CASCHO BX17

The CASCHO BX17 packs a 60-hour total battery and an IPX7 sweatproof design into a sub-$30 package. The earhooks make them virtually unshakeable during runs and lifts. Call quality is rough, and the bass is just okay. But for pure gym duty, these are one of the best values you'll find.

The CASCHO BX17 is the kind of earbud that reminds you not all great budget buys need to feel cheap. For around $25, you get an absurd 60 hours of total battery life, a bright LED display on the case, and a set of silicone earhooks that wrap around your ears so securely that they basically dare you to try and shake them loose. The spec sheet reads like someone said "let's throw every workout-friendly feature at this thing" and then forgot to raise the price. And honestly? In a sea of true wireless buds that fall out mid-sprint, that's kind of refreshing.

Who's this for? Gym rats, runners, and anyone who wants a pair of beater earbuds that won't die in the middle of a long session. The IPX7 rating means rain and sweat are non-issues, and the physical buttons mean you can skip tracks with wet hands without punching yourself in the ear. This isn't the bud you reach for when you want to analyze a FLAC file of a live jazz recording. But for podcasts, pump-up playlists, and maybe a Zoom call from a quiet kitchen, it absolutely gets the job done.

But let's address the elephant in the room right out of the gate: call quality. With a mic score in the 36th percentile, you won't be leading any board meetings with these. Build quality also sits in the lower third, so that glossy plastic isn't winning any design awards. Still, when you consider the battery life alone lands in the top 10% of all earbuds we've tracked, the BX17 is making a pretty clear trade: we'll give you insane stamina and a locked-in fit, and you'll forgive us for skipping the premium trimmings. For the price, that's a trade a lot of people will happily take.

Here's where the BX17 gets interesting. That 60-hour total battery figure isn't just marketing fluff. Our database puts these buds at the 91st percentile for battery life, which is basically best-in-class territory. You'll realistically squeeze 10 hours from the earbuds themselves and then the 650mAh case tops them off five more times. The front-facing digital display is a nice touch too, it shows you exactly how much juice the case and each earbud have left, so no more guessing games. In real-world gym duty, we went over a week of daily hour-long workouts without having to plug in the case.

The 14.5mm dynamic driver, on the other hand, sits more in the middle of the pack. Sound quality lands in the 64th percentile, which means it's solid, well above average, but not a standout. You get clear vocals and decent instrument separation that makes podcasts and audiobooks sound crisp. Bass is present but polite; don't expect skull-rumbling sub-bass for hip-hop or EDM. That's partly why the "crystal clear" feedback from owners makes sense, these are tuned for intelligibility, not for rattling your teeth. Connectivity over Bluetooth 5.3 is about average, pairing is snappy and the auto-connect works reliably, but don't expect the hyper-low latency you'd get on a gaming-focused bud.

Pricing on these things is a bit of a rollercoaster. On our latest check, vendors listed the BX17 anywhere from $25 to a laughable $300, which is clearly someone hoping for a misclick. The real deal is on Amazon, where it reliably sits between $25 and $30 depending on color. At that price, it's one of the most ridiculous battery-to-dollar ratios we've ever seen. For comparison, the JBL Endurance Race 2 will run you closer to $50, and the EarFun Air Pro 4+ is around $80. Neither can touch the BX17's stamina, though both sound better and feel more premium. If your priority is stretching every dollar for gym time, the BX17 is basically a cheat code. You're not sacrificing durability where it counts, that IPX7 rating means these will survive a downpour or a trip through a spin class without complaint.

Stacked against the JBL Endurance Race 2, the BX17 holds its own on staying power and price but loses out on refinement. The JBL has a more energetic sound signature, a slightly tougher build, and better bass response, but it also costs twice as much and doesn't match the battery life or give you a case display. If you want something that sounds more exciting and you care a little about call quality, the Endurance Race 2 is worth the jump. The Soundcore P31i is another nearby opponent; it includes app-based EQ and a more detailed soundstage for a similar price, but it lacks the earhook security that makes the BX17 a gym favorite. For runners and HIIT folks, that hook is practically a dealmaker.

Then there's the EarFun Air Pro 4+, which enters an entirely different weight class with active noise cancellation and a higher build quality, but at triple the cost. If you need silence on a plane, stretch for those. But if your earbuds are destined for a locker room bag and you just want something that won't die, the BX17 is the cash-conscious champ. Our data confirms what users already know: these are purpose-built for sweat and stamina, not for audiophile scrutiny.

Skip the BX17 if you need reliable call quality or any kind of noise cancellation, the mic is subpar and there's no ANC. Bass lovers will also find the low end underwhelming compared to pricier sport earbuds. If you've had comfort issues with buds inside the ear canal, the earhook design can still cause pressure points after an hour. For better sound and call performance without breaking the bank, look at the Soundcore P31i; if you want premium ANC and best-in-class mic quality, stretch to the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro.

For the casual gym-goer who hates recharging, the CASCHO BX17 is a no-brainer. You get a battery that laughs at the idea of dying mid-workout, a fit that treats even the most aggressive burpee as a non-event, and sound that's more than good enough for getting through a podcast or a play-by-play of your rep count. At $25, you're not risking much, and what you're getting is a pair of buds that will probably outlast your motivation on a rough Monday morning.

But there are clear boundaries. If you're on calls more than casually, the mic performance is going to frustrate you quickly. The lack of deep bass means that listening to bass-forward tracks feels a bit like diet soda, close, but not the real thing. And the build quality, while not fragile, won't impress anyone who's held a set of higher-end sport buds. Still, as a pair of no-strings-attached gym beaters, the BX17 earns its spot. It's the utility infielder of earbuds: it won't wow you, but it'll show up every single time.