Hearables Face-to-Face

Even if every earpiece got his own strong feature and consequently no one covers all options possible, there are a lot things in common which allow us to compare the market and seperate the hearables from the headphones or headsets.

Besides battery life, recharging cycles of the transport case is one key to consumers satisfaction. Audio transparency as a safety feature is as irreplaceable as a full hands free use (except the corresponding app) for the comfort and the feel of your new inear buddy.

If I want fitness tracking on board, I need a waterproof surface, or at least splashproof. Internal memory is nice to have, especially if you are not a 24/7 smartphone addicted user, but it is less important then the question, if your new hightech gadget can go with iOS and/or/but not/only on sundays with Android.

 

These are the hearable key features compared:

TOP User Choice

TOP User Choice
Apple AirPodsApple AirPods ProNuHeara IQBuds² MAXSamsung Galaxy Buds+Apple AirPodsJabra Elite Sport
Hearable
Device
Apple
Air Pods
Apple
AirPod Pro
NuHeara
IQBuds² MAX
Samsung
Galaxy Buds+
Amazon
Echo Buds
Jabra
Elite Sport
Battery Life5h4,5h5h – 8h11h5h4,5h
Recharge (with Case)up to
5x
up to
5x
up to 32h1xup to
3x
up to
2-3x
Audio TransparencyNo
 
Yes
 
possible
 
YesYes
 
Yes
 
WaterproofNoYesIPX4IPX2IPX4IP67
Corresponding AppNo
 
No
 
Yes
 
YesNoYes
 
Internal FlashNoNoNoNoNoNo
Fitness TrackingNoNoNoNoNoYes
Compatible
OS
Android/ iOS/ WindowsAndroid/ iOS/ WindowsAndroid/ iOS/ Windows
 
Android/ iOS
 
Android/ iOSAndroid/ iOS/ Windows
Hands Free FeatureNo
 
NoYesNoYesNo
 
Mobile Assistance Support
 
Yes
Siri
 
Yes
Siri
Yes
Siri/ GoogleNow/
Bixby
Yes
GoogleNow
 
Yes
Alexa
Yes
Siri/ GoogleNow
 

 
 

Prev Generation Products

Prev Generation Products
Apple AirPodsWaverly Labs PilotJabra Elite SportMotorola Hint+Samsung GEAR IconX
Hearable
Device
Bragi
The Dash Pro
Waverly Labs
Pilot
Jabra
Elite Sport
Motorola
Hint+
Samsung
GEAR Icon X
Battery Life5h(unknown)4,5h3,5h5h
Recharge (with Case)up to
5x
up to 24h
(unknown)
up to
2-3x
up to
4x
up to
1-2x
Audio TransparencyYes
 
possible
 
Yes
 
Yes
 
Yes
 
WaterproofIPX7NoIP67NoIPX4
Corresponding AppYes
 
Yes
 
Yes
 
No
 
Yes
 
Internal FlashYes (4GB)NoNoNoYes (4GB)
Fitness TrackingYesNoYesNoYes
Compatible
OS
Android/ iOS/ WindowsAndroid/ iOS
 
Android/ iOS/ WindowsAndroid/ iOS
 
Android/ iOS
 
Hands Free FeatureYes
Headtracking
No
 
No
 
Yes
Voice Control
No
 
Mobile Assistance Support
 
Yes
Siri/ GoogleNow
 
Yes
Siri/ GoogleNow/
Bixby
Yes
Siri/ GoogleNow
 
Yes
Siri/ GoogleNow/
Bixby/ MotoVoice
Yes
GoogleNow
 

Hearables comparison – the bottom line:
specialists among themselves

As expected, every hearable is reigning in its special niche and got weaker results in others. But as we should always remember: those engineered midgets are in your ears. What means, place is something really really limited.

StartUp darling and market leader The Dash Pro by Bragi pools the most features in one gadget, but can not keep up with the VO2 measurement of Jabras Elite Sport, an absolut must have if you are an serious athlet. Bluetooth range and organisational skills of Motorolas Hint+ make the Samsung GEAR IconX look like a complete fool, but they shine with their seemless integration in nearly every fitness app. Last but not least, the Pilots kill it with the translation feature and it’s not bragging, if you can back it up.

Only Apples Air Pods are technically half a step behind, but they rise from ashes to the top of the podium if we check for style and unique design.