Bluetooth headphones for your iPhone 7 — under S$100

SINGAPORE — So Apple won’t release their AirPods until they 100 per cent ready — and who knows when that will be?

This, of course, begs the question: What do you do in the meantime if you want to listen to music on your iPhone 7 while it’s charging? The answer? Bluetooth headphones are what you need.

It's true that they're pricier than their wired counterparts, but we’ve managed to scour the bargain bins some for cheap and good finds that'll be music to your ears (and wallet).

MEE AUDIO M9B (S$59)

You can’t miss out the Mee Audio M9B when talking about affordable Bluetooth earphones. These wireless earbuds may not have the fanciest design, but they do their job well as an entry-level device. These jet-black earbuds come armed with a remote control for a completely hands-free experience and have incredibly light wires for maximum portability. However, the remote control is slightly too heavy and might tug on your earbuds, causing them to fall out at times if you move head too quickly.

These earphones don’t have a bass that’s as tight as more expensive devices, so it might be better to use them for acoustic music than, say, heavy EDM tracks.

PLANTRONICS BACKBEAT GO 2 (S$99)

Plantronics is rather well-known for its wire-free solutions for all your audio woes, and the BackBeat Go 2 is a well-rounded successor to the BackBeat Go 1. The classic behind-the-neck design of the BackBeat Go 2 makes it rather unique, and its small earbuds make it a delight to insert into your ear canals, giving a good and secure fit for your next listening session.

The bass on the Plantronics BackBeat Go 2 is fairly strong and punchy, but it is crucial for you to get it tightly sealed in your ear or else it will come off as a little flat. The overall audio performance is fairly dynamic, and using it for any genre of music is an absolute delight. The only issue with the BackBeat Go 2 is its sub-par battery life at 4 to 4.5 hours, which may not last you an entire day. It’s understandable for an earphone of this size, but that is an issue, you can cough up S$30 more for a charging case which enables up to 14.5 hours of listening time.

BRAINWAVZ BLU-200 (S$90)

Brainwavz, known for delivering high-quality earphones at an affordable price, presents to you the Blu-200. These In-Ear earphones are built with ear hooks that push against your ears’ soft cartilage for a more comfortable and sturdy fit. The silicone ear tips are comfortable and provide adequate noise isolation. However, the earbuds themselves are a little large and may protrude out in an aesthetically unpleasant manner.

Sound clarity was great with the AptX codec delivering awesome sound fidelity. The bass has gravitas — heavy and solemn, and less on the punchy and light-hearted side. The mids and highs pale in comparison to the bass, making them better for orchestral tracks with strong cellos or atmospheric tracks and less suitable for acoustic music. These earphones, however, also suffer in terms of battery life, giving you around 3 to 4 hours of playback per charge, which is slightly under the industry average of 4 hours.

CREATIVE SOUNDBLASTER JAM (S$95)

This lightweight, budget Bluetooth headphone is built for maximum portability. Bearing an uncomplicated black plastic frame, the Creative Soundblaster Jam has a rather simple design. The foam padding on its speakers are rather thin, but they do the job well enough. However, the headband doesn’t have a cushion for the top of your head, which some may find uncomfortable.

Nevertheless, the sound quality of the Soundblaster Jam is pretty decent. Clarity was good, but not superb like higher-end models though the bass was fairly impressive for a device of this price. The Soundblaster Jam managed to play Hysteria by Muse very well, and the deep, low notes were always on point. There is even, in fact, a bass boost button for you to pump up the bass though you sacrifice a little bit of that clarity. Still, with 12 hours of battery life, recharges are few and far between — depending on your usage.

SKULLCANDY UPROAR WIRELESS (S$99)

It’s all about the bass with the Skullcandy Uproar Wireless. This chic set of wireless headphones sport a red and black design that’s youthful and outstanding. The earpads are surprisingly small and yet comfortable and the perforated pads make them easy to don on for hours on end. However, they are slightly small, so those with larger head sizes might find them a little tighter than others.

The powerful bass on these Skullcandy headphones make EDM and Rock music sound absolutely great. The sun literally shines brighter when playing Axwell ^ Ingrosso on these Skullcandy headphones, so if you love getting up early and rising to some heavy beats to kick off a fantastic day, the Uproar might just be for you.

A version of this story first appeared in Stuff Singapore.