Aukey EP-T10

The compact design of these ergonomically adapted in-ears fits perfectly into the auricle and can be worn in comfort without pressure problems, made possible by the relatively low weight of seven grams per side. The small size of the earbuds also offers a stable fit, even in the event of major vibrations, which allows a lot of freedom of movement while playing sports. In addition, the IPX5-certified workmanship of the robust system offers protection against weather-related moisture and at the same time makes cleaning easier, making them practical for everyday use.

The lithium polymer batteries of the earbuds, with a capacity of 55 mAh per side, proved to be pleasantly enduring even at higher levels with a runtime of over six hours. Since the in-ears can be recharged approximately two and a half times in the transport case, which serves as the charging station, the total service life increases to more than 20 hours, which is an extremely respectable result. However, there is no quick-charge function, which limits spontaneous use since a full charge of the earbuds takes up to 90 minutes. The transport case, on the other hand, can be charged either via the supplied USB-C to USB-A charging cable or wirelessly via Qi.

Device control

In a practical test with various Android and iOS devices, the in-ears offered stable ranges of eight to nine meters within an urban environment. Pairing occurs automatically when they are removed from the case, and the earbuds are switched on they go directly into pairing mode. Switching off occurs when they are placed in the charging case. It is also possible to use the right earbud in single mode, when automatic switching takes place as soon as the left side is removed so that playback can be continued on both sides after a short interruption.

For device control, the in-ears are equipped with a touch-sensitive surface. This starts and stops playback when touched and it can also be used to answer and end phone calls. Tapping the left side twice activates title navigation, enabling you to jump backwards and forwards between tracks, and this works quite reliably. From my point of view, the volume control is not optimal. The level can be reduced by a long tap on the left side and increased via the right side, but this doesn’t graduate step by step, but in jumps. In this respect, the device requires some fine adjustments. Speech intelligibility is also limited when telephoning since one’s own voice comes over as rather dull and echoed, while the other person is easy to understand.

Sound

The in-ears have present basses that reach down to the deep bass range. However, in the lower frequency range, the contours fade, so that there is a lack of definition and it can sound a bit queasy. In contrast, the highs score with an appealing balance without sharpness, but a lot of clarity, which enhances the overall sound and makes the earbuds multi-purpose. Vocals are also staged, although the mids appear rather reserved. Those who like to be spurred on by music during sports benefit from the available reserves provided by the output, especially since even high levels are reproduced with very little distortion. Due to their limited resolution capability, these Bluetooth headphones don’t meet high demands in terms of sound quality, but they are solidly suitable for everyday use.