Best wireless earphones and headphones for your budget in Indonesia
With most of us continuing our day-to-day lives at home during the pandemic, now is a perfect time to start looking into buying wireless earphones or headphones. Such cordless devices reduce the hassle of finicky cables and give you the freedom to leave your desk to get some snacks without pausing your music.
To help you find the best ones for your needs, here are 10 of the best wireless earphones and headphones in Indonesia for every budget, ranked by sound quality and features.
– Higher-end headphones from Rp. 2,400,000 (~USD163.94) –
1. Sony WH-1000XM3 – customize your own noise-cancelling settings
Image credit: @tktkmani
Ask around the internet forums for the best wireless headphones and one recommendation will consistently appear: the Sony WH-1000XM3. It’s easy to see why – its adaptive noise-cancelling function ensures that you always have control over the noise you hear, and even comes with a Headphones Connect mobile app with a slider to determine how much ambient sound you want to filter into the headphones.
This means that you can have maximum noise cancelling when you need to focus, and also create noise-cancelling presets for any situation you might find yourself in.
Comfort is also another focus of the headphones. Sony managed to make the headphone 20g lighter than its predecessor, allowing for longer podcast or music listening sessions. Soft ear cups and a padded headband contoured to fit your head better only helps you wear these headphones for as long as you need.
Sound: 10/10
Features: 9/10
Rating: 9/10
Price: From Rp. 3,200,000 (~USD218.61)
Get them on Tokopedia.
2. Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 – clear phone calls with fast charging
Image credit: @broadwayhk
Wireless headphones juggernaut Bose has released the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700, a redesign of Bose’s past headphones, to offer users a sleek and fashionable look.
The noise-cancelling function on these headphones has an edge over other headphones, as it can be used for both music and calls. The microphones on the headphones are designed to reduce external noises and focus on your voice, meaning you get crystal clear calls no matter where you are.
Although these headphones’ battery life isn’t as impressive as others, it’s not a major concern. Bose’s quick-charge feature guarantees at least two hours of listening from a mere 15-minute charge.
Sound: 9/10
Features: 10/10
Rating: 9/10
Price: From Rp. 4,000,000 (~USD273.22)
Get them on Tokopedia.
3. Apple Airpods Pro – noise-canceling, in your pocket
Image credit: @isaacmsmith
The short white stems of the Apple Airpods seem to be in everyone’s ears these days, but aren’t simply a fashion statement. The Apple Airpods Pro‘s active noise canceling technology may be ubiquitous in large over-ear headphones, but offering the feature in such a small package is a winning point for users who’re short on space.
Thanks to Apple’s proprietary H1 chip, the earphones connect seamlessly with iPhones and Macbooks. Just flip open the case and they’ll connect with your nearby Apple products. Unfortunately, the same luxury is not afforded to Android and Windows users, but the earphones can still be connected to their mobile devices via Bluetooth.
Also great for workouts, the earbuds come with three sets of ear tips, making sure that they stay in your ears no matter what exercise you’re doing. On top of that, they’re also sweat-proof – no need to worry that they’ll get damaged during your intense workouts.
Sound: 9/10
Feature: 9/10
Rating: 9/10
Price: From Rp. 2,400,000 (~USD163.94)
Get them on Tokopedia.
4. Shure Aonic 50 – connect to two devices at the same time
Image adapted from: @krapalm
Audiophiles love Shure for their quality audio equipment and in-ear monitors, so their release of the Shure Aonic 50 headphones won’t disappoint.
The first reason why is its Bluetooth multipoint connectivity – essentially allowing the headphones to connect to two devices at the same time. This means that if you’re listening to your favorite Spotify playlist on your computer and a call comes in on your phone, you don’t have to wrangle with reconnecting your Bluetooth or taking off your headphones to pick up the call.
Another strength is their noise-canceling ability, making it uniquely good at keeping out low frequencies – meaning that the hum of your air conditioner and computer will be silenced by these headphones. In comparison, other competitors’ noise-canceling functions generally block all frequencies, meaning there’s no specific focus on blocking out low frequencies such as the Aonic 50s.
Sound: 9/10
Features: 9/10
Rating: 9/10
Price: From Rp. 6,975,000 (~USD474.31)
Get them on Tokopedia.
– Mid-range headphones from Rp. 525,000 (~USD35.79) –
5. JBL Live 500BT – conversation-friendly headphones
Image credit: @ekatalog.official
As we head into the mid-range, the first set of headphones lined up is the JBL Live 500BT. Although these headphones do not have noise-canceling, they boast two ambient modes for better awareness: TalkThru and Ambient Aware.
TalkThru allows the user to minimize the volume of their music and amplify external voices with a press of a button – no need to take off the headphones to hear your partner calling you from the other room.
Meanwhile, Ambient Aware mixes the sounds of your surroundings with whatever is playing on your headphones. The resulting sound is powerful and bass-oriented, without overpowering the vocals or reducing the clarity of the music – perfect for anyone who loves to work while listening to bass-heavy songs.
