When Apple released Air Pods in 2016, some critics said the earbuds would never succeed. They believed people loved wired headsets too much to buy battery-powered earbuds.
Critics were wrong. Wireless earbuds and headphones are taking over the sound technology space. In 2023, these devices have advanced tremendously. Learn the latest tech features and buzzwords in the world of earbuds without our help below.
Noise Cancellation
What started as a technology designed for airplane pilots is now a popular feature in all modern earbuds. Noise cancellation improves your listening experience at public places like airports, restaurants, and offices. It also protects your ears from hearing damage.
The 10 best earbuds feature both active and passive noise-cancellation technologies. The former uses opposing sound waves to cancel out unwanted noise. Think of engine sounds or noise from home appliances.
Passive noise reduction relies on memory foam insulation, ear cups, and other materials that can block noise from your ear canals. This technology reduces noise from people talking around you or road noise while using public transport.
Independent Earbud Use
Tired of earbuds with no true mono mode? Worry no more. The best earpieces in 2023 now have an independent use mode. You can use the left earbud while riding your bike or running outdoors for safety concerns. And if it runs out of power, you can use the right bud. Independent connection also means you choose which earbud to use for calls.
Bluetooth Multipoint
For a long time, a Bluetooth Multipoint feature has been exclusively provided by premium earbud companies like Jabra and Technics. Apple’s AirPods Pro allows you to switch between different devices connected to the same iCloud account. But that’s not multipoint connectivity.
Multipoint support means you can pair multiple devices simultaneously. You can pair your earbuds to your laptop, TV, and smartphone at the same time. Then you can switch between devices without having to pair each gadget manually.
Drivers
Drivers are components that convert electrical energy into acoustic energy—AKA sound. The design of a driver, its size, and the number of drivers in earbuds all determine the quality of sound you get.
Owing to that backdrop, it’s important to know a little bit about how drivers work. For starters, they come in two types: dynamic and balanced armatures. Dynamic drivers are usually small and the standard tools of choice for many earbuds.
Balanced armatures resemble rectangular boxes and are bigger in size. When used properly, they provide excellent sound quality. Because they’re large, however, not many companies use them in wireless earbuds.
Long Bluetooth Range
The Bluetooth range keeps growing long. And that’s a good thing for people who live in large houses. Or, people who want to listen to music some distance away from their devices.
The standard Bluetooth range for good earbuds in 2023 is 30 feet (10 meters). Usually, price is a good indicator of range. Expensive earpieces offer better range albeit not at all times.
Battery Life
Similar to Bluetooth range, price can tell you a lot about the battery life of wireless earbuds. Premium devices from companies like Bose, Apple, and Sony offer 4+ hours of battery life. And when you include the charge provided by the case, the battery life could extend to 30 hours.
Cheap earbuds may promise decent battery life. But you learn the hard way that these gadgets have cheap technology and don’t keep power for long hours.
Charging Features
If you haven’t looked at new earbuds just yet, you’ll be surprised by their host of new charging features. First, they come with fast charging that lets you grab two hours of battery life within 15 minutes.
Next, each case has an in-built battery that recharges your earbuds for long battery life. As mentioned, these cases can give you up to 30 hours of charge. Many of them now support USB-C for charging.
Another unique charging feature is the ability to charge your smartphone or iPad using your earbuds’ case. Earbuds with this feature tend to be heavier and pricier. So, you need to decide whether the feature is worth the extra weight.
Smartphone App
Modern earbuds don’t look complete without an app that helps you control features remotely. The app needs to offer voice assistance, volume control, and noise-limiting settings.
