Universal True Wireless Earbuds for Every Smartphone

In a world where your smartphone is your link to everything, your earbuds are the essential bridge for calls, music, and podcasts. But not all true wireless earbuds are created equal. We're taking a page from our PC hardware reviews to benchmark what truly matters for daily use in South Africa: battery life to outlast load shedding, microphone clarity for calls in a noisy coffee shop, and of course, value for your hard-earned Rands. Forget megapixels and gigahertz for a moment… let's talk about real-world audio performance.

Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Xbox Gen 3 Wireless Headset - White (XB) — Compatible with Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Bluetooth & Steam Deck™ — 2.4GHz Wireless & Bluetooth® 5.2 — 50mm Nanoclear™ Drivers — Remappable Wheel & Mode Button — A.I.-Based Mic Noise Reduction / TBS-2102-15

R2399.00In Stock

Corsair HS55 Wireless Gaming Headset - Low-Latency 2.4GHz Wireless or Bluetooth®, Dolby® Audio 7.1 Surround Sound, Lightweight, Omni-Directional Microphone, On-Ear Audio Controls - Carbon / CA-9011280-AP

R2299.00In Stock

Promate Lush-Pro High-Definition TWS Wireless Earphones - Pink / IntelliTouch Control / Crystal Clear Calls / IPx4 Water Resistance / Up to 36 Hours Playback Time / Lush-Pro.Pink

R299.00In Stock

Turtle Beach Recon 70P Gaming Headset - Black / Compatible with PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, & PC with 3.5mm / Flip-to-Mute Mic / 40mm Speakers / On-Ear Volume Control / TBS-3001-05

R699.00In Stock

Promate ProPods High-Definition TWS Wireless Earphones - Blue / IntelliTouch Control / Active Noise Cancellation / ENC Noise Reduction / PROPODS.BLUE

R299.00In Stock

Steelseries Arctis 1 4-in-1 Wireless Gaming Headset / 20 hours Battery Life / 40mm Drivers / 2.4GHz Lossless Wireless / Bidirectional Noise-Canceling / Supports PC/PS4/Nintendo Switch/ Android(No Voice chat) / 61512

R899.00In Stock

Our Testing Setup

To get results that reflect everyday use, we skipped the isolated lab and tested our earbuds in the real world. Our gear consisted of two of the most popular smartphone platforms in South Africa.

Performance Benchmarks: Battery Life

For many South Africans, the number one feature is battery life. Can your earbuds last through a full workday, a commute, and a 2-hour load shedding slot in the evening? We tested continuous music playback at 60% volume from a full charge to find out.

As the chart shows, while premium models push past the 8-hour mark, the real story is the value in the mid-range. Getting a solid 7 hours of playback is more than enough for a full day's use, offering incredible performance-per-Rand.

Cooler Master MasterAccessory GEM White Magnetized Multi-Surface Mounting Gaming Storage, Peripherals, Gamepads, Headsets, VR Headsets, Mobile Phones, Rubberized Protective Arms - MCA-U000R-WPHK00

R499.00In Stock

Promate Leap-200H SportFit™ High Fidelity Wireless Earphones - Blue / ENC Noise Cancellation / Up to 200 Hour Playtime / Dual Pairing / In-Line Controls / Leap-200H.Blue

R399.00In Stock

Plantronics HW520 EncorePro Binaural Headset / Noise canceling circuit / Flexible boom / PLT- HW520

R1699.00In Stock

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1X Gaming Headset - Signature Arctis Sound - ClearCast Gen 2 Mic - Xbox Series X|S, PC, Playstation, Switch, and Mobile / 61616

R1199.00In Stock

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 Multi-System Gaming Headset — Hi-Fi Drivers — 360° Spatial Audio — Comfort Design — Durable — Ultra Lightweight — Noise-Cancelling Mic — PC, PS5/PS4, Switch, Xbox - Black / 61606

R1699.00In Stock

Corsair HS35 v2 Multiplatform Gaming Headset — Blue (AP) / 3.5mm connection / Stress-Free Sound / Omni-Directional / Custom-Tuned Audio Drivers / On-Ear Mute / Volume Controls / CA-9011383-AP

R899.00In Stock

Performance Benchmarks: Microphone Clarity

"Can you hear me now?" is a question no one wants to ask on an important work call. We tested microphone quality by making calls from a noisy coffee shop, with the recipient rating the clarity of our voice and the earbud's ability to reject background noise.

Here, the difference is stark. Budget buds struggle with background noise, while mid-range and premium models with multiple microphones and noise-cancelling tech deliver a far more professional experience. This level of performance is becoming standard across quality earbuds designed for mobile devices, making clear calls on the go more accessible than ever.

Interestingly, the microphone technology is getting so good that some of our mid-range test units delivered call quality that approached dedicated gaming hardware, like certain wireless Ikon models for Xbox, which is seriously impressive for their tiny size. This focus on value and performance is why many users find a sweet spot with versatile options like the range of Bluetooth Promate headsets, which balance great features with a competitive price.

The Verdict

Choosing the right earbuds isn't about buying the most expensive pair. It's about identifying the features that matter to you—be it all-day battery or crystal-clear calls—and finding the model that offers the best value for your specific needs. The great news is that in 2025, fantastic performance is more affordable than ever. ✨