Audio Technica's new $160 earbuds offer staggering 65 hour battery life
The mid-range wireless earbuds category is a crowded one, but with the Audio Technica ATH-CKS50TW2, the Japanese brand has come prepared. The model, newly launched in the UK and Europe, stands out easily with a best-in-class battery life of up to 65 hours. That's 25 hours from a single charge, and an additional 40 hours from the charging case. Even with the hybrid ANC activated, you'll get 15 hours from the earbuds alone.
Their other unique feature is a magnetic switch that helps further conserve battery in situations where you don't have the case handy. A pair of magnets on each earphone lets you stick the pair together to turn them off. Pulling them apart turns the power back on.
The earbuds come in black and green with a handsome design that should appeal to a wide audience. However, the large battery does put them on the bulkier side—if you're looking specifically for small earbuds that don't protrude much, these might not be for you.
The IP55 rating for dust and water resistance isn't the highest out there, but its actually better than sports-oriented models like the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2. Multipoint connectivity, Bluetooth LE and a low-latency mode are available, as is Qi-compatible wireless charging for the case.
The Audio Technica ATH-CKS50TW2 is available starting today, for £125 in the UK and €149 in the EU. While the US website lists it for $159, it is not yet available to buy.
