I’ve had my eyes of Bluetooth headphones for awhile now. I wanted a pair like the Jaybirds X3, or the Powerbeats3, or even the BeatsX. The problem I always had is how much the headphones were. The Jaybirds often went on sale but still cost upwards of a $130. The Powerbeats3 are around the same price, but I hated how ugly and bulky the earbuds were. The BeatsX offered the W1 chip but had the neck band which I find annoying and ugly. Then there’s the knock off BeatsX, Powerbeats3 and Jaybirds X3’s on Amazon.
I was left with a choice between the Jaybirds headphones or hundreds of knock off versions on Amazon. The knockoffs range in price but hover around $30 to $40. I felt uneasy buying a $30 pair of Bluetooth headphones for a couple of reasons; one they wouldn’t sound good and two they would likely be poorly made. When I saw the Anker Soundbuds Slim Bluetooth earbuds on Amazon, I knew I wanted a pair. Anker is best known for their portable batteries and high quality charging cables, but I trusted the company. I took a gamble on the Anker Soundbuds Slim headphones that only cost $25. I believe it’s the best $25 I’ve spent on headphones – here’s why!
My Experience
I’m beyond surprised at how well made and how long the battery last on the Soundbuds Slim. I know Anker is a battery company, but I didn’t expect them to make the quality of headphones I’d expect from a company solely focusing on Bluetooth headphones. I’m no audiophile, nor do I notice the difference in sound quality from most headphones, I can tell the difference between a pair of crappy $10 headphones and a pair of $50 or $60 decent headphones. The sound quality, noise cancellation, and fit, sit in my ear felt like I’d bought a pair of headphones that cost $60 or $70 and not $25.
The Bluetooth connection stayed consistent without and skipping in almost all of the cases. I used the headphones for working out, cutting the grass, to doing a podcast. I never had a serious issue with Bluetooth, something I’ve experienced with other headphones before. The magnetic earbud backs let you loop the headphones around your neck, and not worry about them falling off. I did notice the magnets weren’t as strong as I’d like, which caused the headphones sometimes to fall off. I only experienced that if I was moving around or had something bumping against me. The default earbuds had wings which are meant to help the earbuds stay in your ear. I’ve never been a fan of winged earbuds, but the Soundbuds Slim needed them to help the headphones from always falling out. There were other earbud pieces without the wings, but they weren’t as effective in keeping the earbuds in my ear.
Price
One of the biggest selling points for the Soundbuds Slim is the price. $25 for a pair of headphones isn’t much; it’s about the same price you’d pay for Apple wired headphones. I trust Anker for my portable batteries, charging cables, and now for headphones. The other Bluetooth headphone knock offs priced similarly but the risk of getting a set of poor quality headphones. Many of the other headphones are made by no name brands, or priced so low they seem too good to be true.
Hands down the price you pay are well worth the headphones, considering you’re getting 7 hours of battery life, decent sound quality, and standard noise cancellation. There are other earbud pieces in the box to ensure the earbuds stay in your ear. It’s all the same gear and experience you’d get from the $130 Jaybirds.
TL;DR
For $25 you’re going to get a decent pair of Bluetooth headphones with relatively good sound quality and long battery life. They’re not the same quality as the Jaybirds Freedom or X3s, but they’re close. You’ll get close to 7 hours of music playback, there are multiple earbuds to fit any size ear, and the Bluetooth signal is strong and consistent. If you’re on a budget or prone to breaking and losing your headphones, you’ll want to choose the Anker Soundbuds Slim over more expensive options.
Let me know what you think! Do you think the Anker Bluetooth headphones are worth it, or would you rather pay the price for the Beats or Jaybirds?