- Soundpeats launches Air6 HS
- The new earphones have AirPods 4 or Galaxy Buds without the pointed “open-fit” design
- Solid specs (including 13mm drivers) and a low price make them tempting
Most owners of the best earphones have (rightfully so) switched to models with ear tips, which offer a more stable fit, noise reduction and a sealed sound. But some prefer to ditch the tip.
Join AirPods 4 and Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 in “you don’t want your earbuds to reach halfway to your brain, do you?” camp is a new option from budget audio company SoundPeats, catchily called the Air6 HS.
Soundpeat’s Air6 HS cost $39.99 (about £30, AU$60), so they’re cheap options too – which is what the company is known for. But there are a few reasons why these new buds might outbid the non-ANC-enhanced AirPods 4 ($129 / £129 / AU$219) or the flagship and ANC-toting Galaxy Buds 4 ($179 / £159 / AU$299) for buyers. They are out now and you can buy them from Amazon.
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Now, before you dismiss these as some cheap and cheerful but unusual options, we’ve been impressed with the brand before. The company’s Soundpeats H3 were great affordable earphones, and I was also happy with the SoundPeats Cove Pro over-ears I tested recently. What I am saying is that this is a brand worth paying attention to.
Budget buds with solid specifications
Besides being cheaper, there are a few ways Soundpeats beats Samsung and Apple’s alternatives.
Take the battery life: the Air6 HS lasts for 9 hours of listening, with the case pushing up to 45 hours. Move over Apple (5/30) and Samsung (6/30, though these buds have noise reduction, which the others don’t).
The driver for the Soundpeats is 13mm, which means it should offer louder sound than the 11mm on the Samsung. Apple doesn’t publish its driver sizes, though it’s unlikely to be 13mm or more. Remember, higher volume does not mean better audio interruptions.
Air6 HS weighs 4g, which is 0.3g lighter than AirPods and 0.6g lighter than Galaxy Buds. Admittedly, that margin isn’t huge, but it’s still points in favor of Soundpeats.
With Bluetooth 6.0, the new buds also beat the AirPods 4’s Bluetooth 5.3, although they fall slightly behind the Bluetooth 6.1 of the Galaxy Buds 4. This higher standard will likely result in a slightly more stable connection, which is useful for avoiding dropouts.
I’m being a bit facetious in calling these true AirPods rivals if the price didn’t give it away.
Soundpeats specializes in budget audio, so I don’t expect them to sound as good as Apple’s versions or offer as many features (although they will work on Android).
But if you’re looking for earphones with a similar design and longer battery life, but still don’t break the bank, these might really be better than AirPods for you.
The best wireless earphones for all budgets
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