From sound quality to battery life, there are many criteria to consider when deciding to purchase a pair of wireless headphones.
Since Apple removed the headphone cord from the iPhone 7 in 2016, the market for wireless headphones has exploded — causing phone makers like Google and Samsung to follow suit.
Since headphones are something we all tend to use on a daily basis, whether it’s while working out in the gym or while working from your home desk, it’s worth taking some time to decide on the pair of headphones that best suits your needs. To help you out, here are a few things to consider before buying your next pair of wireless headphones.
It is important to have access to controls and how the headphones pair with other devices
For wired headphones, the controls are often located inside the buttons along the wire. However, since wireless headphones do not have this option, the basic controls are usually located on the earbuds themselves. These controls may come in the form of traditional buttons, while others use touch controls or voice commands.
Although button setting is sometimes determined more by style than function, it’s still important to consider the accessibility of these controls. For example, if the controls on a pair of wireless headphones can be difficult to find quickly, they may not be suitable for gym-goers who want to quickly change to the next track or song in their audio playlist.
Another feature to consider is how the headphones integrate with other devices. Most wireless headphones use Bluetooth technology to combine with your phone or an external speaker. However, there are some that use the NFC function to speed up the integration process.
The battery life of at least 3 hours is perfect for everyday use
Looking at how long the battery lasts and how easy it is to charge are important elements to consider when looking to purchase a pair of wireless headphones. Most wireless headphones offer a few hours of battery life on a full charge, which is fine for everyday use. If you’re someone who knows they need a pair that will last all day, it’s important to keep this in mind when looking at different headphones.
True wireless earphones often come with their own charging case, which helps keep the headphones charged throughout the day. Since there is no direct wire connection, wireless headphones must be charged to use them – which is why battery life is one of the most important things to consider.
Consider the sound quality of headphones between different brands
Before you commit to a pair of wireless headphones, take your time to think about the sound quality. The sound quality you receive on a pair of Bluetooth headphones will depend on the type of audio codec they use. A codec is the piece of software that defines how Bluetooth is transmitted from a source, such as your smartphone, to your headphones. It is responsible for encoding and decoding digital audio data in a specific format and both the audio player and headphones need to support it.
Simply put, early versions of Bluetooth were never meant to transmit high quality audio, which meant that audio was heavily compressed. These days, many wireless headphones are equipped with aptX technology. And aptX technology ensures you get the most out of your sound. It is a proven technology that compresses and decompresses audio as it is transmitted over Bluetooth from source to receiver, without degrading the sound quality.
Try to find out which codecs your favorite wireless headphones support. For example, the majority of Android devices launched in the past two years support aptX and most other Bluetooth audio codecs, while Apple on the other hand does not support this codec on iPhone or iPad. Instead, Apple devices only support SBC and AAC – an enhanced version of SBC.
Wireless headphones should be comfortable and fit
Both form factor and size are two areas that most people tend to focus on when looking to purchase a pair of wireless headphones, and with good reason too. It’s just as important to consider the functional attributes of a pair of headphones as you end up using them on a daily basis, so they need to be comfortable and fit.
Wireless headphones come in three different styles: over-ear, on-ear, and in-ear. Both over-the-ear and on-ear headphones look and function just like their wired counterparts. On-ear headphones sit over the ears but do not completely encircle them. Whereas, over-the-ear headphones completely surround the ear. Although they can be seen as big and fancy, over-ear headphones allow for better sound quality, but they may not be as comfortable or portable.
“Earphones” as known are the most common type of headphones on the market today. In-ear headphones are very portable with small tips and insert into the ear canal. This mode creates an almost “cut off” separation from the outside world, by canceling out any ambient noise. Battery life is usually shorter, but these headphones come with a charging case that increases usage time.
Understanding the general differences between these types of headphones is an important step when it comes to shopping for them.
Higher quality headphones come at a higher price
As with any purchase, the cost of a pair of wireless headphones can be the ultimate deciding factor. Compared to wired headphones, wireless headphones are more expensive. However, this does not mean that you have to empty your entire wallet in order to purchase a decent pair of quality headphones. Premium headphones or certain brands come at a premium price. It all depends on what you want to use your headphones for. For example, if you’re looking for a pair of headphones for a professional music project, it might be worth considering a pair of wireless headphones with advanced features and a more affordable price tag.
There are plenty of high-quality, affordable headphones on the market that offer multiple features to help you get the most out of your sound. It is just important that you take the time to consider what it is for and what features it must have to suit your needs.
Don’t forget to shop for your new wireless headset using Black Friday Hot Deal discount codes, which provide additional discounts on many stores, including stores that sell wireless headphones.