The Skullcandy EcoBuds are claimed to be durable true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones. According to the company, they are made from “65 percent certified recycled plastic and 57 percent less heavy metals,” resulting in a 50 percent lower carbon footprint than similar products on the market. Right off the bat – impressive claims. Who doesn’t want to be a part of the effort to make the world a cleaner place? Initially this number may be a little higher than you would expect because of the cost of eco-friendly earphones especially the batteries, lithium batteries.
The Skullcandy EcoBuds’ storage dock doesn’t have battery support. This means that when the earphones are placed in the magnetic case, they serve storage purposes only. They don’t deform like other TWS earphones which usually come in a charging case. They are compatible with reverse charging via an integrated USB Type-C cable. You can plug it into any USB Type-C port, including your phone, and it will power the earphones. Is this innovation, coupled with stability, worth Rs. 3,999? Let’s find out.
Skullcandy Echobuds design and features: feathery light and functional
- Size (with case) – 102 x 60 x 30 mm
- Weight (with case) – 40 grams
- Water and dust resistance – IPX4
- Color – Glacier
The Skullcandy EchoBuds come with a traditional in-ear design and three gel tip sizes – small, medium, and large. The medium ones suit me best. They provide a good fit but are not the most comfortable for long-term use. The touch sensors on each earbud are easy to locate as they are marked by an engraved company logo. The charging connector of the earphones is placed on the inside of the stem.
The storage dock comes with a short inbuilt USB Type-C cable
The earphones come with a magnetic storage dock, with a built-in USB Type-C cable that folds back when not in use. In my opinion, this lessens the blow of missing battery. I guess I wouldn’t be too happy if I had to find or carry an extra loose cable around with me. Although the earbuds are held in place by magnets, there is no cover on the case. So, avoid making the mistake I made of putting them in a tote bag with too many other items. In transit, one of the earphones became separated from the case, and I briefly panicked before it fell out of the folds of the umbrella. Furthermore, the earphones and case are compact, lightweight and easy to carry.
The Skullcandy EchoBuds are available in a single Glacier colorway, where both the earphones and the storage dock are seen in a blue and white marble pattern. The integrated USB Type-C cable is white with sand-like spots. The earphones have an IPX4 rating for splash resistance. With the case, they measure 102 x 60 x 30 mm and weigh 40 grams.
Skullcandy Echobuds Specifications and Controls: Too Simple?
- Driver – 6mm
- Gesture control – yes
- Companion App – No
According to the product’s Amazon listing, the Skullcandy EchoBuds have 6mm drivers. We’ll discuss their sound quality in a bit, but for this section, we’ll focus on the control experience. Like many other TWS earphones, the EchoBuds support capacitive touch controls, but unlike many competitors, they don’t come with a companion app. This affected me on two levels. First, you can only shuffle between three preset EQ modes – Music, Bass, and Podcast, and can’t customize the equalization. Even though I skipped this because I’m not looking for a studio-grade experience from these earphones, the lack of an app also means that all controls are based on gestures, which is another thing. There are some pointers you need to remember, so let’s get to it.
The charging connector is placed on the side of the stems
A tap on either earbud controls playback and calls, while a long press controls the volume (left for down, right for up). A double tap on either earpiece skips to the next track, while a triple tap returns to the previous track. A quadruple tap on the right earbud toggles through EQ modes. Tapping the left earbud four times activates the Assistant for the paired device. A six-second hold disconnects the paired device, while two taps and a one-second hold turns off the headphones.
Yes, it’s as hard to remember as it is to read (and write), but I mainly dealt with play/pause and volume controls, which were fairly simple and direct. A slightly irritating function for the first few uses was shuffling between EQ modes, but it eventually grew on me.
Skullcandy EchoBuds performance and battery life: Chaotic Neutral
- Fast Charging – Yes (claimed 10 minutes to 2 hours)
- Bluetooth – Bluetooth 5.2
How do the Skullcandy Echobuds sound? Better than I expected. With 6mm drivers, my expectations for the audio experience were significantly lowered. The violation of those expectations was welcome. Broadly speaking, they provide a clear and bright sound experience. Podcast mode focuses on the vocals more than any other details. True to its name, the Bass Boost mode highlights the bass, while the Music mode provides the more balanced audio of the three.
