Would you trust a PC brand to make wireless earbuds? I tried a pair by Dell, and it delivered

Would you trust a PC brand to make wireless earbuds? I tried a pair by Dell, and it delivered

Dell Pro Plus wireless earbuds Follow ZDNET:Add us as a preferred source. While they can certainly be used for listening to music, they’re optimized for professional environments. In this particular context, Dell’s Pro earbuds shine. Their on-call performance is excellent, delivering crystal-clear sound and crisp vocal audio. However, certain features make them hard to recommend…

dell-pro-plus-image-4.png

Dell Pro Plus wireless earbuds

Follow ZDNET:Add us as a preferred source. While they can certainly be used for listening to music, they’re optimized for professional environments.

In this particular context, Dell’s Pro earbuds shine. Their on-call performance is excellent, delivering crystal-clear sound and crisp vocal audio. However, certain features make them hard to recommend beyond their intended use.

Also:The best earbuds you can buy: Expert tested

Dell’s Pro Plus earbuds excel in the two key areas that matter the most: audio quality and battery life. I did several test calls, and in every instance, the sound quality was consistently great.

The buds also use AI to reduce background noise. Similar technology is also used to power the ANC feature (active noise cancellation) to block out the same ambient noise.

The end result is crisp, clear conversations that feel shockingly natural. Even if the other caller has a low-quality mic, the earbuds compensate by boosting incoming audio.

Productivity powerhouses

Overall, audio quality was good, but I did encounter a strange crackling noise while playing certain content. It first appeared while playing the mobile game Arknights and then in a few YouTube videos, usually spoken-word content where there isn’t much background sound. Some songs on YouTube had the crackling, while tracks from an official artist channel sounded perfectly fine.

The crackling was most noticeable at lower volumes, where it couldn’t hide behind volume. I firmly believe this isn’t a hardware issue. Instead, the weird noise seems to be tied to poorly mixed or low-quality audio sources. Not every piece of content is produced at the same level of quality. Either way, it’s something to be aware of.

Chunky case, smart design

dell-pro-plus-image-6.png

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

This shape allows for a bit of sound leakage. Even when I had ANC enabled, I was able to hold clear conversations with others. That’s something that I cannot do with the Sony LinkBuds Fit. Sony’s 2024 earbuds offer some of the best ANC I’ve experienced, largely because their shape conforms to the ear canal, thus creating a tight seal. I have to take those off whenever I speak to someone.

I’m not saying the Dell earbuds have bad ANC — far from it. In an office setting, they perform wonderfully. But if you plan on using them in a louder environment, they aren’t going to achieve the same kind of ANC as a pair of earbuds designed for that.

My one gripe

earbuds are available for $230 on the company’s official website. I recommend them if you’re looking for a reliable pair for video calls and Zoom meetings, but want something sleeker than a traditional headset. Call clarity is excellent, battery life is impressive, and the flexibility that Bluetooth Multipoint provides cannot be understated.

If you want other recommendations, Sony’s LinkBuds Fit are a good alternative with better ANC. ZDNET’s Jack Wallen enjoyed the Status Pro X, a pair of earbuds that house a multi-driver system to pump out incredibly sound quality.

Similar Posts