Back in 2019 when TWS buds were first becoming popular, I picked up a cheap $50 pair of wireless buds from amazon, and they were great. They sounded decent, quick to connect, simple design. Only complaint I had was they felt pretty cheap. But the lasted me a year and it was time to get a new pair of buds.
This time I desired more. I wanted something more premium feeling and sounding, and as an Android user, I went with the Galaxy Buds2. These kind of let me down a little bit. The sound quality was fantastic, so was the ANC, but the fit was quite poor and they only lasted me a year. Now I only get like 1-2 hours of battery on the buds and the case needs charging every couple days. I did use them quite a bit, but it does sting that I paid over $200 for them and they only lasted a year.
Then last week I realized I need a new pair. I enjoy the convenience of wireless buds and use them a lot when I am out and about commuting and when trail running. I still have my expensive Headphones for home and office use, but needed something for more casual (ab)use.
So then a quick amazon search showed me these Anker buds. Priced at $35, I instantly ordered them and they arrived a couple days later. So I have now used them for a couple days and I am genuinely very content with these. For less money than the first pair I got in 2019, these sound and feel a lot more premium. The quality is I'd say 85% of the Samsung buds 2, and I never really cared for ANC or transparency mode, so these are great that they don't have any fancy features.
The Good:
-They sound very decent, cannot really complain for the price. Could easily fool a non-audiophile that these are high-end.
- Fit and design are very reasonable for the price. The case feels strong, the buds are light.
- Great battery life so far. They came fully charged and after about 6-8 hours of listening, the app still says the buds have 80% left. This is fantastic.
- The app does have some useful features. There are several EQ options, but I prefer the Rock preset the most since that's my jam. Others have complained that the App doesn't have the White Noise feature, but that is not true. It definitely has white noises and this is something I look forward to using some more. Some decent sound options.
- Best BANG for your buck!
Some downsides:
- The build quality is certainly acceptable, but overall not the most ergonomic. Case is slippery, the lid feels a bit heavy, getting the buds in and out is a little finicky, Buds fit well in my ear but do stick out just a tad more than the galaxy buds. But given the better fit, I'll allow the sticking out.
Overall:
Get these if you are like me and use wireless buds for casual listening for more than a few hours a day. Buying premium buds like Airpods or samsung buds seems like a waste because they only last 1-2 years, and with no right-to-repair or the ability to change the batteries, these become a lot more attractive.
| Special feature | Wireless Charging |
|---|---|
| Included components | Wireless Charging Case |
| Age range (description) | Adult |
| Material | Plastic |
| Charging time | 28 Hours |
| Cable feature | Without Cable |
| Item weight | 0.09 Pounds |
| Unit count | 1 count |
| Manufacturer | Anker |
| Model | A3948 |
| Part Number | A3948 |
| Special features | Wireless Charging |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Microphone format | Built-In |
| Batteries included | Yes |
| Batteries Required | Yes |
| Battery Cell Composition | Lithium Polymer |
| Cable Feature | Without Cable |
| Material Type | Plastic |
| Includes rechargable battery | Yes |
| Manufacturer | Anker |
| Item model number | A3948 |
| Product Dimensions | 6 x 2.5 x 4 cm; 40.82 g |
| ASIN | B0BTYBVR4S |
