Guide to Buying Bluetooth Earbuds & Headphones 2023

There’s a lot to think about when you’re buying wireless earbuds or bluetooth headphones, with a bewildering array of tech to choose from. In this guide, we’ll take you through the considerations when purchasing earbuds for your action-packed holiday or sporting adventure, as well as looking at how to connect them with your device and recharge them.

What to consider when buying a set of earbuds or headphones.

Think about where you’ll use your headphones, what you’ll use them for and how long and how often you’ll use them. A secure and comfortable fit is important, especially when you're on an active holiday scrambling up mountains or playing sports. Choose between stem and bud style earbuds to get the right fit for you. Battery life and charging options are also crucial – you don’t want to be running out of charge halfway through a song or call.

If you’re using them in a noisy environment such as a plane or at a sports match, look for Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC). This cuts out background noise to make your voice clearer, making it easier to call home from the stadium. You'll find it in our SoundForm Motion True Wireless Earbuds. Also look out for ANC, which cuts out the noise you can hear so you can listen at a lower volume and protect your hearing. Multipoint technology is also great for editing travel vlogs, as you can connect to your phone and computer at the same time to transfer and view video footage with ease.

How to connect wireless earbuds.

Wherever the adventure takes you, a reliable connection is vital when pairing your bluetooth earbuds with one of your devices. To connect them, open the case and ensure the earbuds are in pairing mode. Open the bluetooth settings on your device and search for the name of your product. Select it and it will pair automatically – simple! Once paired, all you need to do from now on is open the case and it will connect to your device by itself.

Are wireless earbuds and headphones safe?

In-ear headphones are safe to use, but it’s important to limit your exposure to loud noises to prevent long-term hearing loss. To help with this, many mobile devices monitor the volume you’re listening at and can warn you if you’re at risk. Children’s hearing is particularly vulnerable, so all our kids’ headphones are limited to a maximum of 85dB to keep them safe. Our adults’ headphones are limited to 98db.

It’s also safe to use earbuds outdoors, making them a great choice whether you're on the hiking trail or heading to a big sporting event. All our earbuds have a minimum IPx4 rating, which means you can take them on your travels come rain or shine without damaging them.

How to charge wireless earbuds.

Battery life is important when you’re out and about and listening to your earbuds all day long - you need tunes right to the end of the trail. Even our SoundForm Bolt Wireless Earbuds, which give you 8 hours of listening, still need recharging eventually, but it couldn't be simpler: just put them into their case and away they go for an additional 20 hours listening time. To recharge the case, plug it in using the cable included. Our higher-end models boast wireless Qi charging, letting you place the case on a wireless charging pad to top up the power.

How to prevent wireless earbuds from falling out.

A comfortable, secure fit is a must with earbuds, as this helps stop them falling out – particularly important when you’re on the move and don’t want to lose them on a mountainside or in a packed stadium. All our earbuds come with different sized eartips to suit different ear canal sizes, helping you get the perfect fit – great when you’re running or doing a workout. Starting with the smallest, insert the earbud into your ear and give it a little wiggle. If it feels loose, try the next size up until you find the most comfortable set.