Children need their own in-ears. Not only are their ears smaller, they are also extra sensitive. That’s why Belkin launched the SOUNDFORM nano, a true wireless headset that was specially developed for children. We took a closer look at them.
Included with the Belkin SOUNDFORM nano
The headphones come with ear tips in five different sizes from XXS to L, with a pair of them pre-assembled. A quick start guide, declarations of conformity and a short microUSB cable are also included. The in-ears are delivered in the charging case.
A lot included: Belkin SOUNDFORM nano true wireless headphones for children. Image: PocketPC.ch / Jeanrenaud
hardware and properties
The Belkin SOUNDFORM nano are available in three colors: blue, pink and white. They are designed in a classic in-ear design and each has a color tone, so that the detachable earbuds are lighter than the headphones themselves. The inner part of the charging case also has the same color tone. The microUSB port with a rubber cover can be found on the back of the hinged case.
They are protected once morest splash water and sweat according to protection class IPX5. Dynamic 6 mm drivers are installed inside and a microphone is installed in both earphones. The connection is via Bluetooth 5.0 over a distance of up to 10 meters.
Since the volume is limited to 85 dB, children’s sensitive ears are protected from loud noises.
The batteries of unknown capacity provide the two earphones with power for five hours. The oval charging case extends the usage time by another 19 hours. The True Wireless headphones can of course also be used individually, so that in theory not only 24 but even 29 hours of music enjoyment are possible.
The charging case has four LEDs to indicate the battery status. The headphones themselves also have an LED for display: The Bluetooth LED is located at the top end and can light up white and blue. In addition, the backs of the earbuds are intended for touch operation.
Images: PocketPC.ch / Jeanrenaud
The touch operation is relatively simple and intuitive: a double tap on any earphone pauses or resumes playback. In addition, calls can be accepted and hung up.
Tapping the right earbud three times skips to the next song, three taps on the left earbud skips to the previous one.
One tap controls the volume – left for quieter and right for louder. If you hold an earphone for two seconds, an incoming call can be rejected or the voice assistant program can be called up.
Test impression of the Belkin SOUNDFORM nano
The Belkin SOUNDFORM nano make a high-quality impression and are well made. Nothing wobbles or creaks. The lid of the charging case closes well and stays in place without being too stiff. The earphones are easy and comfortable to wear. The sound is not untypical for in-ears and is somewhat weak in the basses, but otherwise offers surprisingly accentuated and clear sounds. The mids and highs are easily distinguishable and the low tones also sound good.
The SOUNDFORM nano are also well suited for video calls or telephone calls and offer a pleasant voice quality. The two microphones also transmit their own speech well and are not overly sensitive to wind or ambient noise.
The connection to smartphones and other devices works easily via Bluetooth 5.0 and is also compatible with older Bluetooth standards. Unfortunately, neither Qualcomm’s aptX nor any other high-quality audio codec is supported.
price and conclusion
Die SOUNDFORM nano PAC003 InEars for children from 7 to 14 years old at Belkin 39.99 CHF. or euros. The headphones are also cheaper to get from online shops like Amazon.
Overall, the Belkin SOUNDFORM nano are good and inexpensive in-ears that have a solid battery life and good sound characteristics for the price range. The device’s limited volume of 85 dB as well as the colorful design and intuitive control are particularly suitable for children. The fact that the earplugs are available in five sizes, including XSS, makes them particularly suitable for smaller ears. Better than Apple AirPods, for example.