They don’t go into your ear canal for stability like most true wireless earbuds. But they don’t fit around your ear with a hook or a head with a band either. So, what are they?
They are the AirGo AS01 earbuds by Baseus. And they work just like any bone-conduction headphones.
Baseus: Origins in China
Baseus is a Chinese brand that was founded in 2011 and headquartered in Shenzhen, China. It is part of the Baseus Group, which specialises in researching, developing, designing, and producing mobile accessories and peripherals. The company quickly gained popularity due to its focus on innovative designs, quality products, and competitive pricing. Baseus has since expanded its presence globally, establishing itself as a prominent brand in the consumer electronics market where its products are sold internationally through various channels and online platforms.
As we know (and for those who don’t), Baseus is primarily recognised as a manufacturer of electronic accessories such as chargers, cables, phone cases, and car accessories. While they do offer some audio-related products like headphones and earphones, they are not primarily known for their audio wearables. Their focus tends to be more on mobile accessories and peripherals.
However, it seems they have expanded their product range to include this pair of air-conduction earbuds. And it is the very same one that I’ve got. And I’m going to review it today, after using it for a week.
Baseus AirGo AS01: The Best Buds in My Books
So, why are these earbuds so good? Let me count the ways. But first, let me talk a little about it.
When Baseus launched the AirGo AS01, a pair of open-ear earbuds that put an interesting spin on the design of the traditional style we’re commonly used to, I was sceptical. Not many people I knew were using them and I didn’t have anyone to ask if these were worth the money.
But they looked like something I could go for because I didn’t want to lug my Edifier headphones everywhere I went nor did I want any more in-ear earphones that seemed adamant on giving my ear canal infection or soreness. These earbuds by Baseus have a unique mechanism that ‘clamps’ the side of your ears – that is, to say, they stay in place using tension. They’re only 4.6g per bud so attaching them to my ears often made me forget that I even had them on in the first place!
However, I do want to say that with long-term use, the tendons of your ears can get sore. A tip to prevent the soreness would be to briefly massage the tendons with your fingers immediately after use. That way, the soreness has no time to settle in, which could make the use of these earbuds a lot more uncomfortable with time.
Their approach for these earbuds isn’t common as the clamping mechanism has also been found in other models like the Huawei FreeClip and the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. The only difference is that the Baseus audio version is much more affordable than either Huawei or Bose.
The Baseus AirGo AS01 earbuds aren’t only known for their innovative design. These earbuds can go up to 25 hours of battery life from the charging case and six hours from the buds, which is pretty commendable compared to many workout headphones. Because of the way they hang onto your ears, no matter how high or hard you jump, they’re never going to bungee-jump to the ground. Nor does any chewing make them want to dive-bomb your bowl of noodle soup.
These earbuds use air conduction technology to direct sound to your ears to bring you quality audio and reduce leakage. The earbuds come with two microphones in each bud, which work in tandem with a call noise reduction algorithm to make sure you can still hear your loved ones on the other side. However, I would caution against comparing this with the Nothing (1) Earbuds which come with excellent Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) features or even the Edifier W820NB headphones.
In theory, everything sounds great. And to be fair, for the price I bought them at (RM 87.90 on Shopee during a promotion period), the quality is as it comes. But I’m not complaining as all I wanted was a pair of earbuds to use on the go. It doesn’t have to actively cancel background noise or reduce noise pollution. I wanted to use them as I work at the office with the option of being aware of my surroundings or in case a colleague wanted to ask a question. In this sense, they don’t have to flap their arms like a deranged bird to get my attention.
In theory, the features packed into this design have brought me a good and consistent sound with comfort and stability without the need to insert anything into my ear canals (and they’re grateful to me for not trying to hurt them). This also meant better awareness of what’s going on around you (exactly as the portents predicted), making them ideal for working out outside or working at the office.
Baseus AirGo AS01: Sounds Good, Looks Great!
Donald Trump likes to say, “Sounds good, doesn’t work.” Complete with his hand gestures. In the case of Baseus, the AirGo AS01 earbuds sound good and look great! Epictetus once said in Discourses, “There is clarity in simplicity.”
This is why. The Baseus earbuds came in a small box that contained the case and the earbuds inside the case, the cable, and the instruction manual. Simplicity at its best! And honestly, that’s all you need. The earbuds case is chargeable using USB-C, which is pretty convenient considering that many smartphones, tablets, and laptops today use USB-C. Even my Kindle Paperwhite 5th Generation uses USB-C. You don’t have to find a power socket that caters to a microUSB port.
It’s safe to say that I’m pretty stoked about checking out new gadgets and cool ideas, but I’m also keeping it real – I sometimes wonder if this new design is gonna be comfortable for all ear shapes (as mentioned above, the tendons on your ears can get sore with long-term use), stay put during our crazy moves, and still pump out some solid tunes.
But hey, it’s kind of neat to see a fresh twist on those open-ear styles I’ve been eyeing lately.
Like those Shokz OpenFit buds with the bendy ear hook, or the OG Sony Linkbuds that chill in your ears without clogging ’em up. They’re like the Huawei Free Clip, but I haven’t had a chance to give ’em a whirl and see if they’ll actually stick around on my ears.
Seems like everyone’s jumping on the open-ear bandwagon lately, whether it’s with bone-conduction or air-conduction wizardry. And I get it – some folks dig the full-on noise-cancelling vibes, but others prefer to keep an ear out, especially during workouts or work sprints.
But let’s be real, open-ear headphones come with their own set of challenges. Like, how do they stay chill on all sorts of ears without the usual hooks or plugs? Tech wizards are hustling to figure it out, like with those bendy ear hooks or funky headband designs on the best bone conduction gear. Let’s face it, one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to ears, heads, and what floats our sound boats.
SHEU QUEN | THE RACONTEUR 