Ever since Apple introduced the AirPods, several other companies as well have been getting onto the “true wireless” boat. True wireless earphones offer a far way better experience than the irksome wire earphones.

Although buying these devices is pretty similar to buying other earpieces, there are few additional factors that you need to keep in mind when picking out a pair of true wireless earphones.

Below mentioned are the six points you should consider when you’re looking to buy true wireless earphones such as Airpods, or those from other brands like Bose, Jabra, Samsung, and others.

1. Design

There are plenty of different designs available right now in the market, which doesn’t just impact the look, but also how these earbuds fit in your ears.

The iconic Airpods look a lot like the normal Apple headphones. Wireless earbuds from the likes of Bose, Sennheiser, Sony, and Samsung look like bullet points or dots.

Then there are the more affordable truly wireless earphones from Skullcandy, Toreto, Stuffcool, and Boat that come in funky shapes and sizes.

Some, like AirPods, take a one-size fit all approach, while others come with replaceable tips for a better fit; or with wings to sit more securely in your ear, or a hinge to hook them around the ear.

Aside from aesthetics, when you’re looking at the design, you need to consider the comfort, fit, and if they are water resistant.

2. Stability

While stability is one of the considerations we need to keep in mind when looking at the design, with a fully wireless earbud, it’s important enough to be considered as a fresh point. That’s because if one of these falls out of your ear, it won’t just dangle at the end of a cord, it could potentially be lost forever.

All these earbuds tend to fall out, no matter how stable they are. Some will fall out more easily than others, but each of them will fall out at some point in time.

Therefore make sure you try out the earbuds before you buy them, and ensure that they are at least steady enough for day to day use in your ears, because one-size does not fit all, and if you lose even one of the buds, the experience goes for a toss.

3. Connectivity

You need to check how easy it is to pair the earphones with your phones, and also, how easy it is to switch them on and off. If you’re buying a pair of truly wireless earphones, make sure that they have a simple and reliable process to connect to your phone.

4. Battery and Charging

Truly wireless earphones may look and feel all hep and trendy but that small form factor means that the batteries inside them are smaller, eating away crucial audio hours. Most of these buds can last up to 3-5 hours on a single charge.

Most wireless earphones may be without any wires when it comes to the buds and but they still get charged through wired chargers. Apple’s second-generation AirPods are one of the few that actually come with a wireless charging case if you are willing to pay extra.

5. Ease of Use

They might have a few connectivity blues and their battery life might not always be there greatest. What can be really bothersome in most true wireless earphones are the controls, be it for charging column, skipping tracks or making and rejecting calls. Most earbuds come with teeny-tiny buttons that are almost impossible to press and operate and the placement of these buttons generally is another problem.

The buds themselves are so small that finding buttons on them becomes a headache in itself. The control systems are not quite perfect yet, so try out a few different ones to see what works for you.

6. Carry Case

When it comes to truly wireless earbuds, their carrying case if often crucial to the buds’ existence. This is because most carry cases of truly wireless earphones are not only the home to the buds when not in use, but also double up as their charger.

That’s not true for some low-end ones, but in that situation too, it might be a good idea to invest in one simply so you don’t risk misplacing them. If the earphones come with a case, you should also look at the size and weight of the case, to see if the total experience is actually as portable and convenient as the earphones promised.

By Sowmya Sangam