Microsoft Surface Earbuds Wireless Headset Review (2020)

After a bit of delay, Microsoft's true wireless headphones are finally available. Our full Review of Surface Earbuds and our impressions of these new headphones.

Presented by surprise in October 2019 alongside the Surface Headphones, the new Microsoft Surface Earbuds wireless headphones are, after delays, finally available for sale. This delay, combined with the release of competing products, prompted the American multinational to revise its price, initially higher, to lower. Wanting to compete with Apple AirPods, these new true wireless headphones from the Redmond company are quite innovative and deserved a full Review. Here are our impressions of these powerful and surprising headphones that we tested for a week.

Robust and amazing wireless headphones

Visually, the Microsoft Surface Earbuds stand out from the competition with a more imposing and original appearance. Very comfortable, however they give the impression of being heavier than Apple AirPods. Despite their size, they fit very well in the ear without inserting themselves too deeply to create the joint in the ear canal. Three ear tips are supplied, small, medium and large, to adjust to all ear sizes. They are rated IPX4 water resistant, which means they can withstand splashes from any direction and protect against sweat even if they are not fitness headphones. We were really surprised at the great comfort they offer.

Their size, however, gives the impression, for those who look that those who wear Microsoft earphones, that they have an ear spreader plug. It is immediately noted that this is a robust product using sturdy materials. The storage case is also quite large. This aspect can be a problem in the pocket, because it occupies a lot of space. Small disappointment, the case does not offer wireless charging. In the end, an original design that we love or hate. These headphones will not suit everyone, but have the advantage of being very robust. Note however that the case can be scratched quite easily with keys in particular. Be careful when you put them in your pocket.

Very comfortable bluetooth earphones

Despite their large size, Microsoft Surface Earbuds are extremely comfortable to wear even for sessions lasting several hours. No discomfort or in-ear pressure. They are quite easy to dislodge which does not make them ideal companions for sport or restless activities. Note that the headphones do not completely cover the ears. A small twist, however, allows the silicone to be more waterproof, but generally you will hear the surrounding noise.

The audio from Surface Earbuds is very good

Sound side, the result is very good and very balanced. The lack of tightness loses a bit of bass, but overall, the sound is very complete and immersive. If however bass is essential for you then other products are more suitable. You can customize the headphone equalizer through the Surface Audio app. Microsoft has also set the headphones to not exceed 108 decibels at the highest volume level, to protect users' ears from permanent damage. Trust us, you don't even need all these decibels to muffle an ambient din.

The headphones are controlled via the flat surface of the headphones. By pressing twice, you pause the music or resume listening. By sliding your finger across the headphones, you can change tracks or skip a song or go back. The volume control is done by moving your finger either from top to bottom or from bottom to top depending on whether you want to lower or increase the volume. Holding the button down opens the Siri Personal Assistant or the Google Assistant. A little learning and adaptation time is necessary to fully understand the operation which is not as intuitive as we think.

Impressive battery life for Microsoft wireless headphones

The big surprise comes from the battery life of Microsoft Surface Earbuds. They actually offer 8 hours of non-stop listening before needing to recharge the batteries. Much more so than the 5 hours offered by its competitor to the apple which is only 5 hours. The case offers the equivalent of 2 additional recharges for a total of 24 hours. Charging Surface Buds for 10 minutes gives you another hour of battery life.

Note that if you leave your headphones inactive, they will turn off automatically to save battery. You can monitoring the percentage of battery remaining for each headset, but, oddly enough, Microsoft provides no way to check the remaining charge of the case. You will only know that it needs a recharge when the only LED inside turns red, but that's it.

Microsoft Surface Earbuds: cool features

Microsoft forces, Surface Earbuds can help you be more productive with Office 365 apps. You can dictate text in applications like Word and Outlook. And, if your dream has always been to control PowerPoint slideshows by operating an earpiece, this is your time. In reality, however, these Office 365 tips are not unique to Surface headphones. Chances are you can do dictation and caption translations in real time with competitive headphones.

What is more disappointing for professional life is that Surface headphones cannot pair with two devices simultaneously, such as your phone and laptop. This is doubly frustrating, since Surface headphones are capable of doing just that, but Microsoft hasn't brought the same multipoint functionality here. The microphones inside the Surface earphones, two on each earpiece, provide at least excellent clarity for these Office features and I would put them shoulder to shoulder with the AirPods among the best earphones for making calls or video conferences. Note that the coupling is very easy with the Microsoft environment.

Conclusion: our opinion on Microsoft Surface Earbuds

Microsoft Surface Earbuds offer excellent sound at first listen and are better for office and outdoor environments, like the streets of the city. It is a quality product, resistant and very comfortable. They offer interesting features. Their large autonomy is perfect for a full day. The interaction they offer with the Microsoft 365 environment is a very interesting addition.

We regret, however, their lack of discretion and the fact that they are therefore not suitable for everyone. They are also not designed for sports activities. Despite these small flaws and the fact that we find them a bit expensive (219.99 euros on the Microsoft site), this is a very good product that competes with the AirPods while differentiating them. True wireless headphones are available for purchase now. These Microsoft Surface Earbuds well deserve their place in our comparison of wireless headphones.

Buy Microsoft Surface Earbuds at the Best Price

MOST

• (+) Excellent fit and very comfortable

• (+) Impressive audio performance

• (+) Easy touch controls

• (+) Excellent battery life

• (+) A powerful microphone

THE LESSERS

• (-) A little big and showy

• (-) A style that does not suit everyone

• (-) Not as portable as its competitors

• (-) A little expensive

• (-) No wireless charging on the housing

AB SMART HEALTH REVIEW

The post Microsoft Surface Earbuds Wireless Headset Review (2020) appeared first on Smart Be Well.