Read Mashable’s full review of the Skullcandy EcoBuds.
Who it’s for:
If you’re environmentally conscious, then buying tech is a constant dilemma. While the most sustainable tech will always be what you already have, if you’ve run your earbuds into the ground, turn to Skullcandy EcoBuds. The brand reduced its product’s usual carbon footprint by 50 percent, using less plastic and metal. Despite that, the buds bring crisp audio for vibrant music listening.
Why we picked this:
The Skullcandy EcoBuds are an interesting competitor in the earbud market. The buds are made of 65 percent recycled plastic and contain fewer metals, so they lack some features.
All of the other earbuds on this list have charging cases that hold enough power to recharge the buds. However, there’s no battery in this case. Instead, there’s a built-in USB-C charger to plug into your computer, smartphone, or the wall. So, despite not being able to charge on its own, the built-in charger makes up for it somewhat. There’s also no lid to the case, which means the buds tend to fall out easily—not great for the clumsy.
These earbuds have audio performance that shines. In our tests, we were impressed with how they picked up the beat of pop songs and the nuances of live performance recordings. However, they don’t have ANC, so you’ll have to crank up the volume to drown out the world.
