Heena Sharma Blog

  The Pixel Buds A-series earbuds are of a different kind, in a good way. They do not have a long list of features, and they cut corners even on the most obvious ones like active noise cancellation. But the product shines through when it comes to user experience. Made by Google, these earbuds have built-in Google Assistant for hands-free operations. Besides, they boast identical touch controls on both earbuds. Both these features alone make the Google Pixel Buds A-series an easy-to-use pair of wireless earbuds. But do they justify their price tag? Let’s find out: Starting with design, I liked how Google has kept everything simple here. The earbuds look like baby mushrooms with circular heads and rather elongated tails with in-ear tips at the end. While the in-ear design helps them latch on to the ears, the added stabiliser arc helps them stay put securely and comfortably even in situations like exercising, when many others would come off easily. Like the earbuds, the charging-...

  The market is flooded with low-cost Bluetooth earphones with collar bands these days. Such is their appeal that Realme had to go ahead and launch an ultra-low-cost brand, Dizo, so as not to miss out on the opportunity. With this new brand launch, Realme also upgraded its wireless earbuds. When the phone manufacturer launched its first iteration of buds, there were only a few competitors in the space. The stylish design and battery life ensured that Realme stayed ahead of the competition. The company’s new offering seems to build on the previous gains. Design One thing that Realme had going in its favour with the first earphones was design. It had made the buds lightweight and attractive. While the company has kept to the colour aspect, the design element has been revised. Personally, the earphones have been made to look bulkier. Even though they are still lightweight and ergonomically better than the previous model, the bulky design makes them stand out, and not in a good ma...

  From neckband-style earphones to true wireless earbuds, Realme is one smartphone brand that has significantly expanded its audio range despite being new to the segment. Importantly, the Chinese brand has been consistently democratising premium features like active noise cancellation in its inexpensive offerings. Fresh in its line-up is the Realme Buds Q2 , priced at Rs 2,499. These true wireless earbuds seem to be undersell for someone to experience active noise cancellation (ANC) for the first time without actually having to pay much. But how does the product fare in real-life scenarios? Let’s find out: Design The Realme Buds Q2 come in active black and calm grey colour themes. Made of plastic, the active black (review unit) colour model has a matte finish with glossy film on the touch area that reflects blue hues. The earbuds are IPX5-rated for protection against water ingress. As for the earbuds’ charging case, it is a pill-shaped unit with a matte black finish. It is cu...

  Active noise cancellation (ANC) is one premium feature still scarcely available in true wireless earbuds, especially in the budget segment. That said, there are no other earbuds better at present than the recently launched Realme Buds Air 2 to experience the ANC for the first time without actually having to pay much for it. Fourth in the Realme’s Bud Air series, the Buds Air 2 is a completely reworked model with a fresh design, improved acoustics, and ANC among its core features. Starting with the design, the earbuds come in two colour options – black & blue and silver & white – with a dual-tone accent for novelty. These in-ear earbuds have a stem-based design with earbuds donning a white glossy finish and silver theme on the stems (review unit – silver & white). With each earbud weighing about 4.1g, the Buds Air 2 is comfortable for extended usage. As for the earbuds’ charging case, it is a pebble shaped unit with a glossy white finish. It looks similar to the O...

  Samsung has released a new software update for its Galaxy Buds Pro true wireless earphones that brings improvements to active noise cancellation and ambient sound modes, among other changes. The software update appears to only be available in the US at the moment, reports SamMobile. The update is just 2.2MB in size and can be applied using the Galaxy Wear app for Android or Galaxy Buds app for iOS. The latest update arrives a few weeks after Samsung introduced another update that included improved Bixby voice wake-up response and left/right sound balance adjustment. Priced at Rs 15,990, the new Galaxy Buds Pro comes with an Intelligent Active Noise Cancellation and feature system in the package which uses a separate woofer and tweeter making it a 2-way speaker. Read More

