If you're looking for a new pair of true wireless earbuds to soundtrack your workout, but you're not a fan of the Apple AirPods, the latest buds from Kygo could make a compelling alternative.
The E7/1000 True Wireless Waterproof Earbuds are one of a number of new headphones launched by the Norwegian DJ's audio brand, which also include two pairs of noise-cancelling headphones.
The company is quickly making a name for itself following the launch of the Kygo Life A11/800 last year, which we awarded four out of five stars in our recent review, thanks to their good sound quality, comfortable fit, and decent battery life.
- The best true wireless earbuds of 2020
- Check out our AirPods Pro review
- Read our review of the Kygo Life A11/800 wireless headphones
The new true wireless earbuds come with an IPX7 waterproof rating, which means they should easily withstand a sweaty workout or a little rain while running – for comparison, neither the AirPods or AirPods Pro come with an official waterproof rating (although Apple says they're sweat- and water-resistant).
Kygo's AirPod alternatives also come with foam tips and sports wings (or ear fins, if you prefer), which should provide a secure fit during even the most vigorous aerobics session.
The earbuds come with a six-hour battery life, while the charging case provides a further 24 hours of charge – that's not the best battery life we've seen, but the earbuds do surpass both AirPods models.
Soundtrack your workout
The Kygo buds come with 'multi-touch buttons' that you can use to control the volume and playback of your music, as well as call functions – judging from the press pictures, it looks as though these are physical buttons rather than touch-sensitive housings.
That kind of design can be divisive; some people like the tactile feedback of pressing a button, while others dislike the sensation of pushing the earbuds further into their ears every time they want to change the volume.
Each bud contains a 6mm driver, but we don't know much else about the sound quality just yet – we'll need to test them to see if the Kygo E7/1000s can truly stand up to the Apple AirPods.
However, at £150 (about $195 / AU$290), they could be a compelling (and for UK customers, slightly cheaper) alternative to the AirPods; and while they don't come with premium features like the noise-cancellation seen in the Sony WF-1000XM3s, the specs suggest that the E7/1000s could make a decent pair of running earbuds.
Other models in the range include the X by Kygo Xenon noise-cancelling headphones (£200 / about $260 / AU$390), and the previously-launched Kygo A11/800.
- The best running headphones you can buy in 2020
