Developer: Sandberg
Publisher: Sandberg
Platform: Bluetooth devices that can play music
Bluetooth Earbuds + Powerbank – Hardware Review
It’s no secret that we’re always trying to try out new items, be it games, movies, series or hardware. We also try our best to present our readers with reviews of original items or brands, making sure that you’re able to join the pleasure we have of reviewing said items. When we saw Sandberg release a set of wireless earbuds, together with a powerbank, which serves as a docking/charging station for your earbuds, but also has the option to charge/power other devices, we couldn’t wait to try this combo out. So, without further ado, here is our opinion of Sandberg’s Bluetooth Earbuds + Powerbank.
Design
The earbuds look a bit like bullet shaped earbuds, be it with a more chromatic finish and a black plastic finish on the top. As they are without a cable, they only have a button on top, in order to pair with each other and with the Bluetooth device that serves as the music player. Overall things look quite simple, but still stylish enough.
On the other hand we have the powerbank, which looks quite spiffy as well. The powerbank itself is rather slim, has rounded edges, and two spaces to charge your earbuds. The charger is metallic and has a silver matte finish. When the earbuds are charging, the complete package is somewhat reminiscent to a tall slim pack of cigarettes or a small flask of hooch.
Comfort
Comfort wise, it all depends on if you take the powerbank with you, which takes a bit more storage space in your pocket or bag. Nonetheless, if you decide to leave it at home, it’s best to put the earbuds in a pouch, as it’s easy to lose an earbud if you’re not careful. Other than that, the earbuds feel a bit like normal earbuds when placed in your ears, but they have a less ‘molded’ shape, which means they can start to annoy if you have somewhat sensitive ears. Wired earphones often have a more adapted shape, following the curves of the inner ear to make them more comfortable. Of course, this proves to be harder to achieve when looking at a wireless device such as this one.
Specs
- Bluetooth 4.1
- Up to 10m wireless range
- Earphone battery: 50 mAh *2
- Playback time: 3 hours
- Talk time: 3 hours
- Standby time: 120 hours
- Recharge time: 1.5 hours
- Powerbank: Capacity: 2100 mAh
- Connectors: 1 x Micro USB female, 1 USB A female
- Charging time: 2-3 hours by AC adapter / 5-7 hours by PC
Overview
Hooking up the earbuds to your mobile device is fairly simple, but it didn’t always work without a hitch for us. First of all you’ll have to press the button on both earbuds simultaneously for several seconds until the small LED lights start to blink. Normally these earbuds should pair with one another, and then allow you to connect to the Bluetooth device of your choice. The earphones will also let you know which is the left and which is the right earpiece. From here on out things work the same as other Bluetooth devices, thus you’ll simply have to press play and you’re good to go.
In terms of sound quality, Sandberg’s wireless device does a fairly great job, given its wireless condition. The bass does sound a bit more ‘flat’, but for the most part the quality is decent and clear enough to properly enjoy your music whilst doing your day-to-day activities.
The powerbank itself is only 2100 mAh which means that it’s relatively small, but decent enough to charge your earbuds, or help you out when you’re in a pickle with your smartphone. This makes the overall package rather versatile, as you’re able to have a backup battery when you need it. It would have been nice if the powerbank packed slightly more juice instead of it being 2100 mAh. Perhaps this is something Sandberg could revise for a future edition of the package. That being said, the battery life of the earbuds is rather lengthy, as we used the earbuds for several weeks, albeit with intervals, and always putting them back in the powerbank. Its juice wasn’t drained immediately, so if you have the powerbank with you, you can spend several weeks without any hassle, at least if you don’t use the powerbank for heavy duty items such as your smartphone.
During several of our outdoor sessions we had minor interruptions where one of the earbuds would disconnect, or lose contact for a few seconds. Mostly these mishaps were easily and swiftly solved, but it still remains an issue with any type of Bluetooth device, making Sandberg’s device no exception to that rule.
Conclusion
Sandberg’s Bluetooth Earbuds + Powerbank are a great alternative if you don’t like the hassle of wires, you like some music when running, or simply want something a bit more fancy than the usual run of the mill. Of course there’s the somewhat steep price to consider, but the low duty powerbank is a nice extra that tends to soften the blow on your finances. If you’re looking for a wireless alternative for a wired headset or earphones, Sandberg has you covered, but in terms of power and sound quality, wired versions often tend to be slightly better if you’re browsing in a similar budget category, but then again you’d be sacrificing the mobility options this device offers you.
Bluetooth Earbuds + Powerbank - Hardware Review,
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