If you’re looking for an affordable alternative to Apple’s AirPods that won’t dangle from your ear, yet fit secure for a workout or even just casual listening, you should check out Rowkin’s Surge, their latest truly wireless Headphones.
Dan covered both of Rowkin’s newest fleet of headphones including the Micro and the Surge back in August and described the Rowkin as:
A designed that delivers a secure, comfortable sport-fit
· Big, rich bass and clear call quality thanks to their 14.2mm dynamic driver.
· A range of up to 30 feet with Bluetooth 4.2
· Approximately five hours of play/talk time
· Built-in multi-functionality that makes switching songs or accepting calls or activating Siri and Google Assistant easy
· A high-performance microphone offers an ultra-stable performance, capturing every detail for a clear call.
Here are a few more dynamic specs of the Rowkin Surge:
Rowkin Surge Specifications:
Bluetooth IC: CSRA64210
Bluetooth Version: BT4.2
Bluetooth Profile: HFP V1.6;HSP V1.2;A2DP V1.3;AVRCP V1.6
Audio Decoding: SBC;AAC
RF carrier frequency: 2402MHz-2480MHz
Receiving distance/range: 10m
Charging voltage: MICRO USB DC 5V
Playing time: Approx. 45 hours
Charging time: Approx. 1 hours
Charging current: 100mA
Auto-shut- off time without connection: 5 min
Multi-point connection: N/A
Battery indicator: Headphone battery indicator visible in iOS
Voice Prompt: Optional
TWS connecting: Support
Battery: 501220 3.7V 95mAh lithium-ion battery
MIC: 3.72.2 MEMS MIC;-42dB±3dB
Driver:
Driver Spec: ?14.2mm
Resistance: 32?
Rated Power: 3mW
Frequency response: 20Hz-20KHz Sensitivity: 106dB±3dB(IEC-711 1kHz/-10dB)
Product size: 50.542.533mm
Product Weight: Approx. 12g2(bare unit)
I’ve been using the Rowkin Surge over the past few weeks, and overall I’ve been pleased with a lot of things about them, yet disappointed with just as many. As a fan of “truly wireless” headphones, I tend to weigh how I feel about “truly wireless” headphones by two standards these days: The Jabra Elite Sport, and the Apple AirPods. I’ve tried many, from the Bragi Dash, to Skybuds, you name it, however this is one of those spaces where having too many features could be to the headphones detriment, yet comfort, battery life, and sound always are the most important factors.
With the Rowkin Surge you get a lot of the same, including a steady five hours of battery life which is enough to get through the bulk of your day or an extended run outside. Unfortunately there is no wireless charging case like much of the competition which to me is a huge bummer. This means that you have to be plugged up in order to charge. Rowkin states that you can plug up for ten minutes and get a full hour of music or talk time, which I can say is accurate after testing myself. Here’s the downside to that. Each earbud for the Surge actually has it’s own USB charging port which means they have to be charged separately. Rowkin luckily included a split charging cable featuring two microUSB cables, but honestly, you could’ve just given us a case to charge the pair.
Usefulness in the gym is nice courtesy of the IPX5 rated WaterSafe coating, giving you not only comfort for sweating in the gym, but the TPE over-ear hook makes sure the buds will stay secure and not fall out (like the AirPods).
Then there’s the audio quality. I’ll be completely honest here — I’ve heard better, but at this price of $129, they sound on-par to what you’d expect from the Skybuds of the world, dare I say better. They aren’t going to sound as crisp as the AirPods, or be as bass-heavy as the Jabra Elite Sport, but the comfort in the sound is balanced, and makes for an average listening experience.
Overall, for the price, I would say it’s a great pivot from the AirPods, especially if you plan on using in the gym as they hold up well, and don’t get in the way at all. Only thing I wish is that they included a charging case.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review unit.
What I Like: Able to listen with one ear or two like the AirPods; Feature noise reduction
What Needs Improvement: Needs charging case