Skullcandy Dime 3

The Skullcandy Dime 3 delivers shockingly good connectivity and ANC for $35 USD, with multipoint Bluetooth that rivals earbuds three times the price. Battery life is the weak spot at 8 hours per charge, and the commute experience falls flat. If you want a cheap, reliable pair of earbuds with features that punch above their weight, these are a solid buy. Just don't expect them to replace your daily drivers for long-haul listening.

The connectivity here is the real star. Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint means you can pair these to your phone and laptop at the same time, which is something you usually see on earbuds costing three times as much. Our data puts the Dime 3 in the 97th percentile for connectivity, which is basically best-in-class territory. Pairing is fast, the connection stays stable, and switching between devices actually works. For a budget pair, that's rare.

Sound quality lands in the 82nd percentile, which is well above average for this price bracket. The 6mm dynamic drivers push out a balanced sound signature that doesn't overdo the bass, which is refreshing when most budget buds sound like a subwoofer in a tin can. The ANC is also surprisingly competent at the 85th percentile. It won't cancel out a jet engine, but it takes the edge off bus noise and office chatter. The mic performance is solid too, with two mics and noise cancellation for calls. Just don't expect miracles from the battery. You get 8 hours in the buds and 12 more in the case, which puts it in the 21st percentile. That's below average, and the 10-minute quick charge giving you 2 hours helps, but you'll be reaching for the case more often than you'd like.

The JLab JBuds Pods ANC is probably the closest direct competitor. JLab tends to offer better battery life and a more secure fit for workouts, but their connectivity isn't as polished as the Dime 3's. The Skullcandy wins on multipoint and ANC quality, while JLab wins on battery and fit. It's a genuine trade-off depending on what you value more.

The Nothing Buds 2 and Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are in a completely different league. The Nothing Buds 2 has a more refined design and better sound, but you're paying significantly more. The Galaxy Buds3 Pro is a flagship product with top-tier ANC and sound, but it costs several times what the Dime 3 does. The EarFun Air Pro 4 is an interesting middle ground, offering better battery and similar ANC at a slightly higher price. If you can stretch your budget, the EarFun is worth a look. If you can't, the Dime 3 holds its own surprisingly well.

At $35 USD, the Dime 3 is competing with stuff like the JLab JBuds Pods ANC and the Soundcore P31i, both of which sit in a similar price range. The Skullcandy undercuts most of them on price while offering ANC and multipoint, which is a combo you rarely see under $50. The value proposition is simple: you're getting 80% of the features of a $100 pair for a third of the price.

But value isn't just about the sticker price. The battery life is the trade-off you're making. 8 hours in the buds is fine for a commute or a workout, but if you're a heavy user, you'll be charging these every day. The case adds 12 hours, which brings the total to 20 hours, but that's still below what competitors offer. The JLab JBuds Pods ANC, for example, tends to have better battery numbers in our database. If battery life is your top priority, the Dime 3 might frustrate you. If connectivity and ANC matter more, this is a steal.

Skullcandy has been cranking out budget earbuds for years, and the Dime line has always been their answer to the question "what's the cheapest thing that doesn't suck?" The Dime 3 keeps that spirit alive. You get true wireless earbuds with ANC, Bluetooth 5.3, multipoint, and a case that clips to your keys, all for around $35 USD. That's a wild feature list for the price, and it's why these things have racked up over 10,000 reviews on Amazon alone.

Who are these for? Honestly, anyone who loses earbuds constantly, needs a backup pair for the gym bag, or just refuses to spend $100+ on something that might fall out on the bus. The integrated lanyard on the case is a genuinely smart touch. You clip it to your backpack and forget it's there until you need it. The buds themselves are tiny, and the whole package weighs 54 grams. It's a grab-and-go product in the truest sense.

But let's be real about what you're getting. The Dime 3 scores 57.4 out of 100 in our database, which is solidly middle of the pack. The connectivity is genuinely great, the ANC is surprisingly decent, but the battery life is a weak spot. If you're expecting flagship performance, you'll be disappointed. If you're expecting a $35 pair of earbuds that punches above its weight in some areas and falls flat in others, you're in the right place.

If you're a daily commuter who spends an hour or more on public transit, the Dime 3 is probably not your best bet. The commute score of 46/100 is the weakest area in our testing, and the battery life won't get you through a full day of heavy use without recharging. The noise isolation is decent but not strong enough to block out a loud train or bus. For that use case, look at the EarFun Air Pro 4 or the Nothing Buds 2, both of which offer better battery and stronger noise isolation for a bit more money.

Audiophiles should also look elsewhere. The sound quality is balanced and pleasant, but it's not going to impress anyone who's used to higher-end drivers. The 6mm dynamic drivers are fine for podcasts and casual listening, but they lack the detail and soundstage you'd get from something like the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro. If sound quality is your top priority, save up for a better pair.

For the budget buyer who wants ANC and multipoint without spending real money, the Dime 3 is an easy recommendation. The connectivity alone is worth the price of admission, and the fact that the ANC actually works is a bonus. These are perfect as a backup pair, a gym bag staple, or a first pair of true wireless earbuds for someone who doesn't want to risk losing something expensive.

But if you're a commuter who spends hours on trains or buses every day, the Dime 3's weak commute score of 46/100 should give you pause. The battery life won't get you through a full day of heavy use, and the noise isolation isn't strong enough to block out a loud train car. For that use case, you'd be better off saving up for the EarFun Air Pro 4 or the Nothing Buds 2. The Dime 3 is a great $35 earbud, but it's still a $35 earbud.