Sennheiser Sennheiser CX 150BT Wireless In-Ear Headphones Review
The Sennheiser CX 150BT offer premium sound on a budget, but you'll have to live with a short battery, a bad microphone, and a neckband that feels like a blast from the past.
The 30-Second Version
The Sennheiser CX 150BT deliver fantastic sound for under $75, but you make big compromises. The 10-hour battery is short, the microphone is bad, and the neckband design is dated. Only buy if audio quality is your absolute top priority.
Overview
The Sennheiser CX 150BT are a straightforward pair of wireless earbuds. They ditch the charging case and fancy features for a simple, neckband-style design that just works.
You're getting classic Sennheiser audio quality here, which is a big plus. But the trade-off is a design that feels a bit dated, especially when you look at the battery life and microphone performance.
Performance
Sound quality is the star of the show. With an 88th percentile ranking for sound, these deliver the balanced, detailed audio Sennheiser is known for. The Bluetooth 5.0 connection is solid, landing in the 83rd percentile. The flip side is the battery, which at 10 hours is in the bottom 19th percentile, and the microphone is a clear weak spot, scoring a dismal 25.9 out of 100 for calls.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent, balanced sound quality for the price. 96th
- Extremely comfortable fit with multiple ear tips. 86th
- Reliable Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. 83th
- Simple three-button remote for easy control. 74th
Cons
- Battery life is below average at just 10 hours.
- Microphone quality is poor for calls.
- The neckband design feels dated.
- Lacks any form of noise cancellation.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | In-Ear |
| Wearing Style | Rounded Tips |
| Ear Tips | s |
| Weight | 0.0 kg / 0.0 lbs |
Audio
| Driver Type | Sennheiser CX 150BT Wireless In-Ear Headphones with Bluetooth 5.0 (White) |
| Freq Min | 17 |
| Freq Max | 20000 |
| Impedance | 28 |
| Codecs | AAC, SBC |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5 |
| Wired Connector | USB-C |
Earbud Battery
| Battery Life | 10 |
| Charge Time | 1 |
| Charging | USB-C |
Case Battery
| Case Charging | USB-C |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
Features
| Touch Controls | Yes |
| Water Resistance | Water-Resistant |
Value & Pricing
At around $60 to $75, you're paying for the Sennheiser name and its sound signature. If pure audio quality is your top priority, these are a decent value. But you're sacrificing modern conveniences like a charging case, long battery life, and a good microphone, which you can find on competitors at similar prices.
Price History
vs Competition
Compared to the Nothing Ear (a), you lose the modern true wireless case and fun design but gain slightly better sound. Against the Anker Soundcore P3i, you get better audio but miss out on active noise cancellation and much longer battery life. The Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort are in a different league with premium ANC, but they also cost three to four times as much. The CX 150BT sit in a niche for the audio purist on a tight budget.
| Spec | Sennheiser Sennheiser CX 150BT Wireless In-Ear Headphones | Sony Sony WF-1000XM5 Noise-Canceling True Wireless | Technics Technics EAH-AZ80 Noise-Canceling True Wireless | Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra True Wireless | Apple Airpods Pro 3 Apple AirPods Pro with Wireless MagSafe Charging | Jabra Jabra Evolve2 Buds USB-A UC Earbuds with USB-A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear | In-Ear |
| Driver Type | Sennheiser CX 150BT Wireless In-Ear Headphones with Bluetooth 5.0 (White) | Sony WF-1000XM5 Noise-Canceling True Wireless In-Ear Headphones (Black) | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | — | true | true | true | true | true |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.2 |
| Battery Life Hours | 10 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
| Case Battery Hours | — | 16 | 16 | 18 | 24 | 25 |
| Water Resistance | Water-Resistant | IPX4 | IPX4 | IPX4 | IP57 | IP57 |
| Multipoint | — | true | true | true | true | true |
Common Questions
Q: Do these have a charging case?
No, they do not. They use a neckband design where the battery and controls are housed in a module that rests on your collar. You charge them via a USB-C cable directly.
Q: How is the noise cancellation?
There is no active noise cancellation (ANC). You only get passive isolation from the ear tips, which our data shows performs below average compared to other in-ear headphones.
Q: Can you use just one earbud at a time?
No, you cannot. The earbuds are connected by a wire and neckband, so both must be used together.
Who Should Skip This
Skip these if you take a lot of calls, need all-day battery, or want a modern, pocketable true wireless experience. The microphone is a deal-breaker for remote workers, and the lack of a case makes them awkward for on-the-go use. Look at the Anker Soundcore P3i instead for better features at this price.
Verdict
Buy these if you want the best possible wired-like sound from a budget wireless option and don't mind the old-school neckband. They're perfect for focused music listening at a desk or at home. Just don't plan on using them for important phone calls.