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 to make the world a cleaner place? The quantity could also be barely extra initially than you’ll suppose 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 help. Which means that 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 circumstances. They’re appropriate with reverse charging by way of an built-in USB Sort-C cable. You may plug it into any USB Sort-C port, together with the one in your telephone, and it’ll energy up the earphones. Is that this novelty, alongside sustainability, price Rs. 3,999? Let’s discover out.Skullcandy EcoBuds Design and Options: Feathery Mild and Purposeful Dimension (with case) – 102 x 60 x 30mm Weight (with case) – 40g Water and dirt resistance – IPX4 Color – GlacierThe Skullcandy EcoBuds include a standard in-ear design and three gel tip sizes — small, medium and enormous. The medium ones match me one of the best. They provide a good match however are usually 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 Sort-C cable The earphones include a magnetic storage dock, which has a built-in USB Sort-C cable that folds again in case it isn’t in use. This lightens the blow of the lacking battery, in my view. 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 product of placing them in a tote bag with a number of different objects. In transit, one of many earphones had dislodged from the case, and I panicked briefly earlier than it dropped out of the umbrella folds. Except for this, the earphones and the case are compact, light-weight, and simple 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 Sort-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 – NoThe Skullcandy EcoBuds carry 6mm drivers, in accordance with the product’s Amazon itemizing. We’ll talk about their sound high quality in a bit, however for this part, we’ll concentrate on the management expertise. Like many different TWS earphones, the EcoBuds help 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’ll be able to 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 searching for a studio-grade expertise from these earphones, the dearth of an app additionally implies that all controls are based mostly on gestures, which is the second factor. There are just a few gestures you will want 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 quantity (left for down, proper for up). A double faucet on both earpiece advances to the following monitor, whereas a triple faucet returns to the earlier monitor. A quadruple faucet on the precise earbud toggles by way of 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 have 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 5.2How do the Skullcandy EcoBuds sound? Higher than I anticipated. With 6mm drivers, my hopes for the audio expertise have been set fairly low. The violation of these expectations was welcome. Comprehensively, they provide a transparent and shiny sound expertise. The podcast mode focuses on the vocals over some other particulars. True to its title, the bass enhance 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 shouldn’t be outright muddied at any stage, though the upper notes are inclined to crack up at 70 p.c quantity or above. As an illustration, you’ll be able to hear the distortions with the excessive notes in Nirvana’s About A Lady. 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 when you are on a cleansing binge or strolling to the native market.Although the Skullcandy Ecobuds don’t help lively noise cancellation (ANC), the corporate claims that the earphones include a “noise-isolating match.” Technically, the declare shouldn’t be utterly unfaithful. It does isolate some noise, however not a major quantity. If you’re used to ANC earphones and headphones, particularly in public locations, the change to the EcoBuds could unsettle you a bit. Nevertheless, 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 concentrate on work.The Skullcandy EcoBuds help 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 effectively even in case you add the second earbuds mid-track. The mic efficiency shouldn’t be superb, however purposeful. It picks up environmental noise alongside your voice. The whirring of the fan can muffle your voice if you end up utilizing these earphones. If you’re in a crowded place and even open air, you may wish to use your telephone 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 complete battery life, Skullcandy EcoBuds include about 8 hours of playback time. Which, if in contrast with different fashionable TWS earphones and simply the earphones, is a good 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. Nevertheless, 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 may 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 Sort-C cable out from the again of the storage dock and plug it right into a USB Sort-C port. In my case, I largely charged them utilizing my telephone, and in an hour, they might cost absolutely. That is environment friendly in additional methods than one. You shouldn’t have to hold a separate charger round (sure, typically, the case would suffice, however when in Rome!), and it doesn’t drain the telephone’s battery considerably both. The compact dimension of the earphones additionally means that you can proceed your telephone utilization as standard. You can too use an influence financial institution to cost them, and even your laptop computer, pill, or any gadget with a USB Sort-C port.That mentioned, 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 rapidly, although. Charging on the go remains to be very a lot doable, and it’s one much less gadget it’s important to fear about plugging in earlier than mattress.The compact design of the earphones and the dock make them straightforward to hold Skullcandy EcoBuds: VerdictThe Skullcandy EcoBuds are good TWS earphones. They’ve steady connectivity, clear sound, and supply 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 price). Are these earphones price Rs. 3,999, although? Sure and no. The reply will depend on your preferences. Would you set higher sound element and 40-something hours of complete battery life forward of your conscience? For my part, these ought to work wonderful for informal listeners.If you’re planning to purchase your solely pair of every day use earphones, nonetheless, and never a supplementary on-the-go wearable, you will see that different choices that include higher match, extra options, charging circumstances (albeit unsustainable) and companion apps inside this value vary.You may get the Realme Buds Air 6 (Evaluation) Rs. 3,299 for an nearly 40-hour complete battery life. On the similar value, you’ll be able to go for the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Professional (Evaluation) for a greater match and balanced sound expertise.For simply Rs. 300 extra, you’ll be able to spend money on the CMF Buds Professional 2, which provides as much as 50dB ANC, as much as 43 hours of complete battery life and ChatGPT-integrated options by way of the Nothing X app.The dearth of a charging case shouldn’t be a deal breaker for me. Even the audio high quality is nice for informal listening. On this aggressive value vary, many different options could make the sound expertise extra gratifying. Absolutely, there may sometime be a center floor between being an audiophile and an environmentally aware particular person, however possibly, as Dean Martin says, “In the present day shouldn’t be the day.”