Sometimes, a small purchase can make a big difference in everyday life. That’s the case with my new wireless ear buds. My old ones broke. Since I have been using them nearly every day, in many situations, I made it a priority to get new ones fast. I’ll use them while playing sports, making phone calls, and occasionally sharing a listen with my son, age 8.
There are so many nifty products out there, from tech-related items to household gadgets to clothing, accessories, and toys. Each one may be “just a few” dollars, but together, the purchases add up. It’s hard to tell which may be worthwhile, and which may be something that doesn’t improve your life.
In this case, the $10 I spent are a good choice. Bluetooth, wireless ear buds let me listen while at the park and transition instantly to making phone calls or joining meetings remotely. They save time because I don’t have to fiddle with wires, and they let me have more “me” time because it’s easy to start listening at any time.
Battery and Other Basic Features
These ear buds have features that appear standard for their price range.
- 8 hours of continuous playback or use time on a single charge
- 48 hours of overall use time stored in the battery pack, or charging box
- Easy bluetooth connectivity – they pair within seconds when I turn on my phone’s bluetooth setting
- A mic with noise cancelling for easier phone calls
I chose the red ones. As usual, I chose from the colors that were the least expensive. I was pleased to find red because my previous ones were black, and I found those hard to find. I also wouldn’t have wanted white because it looks dirty so soon.
Comfort Features
These ear buds are designed to fit 99% of ears. They come with 3 different sizes of ear bud coverings so you can find the one that works for you. They weigh only 4 grams – that’s what a teaspoon of sugar weighs, to put it into context. Soft and comfortable, it’s easy to forget that you have them in your ears!
Finger Tap Controls
You can control the ear buds using finger taps.
| Function | Control |
|---|---|
| Volume Down | One tap, left side |
| Volume Up | One tap, right side |
| Previous Track | Long tap, left side |
| Next Track | Long tap, right side |
| Answer Call | One tap on either side |
| Hang Up | One tap on either side |
| Voice Assistance | Triple tap, left or right |
It looks like a lot now, but I know I’ll learn the various tap controls quickly as soon as I start using them.
Water Resistance: IPX7 Rating
I’m satisfied with the water resistance feature. It’s sweatproof, drizzle-proof, and hopefully a little bit resistant to spills – after all, I’m not perfect, and I live with an 8-year-old. It’s rated IPX7. Here are the features.
| OK (✓) | Not Recommended (✗) |
|---|---|
|
✓ Drizzle / light rain (walking, short outdoor exposure) ✓ Sweat during workouts (running, basketball, tennis practice) ✓ Accidental splashes (water bottle spills, playground splash) ✓ Short bursts of moderate rain if you quickly get under cover ✓ Submersion in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes (pools, puddles, sinks) |
✗ Prolonged exposure beyond 30 minutes underwater ✗ High-pressure water jets (showers, hoses) ✗ Saltwater or chlorinated water over time (may damage seals) ✗ Extreme temperatures while submerged |
My Daily Uses for Ear Buds
I use ear buds for active time, “me” time, parenting time, and social time, and work time. For safety reasons, I don’t use wireless ear buds for running. I prefer wired ear buds so I can use just one ear bud and have the other ear fully tuned to traffic and other potential dangers. But for my other listening purposes, ear buds work well.
I like listening while I do other things, so it’s convenient for me to have wireless ear buds that won’t get tangled up with my tennis racket, kitchen knife, or keys on a lanyard. Here are some of the times I regularly use ear buds.
- Playing tennis against a backboard
- Shooting baskets alone on a court
- While walking to and from supermarkets or aimlessly in the neighborhood
- At home if my son is home and doing his own activity
- In our building’s gym if someone else is present and I don’t want to bother them
One of my favorite ways to use them is to listen to my son’s playlist with him. We’ll each take one ear bud, and he’ll put on his playlist on my phone. I don’t typically like the music he listens to, but it’s fun listening together and knowing he handpicked each song.
Hopefully you got some insight or ideas for your own listening convenience. When do you use earbuds or a headset, and what features do you like to have?
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