Planning to get wireless earphone in India? Here’s All You Need to Know

Earphones are extremely personal gadgets. Be it travelling, working out, or even going to sleep – they’re always by our side. Getting a perfectly comfortable pair of earphones can massively improve our quality of life. On the other hand, getting the wrong pair can leave us with buyers’ remorse. Thankfully, the earphone accessories market never fails to surprise the average consumer. One of the latest and most striking refinements to earbuds has been the outright eradication of wires. ‘Truly wireless’ earphones are becoming the norm, and many shoppers are confused about buying them.

As of 2020, over 230 million units of truly wireless earphones have been sold across the world. These earphones depend on Bluetooth technology, not wires, to transmit audio. Since wired earphones have been in circulation for multiple decades, they still dominate the global earphone market. However, ever since Apple’s AirPods launched in 2016, wireless earphones have become extremely popular in most major economies of the world. Currently, the wireless earphones market is quite scattered. These devices vary on price and capabilities. Some manufacturers are focused on building better wireless earphones for audiophiles while others are focusing on wireless earphones that enhance athletic activities.

In India, the overall shipment of truly wireless earphones crossed the 10-million mark in 2020. Hence, consumers have plenty of wireless earphones to choose from. Since these Bluetooth-enabled earphones fit inside your sensitive ear canals, selecting safe, lightweight, and high-quality wireless earphones is a must. Here’s all that audiophiles need to know about these earphones.

Wireless Earphones with Adaptive Noise Cancelling Features are Better 

The active noise-cancelling (ANC) features that truly wireless earphones offer are in no way better than the ANC features offered by over the ear wired earphones. However, they’re getting there. Some of the latest truly wireless earphone models feature decent noise cancellation mechanisms. Of course, the better the ANC features, the more you’ll have to shell out for the Bluetooth earphones. 

If you can’t afford ANC-enabled wireless earphones, consider using fitted ear gels or dense padding to boost the passive noise cancellation capabilities of your wireless earphones. Those sound-sealing paddings will create a deadening effect in your ears and block out unwanted noises. Also, look for features like ‘enhanced rich bass’ or ‘8D audio support’ while shopping for wireless earphones. Those terms are different ways of stating ‘better audio quality than others!’

Sweat Resistance

Many consumers get wireless earphone in India with the intention of wearing them while travelling, working, etc. Users are well aware their Bluetooth earphones can get wet just by their sweat during these activities. But, they’re still unwilling to pay extra for waterproof or weather resistance features. The water-resistance of wireless earphones is measured by their IP ratings (Ingress Protection). IP ratings prove that the wireless earphone has been tested for moisture exposure and certified.

• A rating of IPX4 is the bare minimum for wireless earphones. This rating indicates that wireless earphones can experience mild exposure to moisture and not get damaged.
• Wireless earphones with ratings of IPX5 or IPX6 can withstand high amounts of water exposure without getting damaged. These earphones can be deemed ‘sweatproof.’
• An IPX7 rating is the best that the market currently has to offer. These earphones can resist sustained exposure to moisture water without getting damaged. They qualify as ‘waterproof.’

Unfortunately, most budget-level wireless earphones don’t offer such high IP ratings. Users who intend to use their wireless earphones near swimming pools or in other moisture-laden regions must check the products’ IP ratings first.

Battery Life

Battery life is an indispensable consideration for most buyers of wireless earphones. Usually, the best wireless earphones in the market offer a battery life of at least eight hours. The more these earphones are charged, the worse their batteries get in terms of run times. Unfortunately, that’s a common characteristic of most lithium batteries. Therefore, prolonging the endurance of the wireless earphones’ batteries is a responsibility that users have to undertake. Here’s a brief guide –

• Upon arrival, charge the wireless earphones for at least six hours as these devices are not fully charged when they leave the factory.
• Once the batter has been activated, use the earphones until it’s drained completely. From then on, it will need at least three hours of charging to achieve maximum capacity.
• Always drain the wireless earphones’ batteries. Don’t charge them unless the earphones display red indicator lights. Constantly recharging half-full lithium batteries impacts its long-term health.
• Users get to repeat these charging cycles for 300 to 500 times, depending on the quality of the earphones. That’s equivalent to two years of uninterrupted use.
• Avoid overcharging at all costs. The lithium battery inside these wireless earphones are very small in size and can expand when charged unnecessarily for long periods.
• Always keep an eye on the charging indicators of the earphones.
• On average, most modern-day wireless earphones last for six to eight hours.

To achieve long battery lives, users need to follow these basic charging instructions.