Specs
- Up to 3 hours music playback and up to an additional 7 hours using the changing case
- Music controls and answer/reject calls
- Bluetooth profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSPSPP
- Wireless range up to 10m
- Standby time 20 hours
Charging Case:
- Box recharge capacity: 350mA
- Charging time for case 2 hours
- LED battery charging indicator
Good Points:
- Super lightweight
- Charging as soon as back in the case
- Extremely good clear sound
- Ability to pair to 2 devices
- Price
Bad Points:
- Battery life could be better
- Very easy to lose
Introduction
When Apple decided to ditch the 3.5 mm headphone socket, it caused a great stir in the smartphone community and left two distinct camps: one for the inclusion of this little socket and one against it. One thing that did come from this was massive improvements in the quality and innovation of Bluetooth headsets, and following on from Apple’s own AirPods came other manufacturers version of truly wireless headsets.
And it is here that I’ve been sent. These are Groov-e Air Buds.
What’s in the box.
In the box, of course there are the left and right Air Buds, a Micro USB charging cable, some spare ear tips, the usual documentation and the charging case which has the same principle as the Apple AirPod case. In case you didn’t realise, it means it charges the Air Buds when they are placed inside.
The Air Buds are held securely inside the case with a magnet. At the back of the charging case is the micro-USB charging port, which not only charges the case itself but will also charge the Air Buds if docked when plugged in. Alongside the case are 2 notification LEDs.
In Use:
To begin using the Air Buds, you power up the left bud followed by the right. You get a nice voice notification to say that each channel has connected to each other. Pairing is the usual Bluetooth affair of pressing and holding the power button, one feature I do like is the ability to pair the Air Buds to 2 devices. I currently have them paired to my OnePlus and Galaxy Tab, but you do get a voice notification of which device you’re currently paired to.
The first thing that I noticed was just how lightweight they are, to the point you could easily forget you’re wearing them. I was surprised with how well they fit, they didn’t even fall out on the treadmill in the gym.
The battery is quoted at lasting 3 hours of playback, and I easily got 2.5 hours without the need for a charge up, which was as easy as popping them back in the case. One thing I did notice was the range dropped quite a bit as the battery got low.
The sound quality coming from these headphones was really surprising, giving a good bass and a nice treble. Plus, now that I’ve finally become an Audible listener, spoken word audiobooks sound fantastic.
Conclusion:
If you are in the market for a new set of completely wireless headphones and don’t want to pay the price for some Apple AirPods, the Groov–e Air Buds are well worth a look. They have a nice, well-balanced sound and they aren’t overly priced at £59.99. They’re available from Groov-e.