Cheap alternatives to AirPods for back to school 2021

Back to school is approaching, and it's time to think about your audio equipment. Here's a selection to help you choose, with earphones and headphones that deliver the best audio experience from your mobile devices at an affordable price.

Tribit Flybuds NC, for isolation

These headphones allow you to activate and deactivate noise reduction, or activate ambient sound. Sound quality is good across the range, and the headphones pick up muted bass well. Double tap to play and pause music or answer a call, triple tap to navigate tracks, and tap and hold to reject incoming calls.

There's no way to adjust the volume on the headphones, which is a shame. These headphones are IPX4 rated so they are sweat and water resistant. You can get up to eight hours of playtime with active noise canceling turned on, and the case charges the earphones twice more before they need to be recharged. These are excellent quality earbuds for the price (around $50), although the lack of volume controls on the earbuds themselves might be a turn off for some.

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Go to the Tribit website

Tribit Flybuds C1, for bass

The Tribit Flybuds C1 come with six sets of ear tips for the most comfortable feel. Unlike the Flybuds NC, you can change the volume of these headphones by pressing and holding the headphones while music is playing. Touch an earbud to play or pause music, or double-tap to navigate tracks or reject a call. Triple click to activate the voice assistant. Pairing is quick and simple, with a voice prompt indicating when connection is made.

The sound is clear across the range, with little distortion in the mid and high ranges, and the bass is good for headphones. The headphones can be pushed all the way in, resulting in very loud sound with little distortion. The build quality is good for these headphones and the sound quality is reflected in the price.

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Go to Amazon

Soul Emotion Max headphones, for comfort and sound quality

If headphones aren't your thing, try the new Soul Emotion Max headphones. Use the slider to enable or disable the active noise reduction system, and double-tap the power button to enable or disable transparency modes. If you prefer, you can even replace the protein leather pads with the breathable mesh pads that come in the box. Battery life is also excellent – ​​with up to 24 hours of battery life on a full charge, if the ANC system is activated.

Press the power button once to play and pause music, or press twice to enter transparency mode. Use the power button to answer, reject, and toggle calls by pressing it once, twice, or three times. Sound across the range is excellent, with rich, deep bass and clear mids. The upper ranges are not dull, and the sound is strong. If you like the comfort of headphones and are willing to pay a little more for sound quality, then these headphones are definitely worth it.

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Go to the Soulnation website

How do you know which device is the most comfortable?

When choosing headphones, choose the style of headphones that will work best for you. Some short-stem headphones have to be twisted to stay in the ear, while longer ones hang in the ear. Be sure to choose the right size eartips to avoid putting pressure on your ears.

Are IPs important?

If you do a lot of sports, or if you live in a humid place for example, it is better to choose a set of headphones with a minimum IPX4 rating. Some headphones are waterproof and won't suffer if they get splashed in the rain or if you wear them in the shower. Check that the headphones are suitable for the task you want to give them.

What is the best choice between in-ear and over-ear?

It's a matter of personal choice. Some are desperate for portability, even if it means compromising on sound quality. Some prefer in-ear headphones, which offer richer sound and less disturbance from ambient noise. But if you have trouble putting objects in your ear, or experience discomfort, over-ear headphones should be your first choice.

Which headphones are right for you?

Finding the perfect headphones is all about knowing which form factor will be the most comfortable for you to wear all day. Is it painful when you wear your headphones for several hours in a row? Is waterproof design important to you? Do you need extended battery life, so you can keep your headphones in your ears for hours at a time? Or does sound quality come first?

Also consider the following points:

Source: ZDNet.com