  Jabra is one of the audio equipment makers that has come a long way adding finesse to its true wireless earbuds. Latest from the Danish company is the Jabra Elite 85t , which is touted to be as good for calls as it is for music. Besides, it boasts active noise cancelling, wireless charging, and IPX4 rating for protection from water damage. Priced at Rs 18,999, the Jabra Elite 85t seems to be an all-round premium wireless earbud. But do they work as touted by the company? Let’s find out: Design Jabra Elite 85t Jabra continues with the simple, minimal and compact design statement with the Elite 85t. Successor to the Elite Active 75t, the Elite 85t are about 1.5g heavier in weight over the predecessor yet they do not feel heavy as the weight distribution is proportionate and not uneven. With each earbud weighing 7g, the Elite 8t are lightweight and comfortable to use. As for the changes over the predecessor, the Elite 85t has an oval shaped ear gels for snug and secure fit....

  The LG Tone Free FN7 is a one-of-its-kind pair of true wireless earbuds that comes with a charging cradle powered by UVnano technology – that’s a fancy name derived from the words ultraviolet and its unit nanometer. The technology is touted to kill 99.9 per cent bacteria on the speaker mesh of the earbuds in 10 minutes while charging. The UVnano tech is not the only interesting pitch in these earbuds; they also boast active noise cancellation and Spatial audio, tuned by British high-performance audio tech maker Meridian. Priced at Rs 18,990, the LG Tone Free FN7 seems to be tech-rich true wireless earbuds. How does it perform in real life? Let’s find out: Design The LG Tone Free FN7 is a pair of in-ear earbuds with a tiny stem protruding downwards from the body. Made of plastic, these earbuds have a glossy finish which makes it a little difficult to take them out of the case. Moreover, the glossy finish makes them susceptible to accidental slips from your hand in the absence...

  The Hammer KO is a pair of entry-level true wireless stereo earbuds manufactured by home-grown technology startup Hammer. These basic wireless earbuds come with a hook-based design for a secure fit – that seems to set it apart from peers in the budget segment. Except for hooks, however, there is nothing novel about these earbuds. They have Bluetooth v5.0 for connectivity, microphones for voice calls, touch controls and IPX4 water resistance rating. So far as design is concerned, these earbuds are not ergonomically sound, thanks to their hook-based build. But they sure are lightweight. The earbuds are made mostly of plastic, with matte texture on the outer side, and rubber hooks. The ear hooks do make them comfortable to wear, but the Hammer KO lacks snug fit, despite being an in-ear earphones. This hampers the earbuds’ passive noise isolation capability. They do not come off the ears easily, thanks to the hooks, but you need to constantly adjust them for optimal fit. On the po...

  Wireless earphones come in all shapes and sizes, but none as distinct and intriguing as the Samsung Buds Live. These true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones are one of their kind, at least in terms of design. Each earphone has a kidney-bean-shaped build, which fits surprisingly well into your ears. The earphones’ semi in-ear design is comfortable, too, especially if you use them for extended hours. However, the lack of silicone tips affect the earphones’ passive noise isolation capability; the ambient noise easily passes through the earphones and you hear everything crystal clear even with earphones on. The earphones have active noise cancelling (ANC), which seems experimental. It blocks the ambient noise but only to an extent. Unfortunately, there is no way to customise ANC intensity. As for the performance, the earphones have a balanced audio output. They sound similar to the Galaxy Buds+, even better in some cases, and that is a big feat, considering that the Buds+ has an in-e...

  The PlayGo T44 is a pair of affordable true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones imported from China by Play, an Indian lifestyle products brand. Priced at Rs 2,999, these earphones have semi in-ear earbuds with stems, a design made popular by the Apple AirPods (review). These, however, do not look anything like the AirPods (and that is a good thing).   As for performance, the earphones are tuned for a neutral output and they seem best suited for music tracks where emphasis is on acoustics and not vocals. Interestingly, the earphones are one of the few in the budget segment that are not bass-heavy. Unfortunately, there is no way to tune or customise the output for lack of an app support. Moreover, the equaliser settings on connected devices (smartphone, laptop or tablet) sometimes distort the audio output, so it is best to use them as is. The PlayGo T44 supports audio sub-band codec (SBC) and advance audio codec (AAC). They have Bluetooth 5.0 for connectivity, and they wor...

