True Wireless Earbuds

There are three different types of Earbuds to consider: Wired, Wireless and True Wireless. Wired Earbuds have been around a long time, using wires to connect to each other and the Audio source. Wireless Earbuds can connect with other devices via Bluetooth but remain tethered together with a wire. True Wireless Earbuds are connected to each other and the compatible device using only a wireless connection.

Some completely Wireless Earbuds sync to a Phone, Tablet or other Media Players via two independent signals. Other models only sync one bud to the device which then relays the audio signals to the other bud. True Wireless Earbuds come in a compact carry case that also serves as a charging case, designed to be unobtrusive and easy to carry around as they are small, don’t get tangled or tether physically to a device making them great for commutes and workouts.

Because of their designs Wireless Earbuds can give complete freedom to listen to music while exercising without worrying about wires getting tangled or snagged. They are great to wear while running and jogging, staying in ears as the body jolts and moves about during exercise.

Unlike older Wired models, Wireless Earbuds are designed and shaped to fit snuggly inside the ear and its canal. Not only does this keep them securely in place but it also ensures Earbuds with Active Noise Cancelling remove noise effectively. To fit snuggly and form a tight seal, many TWE come fitted with silicone ear tips which should ideally be only slightly bigger than an ear canal.

Some Earbud models come with wingtips or ‘sport fins’ designed to lock the buds in place during rigourous exercise. Wing Tips can sometimes be purchased separately for compatible models.

Because of their smaller size Wireless Earbuds generally have lower battery capacities than Headphones as a smaller sized Headphone has less physical space inside to house batteries.

Having said that, the battery life of Wireless Earbuds is improving over time and many recent models can play music or audio for around 4 to 8 hours on a single charge.

Wireless Earbuds come with a compact carry case that also serves as a charging dock for the earbuds when they aren’t in use. Rather than plugging into a charging cable directly True Wireless Earbuds have charging contact points that fit into the carry case, whilst the carry case itself receives power via cable. There are built in rechargeable batteries in the case to give an additional two or three charges to earbuds while out and about like Sony and Samsung's Earbuds.

Aim to find a pair of Earbuds that fit comfortably in the ear for prolonged periods. Many models can be customised for a more comfortable fit with swappable different sized ear tips. If planning to use Earbuds during a workout, consider Sport Headphones that are water resistant to protect against potential sweat damage. Models with silicone tips and wingtips or 'sports fins' are held snugly in place during jumping, jogging and moving about.

Although this feature is predominantly in Headphones, some recent True Wireless Earbuds are built with Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) capabilities. Rather than physically blocking out sound by forming a seal (also known as Passive Noise Cancelling or PNC), Active Noise Cancelling Headphones use built-in microphones to detect background noise and cancel its phase out with a corresponding soundwave. New to TWE is Transparency or Ambient Sound modes allowing external noise to come through, making conversation and awareness of surroundings much easier while staying connected.

Controls on certain Earbud models allow activation of Noise Cancelling as required, as well as making skipping or replaying songs and changing the volume quick and easy. Some models also have voice assistant compatibility built in from Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Siri and Samsung Bixby.