Forward of the launch of its new $100 Technique 360 ANC earbuds in NewYork Metropolis, Skullcandy hyped the brand new buds as “the boldest audio product of 2025, that includes a partnership you did not see coming.” Whether or not or not the Technique 360 ANC are the boldest audio product of the 12 months is debatable, however I used to be definitely stunned to study that Skullcandy had joined forces with Bose to create what’s primarily the funds model of Bose’s $299 QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds.
Learn extra: Greatest wi-fi earbuds of 2025
I’ve solely been utilizing the Technique 360 ANC for a day — they’re obtainable now in 5 colour choices — however I have been principally been impressed with the brand new buds, which sound higher than many of the earbuds on this value class. From a design standpoint, they share lots of the traits of the QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds, with an analogous form and stabilizing “match” fins, however they’re lighter and lack the extra premium end and total really feel of these dear buds. That mentioned, they provide an analogous match — and by that I imply they’re fairly comfy and keep in your ears very securely when you get the buds arrange with proper combo of ear suggestions and fins (3 sizes of every are included).
The buds are available in 5 colour choices.
Technique 360 ANC’s jumbo case has plusses and minuses
The one obtrusive distinction between the Technique 360 ANC and Bose’s QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds, in addition to the step-down Quiet Consolation Earbuds ($179), is the Technique 360 ANC’s charging case. It is large — maybe too large for some folks — and it is just a little awkward to get the buds within the case. Sure, the case nonetheless suits in a pocket or could be clipped onto a backpack or your jacket. However in comparison with the charging circumstances of most true-wireless earbuds, it is fairly jumbo. It additionally has no wi-fi charging.
On the plus aspect, the case does have a definite Skullycandy-ish vibe and I like the way it slides open/shuts and the way the o-ring clip is built-in into the case. It additionally homes an ample-sized battery that shops an additional 23 hours of battery life when the case is totally charged. The buds are rated for 9 hours of battery life with noise canceling on or 32 hours complete (with the juice within the case) and 11 hours with ANC off or 40 hours complete. I have not totally examined the buds but to substantiate these numbers, but when correct, they’re good.
The case has a slot for every bud on reverse sides of the case. There is not any wi-fi charging.
Sound by Bose
Skullcandy describes the buds as having “Sound by Bose,” which includes each {hardware} (a chipset and presumably drivers) and acoustic digital tuning. I do not know precisely what elements the buds are utilizing, however they sound fairly just like Bose’s QuietComfort Earbuds and have comparable specs, together with 4-mic hybrid energetic noise canceling.
Just like the QC Earbuds, they’re geared up with ear-detection sensors that pause your music whenever you take the buds out of your ears and resume playback whenever you put the buds again in your ears. I additionally thought the contact controls had been well-implemented. They’re customizable through the Skullcandy-iQ app for iOS and Android, the place you too can mess around with EQ settings to tweak the sound profile.
Testing the buds within the streets of New York.
Bose’s earbuds and headphones are designed to work effectively with quite a lot of music and provide typically easy, punchy sound that is very nice for listening. Whereas some premium buds provide just a little extra element and readability, like Bose’s QC Earbuds, the bass on these Skullcandy buds has good kick to it with out sounding boomy.
I do not suppose the Technique 360 ANC buds sound fairly nearly as good because the QC Ultras, which have a tad extra depth and extension (they provide barely richer, extra detailed sound), however the contest was quite a bit nearer than I believed it might be. It is also price mentioning that the Technique 360 ANC buds play fairly loud and sound higher than any Skullcandy earbuds I’ve examined through the years. I nonetheless need to take heed to them just a little longer and evaluate them to another earbuds on this value vary earlier than delivering a remaining verdict, however so far as sound goes, there actually is not a lot to complain about for the worth.
Skullcandy’s greatest noise canceling in a pair of earbuds
Noise canceling additionally appears fairly good, and you’ll alter its “depth” within the app together with the extent of ambient sound you let into the buds whenever you’re within the “stay-aware” mode. Whereas the noise cancelling is not a part of the Sound By Bose program, a PR rep advised me that it was validated by Bose as assembly their requirements. As with the sound high quality, it is not fairly as much as the extent of what you get with the QC Extremely Earbuds and even the QC Earbuds, nevertheless it’s respectable and more practical than the middling ANC on earlier Skullcandy noise-canceling earbuds I’ve tried.
I discovered the voice-calling efficiency to be one thing of combined bag. In my checks within the noisy streets of New York, one caller mentioned they may right here me clearly with little background noise whereas two different callers mentioned my voice warbled and reduce out and in (I used to be laborious to listen to). I nonetheless have some testing to do on this space, however there are some query marks about name high quality — a minimum of with regards to what callers are listening to (I had no points on my finish listening to callers).
The buds in plasma pink.
A wonderful worth for the second
I am going to have my full assessment of the Skullcandy Technique 360 ANC earbuds within the coming days. However apart from just a few caveats, it is secure to say these buds seem like an excellent worth. Notice that Skullcandy refers to their $100 price ticket as an “introductory value,” and that it might change in time because the scenario with tariffs stays fluid. However a Skullcandy rep knowledgeable me that the earbuds went into manufacturing in January, so the corporate was capable of get loads of models to the U.S. earlier than the tariffs went into impact. Whereas there are at present exemptions in place for smartphones, laptops and another electronics, there are not any tariff carve outs for headphones and earbuds.
Skullcandy Technique 360 ANC key specs
- Sound By Bose expertise
- Battery Life: As much as 40 hours ANC off (11 in buds, 29 in case); as much as 32 hours with ANC on (9 in buds, 23 in case)
- Noise-isolating, ergonomic match: 3 totally different sized pairs of match fins and three units of ear gels, leveraging licensed expertise from Bose
- Adjustable 4-Mic hybrid energetic noise canceling with customizable Keep-Conscious mode
- Low latency audio
- Put on detection sensors
- IPX4 sweat and waterproof (splash-proof)
- Cranium-iQ App appropriate: Select certainly one of 3 preset EQ settings or customise your individual, reconfigure the button capabilities, alter your Keep-Conscious or ANC modes and extra
- Fast cost: 10-minute cost gives 2 hours of playtime
- Clear Voice good mic helps isolate your voice and cut back background noise throughout calls
- Spotify Faucet appropriate
- Google Quick Pair
- Multipoint Bluetooth Pairing: Pair two gadgets concurrently for simple switching
- Voice sidetone for calls (hear you voice within the earbuds throughout calls)
- Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio
- 5 colour choices: Black, bone, primer, plasma and leopard
- Value: $100