South Korean electronics maker Samsung is now taking pre-orders for its BTS edition Galaxy S20+ smartphone and Galaxy Buds+ earphones in India. The company also introduced the Galaxy S20 Ultra in a cloud white variant. The Galaxy S20+ BTS edition and Galaxy S20 Ultra Cloud White variant will be available in limited quantity and shall go on sale from July 10. The Samsung Galaxy S20+ BTS edition price in India is set at Rs 87,999; the Galaxy Buds+ BTS edition at Rs 14,990; and the Galaxy S20 Ultra White variant is priced at Rs 97,999. "We are very excited to announce the launch of the BTS editions of Galaxy S20+ and Galaxy Buds+ which now give fans an exclusive opportunity to connect more closely with their favourite band," Aditya Babbar, Director, Mobile Business, Samsung India said in a statement. Read More

The OPPO Enco W31 is a pair of true wireless stereo earphones that Chinese smartphone maker OPPO launched recently as part of its bid to enter product categories other than smartphones. Priced at Rs 3,999, these earphones boast an in-ear design, something most of its peers in the segment lack, and an ingress protection rating (IP54) for water and dust resistance. On paper, the Enco W31 seems to be a strong contender in the budget TWS earphones segment. But is it worth your money? Let’s find out: OPPO Enco W31: Design Though budget earphones, the Enco W31 boasts a design better than your regular ‘budget’ product. These earphones come in a petite circular-shaped charging-cum-storage case, which is convenient to carry and fits easily even in the most cramped places like jeans pockets. Made of plastic, the case has a matte texture with OPPO printed on top and a USB type-C charging port at the back. Overall, the case has a minimal yet functional design. Read More

On paper, the PLAYGO BH70 is capable of going toe-to-toe with the best-in-class. But even though it tries really hard to pack everything useful in a pair of headphones — and I appreciate the sincere effort — it falls short on some things that an able pair of ears just can’t miss. In the following paragraphs, allow me to explain why you should or shouldn’t buy these headphones, and what you should consider buying instead. This will be especially useful to people who don’t wish to spend more than Rs 15,000 on a pair of all-purpose headphones, ever. The construction At a time when most gadgets have embraced the beauty of vibrant colours, the PLAYGO BH70 comes in two dull, unimaginative SKUs: Graphite Grey and Medallion Brown. At least a bright silver option would have been nice. For a brand called Play, it’s no fun at all. Read More

Until late last year, there were very few options if you wanted to buy great true-wireless earphones. But now there seems to be no dearth of choices. What's interesting is that most true-wireless earphones in the market bear a mid-range price tag which makes it difficult to separate the good ones from the rest -- unless, of course, you have tested them and experienced for yourself. We used the Oppo Enco Free true-wireless earbuds for a few days and in this review we will tell you if this product passed the test. Design These earphones might be tiny and super-light but not the best for the job. Foremost,, earbuds should stick to where they belong. Its tiny size and light weight does not allow the Enco Free to sit in the ear; the buds fall off at every minor movement. On a cool windy day, I decided to go for a run and took the earbuds along, but, to my utter dismay, couldn't listen to any music as the earbuds would keep falling off. I came back home and tried the big...

