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Skullcandy is quite a popular name in the affordable true wireless earbuds market. Now, the company has ventured into the eco-friendly space with their latest offering – Skullcandy EcoBuds. The brand aims to push a green initiative with an audio product that’s easy on both the planet and your wallet. Touted as the “sustainable true wireless earbuds”, the EcoBuds also feature Skullcandy’s signature sound and rugged design.
What makes the EcoBuds special is that it’s made up of 65% recycled plastics with 57% less heavy metals, emitting 50% reduced carbon footprint than the competition. That’s impressive, but is it all these earbuds have to offer? Let’s find out in our detailed review of the Skullcandy EcoBuds.
Skullcandy EcoBuds Review: Design
From the moment I laid eyes on the Skullcandy EcoBuds, it became apparent that sustainability was at the very heart of their design. The EcoBuds and their charging dock are made from recycled plastics, with a unique matte finish that feels both robust and premium to touch. Complementing the minimalistic design is the Glacier colourway, which may not go well with some users who prefer brighter colour choices.
That being said, with an IPX4 water and sweat-proof rating, the EcoBuds could be your jogging partner or workout buddy; just don't push them to extreme conditions. The long-stem form factor departs from the compact design that is common with other popular truly wireless buds but remains true to Skullcandy's recognisable design.
For their overall build quality, the open lidless charging dock as a design choice may leave a little to be desired. The earbuds are most of the time held comfortably in place by the magnets but dropping the case could pop them right off.
Skullcandy EcoBuds Review: Touch Controls
Its touch control system is one area in which the Skullcandy EcoBuds stand out. For long, the company has been oriented towards user experience and intuitive controls, and the EcoBuds follow that thought with no less importance. The touch controls on the earbuds are very sensitive: a tap triggers a short tone signalling that the input was received. Anything can be performed, from simple play/pause and volume control to more advanced functions like switching EQ modes and activating voice assistants.
But what makes it great is the number of available gestures: a single, double, triple, or quadruple tap meaning different things, along with long-press gestures. Whether it is playing controls, volume, or voice assistants like Siri and Google Assistant, the touch controls are well-calibrated, keeping performance smooth, predictably reliable, and highly responsive.
Skullcandy EcoBuds Review: Sound Quality
Coming to the audio performance, the Skullcandy EcoBuds is a bit of a mixed bag. If you love the bass-heavy sound, then the pounding lows from these buds should get you excited. Tracks like Imagine Dragons’ “Believer” and Diljit Dosanjh’s “Lover” were a treat to listen to on these earbuds; the thumping, enjoyable bass rhythm was on point. But I also found out that bass was not at overpowering levels compared to other Skullcandy models; this is more of a blessing for those who love balanced output.
The mids are surprisingly good and keep vocals crystal clear, especially in tracks that are more beat-driven. The EcoBuds were able to handle bass without drowning out vocals on even tracks such as Yo Yo Honey Singh’s “Millionaire”. However, the high frequencies did sound a bit hollow.
The inclusion of three EQ modes – Music, Bass Boost, and Podcast – allows listeners to customise their listening experience. Music mode strikes the most balanced of tones for me, while Bass Boost lives up to its name with deep, rumbling lows. In Podcast mode, the vocals are clearer, making it excellent for spoken-word content.
Skullcandy EcoBuds Review: Call Quality & Connectivity
However, call quality is not one of the stronger aspects of the Skullcandy EcoBuds, as the mics pick up a lot of background noise, making it difficult for the other side to listen to you during phone calls. Because of this, I found myself avoiding using them as a calling headset, since it became hard to understand each other – especially in noisy settings.
The EcoBuds, however, redeem themselves with a solid connection via Bluetooth 5.2, offering a reasonable range of up to 40 feet. There were no signal drops while I was testing them. The two earbuds connect quickly and easily; you just remove them from their case, which puts them in pairing mode, and the connection becomes seamless. It's regrettable that Skullcandy chose not to include Google Fast Pair, but it isn't a deal-breaker for me.
Skullcandy EcoBuds Review: Battery Life
The most controversial aspect of the Skullcandy EcoBuds is the battery solution. EcoBuds do come with a case, but it is just a dock without an internal battery. While it probably helps keep lithium battery use down in terms of environmental well-being, you are tied to a USB-C cable for recharging once the buds run out.
With a fully charged battery, the earbuds can typically be expected to deliver a good 6-7 hours of power, with most users having no trouble making it through a single day of moderate use. Skullcandy also offers a Rapid Charge feature, which is claimed to give you two hours of playtime with just 10 minutes of charge time. Still, a no-charging case can be a pain for those used to the freedom of charging while on the go.
Skullcandy EcoBuds Review: Are They Worth the Price?
The Skullcandy EcoBuds, with an MSRP of Rs 3,999 (currently retailing at Rs 2,499), are an interesting addition to the true wireless earbuds market. The attention to sustainability is a good move, given the ever-increasing problem of e-trash that the technology industry is facing. Recycled plastics and a non-charging battery case prove that Skullcandy is concerned about the long-term impact of electronic products on the environment.
Still, the trade-offs are probably too much for many users to ignore. The absence of a charging case, mediocre phone-call quality, and less than satisfactory performance in the high frequency renders the EcoBuds less competitive in comparison to similarly priced devices. Some true wireless earbuds like the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro and Realme Buds Air 6 deliver better sound, longer playing time, and stronger features at similar or slightly lower prices.
If you prioritise eco-friendliness over raw performance, you could go with the Skullcandy EcoBuds. For those looking for the best true wireless experience without compromising on either convenience or audio quality, there are better options available in the market.