Skullcandy Smokin' Buds S2TAW-T967

The Skullcandy Smokin' Buds are ultra-cheap true wireless earbuds with a comfortable fit, IPX4 sweat resistance, and reliable Bluetooth 5.2 pairing. But the sound quality is one of the worst in our database, battery life is below average, and durability complaints about the right earbud are common. They're fine for podcasts and workouts if you're on a strict $25 budget, but most people should spend a bit more elsewhere.

Let's talk numbers. The Smokin' Buds pack a single 6mm dynamic driver per side with a 20Hz-20kHz frequency response and 16Ω impedance. That's a standard budget configuration, and our sound score of 19.5 out of 100 for music reflects it. The bass is present but muddy, the mids get crowded, and the highs roll off early. Skullcandy's Supreme Sound tuning leans warm and bass-forward, which casual listeners often describe as "fun" but anyone who cares about detail will find lacking. The preset EQ modes (bass, podcast, music) help a little, but they're more like band-aids than real fixes.

Battery life is another weak spot. Skullcandy claims 8 hours from the earbuds and 10 more from the case, totaling 20 hours. That puts the Smokin' Buds in the 20th percentile for battery in our database, which is disappointing. The quick charge feature (10 minutes for 2 hours) is genuinely useful though, especially if you forget to top up before a workout. Connectivity sits at a solid 73rd percentile thanks to Bluetooth 5.2, and pairing is straightforward. The mic quality lands at 56th percentile, so calls are passable but nothing special. Touch controls work, but as we'll get into, they're a bit too eager.

Stacked against the Nothing Buds Buds 2, the Smokin' Buds lose on sound quality and battery life but win on price. The Nothing Buds Buds 2 offer a more balanced sound signature and better overall polish, though they cost a bit more. The Soundcore P31i is probably the closest direct competitor, with similar battery claims but noticeably better audio tuning and a more reliable touch experience. If you're deciding between the Skullcandy Smokin' Buds and the JLab Jbuds Pods, the JLab buds feel sturdier and have a more forgiving control scheme. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Anker Space A40 are in a completely different league, with ANC and far superior sound, but they also cost significantly more. For pure budget shoppers, the Smokin' Buds are a known quantity with a big user base, but the competition has caught up and often surpassed them.

At $25 USD, the Smokin' Buds are competing with the Nothing Buds Buds 2, Soundcore P31i, and JLab Jbuds Pods, all of which sit in a similar price range. The Skullcandy undercuts some of them on price, but you're trading away sound quality and battery life to get there. The Anker Space A40 costs more but delivers far better audio and ANC. If your budget is hard-capped at $25 and you just need something that plays audio while you sweat, these are acceptable. But if you can stretch to $40 or $50, the jump in quality is dramatic. The 4.4-star customer rating from nearly 7,500 reviews suggests many buyers are happy, but our sentiment analysis shows that happiness comes with caveats about durability and touch sensitivity.

The Skullcandy Smokin' Buds sit in that ultra-budget true wireless earbud bracket, usually hovering around $25 USD. That's throwaway money for most people, and Skullcandy knows exactly who they're targeting here: someone who wants wireless earbuds for the gym or a commute without thinking twice about the price tag. You get a 6mm dynamic driver, Bluetooth 5.2, IPX4 sweat resistance, and a claimed 20 hours of total battery life with the case. On paper, that's a decent haul for the money.

But our database tells a more complicated story. The Smokin' Buds rank in the 90th percentile for social proof, meaning tons of people have bought and reviewed these things. That's a double-edged sword. Lots of happy casual listeners, but also a 17th percentile user sentiment score that suggests the love isn't universal. The sound quality score lands at a rough 9th percentile, which is one of the worst we've seen in this category. So is this a hidden gem or a budget trap? Let's dig in.

For anyone searching "are Skullcandy Smokin' Buds good for working out?" the short answer is: they'll survive your sweat, but they won't blow your mind. The passive noise-isolating fit does block some ambient noise without active noise cancelling, which helps battery life but won't silence a loud gym. If you're comparing these to other cheap wireless earbuds, the value proposition hinges entirely on what you're willing to forgive.

Skip the Smokin' Buds if you care about music quality at all. The 9th percentile sound score means these are genuinely bad for enjoying music, and no amount of EQ presets will fix that. Audiophiles, commuters who want ANC, or anyone who listens to music for hours a day should look at the Anker Space A40 or Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro instead. Also skip these if you've been burned by earbud durability issues before, since the right earbud failure reports are too consistent to ignore. And if you hate fiddly touch controls, the overly sensitive touch surface will drive you nuts. For podcast listeners and gym-goers on a strict budget, they're fine. For everyone else, spend the extra $15 to $25 on something better.

Should you buy the Skullcandy Smokin' Buds? If you need the absolute cheapest true wireless earbuds that won't die from sweat and you're not picky about audio, sure. They're comfortable, they pair easily, and the quick charge is handy. But the 9th percentile sound score is hard to ignore. These earbuds are for podcasts, casual YouTube, and background music while you lift weights. They are not for anyone who actually enjoys music as a primary activity.

The durability reports are also concerning. Multiple owners mention the right earbud failing within the warranty period, and that's a pattern, not a fluke. Combined with the overly sensitive touch controls that can accidentally shut things down mid-workout, the Smokin' Buds feel like a gamble. You might get a great pair that lasts two years, or you might be back on Amazon ordering a replacement in six months. At this price, that's a risk some people are willing to take. We'd suggest spending a little more on the Soundcore P31i or JLab Jbuds Pods instead.