MEE Audio Pebbles Air

That design obviously comes with a trade-off in isolation, but in many situations that is exactly the point. Open-ear earbuds have become increasingly relevant because they fit the rhythm of everyday life - walking, running, working at a computer, shopping, commuting or having a short conversation without constantly taking earbuds out and putting them back in again. Each Pebbles Air earpiece weighs just 4 g, so the emphasis is clearly on long-term comfort rather than a tight acoustic seal. For many listeners, especially those who dislike the pressure or blocked-ear feeling of conventional in-ear earbuds, that may matter more than another level of noise cancellation.

Sound is delivered by 10-mm dynamic drivers, while the stated frequency response is 20 Hz - 20 kHz. MEE Audio describes the tuning as natural, balanced and detailed enough for everyday listening, but the more practical feature is the ability to switch quickly between four EQ modes - Balanced, Bass Boost, Vocal Boost and Dynamic. That makes sense in earbuds of this type, because the right setting for a run may not be the same as the one used for an audiobook, a video call or a film on a train. Pebbles Air also include a low-latency gaming mode, which may not be revolutionary at this price level, but is more useful than many features that only look good on a specification sheet.

Bluetooth Multipoint may turn out to be one of the most important everyday features. Pebbles Air can stay connected to a phone and a second device, such as a laptop or tablet, at the same time. In practice, that means you can watch a film or join a meeting on a computer, take an incoming call from your phone and then return to the previous source without digging through Bluetooth menus. It sounds like a small convenience, but anyone who switches devices several times a day knows that these small conveniences stop feeling small very quickly. Wireless connectivity is based on Bluetooth 5.3, with support for A2DP, HSP, HFP and AVRCP profiles.

For calls, Pebbles Air use dual microphones with ENC noise reduction, intended to improve voice clarity and reduce background noise for the person on the other end. This is not active noise cancellation for the listener, and it is worth making that distinction. Pebbles Air are not trying to be travel earbuds for blocking out an aircraft cabin or a train carriage. They are meant to make it easier to function normally while moving through the day, without giving up music, calls or voice assistants. The feature set also includes volume control, microphone mute and support for Google Assistant and Siri.

The earbuds are rated IPX4, so they should cope with sweat and light rain. Battery life is up to 6 hours from the earbuds themselves, with the charging case extending total playback time to 18 hours. Full charging takes around 2 hours, and wireless range is quoted at up to 10 m. These are typical numbers for lightweight everyday true wireless earbuds, but combined with the open-ear fit and very low weight, they create a clear use case. Pebbles Air are meant to be the kind of earbuds you take out in the morning and use throughout the day - sometimes for music, sometimes for a call, sometimes for an audiobook and sometimes as a discreet background while working.

MEE Audio has also paid attention to style. Pebbles Air are available in three colours - Onyx, Rose Gold and Sapphire. The names refer to gemstones and precious metals, but the more important point is that the choice is not limited to the usual black and white. The earbuds are small, rounded and slightly jewellery-like in form, so colour matters more here than it does with many purely sport-oriented models, which often look as if they were designed mainly for a training accessories catalogue. Here, the idea is to combine an everyday practical product with something that can also be treated as part of one's personal style. Pebbles Air are available now, priced at $39.99. Info and photos by MEE Audio.