Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Eleven

Design & Build

Visually, the Beoplay Eleven fit seamlessly into the Beoplay EX product line. The earbuds feature touch surfaces made of hardened glass, while the charging case is finished in bead-blasted aluminium for a premium look.

For outdoor use and sports, the IP57 rating ensures dust and water resistance. To ensure a secure fit and optimal sound, the package includes multiple ear tip options – four silicone sizes and one Comply foam variant.

Sustainability

A key highlight is the replaceable battery system.Since battery degradation is often the main reason wireless earbuds are discarded after a few years, Bang & Olufsen’s in-house replacement service helps extend their usable life.

Battery Life

With AAC and at higher volumes, the Beoplay Eleven last around 6.5 hours in standard mode, dropping to about 5.5 hours with ANC active. The case can fully recharge them twice, plus one extra partial charge of around 2.5 hours (without ANC) before it needs power.

A full charge takes around 60 minutes, while a 20-minute quick charge offers up to two hours of use. The case recharges in about 110 minutes via USB-C, and Qi wireless charging is also supported.

Bluetooth Specs

Like their predecessor, they support Bluetooth 5.2, multipoint pairing with two devices, Google Fast Pair, and Microsoft Swift Pair. Audio codec support includes SBC, AAC, aptX, and aptX Adaptive – but not LDAC.

Controls

The glass touch surfaces of the Beoplay Eleven control playback, volume, track navigation, and mode switching (standard, ANC, transparency). Calls can also be managed from the earbuds. However, button assignments cannot be customised via the app, and there is no voice assistant support.

The earbuds cannot be manually switched on or off – they always require the case. Single-earbud use is supported, and an auto-wear detection feature is included but cannot be toggled via the app.

App Integration

The Bang & Olufsen app (iOS/Android) allows switching between listening modes but does not let you fine-tune ANC or transparency levels as the Beoplay EX did. A new wind noise reduction mode is available.

EQ options include four presets (“Sport”, “Commute”, “Clear”, and “Podcast”) plus the Beosonic custom EQ. Additional features include playback controls, device management for multipoint, call settings (noise reduction or Own Voice), and firmware updates for both the earbuds and the case.

We noticed connectivity issues with iPads after initial setup – the earbuds were not rediscovered – but smartphones worked fine. An account is required to use the app.

Voice Quality

Voice transmission is clean and natural, with wind noise suppression provided by the Wind Guard system. While effective, this can make voices sound more distant in stronger wind. In noisy environments, background sounds are reduced but still noticeable during pauses.

ANC & Transparency

The noise cancellation of the Beoplay Eleven is free of hiss but moderately effective, especially in the midrange where voices are only slightly reduced. It performs better at low and high frequencies but does not reach top-tier results.

Transparency mode is pleasantly low-noise but could be more pronounced. It works well for conversations when playback is paused, but ambient awareness during music is limited at higher volumes.

Sound Quality

The Beoplay Eleven excel in precise, well-defined sound reproduction. Live recordings and atmospheric soundscapes benefit from a convincingly spacious presentation, unusual for closed in-ear designs.

Bass is slightly emphasised yet controlled, with enough depth for punchy tracks without overpowering other frequencies. The midrange is neutral and clear, with a natural, realistic vocal presentation. Highs are lively without being harsh, though poorly mixed tracks can sound slightly sharp. Balanced recordings retain freshness and detail without fatigue.

Verdict

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Eleven stand out for their spacious, precise sound and excellent voice quality (outside noisy or windy conditions). The replaceable battery service adds long-term value. However, their ANC is not class-leading, the app offers limited personalisation, and the price is steep.