Skullcandy EcoBuds Review | GearJunkie Tested

When you think of $25 earbuds, you usually think of those cheap earbuds you see in gas stations. You know, the ones that you pick up when you left yours at home on a road trip, and plan on throwing away when you get home. Skullcandy’s EcoBuds ($25), however, are designed to stand out from the truck-stop detritus with some perks you don’t usually find in earbuds at this price range. 

When I first got the EcoBuds to test, I was skeptical. I’m a fan of noise-canceling earbuds that deliver excellent sound, helping me stay focused during long writing sessions or intense cardio workouts. That usually means spending over $100 for a solid pair of earbuds.

How could $25 earbuds hope to compete with my $180 Bose QuietComfort buds? After a few weeks of testing, it turned out that the EcoBuds actually punch well above their price range. 

In short: Made with 65% recycled plastics, the Skullcandy EcoBuds offer better sound quality, more features, and a cool rapid-charging feature that you wouldn’t expect to find in a pair of earbuds that cost $25. A comfortable fit, surprisingly good passive noise-cancelling, and some onboard controls round these out as earbuds in a much higher price range. 

Skullcandy EcoBuds Review

Brand Background

Skullcandy started out in 2003 as a headphone brand primarily marketed toward action sports athletes. The Park City–based company appears to be maturing with its initial audience, expanding into the premium sound market with products like the Crusher line of headphones and environmentally friendly options, such as the budget-friendly EcoBuds. 

How I Tested the Skullcandy EcoBuds

I used the Skullcandy EcoBuds over a period of 4 months. I used them during CrossFit and powerlifting workouts, as well as on training runs. I also used them while working and puttering around the house. I tested the IPX4 water resistance by running in the rain and wearing them while submerging myself in a cold plunge. 

The Good 

When I first put in the EcoBuds, I was expecting to hear the tinny, hollow sound that I usually hear from buds in this price range. But I was pleasantly surprised by how clear the sound was. It’s not as rich and full as the high-end buds I’ve used, but they’re pretty damn good. 

While listening to Broken Window Serenade by Whiskey Myers, the vocals came in loud and clear, while more subtle instruments such as the harmonica and shaker provided depth. I did notice that the various elements in busier songs felt compressed, but for 25 bones, it shouldn’t be a dealbreaker.

The battery life is reported as 8 hours. During testing, I accumulated just over 7 hours of listening time, which places it in the mid-to-high range of the other sub-$50 earbuds we’ve tried. The EcoBud case doesn’t have a battery for on-the-go charging, but it does feature a rapid-charging capability that claims to deliver 2 hours of listening time on a 10-minute charge. I tested the claim and hit the 2-hour mark. 

The touch controls are responsive and offer a little sound notification to signal that the touch has registered. They’re located on the logo, which is positioned right above the ear canal, and can be uncomfortable if you press too hard. Luckily, they only require a light tap. 

The lack of active noise canceling (ANC) is usually a deal breaker for me, but the EcoBuds have a nice, snug fit that actually blocks out noise fairly well. If you’re outside, you’ll be able to hear the sounds of traffic and other people, but they’re fairly tamped down. When I’m working in my office with music or a podcast on, they effectively block out the sounds of the landscapers outside, or my cats sprinting around the house or shredding our couch. 

In lieu of a full case, the EcoBuds magnetically attach to an open dock. The dock doesn’t have a battery, so it doesn’t charge the earbuds on its own (more on that later), but it has a short USB-C charging cord. I was actually able to charge it from my iPhone’s charging port, which is a handy feature when you’re in a pinch. 

The Bad

Charging from your phone aside, there are some quibbles with the dock. First, there’s no cover. This keeps the weight down to a featherlight 40 g, but it’s not ideal for throwing in a bag. The magnets are strong enough to keep the buds in under normal circumstances, but they came off in my gym bag. I’ve also dropped the dock before, and the buds went flying off. Not the best situation when you’re walking out in public.

The dock not having a cover allows random detritus from my bag to get in the buds, which can be gross if your gym bag is anything like mine. The dock also doesn’t have a battery in it, so you’ll need an external power source to charge it up (which is where the phone charging comes in handy). 

Skullcandy EcoBuds: Final Thoughts

At GearJunkie, we’ve reviewed a host of earbuds under $50 (check out our buyer’s guide), and the EcoBuds were impressive for the price. The open dock isn’t very protective, and I wish it could charge the buds independently, but the 10-minute rapid charge and the ability to charge from my phone were very cool features. 

The sound quality is great for $25, the passive noise cancelling is solid, and the touch controls are responsive and easy to use. If you’re looking for a pair of earbuds that sound great and won’t break the bank if you lose them, the Skullcandy EcoBuds are a great option.