Skullcandy Ink'd+ S2IMY-M690

The Skullcandy Ink'd+ is a budget wired earbud that delivers surprisingly good sound for under 25 EUR. Bass is punchy, vocals are warm, and the wired connection means zero latency. Build quality and mic performance are the main trade-offs, but for the price, these are hard to beat.

Let's talk about what these 10mm drivers actually do. The frequency response covers 20Hz to 20kHz, which is standard, but the tuning is where Skullcandy earns its keep. Bass is aggressive and punchy out of the box, and if you pair these with a phone that has a decent equalizer app, you can push the low end even further. Vocals come through warm and natural, and the highs are precise enough without getting harsh. For a pair of earbuds that costs less than a pizza, the sound quality is genuinely impressive.

In our database, the sound score lands at the 28th percentile, which sounds bad until you remember we're comparing against products that cost five to ten times as much. For the price bracket, these punch way above their weight. The noise isolation is decent too, blocking out a surprising amount of ambient sound thanks to the angled fit. The mic, on the other hand, sits at the 39th percentile, and that's being generous. It works for quick calls, but don't expect podcast-quality audio.

The Skullcandy Ink'd+ goes up against some stiff competition in the budget wired and wireless space. The Sony WI-C100 is the most direct comparison, offering a similar neckband-style design but with Bluetooth connectivity. Sony's build quality is better, and the sound is more balanced, but you'll pay more for it. The Baseus Bass BP1 Pro is another wireless option with a focus on bass, and it does deliver deeper low end out of the box. But if you hate charging cables and pairing menus, the Ink'd+ wins by simply existing.

The Soundcore P20i and JLab GO POP ANC are both true wireless options, which means they're more convenient for working out but worse for latency and battery anxiety. The Anker Soundcore V20i is probably the closest in spirit, offering solid sound at a low price, but it's still wireless. If you want the absolute cheapest way to get good sound without dealing with Bluetooth, the Ink'd+ is the pick. If you need wireless freedom or better build quality, spend a bit more on the Sony or the Soundcore.

At 9 USD in the US and between 15 and 25 EUR across European listings, the Skullcandy Ink'd+ is basically an impulse buy. The best deal we found is on Amazon.com, where the US listing comes in at the lowest price point. Even at the higher end of the EUR range, you're getting a pair of earbuds that sound better than most wireless buds under 50 EUR. The value proposition is simple: these are cheap enough to replace without thinking twice, and good enough that you probably won't need to for a while. Compared to the Baseus Bass BP1 Pro or the Soundcore P20i, both of which cost more, the Ink'd+ holds its own on sound while giving up some build quality and features.

The Skullcandy Ink'd+ is one of those rare products that just refuses to die, and for good reason. These wired in-ear buds sit firmly in the budget category, usually hovering around 9 to 25 EUR depending on where you shop. They're the kind of thing you grab at the checkout line or toss in a bag as a backup, but a lot of people end up using them as their daily driver anyway. The 10mm drivers and noise-isolating fit promise a lot more than the price tag suggests.

So is the Skullcandy Ink'd+ good for everyday listening? For most people, yeah. The sound leans bass-forward with warm vocals, which is exactly what you want for commutes, workouts, or just drowning out a noisy office. The wired connection means no Bluetooth pairing headaches and zero latency, which is a bigger deal than it sounds if you've ever tried watching video on cheap wireless buds. And with a 4.5-star average across over 8,700 reviews, the social proof here is basically off the charts.

But this isn't a flawless product. The build quality has slipped compared to older Skullcandy models, and the microphone is a known weak spot. Still, at this price, you're getting a lot of sound for very little money. We'll dig into the details below.

Skip the Skullcandy Ink'd+ if you need a reliable microphone for calls or if you're rough on your gear. The thin wire and cheaper build quality mean these won't survive being yanked out of a bag or tangled in a pocket for long. If you want wireless freedom, the Sony WI-C100 or Soundcore P20i are better picks. And if you're a side sleeper who likes to listen in bed, the angled fit and hard plastic housing make these uncomfortable on a firm pillow. For everyone else, these are a solid budget buy.

Should you buy the Skullcandy Ink'd+? If you want a cheap, reliable pair of wired earbuds that sound way better than they have any right to, yes. These are the earbuds you buy when you're tired of your wireless buds dying mid-commute or when you just want a backup pair that doesn't suck. The sound quality is the star here, with punchy bass and clear vocals that make everything from podcasts to hip-hop sound good.

But if you need a solid microphone for calls, or if you're hard on your gear and tend to break thin wires, look elsewhere. The build quality is the biggest compromise, and the mic is a known weak point. For everyone else, the Ink'd+ is a no-brainer at this price.