Adidas FWD-01 Review – Earbuds Purpose-Engineered To Make Runs Better - Android

Now, right off the bat, I’d be the first to admit that even as a self-described audio junkie, I didn’t realize that Adidas even made audio devices. At least not prior to this review of the company’s Adidas FWD-01 earbuds. But that doesn’t necessarily mean a whole lot since there are hundreds of brands to [...]

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The post Adidas FWD-01 Review – Earbuds Purpose-Engineered To Make Runs Better appeared first on Android Headlines.

Now, right off the bat, I’d be the first to admit that even as a self-described audio junkie, I didn’t realize that Adidas even made audio devices. At least not prior to this review of the company’s Adidas FWD-01 earbuds. But that doesn’t necessarily mean a whole lot since there are hundreds of brands to keep tabs on.

Needless to say, when I was offered Adidas FWD-01 for review, I jumped at the opportunity. Put simply, these earbuds impressed me right out of the box on the hardware front. And they really didn’t stop impressing me throughout my test process with just one or two caveats.

S0, without further ado, let’s dig in and see how they did.

Adidas FWD-01 hardware showcases a new take on an old design

In terms of hardware aesthetics and design, Adidas FWD-01 comes in three colors — the company sent its “Night Grey” variation for review. The other colors are “Light Grey” and the multi-toned blue, coral pink, and grey “Signal Coral.”

But the most noteworthy thing about this design may be that it’s an older style with a completely new take. Adidas started with the reliable earbud layout, two earbud housings linked by a covered wire that connects wirelessly to a source. And then it turned that on its head by including a braided fabric cover and thick rubberized covers on the buds themselves. That, as shown in the images here, is a gradient from dark to light.

The fabric also covers the button housing found in both the left- and right-hand lines. And there are textures on the earbuds themselves too, though that only makes them more comfortable to grip for placing in or taking out. There are no buttons at all on the earbuds. The only interactive element there is the embedded USB-C port.

In terms of the earbuds, those bear a hooked rubber design. With the silicone tip and wing being completely replaceable for differing ear sizes.

The whole thing, summarily, has an incredibly premium feel. That carries through to the buttons and USB-C port too. Although there is some deliberate jostle in the buttons — they are, after all, embedded under the braided fabric — they don’t feel loose. In fact, they are incredibly and satisfactorily clicky and feel solid when pressed. The port is the same way. Although the plug on the included charging cable doesn’t slip in entirely up to the plastic.

The earbuds and wire strap, conversely, are additionally incredibly comfortable to wear. There are magnets in the earbuds and, when connected, the earbuds stop playing music. With the caveat of the music needing to be started again via the on-device buttons or source device once stopped. But, regardless, they hang around the neck almost weightlessly thanks to the premium materials used here. There’s no discomfort, even when worn for a long time.

The earbuds themselves are the same way. There was just enough flex in the ear tip wing to keep the earbuds in place without putting too much pressure on the outer ear. Meanwhile, the earbud tips are squishy and comfortable too. So wearing this in-ear all day didn’t present any trouble either.

Finally, Adidas includes a fold-to-close carry case. Adidas made that from a mesh material and even added a slot specifically for the charging cable. But it’s also small enough that the accessories just barely fit without being difficult to place inside. So, unlike many other companies’ included carry cases, this one from Adidas doesn’t take up much more extra room than the earbuds themselves would.

The IPX4-rated design for sweat-proofing and water resistance is just icing on the cake.

Battery life from these earbuds is sure to impress

Now, the one caveat with Adidas FWD-01 on the battery front, at least for my review, is the result of the charging cable. Included in the box, the accessory is just over a few inches long. That meant charging was only possible for me since my plugs are typically behind furniture, from a laptop or charging bank.

That’s not necessarily a deal-breaker. But, since I really don’t want to rely on a battery bank — which itself will need to continuously be recharged — or a laptop port, it very nearly felt like one. Although I could just as easily buy or use one of my other USB-C charging cables, the inclusion of such a short cable is a real letdown.

Otherwise, the battery in Adidas FWD-01 lasts even longer than the company claimed. And that’s under conditions that would drain most devices over a far shorter period than is claimed. And that’s bearing in mind that conditions such as distance from a source device, volume, media type, and other factors drastically change battery life from user to user. I listened at 90-percent volume from a distance averaging 20-feet. So my use was more intensive than most users’ will be.

Adidas claims that these earbuds should last over 16-hours. My usage saw around 16-hours and 20-minutes.

In similarly impressive fashion, Adidas FWD-01 charged incredibly quickly under review. Despite lasting over 16-hours, they took just under 45-minutes to charge and attained more than half-charge at just 15-minutes.

Audio from Adidas FWD-01 is bass-heavy but clarity and sound separation make up for that

Now, on the audio front, if you don’t love bass, these are not the headphones to buy. And that’s because Adidas FWD-01 is among the more bass-heavy earbuds I’ve had the opportunity to review. In songs where the lowest tones are typically drowned out by highs and mids, these held through. In effect, they offered all the rumble and head-shaking low that was intended.

Of course, that means they aren’t necessarily going to be the most audiophile-friendly headphones on the market. But they certainly aren’t the worst either. Especially if you keep the volume below 70-percent of the maximum. Above around 80-percent, the bass does tend to overpower. But under that, the frequency separation and distinction are actually very good. If not the best.

Balance, accuracy, clarity, and sound placement, conversely, are all right where I’d want them to be for the money. And at the ongoing sale price of just $99.99, they feel like a great value.

All of that, it goes without saying, means that these are going to be just about perfect for a high-energy workout. Whether running, lifting, or just about anything else.

Connectivity and special features are, summarily, on-point

Now, Adidas FWD-01 is part of the company’s “Running” line of wireless earbuds. And, as such, it isn’t necessarily the best option if you happen to need to put a lot of distance between yourself and your smartphone. In