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Soundpeats H3: Two-minute overview
When you’ll almost certainly know Chinese language headphone firm Soundpeats from its dime-a-dozen price range buds, this uncommon foray into the mid-range market remains to be sufficient to pique curiosity… and to open wallets, as a result of let me be clear: these are a few of the greatest low cost headphones I’ve examined all yr.
The Soundpeats H3 (no, you’re not anticipated to have heard of the H2) appear like and sound like premium earbuds, and so they make simple work of rivals at their worth level, such because the AirPods 4.
The distinctive promoting level right here is the specs checklist, because the buds every have three drivers per earpiece (the AirPods, for instance, have one) which allow them to deal with the extremes of the audio spectrum with grace. They provide a vivid, insightful and well-defined sound, an expansive soundstage and assist for a variety of audio codecs.
I personally appreciated how Soundpeats didn’t observe the instance set by most different mid-range and price range audio manufacturers: the buds don’t flip the bass as much as 11 to excite, on the expense of balanced sound, making them an possibility that provides one thing distinct from different buds you is perhaps contemplating.
Audiophiles on a price range ought to add this to the buying checklist right away – and I don’t write that frivolously.
The premium sound is mirrored within the design, with each the buds and case trying stylish and fashionable. The earpieces additionally match effectively and I by no means had issues with them falling out, which isn’t one thing I can say about many non-stem earbuds.
If there are points with the Soundpeats H3, or not less than causes to mood your expectations, it’s within the options division. The battery life and lively noise cancellation (ANC) are each somewhat beneath what I’ve skilled in different similarly-priced earbuds, and I had some app connection troubles (these didn’t have an effect on streaming music, simply utilizing Soundpeat’s apps for some further performance).
Regardless of these small setbacks, the Soundpeats H3 are nonetheless exemplary earbuds which have actually earned their manner onto private ‘greatest headphones’ checklist of 2025.
Soundpeats H3 overview: Value and launch date
- Launched in September 2025
- Prices $149.99 / £139.99 / AU$142
- Barely pricier than AirPods (in most areas)
The Soundpeats H3 had been launched in September 2025, as a follow-up to 2021’s Soundpeats H2 – provided that the brand new buds price virtually twice as a lot as their predecessors, and look vastly totally different too, it appears that evidently the identify is the one factor these buds have in frequent.
The brand new earbuds price $149.99 / £139.99 / AU$142 (no, that’s not a typo, the buds are inexplicably cheaper in Australia in comparison with the remainder of the world, provided that a precise conversion would put them nearer to AU$280).
That’s not low cost low cost like most Soundpeats earbuds, and it means the H3 bumps shoulders with the $129 / £129 / AU$219 AirPods 4, however any buds that critical audiophiles shall be contemplating will price a good bit extra. Prime picks from Sony, Apple and Bose have a lot increased worth tags.
Soundpeats H3 overview: Specs
Drivers | 12mm + twin balanced armatures |
Energetic noise cancellation | Sure |
Battery life (ANC off) | 7 hours (buds) 37 hours (case) |
Weight | 6g (buds) 53g (case) |
Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.4 |
Waterproofing | IPX5 |
Soundpeats H3 overview: Options
- ANC is okay, however could be overwhelmed by rivals
- 7/37 hour battery life (ANC off)
- Occasional app connectivity issues
In keeping with Soundpeats, the H3 final for 7 hours of listening time earlier than needing to be charged. From my testing, this determine is presumably with ANC turned off, as I listened with it turned on and simply scraped the 5 hour mark.
Soundpeat’s figures proceed to 37 hours for the case, which once more could be decrease in case your noise cancelling is hogging all of the cost. That’s nonetheless a good quantity increased than many different rivals although, so I can’t knock it.
One other case of ‘wonderful, however not the very best’ comes with the noise cancellation, which will definitely take the sting off surrounding sounds however not take away them. A number of the environments I used to be in when testing the buds included the gymnasium, close to busy roads, on the prepare and on a flight, and the H3’s ANC would not often completely take away a sound, however was first rate at lowering its quantity so your music might sit excessive.
I can’t say the identical about Transparency mode, nevertheless, which appeared to amplify ambient noise whereas muffling voices – that’s the alternative of what it’s meant to do.
In an obvious try and make my testing job more durable, Soundpeats affords two totally different apps which you need to use to manage the buds (they work independently, so that you solely want one, however to do my job effectively I’ve to check each): there’s the SOUNDPEATS app (all caps within the identify, not my pleasure) in addition to PeatsAudio.
SOUNDPEATS has the identical options as PeatsAudio but additionally somewhat bit much less visible aptitude… when it picks up the buds, which wasn’t all the time the case throughout my testing. Generally I needed to re-enrol the buds within the app to pay attention.
You need to use the app to toggle what the contact controls do, change the quantity and language of voice prompts, activate LDAC, hook up with a number of gadgets, take a look at your buds’ match to see when you’re sporting them correctly and, in idea, play with a 9-band equalizer. I say ‘in idea’ as a result of each time I attempted opening this a part of the app, I obtained an error message in Chinese language and in addition an error display screen saying an error occurred in English, so might by no means attempt it. This occurred even once I reset the app and the earbuds.
PeatsAudio, in the meantime, has a lot of the options of SOUNDPEATS however the EQ really labored. I typically discovered that LDAC toggled itself although, as soon as once I was taking a look at (and never touching) the toggle on the app. Until I’ve unknowingly been solid in a brand new Paranormal Exercise film, that’s a attainable bug.