As phone manufacturers gradually do away with headphone jacks, wireless earphones have become the new normal. Chinese electronics giant Honor's Sport Pro headphones follow the same trend, albeit with a special focus on fitness enthusiasts. Priced at Rs 3,999, it is available in Phantom Red, Phantom Grey, and Phantom Purple colour options. Design One of the first things you notice about the Sport Pro is that its ear tips resemble Apple Earpods. The silicone ear tips are uniquely shaped which means you need to twist them slightly in ear after putting them on. But once that is done, it's a snug fit. They also feel really soft and easy on the ear, mainly because they need not be inserted too deep. Read More

Chinese tech giant Lenovo has launched T rue Wireless (TWS) Bluetooth Earbuds , the HT 10 Pro , which is an upgraded version of the TWS of 2019. The earbuds come with new EQ technology and are priced at a competitive Rs 4,499. We used it for a couple weeks and here's how it fared. Design The HT10 Pro comes in a nifty little capsule which is all-black, save the Lenovo logo at the top. The pod also works as a charging point for the earbuds nestled inside. The earbuds have a plastic body with a protruding design and a button embedded on the outer surface to control them. Despite their rather bulky size, HT10 Pro earbuds are light. They do stick out of the ears a little more than I'd have liked, but they still are a comfortable fit. And if they are not, you can try the other ear tips available in the box. Overall, these earbuds have a slick, modern look with a good build and comfortable fitting. You can also use the earbuds in mono or stereo mode. The case complements ...

German audio company Sennheiser on Tuesday launched in India the CX 350BT and CX 150BT wireless earphones, priced at Rs 7,490 and Rs 4,990, respectively. The earphones boasts Bluetooth 5.0 for fast and reliable connectivity, 10-hour battery life and portable design. Both the earphones will be available from March 3 onward, said the company in a statement. The CX 350BT features a dedicated voice assistant button for easy access to SIRI or Google Assistant, along with smart features such as integrated Sennheiser Smart Control App. "At Sennheiser, our focus has always been on innovation and with these new models in our wireless range, our aim has been to help our consumers experience an enhanced audio experience every day," said Kapil Gulati, Director, Consumer Segment, Sennheiser Electronics India. Read More

We came to know about Fingers with its TWS pods (Review), the Bluetooth earbuds were spot on with the sound quality. The brand recently brought Chic Dual.D Bluetooth neckband to up the ante in the already cluttered wireless earphones category. Fingers Chic Dual.D derives its name from the dual drivers that are also the highlight of the neckband-style earphones. Fingers Chic Dual.D has matte finish with black and cherry colour combination. The earbuds are not too small or big and you can see the drivers nestled under them and can be seen through the transparent plastic portion. The earbuds does slip off from ears if you're doing any activity while wearing them. So, if you plan to workout using the earphones, you might have to adjust them repeatedly. Read More

The Klipsch T5 True Wireless earphones have a unique sound signature — a clear edge over its premium rivals from Apple, Jabra and Bose. Completely wireless earphones rarely sound so good. But the T5 is not a pair designed for life on the move. It’s for a niche audience looking for a great audio experience and comfort. Design 3.5/5 The silver metal case is subtly ornate. It has a premium matte finish with three lights to indicate the battery level. It weighs about 100 grams. In comparison, the Apple Airpods case weighs less than half of that. But the T5 is still small and easily fits in a pocket, unlike the Bose SoundSport Free (Rs 18,990) or the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless (Rs 24,990), which need a lot more space. The earpods are designed to protrude out of the ears and be noticed. It’s also because the outer surface of the earpods doubles up as physical buttons instead of sporting touch controls. There are pros and cons of both. While touch controls feel better, the...

Skullcandy’s Method ANC earbuds are made for people on the go. These lightweight earphones are very convenient for people who love to listen to the music during their daily commute or workouts. The earphones also offer active noise cancellation, delightful for those who like to cut themselves off from unnecessary noise while streaming their favourite music. When it comes to design, the Skullcandy Method ANC resembles most other wireless earbuds in the market. There is a tiny remote with three buttons for power, playback, and volume. The earphones fit easily into your ears and do not slip off even during a run or workout session. You can carry these earphones wrapped around your neck, as they are lightweight. The magnetic earbuds stick to each other when not in use. Apart from noise cancellation, another noteworthy feature of these earphones is the Tile Bluetooth tracker, which helps you find your audio device if you forget where you kept them. The feature may come in handy...