Skullcandy Smokin' Buds Review

As someone who has never really been that bothered with sound quality, I put up with the cheap wireless earbuds that I used to have, despite a buzzing in one bud when audio wasn’t playing. But those buds stopped synching, so my wife convinced me to get the Skullcandy Smokin' Buds, because they were on the cheap side. I went for the matcha green colour, because I figured if I drop one it’ll be easier to locate since it’s more noticeable.

The Smokin’ Buds aim to provide a balance between sound quality, comfort, and practical design elements, and feature audio drivers that have been fine-tuned with the intention of delivering clear sound across various forms of media. They are ergonomically designed and aim to offer a noise-isolating fit while featuring touch controls, water resistance, and microphones integrated into each earbud.

The included charging case (plus short USB-C cable) is solidly built, and boasts a 20-hour charge (each bud should last for eight hours), with a 10-minute charge apparently letting you listen for two hours. Honestly, given how I use them, two hours is plenty and the case itself rarely needs recharging.

In terms of usability, the Smokin’ Buds are designed to be user-friendly, with an easy pairing process to various devices and three EQ settings to cater to different types of audio content: music, movies, and podcasts. That last one is how I usually listen, though I do sometimes swap over to music mode if the mood takes me. You can also turn the volume up and down, depending on how many presses you give an earbud.

I’m quite satisfied with the noise cancellation capabilities, sound fidelity, and the level of comfort — I can’t get on with those buds that fill your ear. While the price point is relatively economical, the Skullcandy Smokin’ Buds earbuds offer competitive sound quality, battery longevity, and water resistance features.