[rwp-review id=”0″]
Aukey is known for a lot of things, mostly chargers. Plenty and plenty of different chargers. Man, do they have a lot of chargers…
In case you haven’t heard of Aukey, the brand is very alive online, selling loads of products via Amazon, and proving very popular in North America. They’ve also expanded their business into speakers, headsets, and even computer peripherals.
The question this review aims to answer is: is it worth buying these Bluetooth earphones and shipping them over to the UAE/Gulf?
Let’s be realistic, a decent pair of Bluetooth earphones will run you anywhere between AED350-600, and we’re talking just basic earphones with a mic. More so, these will likely be used either while you’re working out at the gym, or going for a run (also at the gym, ‘cause you know, summer). So do you really want to spend enough money to feed a poor nation on a set of plugs?
This is where Aukey comes in, aiming to provide above par quality at a much lower price. How much do these earphones cost? About six times less than what you’d expect to pay for a Bluetooth headset offering aptX technology – just under AED 100.
In brief, aptX® audio technology compresses and transmits audio files in real-time with lossless output for the purest audio performance. Advanced active noise reduction algorithms remove ambient noise to ensure an optimal listening experience. Unfortunately, this only works on Android phones, as iPhones have not implemented aptX.
In terms of technology, that’s really the meat of it. It’s got Bluetooth 4.1, so yes it’s fully wireless and the range is about 10 meters. Talk time is rated for 4.5 hours and standby time at around 175 hours. The earphones are sweat-proof, light weight and have an ergonomic design for enhanced comfort. It also comes with interchangeable earbuds and ear hooks for secure and personal fit when walking or exercising.
Build quality, for the price you’re paying, is definitely above par. The cable is tangle proof, thick and feels very secure and high quality, so you needn’t worry about tearing it anytime soon.
Formalities out of the way, how do they actually perform?
Well, I’ve been using these for about two weeks now, and honestly, they are worth the very small investment.
Over the usage period, I never once had crackling sound or cutting out when it came to playing music. The quality was virtually as good as a wired set of the same price range (we’re not comparing these to Bose or Klipsch, but they are definitely better than any Beats headphones you can buy). Given my choice in music (Five Finger Death Punch, check them out here), I can only judge the quality based on this genre. Instrument separation was great, so you can really tell apart the different segmentation of each song, getting distinctive tones from guitar, bass, drums and vocals. The lows are weighty and the treble is not too high. Most importantly, the bass isn’t overstated, so you don’t get distortion that overshadows everything.
Jogging or running was comfortable with them as they are relatively lightweight, but the struggle is finding the perfect ear piece and hook that fit your ears. There’s a wide range of options, but it’s a matter of trial and error and it may take some time. Having something too small or too large means the buds will keep falling out when running, but walking or moderate jogging won’t be jarring enough to fall out. Yes, they could have used ear hooks like many of the other brands out there, but really, given the weight of these, it wouldn’t make sense.
The microphone is built into the right earbud, and although it’s OK, it’s not the best. You can hold a conversation, but expect the party at the other end of the line to be less than impressed with sound quality. On/off and volume controls are also on the right earbud, and are very responsive. The volume can get quite loud, and with the noise isolation you don’t have to worry about your neighbor’s terrible choice in music (I’m looking at you, Justin Bieber fans). The left earbud houses just the charging port, but be weary of the cover as it does feel flimsy, although it is secure when closed
Should you buy one and spend the AED 100 + shipping? I’d say so, yes. You’re still coming in at less than half of what would be considered mediocre Bluetooth earphones in the market, but you’re getting so much bang for your buck, it would be silly to opt for a local option, especially if you’re on a budget.
You can find the Aukey EP-B4 here.