Soundpeats H3 overview: Design
- Mild, well-fitting buds
- Helpful contact controls
- Cumbersome carry case
I’ve by no means given Soundpeats kudos for authentic design, largely as a result of it’s by no means deserved any, however that’s actually totally different now. The Soundpeats H3 have a novel and, dare I say, elegant design.
It begins with the charging case, which I’ll readily admit is simply too large to comfortably slot in a pocket, but it surely makes up for it with its seems. The shell is clear so you may see the buds whereas a gold trim blends effectively with the black; opening the case reveals the buds in addition to a leather-esque patterned design. Admittedly the panel pleading “Hear the distinction” seems somewhat gauche, particularly with its inconsistent font that sees the ‘f’s descend to totally different ranges, however this error triggers the editor in me as a substitute of the tech reviewer in me, so I’ll let it slide.
Speaking of letting issues slide, let’s slide out the buds. These are in-ears with no stem; the entire thing sits in your ear. I’m usually skeptical in regards to the reliability and match of buds like this, as I’ve examined too many which might be too heavy and fall out of your ears, however the Soundpeats H3 labored a dream. They sat comfortably in my ear, by no means falling out and barely being noticeable throughout listening.
I’m a fan of how the form of the H3’s physique loosely resembles an ear, making the buds appear like part of the physique when worn. This has a purposeful profit too, with a small raised part on the far aspect of the physique to the bud bearing somewhat hook, which helps maintain the bud in place.
Every bud has a contact management and I discovered these pretty handy to make use of. It looks like you may faucet wherever to set off the operate, as a substitute of on one particular space, so that you gained’t waste time hammering away at your ear hoping to pause your music.
One factor that may very well be higher right here is the waterproofing which, at IPX5, sits beneath fairly just a few rivals. That marks the buds as being wonderful in opposition to sweat and rain however not water immersion or jets of water.
Soundpeats H3 overview: Sound high quality
- Three drivers per bud
- Pretty impartial sound
- Vary of codecs supported
Why do these buds fee so extremely? This part. The Soundpeats H3 include three drivers, greater than most rival buds: there’s a 12mm dynamic driver paired with two balanced armatures which in tandem, in keeping with the corporate, guarantee the complete audio spectrum is roofed.
It really works too, with the H3 maybe the best-sounding mid-range earbuds I’ve ever examined that don’t have a bass focus (an vital distinction provided that many rivals concentrate on highly effective bass greater than Soundpeats has).
Treble is clearly the main focus right here. The stability, brimming with readability and making vocals and higher-frequency devices sparkle with power and readability, is refreshing and insightful. This extends to mids, which get to make a uncommon and detailed look, after getting considerably ignored within the overwhelming majority of similarly-priced wi-fi earbuds.
Decrease frequencies aren’t as highly effective as on many rival buds, however they’re better-defined too, which greater than makes up for it – the built-in bassline these buds present sits effectively within the combine with out ever dominating or encroaching.
There’s a beautiful sound separation occurring too, spacing and layering every musical passage and instrument in a manner that justifies the usage of a number of drivers.
Not content material with a stable array of {hardware}, Soundpeats has included assist for all kinds of wi-fi audio codecs too, together with aptX, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC, AAC and SBC. I solely briefly examined with LDAC for concern of working down the battery (until the app turned it on with out telling me…) however the buds’ launch similtaneously Spotify Lossless is a beautiful little deal with for audio reviewers.
Soundpeats H3 overview: Worth
I’ve obtained an ongoing checklist of great-value mid-range wi-fi earbuds that I can advocate to individuals who ask for my recommendation – placement on the checklist boils down as to whether or not I’d purchase it myself if, god forbid, I finished getting despatched buds to check.
The Soundpeats H3 actually earn a spot on the checklist. They could not have the options of rivals however the audio chops greater than make up for it. They sound nice and, extra importantly, distinctly totally different from most same-priced rivals – all for half the worth of different audiophile-grade earbuds.
Ought to I purchase the Soundpeats H3?
Attributes | Notes | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
Options | Middling battery life and ANC, with some app connection issues. | 3/5 |
Design | Enticing and light-weight buds, albeit with a little bit of a giant case. | 4.5/5 |
Sound high quality | The specs checklist does not lie with these well-tuned buds. | 4/5 |
Worth | They don’t seem to be the most affordable buds ever, however they’re much more inexpensive than different equally-great sounding buds. | 4/5 |
Purchase them if…
Don’t purchase them if…
Soundpeats H3 overview: Additionally contemplate
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Soundpeats H3 | OnePlus Buds 4 | AirPods 4 | Skullcandy Methodology 360 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Drivers | 12mm + twin balanced armatures | 11mm + 6mm | Customized Apple design | 12mm |
Energetic noise cancellation | Sure | Sure | No | Sure |
Battery life | 12mm + twin balanced armatures | 11 hours (buds) 45 hours (case) | 5 hours (buds) 30 hours whole (with case) | 11 hours (earbuds), 29 hours (whole) |
Weight | 6g (buds) 53g (case) | 4.73g (buds) 40g (case) | 4.3g (buds); 32.3g (case) | 11g (buds) 77g (case) |
Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 5.4 | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.3 |
Waterproofing | IPX5 | IP55 | IP54 | IPX4 |
How I examined the Soundpeats H3
- Examined for 21 days
- Examined at dwelling, within the workplace and on walks
I examined the Soundpeats H3 for not less than three weeks with a view to write this overview.
For testing, the buds had been linked to my Android telephone and I used music platforms together with Spotify, Tidal, Netflix, YouTube and varied video games. I examined at dwelling, on walks round my neighborhood and on varied modes of transport, together with trains and planes.
I have been reviewing devices for TechRadar for six years now, together with many earbuds throughout a variety of costs.
- First reviewed in October 2025
