Tech writer Josh swapped AirPods to try a much cheaper Amazon pair (Image: Joshua Boyles)
Upgrading to a new pair of earphones can come at a pricey cost, as popular Apple, Samsung and Google accessories can reach as much as £199 each. So, it’s no surprise many shoppers are on the look out for more affordable alternatives.
Amazon is a go-to retailer for shoppers – both high-end and budget consumers alike – and it’s recent is proving to be popular. More than 500 shoppers have bought the wireless Environmental Noise Cancelling earphones in the past 30-days.
Including Joshua Boyles, tech writer at the who tried out the pair for himself, to see if shoppers’ claims that they were ‘better than really stood up.
Joshua said: “For the last four years, I’ve been a dedicated user of my first-generation AirPod Pros. Despite the occasional mishap of them falling out during a run, I’ve never felt compelled to replace them.
“However, this changed when I recently wrote about a pair of earphones on Amazon, which some customers claimed were superior to even Apple’s premium AirPods. Intrigued, I decided to give them a go.”
The Rolosar earphones have been compared to AirPods by shoppers, but are they? (Image: Joshua Boyles)
After unboxing, Joshua says the inexpensive £22 Rolosar sports eabuds are simple to pair with a phone via Bluetooth and that the plastic casing feels ‘impressively’ robust considering the price. They also managed to stay secure during workouts at the gym.
The wireless pair come with a rubber ear hook for more stability to loop behind wearers ears. A feature which he said wasn’t noticeable when wearing, as he said: ” barely perceptible during workouts or while carrying out household tasks.
“Initially, I was worried that the ear hooks might interfere with my glasses and hat, which I typically wear during runs, but they didn’t cause any discomfort at all. After using the earbuds, they fit neatly back into their charging case.
“The case, however, does reveal the earphones’ budget-friendly nature, with a lightweight, plasticky feel and a hinge that seems like it could snap under too much pressure.”
Compared to other models, Joshua also said than the case was larger than other wireless earphone models he had tested in the past. Which may make the pair less handy to slip into pockets or take on the go with you, but there was one key feature he pointed out that even higher-end brands like Apple AirPods don’t have.
He said: “On the bright side, there’s a handy LED screen displaying the exact battery life of the buds and case, where you’re left guessing unless you manually check your iPhone.”
Moving onto a crucial feature, sound quality, the pair are said to have a heavy bass profile so indie or pop listeners may not find this ideal.
Grab the Rolosar earbuds from Amazon for less than £30
If you like the sound of the Rolosar earbuds, you can get them from Amazon right now.
Our reviewer really enjoyed them thanks to the sound. The earphones are incredibly comfortable, barely perceptible during workouts or while carrying out household tasks
“While enjoying tunes from Sam Fender and Arctic Monkeys, I noticed that the vocals were often overshadowed by the bass, lacking in clarity, said Joshua as he described the difference in sound depending on the music genre.
He said: “However, these earbuds did a commendable job of amplifying Charli XCX’s Brat album, particularly given their impressive volume range. “It’s important to mention that these earphones don’t come with noise cancelling or ambient noise pass-through features.
“Nevertheless, the buds do create a decent seal, effectively blocking out a considerable amount of noise, which is perfect for those who jog along bustling roads. One feature that didn’t quite hit the mark was the touch-sensitive buttons on each earbud, designed to adjust the volume, skip tracks, or play and pause music without needing to reach for your phone.
Regrettably, I found these buttons to be somewhat unresponsive, often leading to unintended actions. I quickly gave up on this feature and opted to control my music directly from my phone, which proved to be far less problematic. In conclusion, with their secure ear hooks and bass-heavy sound profile, these earbuds are evidently designed with fitness enthusiasts in mind.”
Joshua concluded saying that he ‘wouldn’t pay full price for the pair’, however at £29.99 he overall agrees with rival shoppers reviews that they offer a budget alternative to AirPods.
If you are looking for a pair of earphones in the sales then Bose could be another pick as the brand cuts £50 off its Quiet Comfort Earbuds. While is offering the new AirPods 4 for £199.