Dell Pro Plus EB525

The Dell Pro Plus EB525 is a true wireless earbud built for office calls, with best-in-class Adaptive ANC and solid multipoint Bluetooth. But battery life is among the worst we've tested, and sound quality falls short of similarly priced rivals. It's a niche pick for Microsoft Teams users, not a general-purpose earbud.

Let's start with the good news. The Adaptive ANC on the EB525 ranks in the 97th percentile in our database, which means it's genuinely best-in-class right now. That's a big deal for an earbud at this price. Background noise gets crushed, and the transparency mode is easy to trigger with a pinch. Connectivity is also a standout, landing in the 91st percentile. Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint means you can hop between a laptop and phone without re-pairing, which is exactly what a work earbud should do.

The mic tells a more complicated story. Dell makes a big deal about the AI-based noise-cancelling mic filtering out background noise, and in practice it does a decent job. But the mic performance only lands in the 68th percentile, which is solid but not the "best-in-class call quality" Dell claims in its marketing. It's fine for Zoom calls in a quiet home office, but if you're taking calls from a busy coffee shop, don't expect miracles.

Sound quality is where the EB525 stumbles. It sits in the 29th percentile, which is disappointing for a $150+ earbud. The audio is clear and balanced, as some owners note, but it lacks the depth and richness you'd get from the Sony WF-1000XM6 or Technics EAH-AZ100. And battery life is a real weak spot, landing in the 5th percentile. That's one of the worst we've seen in this category. If you're on calls all day, you'll be reaching for the charging case more often than you'd like.

Against the Sony WF-1000XM6, the Dell EB525 wins on ANC but loses almost everywhere else. Sony's sound quality, battery life, and build are all in a different league, and the price gap isn't huge. The Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation is the obvious choice if you're in the Apple ecosystem, with better integration and a more balanced overall experience. The Technics EAH-AZ100 is another strong alternative, especially for sound quality, though it costs more.

Where the Dell makes sense is if you specifically need Microsoft Teams certification and work in a Dell-centric office environment. The multipoint connectivity and call-focused features are genuinely useful. But for general use, the Soundcore P31i or EarFun Air Pro 4+ deliver better value at lower prices. The Dell isn't a bad product, it's just a niche one that struggles to justify its price against more well-rounded competitors.

At $152 to $167 in the US, the Dell Pro Plus EB525 is priced like a premium earbud but delivers a mixed bag. The ANC is genuinely top-tier, and the Teams certification is a nice touch for corporate buyers. But when you can get the EarFun Air Pro 4+ for significantly less with better overall performance, or step up to the Sony WF-1000XM6 for a more complete package, the value proposition gets murky. The CAD 252 and EUR 293 listings are even harder to justify. This feels like a product that should cost closer to $100 given the battery and sound compromises.

The Dell Pro Plus EB525 is a true wireless earbud aimed squarely at office workers and remote professionals who spend half their day on calls. It sits in the $150 to $170 range in the US, which puts it right up against some serious heavyweights like the Sony WF-1000XM6 and Apple AirPods Pro. The pitch is simple: an AI-based noise-cancelling mic, Adaptive ANC, and Microsoft Teams certification. If your day is back-to-back meetings, that combo sounds pretty appealing on paper.

But here's the thing. Dell is a laptop company first, and these earbuds feel like an accessory designed to complete a workstation setup rather than a standalone audio product. The spec sheet is solid where it counts for calls, Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint, IP54 water resistance, and four ear tip sizes. Yet the overall score in our database lands at 36.6 out of 100, which tells you there are some real trade-offs hiding behind that enterprise-friendly feature list.

So is the Dell Pro Plus EB525 good for calls? Mostly yes. Is it good for music, gaming, or the gym? That's where things get shaky. We'll break down exactly where this thing shines and where it falls flat.

Skip the Dell Pro Plus EB525 if you're a music lover, a gamer, or someone who needs all-day battery life. The sound quality is mediocre for the price, and the battery will frustrate you. Fitness users should also look elsewhere, the fitness score of 20.8 out of 100 is a weak spot, and while the IP54 rating helps, these aren't built for workouts. If you want great sound and battery, get the Sony WF-1000XM6. If you want value, the EarFun Air Pro 4+ or Soundcore P31i are better picks. The Dell only makes sense if you're locked into a Microsoft Teams workflow and prioritize call clarity over everything else.

Should you buy the Dell Pro Plus EB525? If you're a remote worker who lives in Microsoft Teams and wants reliable call quality with excellent noise cancellation, it's worth considering. The ANC is genuinely impressive, and the multipoint Bluetooth is a real productivity boost. But if you want an earbud that also sounds great for music, lasts through a full workday, and feels premium in your hand, this isn't it.

The battery life alone is a dealbreaker for many people. Five percentile means you'll be charging these constantly, and that's frustrating for a product marketed to professionals. The sound quality is fine for podcasts and calls but underwhelming for music. At this price, you shouldn't have to compromise this much. We'd recommend the Sony WF-1000XM6 or EarFun Air Pro 4+ for most people, and only pick the Dell if Teams certification is a hard requirement.