Cordless earphones have been trending for some time now. Alongside popular options like Galaxy Buds and AirPods, several other brands have garnered attention by releasing their own versions of wireless earphones. Today, we bring your attention to one of these. Dubbed HeartBuds, as anyone could easily guess from their shape, these earphones were launched by SoftBank, the largest tech group in Japan, in 2022.
HeartBuds can be purchased online for international shipping or from local shops in Japan. They come with a rechargeable case, a USB-C cable, five pairs of ear tips in different sizes, and a booklet that serves as a user guide. Each earphone weighs about 4.5 grams, which feels light given its size. The company claims the earphones can last 4 hours on a single charge. It takes about an hour to charge the earpieces and two hours for the case.
Of course, the biggest draw is their design. When worn, the earpieces resemble shiny hearts. The earphones also feature noise cancellation, which can be easily activated by pressing a button. Despite their cute design and the trendy advertisements from the manufacturers, reviews of these earphones are rather mixed. One significant drawback is the poor microphone quality. Hear it for yourself: This recording is made with a MacBook Pro’s internal microphone and HeartBuds.
Heartbuds
Some reviewers have raised concerns about some units’ noise cancellation features not working properly. Personally, I also heard some buzzing sounds when I activated this feature, so I find it better to keep it off. Lastly, the volume range seems to be limited. Several reviews mention that the HeartBuds’ volume is too low even when set to maximum, despite the company’s claim that the buds’ frequency range reaches up to 20 kHz. Despite these weaknesses, the distinctive design of the earphones continues to attract new users worldwide, including myself.
If you’re interested, visit SoftBank to purchase the earphones for 15,000 yen. Additionally, in February 2024, SoftBank released a heart-shaped charger compatible with 110V, which could perfectly match the HeartBuds.