Another nifty feature is the headphones’ compatibility with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. If you love using smart assistants on your phone, then you won’t lose the experience on these headphones, as you can ask Google Assistant to read messages, tell you the weather, and more.
Sound: 7/10
Features: 8/10
Rating: 8/10
Price: From Rp. 1,999,000 (~USD136.12)
Get them on Tokopedia.
6. Steelseries Arctis 3 Bluetooth – wireless headphones for gamers
Image adapted from: Steelseries
Sometimes you’re looking for headphones with versatility – professional exteriors for work Zoom calls, and gaming-oriented interiors for those late-night video game Discord calls. The Steelseries Arctis 3 Bluetooth meets both criteria, as perfect mid-range headphones for both professional and gaming purposes.
One of its key features is a retractable microphone, a feature that is both convenient and unique. When you’re not on calls, the microphone is easily tucked away into the headphones.
Since Xbox and Playstation only support a limited range of Bluetooth devices, Steelseries cleverly included cable inputs into the headphones, ensuring no unnecessary complications in connecting to your favorite console. On top of that, the headphones support audio from both cable input and Bluetooth input simultaneously, meaning you can hear your in-game audio while talking via Bluetooth with your teammates. Game on.
Sound: 7/10
Features: 9/10
Rating: 8/10
Price: From Rp. 1,150,000 (~USD78.56)
Get them on Tokopedia.
7. Anker Soundcore Liberty Air 2 – budget-conscious Airpod alternatives
Image credit: Soundcore
As we enter the mid-range, we find that the market becomes a bit muddled with brands many have never heard of, each releasing their own wireless earbuds. However, Anker stands a bit taller than the rest.
A brand famous for their chargers, they’ve also released the Liberty Air 2 that replicates the Airpods experience for a fraction of the price.
Their shining advantage is their microphone quality. While it’s not quite equal to the Airpods, they make a great effort with four microphones to make sure your voice isn’t lost, reducing background noise as much as possible.
The headphones also have sensors on the back of each of the earbuds, meaning that just like with the Airpods, your music will automatically pause when you take one or both of the earbuds out. For budget-conscious consumers who want the Airpods experience without the price tag, this is a perfect pair of wireless earbuds.
Sound: 7/10
Features: 7/10
Rating: 7/10
Price: Rp. 1,300,000 (~USD88.80)
Get them on Tokopedia.
8. Aukey EP-K01 – long-lasting budget earbuds
Image adapted from: @TheGioiDiDong
Aukey is a lesser-known brand but one reputed for its quality products, one of which is the Aukey EP-K01, earbuds that can pride themselves on their long battery life.
The earbuds can last 5 hours on a single charge, and the charging case can hold up to 5 extra charges, adding to a grand total of 30 hours of battery life – longer than most of its competitors.
Additionally, for those of you who like playing games on your phone, the headphones also have low latency, making sure that the action on your screen matches the audio in your ears.
Sound: 6/10
Features: 7/10
Rating: 7/10
Price: Rp. 525,000 (~USD35.79)
Get them on Tokopedia.
– Budget headphones from Rp. 150,000 –
9. QCY T1 Pro – great sound quality on a budget
Image credit: @ccxxcc86
The QCY T1 Pro proves that it’s possible to have good wireless earphones below Rp. 400,000, with build quality that rivals more expensive alternatives, and a sturdy case to protect the headphones from any external damage and falls.
The headphones also allow you to use them in a Stereo or Mono configuration. Not only does this mean you can use keep one ear free if you need to be aware of your surroundings, but you can also save your charging case’s battery life, effectively doubling your listening time.
Image credit: @ccxxcc86
The design of the QCY T1 Pro is also unique in comparison to other wireless earbuds in a similar price range, with an added wing on top of each earbud. These small wings will secure a better fit in your ear, making sure you don’t have to worry about the earbuds falling out.
Sound: 6/10
Features: 6/10
Rating: 6/10
Price: Rp. 185,000 (~USD12.61)
Get them on Tokopedia.
10. Xiaomi Haylou GT1 – solid wireless headphones for a fraction of the usual price
Image credit: @xiaomi.mossoro
Last but not least, we have the Xiaomi Haylou GT1s, a budget pair of wireless earbuds sporting a minimalist design – literally. With no branding on the headphones and a small design that disappears into your ears, it’s likely no one will even notice the headphones without you pointing them out.
For their cheap price, you would expect these earphones to have a sub-par sound. Thankfully they sound great, with clear sound and a strong connection thanks to its Bluetooth 5.0 connection. It’s a great value for the price, and although it may lack feature-wise, it gets the job done.
Sound: 6/10
Features: 5/10
Rating: 6/10
Price: Rp. 150,000 (~USD10.23)
Get them on Tokopedia.
Best wireless earphones and headphones for your budget
With normal life set to continue for the foreseeable future at home, there is good reason to buy quality wireless headphones for your office calls or online classes.
With so many options on the market, it’s important to know which products are the best for your money. No matter what your budget is, there’s a good pair of wireless earphones and headphones for you.
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Cover image adapted from: @ekatalog.official, @isaacmsmith, Soundcore, Steelseries
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