Skullcandy Skullcandy Method 360 ANC True Wireless Review
Skullcandy's Method 360 ANC earbuds promise Bose sound on a budget. Our testing found the battery is a star, but the audio doesn't quite live up to the name.
The 30-Second Version
The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC are decent budget earbuds with a great battery and okay ANC. They're fine for casual listening, but you can get better sound and features elsewhere for the price. Skip if you care about audio quality or connectivity.
Overview
The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC are true wireless earbuds that promise Bose-tuned sound and active noise cancellation for under $130. They're built for commutes and everyday use, with a clip-on case and up to 40 hours of battery life.
On paper, that's a solid package. But our data shows these buds land squarely in the middle of the pack. They're not bad, but they're not great either. They're just... fine.
Performance
Performance is a mixed bag. The battery life is a genuine highlight, sitting in the 61st percentile. You'll get through a week of commutes without a sweat. The ANC is adjustable and works okay, ranking in the 37th percentile—it'll dull a bus engine but won't silence a plane cabin. The real letdown is sound quality, landing in the 40th percentile. For 'Sound by Bose,' it's surprisingly flat and unremarkable. Connectivity is also weak at the 22nd percentile, so expect occasional hiccups.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Battery life is excellent and lasts for days. 95th
- The clip-on charging case is super convenient. 90th
- Adjustable ANC and transparency modes are handy. 89th
- They're comfortable enough for long listening sessions. 89th
Cons
- Sound quality is mediocre for the price.
- Bluetooth connectivity can be spotty.
- The mic quality is just okay for calls.
- Build quality feels a bit cheap.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | In-Ear |
| Wearing Style | Dual Ear True Wireless Earbud |
| Weight | 0.0 kg / 0.0 lbs |
Audio
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Driver Size | 12 |
| Freq Min | 20 |
| Freq Max | 20000 |
| Impedance | 16 |
| Max SPL | 97.1 |
Noise Control
| ANC | Yes |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
Earbud Battery
| Battery Life | 9 |
| Fast Charging | 10min=2hrs |
| Charging | USB-C |
Case Battery
| Case Battery | 23 |
| Case Charging | USB-C |
| Wireless Charging | No |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
| NC Mic | Yes |
Features
| Touch Controls | Yes |
| App | iOS, Android |
| Volume Limiting | No |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 |
Value & Pricing
At $100 to $130, the value proposition is shaky. You're paying for the Bose name and a long battery, but you're getting mid-tier performance almost everywhere else. If battery life is your absolute top priority, maybe. But for most people, that money buys better-sounding buds with more reliable features.
vs Competition
Stacked against the competition, they struggle. The CMF Buds Pro 2 offer better sound and a unique dial for less cash. The Nothing Ear (a) smokes them in ANC performance. Even the JBL Tune Buds 2 often go on sale for less and deliver more consistent audio. The Sony WF-1000XM5 is in a different league entirely, but it costs more. The Method 360 ANC's only real win is battery life, but that's not enough to crown a champion.
| Spec | Skullcandy Skullcandy Method 360 ANC True Wireless | Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancellation Apple - AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation - | Sony Sony WF-1000XM5 Noise-Canceling True Wireless | Technics Technics EAH-AZ80 Noise-Canceling True Wireless | Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless | Sennheiser Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | In-Ear | True Wireless | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic | Sony WF-1000XM5 Noise-Canceling True Wireless In-Ear Headphones (Black) | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.4 |
| Battery Life Hours | 9 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7.5 |
| Case Battery Hours | 23 | 25 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 22.5 |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | Water-Resistant | IPX4 | IPX4 | IPX4 | IP54 |
| Multipoint | true | true | true | true | true | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product |
|---|
| Apple AirPods 4 Active Noise Cancellation Apple - AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation - Compare |
| Sony Sony WF-1000XM5 Noise-Canceling True Wireless Compare |
| Technics Technics EAH-AZ80 Noise-Canceling True Wireless Compare |
| Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless Compare |
| Sennheiser Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 Compare |
Common Questions
Q: How good is the noise cancellation?
It's adjustable but only mid-tier. It's fine for constant low rumbles like traffic or office chatter, but it won't block out everything.
Q: Is the sound quality really by Bose?
Technically yes, but our scoring puts it in the 40th percentile. It's tuned by Bose, but the hardware limits the final output to just okay.
Q: How is the call quality?
The mic ranks in the 33rd percentile. It'll get the job done in quiet places, but don't expect crystal clarity on a windy street.
Who Should Skip This
Skip these if you're an audiophile or need rock-solid connectivity. The sound profile is too bland for critical listening, and our data shows the Bluetooth can be finicky. If you take a lot of calls on the go, the mediocre mic means you should look elsewhere too.
Verdict
Buy these only if you need marathon battery life above all else and don't mind average sound. They're for the casual listener who wants ANC for their bus ride and will never critique a bassline. For everyone else, there are better options.