Microsoft Surface Earbuds Truly Wireless Headphone [Review]

For the most part, the Microsoft Surface Earbuds are disappointing genuinely wireless headphones. While some people prefer earbuds that don’t go as deep into the ear canal as most typical in-ear headphones, they’re only somewhat comfortable and block almost no background noise. Their 5.8-hour battery life is somewhat less than Microsoft’s claim of 8, but the case charges the headphones in little over half an hour, which is fantastic. Their sound is adaptable to a wide range of genres, however it lacks a lot of bottom and brightness. On the plus side, their companion app has a graphic EQ and presets that let you to tailor the way they sound.

Style

The Microsoft Surface Earbuds include a huge, circular touch-sensitive surface on each earbud, which makes them stand out. Unfortunately, the earphones and case are both finished in a glossy white finish that is easily fingerprinted.

Comfort

The Microsoft Surface Earbuds are reasonable in terms of comfort. While some people prefer earbuds that don’t go as deep into the ear canal as in-ear headphones, they can induce tiredness and soreness after long periods of listening.

Controls

The Microsoft Surface Earbuds have adequate controls. The huge touch-sensitive surfaces are simple to swipe, but they are touchy, and large swipes frequently cause the headphones to move in your ear. While we haven’t tested it, you can use the headphones to manage your PowerPoint presentations when connected to a PC, which can be useful.

Portability

These headphones are extremely lightweight. When not in their case, each earbud has a powerful magnet that keeps them together.

Case

The Microsoft Surface Earbuds have a good case. It looks less premium than some other options, such as the Apple AirPods 2 Truly Wireless 2019. It feels like it’s constructed of premium plastic, but it looks less premium than some other options, such being the Apple AirPods 2 Truly Wireless 2019.

Build Quality

The Microsoft Surface Earbuds appear to be well-made and robust. The shell and earbuds are composed of high-quality plastic that should be able to endure a few knocks and drops. They’re labelled IPX4 for basic water resistance, although we didn’t test this.

Stability

These headphones have a good amount of stability. Because of their earbud design, they fit people differently, and the level of fit you can get determines how stable they feel. Most people should be able to run and jog with them, but they will most certainly slide out with more strenuous movements and workouts.

Sound Profile

Due to their earbud design, these headphones have a sound profile that is quite similar to the Apple AirPods 2 Truly Wireless 2019 and lack a lot of low-bass. Overall, they’re well-balanced and should work with a wide range of genres and content, though bassheads may be disappointed by the lack of thud. It’s worth noting that while their sound is uneven across users, our results are an average, and your experience with them may differ.

Bass Accuracy

These headphones have poor bass accuracy. They lack a lot of low-bass and don’t produce much thump or rumble due to their earbud configuration. On the plus side, they have a little more mid-bass, which gives them a little more punch and body. It’s worth noting that our results are an average because to the inconsistent fit across users, and your experience may differ.

Mid Accuracy

These headphones have excellent mid-accuracy. Almost the entire range is precise and consistent, giving in crisp instruments and vocals that are neither honky nor harsh.

Treble Accuracy

These headphones have a poor treble accuracy. Because the majority of the spectrum is recessed, vocalists and some instruments sound dull, lispy, and lack definition.

Peaks/Dips

The performance of these headphones in terms of peaks and dips is only mediocre. The low-bass is recessed, resulting in minimal thump and rumbling, but the high-bass is over-emphasized, making some music seem boomy or muddy. In the treble range, there are a few significant peaks that may cause some frequencies to seem sharp and piercing, while others may be rather dull.

Imaging

The Microsoft Surface Earbuds have good imagery. The GD graph demonstrates that the majority of the group delay response is audible, resulting in transparent treble and fairly tight bass reproduction. Our unit’s L/R drivers are likewise quite well-matched, and while there is a little difference between the two, it’s unlikely that most people will notice it. These findings apply just to our unit; yours may function differently.

Passive Soundstage

These headphones, like most other earbuds and in-ears, offer a mediocre passive soundstage. They skip the pinna and do not engage with it due to their shape. They sound more open and expansive than standard closed-back in-ears due to their open fit, which is similar to Apple AirPods.

Noise Isolation

The Microsoft Surface Earbuds have a poor noise isolation performance. They block almost no background noise thanks to their open, earphone design.

Leakage

Surprisingly little audio leaks from the Microsoft Surface Earbuds. Despite their earbud design, high-volume music listening falls below the noise floor of a normal office, so people around shouldn’t hear what you’re listening to.

Recording Quality

The microphone’s recording quality is unsatisfactory. When you speak on the phone, your voice is weak and muffled.

Noise Handling

The microphone’s noise management is adequate. In relatively loud circumstances, the person you’re speaking to should be able to hear you, but in louder environments, your voice will be drowned out.

Battery

The battery life of these headphones is barely satisfactory. They only last 5.8 hours on a single charge, far less than Microsoft’s claim of 8 hours. On the plus side, they charge completely in little over 30 minutes, which is fantastic. They have an auto-off timer that turns them off after 10 minutes if no movement is detected, but it cannot be disabled.

Bluetooth

The Microsoft Surface Earbuds have adequate Bluetooth connectivity. They don’t support multi-device pairing or NFC pairing, and their PC latency is rather significant. On the plus side, when watching YouTube videos, their iOS and Android latency are very low, though apps and devices seem to adjust for this difference, so your real-world usage will likely vary.

Pros and Cons

Verdict

For mixed use, the Microsoft Surface Earbuds are unsatisfactory true wireless earbuds. They block absolutely little background noise due to their open fit, and the recording quality of their mic is poor. People who don’t enjoy the plunger-like fit of in-ears could find them tolerable, though they can get tiring after lengthy listening sessions. Their sound profile isn’t particularly balanced, and there’s a noticeable lack of bass, but happily, their companion app has a graphic EQ that allows you to tweak the way they sound.