From battery life to ANC (active noise cancellation) and call quality, featherlight earbuds have made big strides in a post-pandemic world. Whether you need to ace those Zoom meetings or catch up on your Spotify playlist, we pick the best TWS Bluetooth Earbuds across price points.
Under Rs 5,000
Skullcandy Dime: They do cost more than a dime but pack great value and style for their affordable asking price. Add a splash of colour – they also come in a bright orange, to those staid MS Teams office meetings. The Dime case is cleverly designed; it can be clipped on to your car keys. You can control volume, tracks and calls from a single button on each earbud without a companion app. (Rs 2,399)
JBL Tune 115TWS: Cheap doesn’t always come with compromises. The Tune brings JBL’s sound heritage and proprietary ‘Pure Bass Sound’ to these inexpensive buds that promise a total of 21 hours of battery life. Like most buds, the Tune comes with customisable ear tips (three sets in the box) that help you find a snug fit. We also dig JBL’s Dual Connect option that offers extra flexibility, you can switch from left, right or both ears whether you’re listening to music or answering calls (Rs 4,199)
Under Rs 10,000
Nothing ear (1) Black Edition: The Nothing ear (1) broke the clutter with its transparent, stripped-down design. The Black Edition builds on the same Scandinavian minimalism in all-black colour. They punch above their price tag in the sound department with 11.6mm drivers and also offer ANC (active Noise cancellation). Battery life is another big win – these buds promise 34 hours (including the case), and also offer the convenience of wireless charging. (Rs 6,999)
OnePlus Buds Pro: These buds are packed in an ultra-slim case that can slip into your tightest jeans. The thoughtful shortened stem design allows you to activate ANC with a quick press. The Buds Pro buds are packed in one of the slimmest cases. Active noise cancellation is particularly good and so is sound quality justifying the ‘Pro’ badge. Other pro features include wireless charging, IPX 4 water resistance for the case and IPX 55 for dust and water resistance for the buds. (Rs 9,990)
Under Rs 20,000
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2: The latest iteration of Samsung’s Galaxy Buds wins our nod for the playful contrast between the colour of the buds and the case. They handle calls with ease, even when you’re in noisy spots. They feel weightless – 5g for each bud, in your ear and also shut out external sounds with an effective ANC solution. The 20-hour battery life should work for most users. (Rs 11,999)
Apple AirPods: The third gen AirPods are probably the best option for iPhone users. Apple adds computational audio that was previously reserved for the pricier AirPods Pro. From Adaptive EQ to spatial audio, these buds will please audiophiles with their immersive sound experience. Apple has reimagined the design for the first time since the first AirPods debuted in 2016. These buds are lightweight and contoured with a shorter stem that also includes the convenient ‘force sensor’ for media controls that we first checked out on AirPods Pro. (Rs 18,500)
