Skullcandy Smokin Buds S2TAW-R740

These $25 earbuds deliver ANC in the top 3% of all true wireless buds we've ever tested. Battery life is average at 8 hours, sound is solid, and build quality is surprisingly sturdy. But multiple reports of right earbud failure within the warranty period and a twitchy touch panel turn a potential home run into a risky purchase.

The Skullcandy Smokin' Buds pull off something rare at $25: active noise cancellation that lands in the 97th percentile of all true wireless earbuds we've tested. That's right up there with buds costing three or four times as much, and it's genuinely impressive in a coffee shop or on a plane. Build quality is another shock, sitting at the 91st percentile, so these don't feel like cheap plastic that'll crack after a month. But before you rush to add them to your cart, there's a story in our data that we can't ignore—reliability. A striking number of owners report the right earbud dying within the warranty period, and that puts a big question mark over what could have been a budget masterpiece.

The 4.5-star average from over 600 reviews looks rosy, but our user sentiment analysis pulls back the curtain. While sound quality and comfort draw a lot of praise for the price, the same buyers keep mentioning accidental shutdowns from hypersensitive touch controls and missing accessories like the charging cable. So you're getting a pair of earbuds with elite ANC and a sturdy build, but also a gamble on whether both sides keep working past a year.

Let's talk about that ANC, because it's the headliner. In our database, these Smokin' Buds sit in the top 3% for noise cancellation among all true wireless earbuds. That doesn't mean they cancel everything, but low-end rumble gets muted enough to transform a noisy commute. Build quality holds its own too, ranking among the best on the market at the 91st percentile. The sound itself is solid but not a chart-topper: 73rd percentile, which translates to clear, energetic audio that gets the job done but won't make an audiophile swoon. You get AAC and SBC codecs, and while there's no customizable EQ in the app, the preset modes (music, bass, podcast) are handy.

Connectivity sits in the 76th percentile, so pairing is snappy and you won't drop a signal walking around the house. The mic is a step above average at the 80th percentile, fine for calls in a quiet room. Battery life is 8 hours in the buds and 20 total with the case, a perfectly middle-of-the-pack showing at the 71st percentile. The IP55 rating means they laugh off sweat and rain, which pairs well with that secure fit most users mention. But that touch panel—overly sensitive to the point where brushing it can shut down your music—is a real nuisance in everyday use.

At $20 to $25, you're getting noise cancellation that performs like it belongs on a $100+ pair, plus a build that's tough enough to toss into a gym bag without worry. Compared to most earbuds on the shelf at this price, the Smokin' Buds look like a steal with their ANC, app support, and IP55 rating. The value proposition crumbles a bit when you consider the failure rate; paying $25 twice in a year because the right bud quits cancels out the savings. If you get a solid unit, the price-to-performance ratio is fantastic. If you don't, it's a headache.

Stacked against the EarFun Air Pro 4+, which typically sits in the $40-50 range, the Smokin' Buds have a clear lead in noise cancellation but fall noticeably behind in overall sound clarity and long-term trustworthiness. The Soundcore P31i offers a more balanced, dependable experience for similar money, while the JBL Endurance Race 2 is a safer bet for workout fiends who want something that just works every time. If ANC is your one non-negotiable and you're feeling lucky, the Skullcandy is shockingly good. For everyone else, spending an extra $10-20 gets you earbuds that won't leave you with a dead right bud in six months.

Skip these if you need a trustworthy daily driver. The high failure rate on the right earbud, combined with average sound and an oversensitive touch panel, makes them a gamble. Anyone who values long-term reliability over a flashy ANC spec should look at the Soundcore P31i or JBL Endurance Race 2 instead. The Smokin' Buds are more of a tech experiment than a stable companion.

We wanted to love the Smokin' Buds because that 97th-percentile ANC at $25 is genuinely exciting. But the data doesn't lie: a worrying number of owners are on their third or fourth pair due to right earbud failures. If you catch them on sale and are okay with potentially needing a warranty replacement, the ANC and build quality make them a fun, feature-packed gamble. Just know you're rolling the dice on reliability, and that's a tough trade-off when your music stops mid-run.