I still remember the first time I plugged in my Apple AirPods on a long-haul flight. It was moments after the seatbelt sign went off and then one sound after the other started to get the better of Imagine Dragons even as I pumped up the volume. If there’s one thing I have learnt there’s no better place to test a pair of Bluetooth headphones than on a long flight. Whether it is battery life or noise cancellation that can shut out engine sound or a noisy fellow passenger.
It is fair to say that Apple’s AirPods were the catalyst for the Bluetooth headset category. Back in 2016 Apple’s decision to omit a 3.5 mm headphone socket from the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus sparked a wave of displeasure and memes. Apple’s AirPods were the target for most of these memes but eventually AirPods started becoming commonplace.
Over the last few months, Sony and Bose have both unveiled their AirPods alternatives; the battle for the compact, in-ear headphones has truly begun. If you are a serious audiophile, you might prefer Sony or Bose’s over-the-ear wireless headphones but they can’t slip into your pocket the way these tiny headphones do. We pit these three ultra-light headphones in an evenly matched shootout.
Form:
Apple’s design aesthetics come to the fore in the AirPods. The dental-floss type case is incredibly compact and can slip into your tightest jeans along with your smartphone in the same pocket. The headphones itself are elegant, remarkably similar to Apple’s EarPods (wired headphones with the lightning connector) but there’s one catch. There’s only one size, while they sit comfortably in most people’s ears, you could be that rare exception. Sony’s WF-1000x are nicely designed; the box is compact and the phones are equipped with interchangeable earbuds that should suit most people. It’s the same with the Bose SoundSport that don’t just come with swappable earbuds but also sit more securely than the other two headphones. The carrying case looks quite futuristic but is slightly bulky in comparison.
Connectivity:
It is the one thing that Apple users love about their AirPods. It pairs with your iPhone in a flash – no need to pair through an app or hunt for your AirPods through the Bluetooth Settings Menu. It’s the same each time after you first pair your AirPods. It is this and other small touches – the music stops when you remove one of your headphones and you can program your AirPods to flip tracks or activate Siri with a series of taps. While they work best with iOS devices, the AirPods can also talk to Android smartphones. Both Bose and Sony (Headphone Connect) have companion Apps that ensure your headphones connect effortlessly and also allow you to tweak sound settings. We also like the ‘Find my Buds’ feature on the Bose Connect App that allows you to trace the last location of your SoundSport Ear buds.
Sound:
Bose and Sony leave the AirPods in the shade in the sound department. Bose delivers incredible sound quality with deep bass. We sampled a mix from lounge to heavy metal and the results were quite impressive for a diminutive pair of ear buds. The Sony WF-1000x scores with its noise cancellation abilities. Although Bose might have an edge with superior sound quality, noise cancellation is a handy feature to have whether you are trying to cancel out the sound of a wailing infant on a flight or street sounds during a run.
Battery life:
The AirPods win this round hands down. Apple claims 24-hours of battery life for the case and about 5 hours for the headphones each time you charge them in the case. This is clearly the pair of headphones you need on a never-ending flight or commute. Sony struggles in comparison, managing about 3 hours of battery life each time you dip them in the case. The case offers an additional six hours of battery life. Bose does better managing about 5 hours on each charge with the case offering an additional 10 hours of battery back-up.
Bottom line:
There is clearly no winner in this slugfest; none of these devices come cheap. The AirPods at Rs 13,990 score with their design aesthetics, simplicity and incredible battery life. The Bose SoundSport Ear buds at Rs 18,990 deliver the best sound while the Sony WF-1000x headphones at Rs 14,990 make a strong case with their noise cancellation coupled with great sound.
