Skullcandy Icon S5IEW-T740

The Skullcandy Icon is a budget on-ear headphone with a ridiculous 50-hour battery and top-tier build quality that can take a beating. Sound is just okay and call quality is poor, but at around $40 it's a steal for gym-goers and commuters. Skip it if you need ANC or take a lot of calls, but for pure durability and battery life, it's hard to beat.

The 30mm drivers here deliver a sound that's best described as fun, not flat. Our sound score puts it at the 65th percentile, which translates to 'about average' for the category. You're getting the classic Skullcandy tuning with a bit of extra thump in the low end. It's energetic enough for pop playlists and YouTube videos, but it won't reveal hidden details in a FLAC file. The companion app lets you tweak things with custom EQ modes, which helps, but the driver hardware itself has a ceiling.

Battery life is the real star of the show. At 50 hours, it's in the 87th percentile, meaning it outlasts the vast majority of wireless headphones we've tested. For context, that's basically two full weeks of typical daily use without touching a charger. Connectivity is also a standout thanks to Bluetooth 5.3 and multipoint pairing. You can switch between your phone and laptop seamlessly, and the connection stays rock solid within that 30-foot range. The joystick-style button on the ear cup takes a minute to learn, but it keeps the controls simple once you get the hang of it.

Stacked against the JBL Tune 670NC, the Skullcandy wins on battery life and build toughness, but the JBL brings actual noise canceling to the table. If you're in a noisy office or on a plane, that ANC makes a real difference, even if it's not the best in class. The Soundcore Life Q20 is another strong alternative. It's an over-ear design, so it's inherently more comfortable for long sessions, and its sound profile is a bit more balanced out of the box. You lose the IPX4 rating, though, so it's less ideal for workouts.

The Sony ULT WEAR is in a completely different league on sound and features, but it also costs significantly more. If you're even glancing at the Sony, the Icon probably isn't on your radar. For pure budget buyers, the TOZO HT3 is the closest rival. It's often priced similarly and offers a more modern over-ear fit with decent ANC. The Skullcandy fights back with that tank-like build and a more reliable Bluetooth connection, but the TOZO is the better all-rounder for most people sitting at a desk.

Pricing on the Icon is a bit of a rollercoaster. We're seeing it listed anywhere from $38 to a frankly absurd $864 across different vendors, which tells you some sellers are just throwing numbers at the wall. The sweet spot is clearly at the lower end. At around $40, this headphone is an absolute steal for the build quality and battery life you're getting. It's one of the best beaters you can buy for the money.

When you start creeping toward the $60 or $70 mark, the value proposition gets shaky. That's where you start bumping into over-ear options from Soundcore and JBL that offer better comfort and sound. If you see this listed for anything over $80, just walk away. The Icon is a budget champion, not a mid-range contender, and paying more defeats the whole purpose.

Skullcandy has been doing the budget-friendly audio thing for years, and the Icon S5IEW-T740 (also called the Icon 180) slots right into that lane. This is an on-ear wireless headphone built for people who just want something that works without fussing over audiophile details. It's lightweight, folds up for your bag, and promises a frankly ridiculous 50 hours of battery life. If you're burning through podcasts at work or need a cheap pair for the gym that won't die mid-week, this thing is calling your name.

But let's be real about what this is. The Icon isn't trying to compete with $300 noise-canceling cans. Our database puts its total score at 53.2 out of 100, which is solidly middle-of-the-pack. It absolutely nails the basics like build quality and connectivity, landing in the 96th and 94th percentiles respectively. That means it feels better in your hands and stays connected more reliably than almost anything else at this end of the market. The weak spot? Call quality, which is frankly rough at 38.3 out of 100.

Who's this for? Someone who values durability and marathon battery life over pristine audio. The IPX4 rating means sweat and a little rain won't kill it, and the foldable design makes it a no-brainer for commuters. It's also got a 3.5mm jack for wired backup, which is a nice touch that's disappearing fast. Just don't expect it to replace your main music setup if you're picky about sound.

If you spend your day on Zoom calls or phone meetings, keep scrolling. The mic quality here is a genuine weak point that will annoy your colleagues. You'd be much better served by something like the Soundcore Life Q20, which offers a more comfortable over-ear fit and clearer voice pickup for a similar price. The on-ear design can also start to pinch after a few hours, so if comfort is your top priority, a lightweight over-ear model is the way to go.

Audiophiles should also steer clear. The sound is fun and bassy, but it lacks the detail and soundstage you'd get from even a modest step up in price. If you're the type who has a Tidal subscription and a folder full of FLAC files, these will feel like a downgrade. Save up for something with larger drivers and a flatter response curve.

If you need a pair of headphones that can survive a backpack, a sweaty workout, and a week without a charger, the Icon is a fantastic choice. It's a purpose-built tool for durability and battery endurance. Grab it for the gym, for mowing the lawn, or as a backup pair that lives in your car. The multipoint pairing is genuinely useful if you juggle a work and personal phone, and the foldable design means it takes up zero space.

But if your main use case is taking calls or critically listening to music, you should look elsewhere. The mic performance is a weak spot that will frustrate anyone on the other end of the line. For desk jockeys on back-to-back Zoom meetings, the comfort of an over-ear design and a clearer mic will matter way more than 50 hours of battery life. This is a lifestyle headphone, not a work headphone.