Skullcandy Skullcandy Dime 3 True Wireless Earbuds (Bone Review

The Skullcandy Dime 3 are a $20 special. The mic and connectivity are shockingly good, but the sound quality is among the worst we've tested. Only buy these if you need a cheap, disposable pair for calls and the gym, not for music.

The Skullcandy Dime 3 are cheap, cheerful, and built for the basics. For around $20, you get a pair of true wireless buds with Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint pairing, and an IPX4 rating for sweat and light rain. They're a no-frills option for calls, podcasts, and workouts where you don't want to risk your expensive gear.

Our data shows these are a classic case of 'you get what you pay for.' They score a solid 87th percentile for mic quality and 81st for connectivity, which is impressive for the price. But the sound quality lands in the 3rd percentile, which is... not great. If you're an audiophile, look elsewhere immediately.

Let's be real: the sound is the weak point. The 6mm drivers deliver Skullcandy's 'Supreme Sound,' but in our testing, that translates to a bass-heavy, muddy profile that struggles with clarity. Music gets a dismal 15.8/100 score in our database. The good news? The mics are shockingly clear for the price, and Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint works flawlessly. Battery life is just okay at 8 hours per bud, landing in the 45th percentile. They're fine for calls and YouTube, but don't expect to be wowed.

At $20 to $23, it's hard to complain too much. You're paying for core wireless functionality and decent call quality, not sonic excellence. If your main uses are phone calls, podcasts, and gym audio, and you lose earbuds often, the value is there. If you care at all about how your music sounds, this is not a good value—you'd be better off spending a bit more.

Stacked against giants like the Sony WF-1000XM5 or Apple AirPods Pro, it's not a fair fight—those are in a different league for sound and ANC. The real competition is other budget buds in the $20-$30 range. The Dime 3 wins on connectivity features (multipoint is rare this cheap) and mic quality. But if you find a sale on last-gen models from Anker or JLab, you might get better sound for similar money. It's a trade-off: top-tier connectivity vs. mediocre audio.

If you're buying these primarily for music, look elsewhere immediately. Our music performance score of 15.8/100 is a deal-breaker. Also, if you need serious noise cancellation for commuting or travel, the lack of ANC and mediocre passive isolation make these a poor choice.

Buy these if you need a ultra-budget pair of wireless buds strictly for calls, podcasts, or the gym, and you prioritize a reliable connection and clear mic over everything else. They're a solid 'beater' pair. For everyone else, especially music listeners, skip them.