configurations were tested before coming up with the final ergonomic design. One of the standout features is the ambidextrous controls found on both earpieces. So really, there’s no need to remember which side controls what — a difference-maker when every hesitation counts while working out.
In-built sensors also detect when you have your earphones on or off and pauses your music accordingly. It’s a feature you don’t see all that often in other wireless earphones.
Other features include:
- 9hrs of music playback and 24hrs combined with the magnetic charging case.
- Fast Fuel — get 1.5hrs of playback with just 5mins of charging.
- Powered by Apple’s H1 chip for faster and more stable wireless connection.
For the full list of specifications, click here.
The Beats by Dr Dre’s Powerbeats Pro will be available for purchase on 19 July in Black, Navy, Moss & Ivory at $328 from Apple Stores. For more info, click here.
JBL Tune 120TWS
Definitely not a stranger to superior audio quality, JBL expands their roster of true wireless headphones with the Tune 120TWS — name-brand performance headphones at an affordable price. It features JBL’s powerful Pure Bass Sound in the form of a 5.88mm driver that’ll surely make any playlist punchier. It has a combined battery life of 16 hours, 4 hours playback and 12 hours from the charging case. For a pair of wireless headphones from JBL that offers solid audio quality and build, you’re getting a pretty sweet deal at $149.
Other features include:
- Hands-free stereo calls
- 15mins of charge gets you an extra hour of playback
- Smart assistant compatible
For the full list of specifications, click here.
The JBL Tune 120TWS is available now in white, blue, black, green, yellow and pink at $149 from all leading retailers. For more info, click here.
Creative Outlier Gold
Could this be the potential Apple AirPod killer? Creative calls its latest Outlier Gold the “superboosted version” of the Outlier Air, which sold out within hours at the last IT show. The Outlier Gold is their first headphone to support Software Super X-Fi. Creative’s remarkable audio technology that’s essentially a surround sound system right in your earbuds. If you’re listening to a band, it’s almost as if they’re right there performing for you. And according to them, “users will feel as if their headphones have disappeared”. There must be some truth if they’re bold enough to make such a claim!
Other features include:
- Total playtime of up to 39 hours
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Smart voice assistant compatibility.
- IPX5 certified (sweatproof)
- Software Super X-Fi
For the full list of specifications click here.
The Creative Outlier Gold is available now in Champagne Gold at $139 and available online at Creative. For more info, click here.
Jay Chou-endorsed 1MORE E1004BA Wireless Noise-Cancelling In-Ear Headphones
The multiple award-winning headphone company 1MORE has recently released yet another winner in their E1004BA wireless noise-cancelling in-ear headphones. With Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou’s involvement in the company as Creative Director and Grammy-winning sound engineer Luca Bignardi tuning the device, the headphones took home the Red Dot Design Award last year.
It has a comfortable neckband design made of flexible silicone, which allows it to be stored easily and even has a convenient Type-C to 3.5mm jack adaptor cable that turns it into a wired device.
Other features include:
- Active noise-cancelling
- Environmental noise cancelling
- 7 hours playback
- 3 hours battery life with just 10 mins of quick charging
For the full list of specifications, click here.
1MORE E1004BA Dual Driver BT ANC In-Ear Headphones are available now at $259 from all authorised retailers: AV One, AV One Lazada, Connect-IT, Challenger, Sprint Cass (Changi Airport), Stereo, WHSmith (Changi Airport) and XGear.
Sony’s EXTRA BASS WH-XB900N Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
If you’re all about that bass then owning a pair of Sony’s WH-XB900N will feel like you’ve never even left the music festival. The latest addition to the EXTRA BASS series is designed for bass-heads to enjoy the deep, thumping heavy beats of club or festival music with all the ease and functionality of a modern headset. And with Sony, you can expect their top tier noise-cancelling tech in all their headphones. Not only that, there’s a really impressive 30-hour battery life in these cans.
Other features include:
- Touch navigational controls
- Digital noise cancelling
- Quick charge function: 1hr wireless playback from 10mins of charging
- Smart assistant compatibility
For the full list of specifications, click here.
The WH-XB900N will be available at selected Sony Stores, Sony Centres and Sony authorised dealers now at $349. For more info, click here.
With all that’s said, it really comes down to what features you prioritise. With so many different designs, find out what type of fit you prefer. Is it on-ear, in-ear, over-ear?
Next, check the features of the earphones and headphones. If you’re looking for one to wear during sports, then make sure they’re sweat resistant. Then there’s wired or wireless. If it’s the latter, make sure there’s decent battery life so you don’t have to constantly charge it every now and then.
Finally, remember that expensive doesn’t always equate to quality. There are wallet-friendly earphones and headphones out there with good audio and quality features, so be sure to keep that in mind. Happy shopping!