The charging cable folds neatly back into the dock when not in use
The sound isn’t completely blurry at any level, although high notes start crackling at 70 percent volume or above. For example, you can hear distortions along the high notes in Nirvana’s About a Girl. For the most part, the sounds are clear but lack the detail you’ll get with larger drivers. From tracks like Glass Animals’ gooey to Led Zeppelin’s Ramble On (the latter in bass mode), you get a good audio output that’s good enough to keep you engaged while cleaning or while walking to the local market.
Even though the Skullcandy EchoBuds do not support active noise cancellation (ANC), the company claims that the earphones come with a “noise-isolating fit”. Technically the claim is not completely false. It does isolate some noise, but not a significant amount. If you are used to ANC earphones and headphones, especially in public places, switching to EcoBuds might bother you a bit. However, the lack of ANC didn’t change my experience much as I mostly used them casually (read: to be isolated) and not to take calls or focus on work.
The Skullcandy EchoBuds support Bluetooth 5.2 and connect seamlessly with paired devices every time they are removed from the case. You can choose to use both earbuds or just one. The audio syncs well even if you add a second earbud in the middle of a track. Mic performance isn’t great, but functional. It picks up your voice as well as environmental noise. The wheezing of the fan can muffle your sound when you are using these earphones. If you’re in a crowded place or even outside, you may want to use your phone audio to answer calls.
The earphones come in plastic-free, recyclable packaging
In a market where many major brands are competing with TWS earphones that offer a total battery life of 30 to 40 hours or more, the Skullcandy EchoBuds come with a playback time of around 8 hours. Which if compared to other popular TWS earphones and earphones alone, is a good average. On paper, the lack of battery in the storage dock sounds pretty annoying. Before using them, I couldn’t stop the premonition of being stranded in the subway without earphones. However, I did not face any such challenges. On just a 10-minute charge, they provide approximately two hours of playback. If you can charge the earphones for a full hour, you can use them for about eight hours. I clocked eight hours and 13 minutes of playback on a single charging cycle.
Charging the earphones is very easy. You pull the USB Type-C cable from the back of the storage dock and plug it into a USB Type-C port. In my case, I mostly charged them using my phone, and in an hour, they were fully charged. This is effective in many ways. You don’t need to carry a separate charger with you (yes, in most cases, the case will be enough, but that’s when in Rome!), and it also doesn’t drain the phone’s battery. The compact size of the earphones also lets you continue using your phone as usual. You can use a power bank to charge them, or even your laptop, tablet, or any device that has a USB Type-C port.
That said, I have to admit that the lack of a charging case was annoying, if not practical, for the first few days. However, it grew on me very quickly. Charging on the go is still very much possible, and it’s one less gadget you have to worry about plugging in before bed.
The compact design of the earphones and dock makes them easy to carry
Skullcandy Echobuds: Verdict
The Skullcandy EcoBuds are good TWS earphones. They have stable connectivity, clear sound, and deliver the claimed battery life. The sustainability aspect of the product also adds brownie points to your consciousness as a citizen of the world (no matter how much it costs). Are these earphones worth the bucks? However, 3,999? Yes and no. The answer depends on your preferences. Would you put better sound detail and 40-some hours of total battery life ahead of your discretion? In my opinion, these should work fine for a casual audience.
However, if you’re planning on buying your only pair of daily-use earphones, and not a supplement to wear on the go, you’ll find other options that offer a better fit, more features, a charging case (albeit not as durable) and companion Come with apps. Within this price range.
You can get the Realme Buds Air 6 (Review) for Rs. Rs 3,299 for a total battery life of around 40 hours. At the same price, you can opt for the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro (Review) for a better fit and balanced sound experience.
Just for Rs. For Rs 300 more, you can invest in the CMF Buds Pro 2, which offer up to 50 dB ANC, up to 43 hours of total battery life, and ChatGPAT-integrated features via the NothingX app.
The lack of a charging case is not a deal breaker for me. The audio quality is good even for casual listening. In this competitive price range, many other features can make the sound experience more enjoyable. Sure, someday there may be a middle ground between being an audiophile and an environmentally conscious person, but maybe, as Dean Martin says, “today is not the day.”
