In-ear headphones are small and handy, making them practical travel companions. But which ones are right for me? MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann has tested a total of 9 samples.
How was the list created? A few years ago, I switched from wired in-ear headphones to wireless models for practical reasons, especially living with two cats at home, wired in-ears never last long.
For personal and professional reasons, I have now acquired over a dozen of these small models. I have used the headphones for various purposes: while traveling to the city center, playing games on my phone, or listening to music in the evening. Or during the evening round of Division 2 with a few friends.
What criteria did I evaluate? I have evaluated all headphones using the same criteria to ensure comparability. I selected the following 4 criteria.
- Ergonomics: How well do the headphones fit, and do they cause pain after a certain usage period?
- Sound quality: How well do music, gaming, and more sound?
- Accessories, scope: Is there an app? Are extra ear pads included?
- Battery life: When do the devices need to return to the box for charging?
Ergonomics and sound are very subjective criteria since everyone perceives these things differently. If I find the ergonomics of headphones terrible, you might still discover your new favorite in them. Accessories and battery life are still technically measurable here.
Who tested them?
I now privately own over 20 gaming mice and have tested over 15 keyboards. Personally, I also now own over 10 sets of in-ear headphones. At MeinMMO, I have been testing hardware for our readers since 2019. Besides the PC and PS5, I also now use the Steam Deck.
Benedikt Schlotmann
Hardware editor MeinMMO
HyperX Cloud Mix Buds: The loser squanders plenty of potential
Release: November 2022 | Price (RRP): 149.99 euros | Compatible with: PC, PS5, Android | Focus: Gaming
The HyperX Cloud Mix Buds left me divided in the test and are therefore at the bottom of my list. This is mainly due to weak software and poor ergonomics, and the in-ears do not support high-quality codecs.
On the positive side, there is at least good battery life and decent sound. But for an RRP of 150 euros, that’s simply not enough. At least the developers can still work on the software.
Overall, a lot of squandered potential. If HyperX can get the issues under control with its next iteration, we could expect good in-ears.
TurtleBeach Scout Air disappoints with cheap workmanship
Release: March 2022 | Price (RRP): 99.99 euros | Compatible with: PC, PS5, Android | Focus: Gaming
The in-ears from TurtleBeach can only partially convince me, but perform better than the model from HyperX. The sound is really good, and the low latency is also commendable.
On the downside, however, there is poor ergonomics and very cheap workmanship. Overall, they resemble the product from HyperX, but without the same weak software. With a few adjustments, HyperX could therefore still displace TurtleBeach’s model.
Amazon Echo Buds, 2nd generation: Amazon’s in-ear is simply too expensive
Release: June 2022 | Price (RRP): 119.99 euros (wired charging) or 139.99 euros (wireless charging) | Compatible with: PC, Android, iOS | Focus: Entertainment
The Echo Buds are now already in their 2nd edition from Amazon. A lot has changed, but they still rank in my opinion at the third-to-last place.
The workmanship and haptics please me, and the Echo Buds also offer an IPX4 certification. The Echo Buds can be paired with Alexa; a reader pointed out to me that Bluetooth is also possible. Unfortunately, pairing with the app is quite cumbersome and costs nerves. The noise canceling is okay but does not quite match the competition.
The sound is also mixed in my ears; for the price of 120 euros, you can get significantly better alternatives.
JBL Quantum TWS are surprisingly flexible for the price
Release: Spring 2022 | Price (RRP): 149.99 euros | Compatible with: PC, Android, iOS, and PS5 | Focus: Gaming
The JBL Quantum TWS rank in the middle with me. The JBL model delivers good sound and very good ergonomics in the test on MeinMMO. Although they sit looser than other models, they are comfortable even after several hours.
However, my highlight is that the Quantum TWS can also be used effortlessly on the PS5, including noise canceling. This works surprisingly well, but cannot keep up with other devices. To mute a tram or a kindergarten group in everyday life, it is definitely sufficient.
Unfortunately, the battery life is rather short; I find that it runs out after about 4 hours. The built-in microphone can also be written off.
Sony Inzone Buds are great but offer absolutely no flexibility
Release: October 2023 | Price (RRP): 199.99 euros | Compatible with: PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, partially also Android | Focus: Gaming
The Inzone Buds perform excellently in my test on MeinMMO, but only rank in the middle here.
Sound-wise, you get an excellent product, and thanks to low latency, the in-ears are very well suited for gaming. On the PS5, you might not find a better product if you love in-ears.
But if you primarily want to listen to music or watch a series on the train, you will have to live with many limitations. Because you cannot connect the Inzone Buds via Bluetooth, and on the phone, there is (still) no really usable app. Other models from the competition are significantly more flexible. If it were only about gaming, I would rank the Inzone Buds much higher.
EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid – Great in-ears that will soon disappear
Release: January 2021 | Price (RRP): 119.99 euros (without dongle) or 149.99 euros (with dongle) | Compatible with: PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS | Focus: Gaming
The GTW 270 Hybrid from EPOS convinced me in everyday use and ranks in 4th place. The workmanship is fantastic and is only outdone by Sennheiser. The model makes a good impression sound-wise, the app is clear and offers enough equalizer options. Since an update, the microphone can now also be used with the dongle. In my test on MeinMMO, the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid managed to convince me.
Also surprisingly good is the built-in microphone. However, the microphone can only somewhat filter out background noise. Therefore, you should not stand near railway tracks or a loud road when making a phone call.
The reason they do not come in 3rd place is a simple, tragic one: EPOS has withdrawn from the consumer market and will no longer produce headphones (via tools.eurolandir.com). Long-term, this product is likely to disappear from the market. However, for me, they remain a highly recommendable option if you can find them in stores.
You can find my top 3 among in-ears on the next page of the article.
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