Living a fully immersed and digital life requires the right tools and accessories. One such accessory category that has grown increasingly important are wireless earbuds, as smartphone makers continue to remove the once-standard 3.5mm headphone jack.

Added to this is the fact that not all manufacturers include a pair of wireless earbuds in the box, not to mention the ones that are included not being up to snuff.

As such, investing in a good pair of earbuds has become a must, but not all of these wearables are created equally. When it comes to distinguishing a good pair from a bad set, there is one category in particular to look at – True Wireless Stereo or TWS.

That said, simply having some TWS earbuds is not going to cut it either, and there are some other elements to look at before purchasing a pair.

Here we unpack seven considerations when selecting a pair of TWS earbuds, as well as highlight the superb performance on offer from the Vibe Active TWS Earbuds from local brand WINX.

1. Connectivity

We start with connectivity and on this front a pair of proper TWS earbuds will support version 5.0 or higher of Bluetooth in order to connect the buds to your device of choice, which is a smartphone, PC or notebook in most cases. Ensuring you have this standard or higher keeps the connection stable and quality of the audio crisp and clear.

In the case of the WINX Vibe Active TWS Earbuds, they do indeed support Bluetooth 5.0, along with support for the AAC codec to ensure no quality is lost from compressed audio. Added to this is an effective connectivity range of 10 metres, in case you stray a little further from your media player.

2. Sound

Next is sound, and we are not talking about volume alone here. While it is nice to pair a pair of earbuds that can deliver booming audio, it is also important to consider the audible frequency range that is available.

The 20 to 20 000Hz range is usually considered as solid, offering up detail in the lows, mids and highs for an all-around listening experience. Should your earbuds offer up an even wider range, the listening experience will improve too.

3. Design

We move to design and while style is a subjective aspect, when we speak about design in terms of your earbuds, something sleek and refined is always best. You do not want a pair that are too bulky or draw too much attention, especially when working in an office or in a crowded space.

Looking at the WINX Vibe Active TWS Earbuds, they come in a stealthy black colourway, along with sporting on-device controls for music playback, which is also something to consider when assessing the design of a pair you want to buy.

4. Comfort

An extension of design is comfort. Not only are these wearables an investment in terms of money, but time too, so having a pair that fits well is key. As such, you not only need to pay attention to the materials used in their design, but also the size, as these will impact how long you can wear them for.

As everyone’s ear canal is different, the ability to customise fit is crucial too, which is where swappable ear tips and wings come into play. Any good TWS earbuds manufacturer should offer at least two different options to help with the fit.

Luckily, WINX has given its users three additional options with the Vibe Active TWS Earbuds.

5. Noise Cancellation

Next is a technological consideration – noise cancellation. There are a few different types of noise cancellation, with a handful of companies developing different standards, but active or adaptive noise cancellation is viewed as best right now.

This feature allows TWS earbud wearers to essentially block out any external noise to help them enjoy their music better or perhaps focus on an important call or conversation in a crowded space.

It should also be noted that noise cancellation is also quite power hungry and will drain your earbuds’ battery life faster when it is toggled on compared to toggled off.

6. Battery Life

This segues neatly to the next consideration of battery life. Here more is always better, but another important aspect is the case that the wireless earbuds come in. These cases normally facilitate charging, with a USB Type-C port the preferred standard. The ability to fast charge is nice to have, although not essential here.

A truly good charging case should hold at least two to three times the battery life of the standalone TWS earbuds. Here the WINX option shines, as the earbuds offer up to four hours of playback, with the charging case increasing this to approximately 20 hours.

This is particularly helpful on long trips when a power point is not nearby, along with bouts of loadshedding, as many South Africans can attest.

7. Price

The last, but equally as important consideration, is price. While it is always best to prioritise quality and investing in a product that may be more expensive, but will last longer, it is also key to keep to your budget.

While the price tag for a pair of TWS earbuds run a fairly wide price gamut, if you are patient enough and do your research, you can find some good options.

These days there are a number of great value for money TWS earbuds on offer locally and the WINX Vibe Active TWS Earbuds are among the best, serving up all the considerations above, along with some standalone innovative features.

To find out more about the WINX Vibe Active TWS Earbuds, as well as look at all the other technology peripherals and accessories this local brand offers, head here.