SoundPEATS used to release new earbuds at a pace that was frankly exhausting to keep up with. It seemed like every month there was a new model, and then suddenly, the company went quiet. It turns out they weren’t slowing down; they were back in the lab focusing entirely on their new flagship, the SoundPEATS H3.
I have been testing these earbuds extensively to see if that hiatus was worth it. The spec sheet looks incredible on paper—triple drivers, high-res audio, and a flashy design—but specs alone rarely tell the full story. I wanted to know if these earbuds, which push into a higher price bracket for the brand, could actually compete with the premium heavyweights. After using them as my daily driver for music, calls, and commuting, I have plenty to say about where they succeed and where they cut corners.
Discount Code: Use YTH3TR9 for $9 off!
Design & Comfort
You simply cannot miss these earbuds. The SoundPEATS H3 leans heavily into a “look at me” aesthetic that feels like a deliberate departure from the basic black plastic we see everywhere. They feature a champagne gold finish mixed with a semi-transparent housing that actually lets you peer inside at the internal components. As a tech enthusiast, I think being able to see the circuitry and the drivers is fantastic, but I admit the gold accent might be a little loud for users who prefer a more discreet look.
Physically, these are large buds. Because they pack a complex triple-driver system—consisting of one 12mm dynamic driver and two balanced armature drivers—the shell has to be bulky to accommodate the tech. They sit in your ear more like professional In-Ear Monitors (IEMs) than standard consumer earbuds.
Despite the size, I found them surprisingly comfortable. They create a deep seal, which provides excellent passive isolation before you even turn the noise canceling on. However, they do stick out quite a bit. If you plan on running, the bulk creates a bit of a “thudding” effect with every footstep, so I would recommend these more for weightlifting, commuting, or desk work rather than high-impact cardio.
The charging case attempts to match the premium vibe with a leather-textured accent and a transparent lid, but this is where the budget roots show. While it looks nice from a distance, it feels lightweight and somewhat hollow in the hand. It lacks that dense, high-quality magnetic snap you get from brands like Sony or Apple. It gets the job done, but the luxury feel is definitely more visual than tactile.
Audio Quality
This is the section that matters most, and it is very clear that SoundPEATS put almost their entire budget into the audio architecture. The sound right out of the box is nothing short of impressive. That triple-driver setup isn’t just marketing fluff; it changes how the music is delivered.
The 12mm dynamic driver handles the bass with serious authority, delivering a low end that is punchy and deep without muddying up the rest of the track. Simultaneously, the two balanced armature drivers handle the mids and highs separately, which prevents that “wall of sound” mushiness you get with cheaper single-driver buds.
I noticed details in my playlists that usually get lost on sub-$150 earbuds. Vocals sound forward and incredibly clear, and the instrument separation is fantastic. You can pinpoint exactly where the drums are sitting in the mix compared to the guitars. It creates a wide soundstage that feels like you are listening in a larger room rather than having sound pumped directly into your ear canal.
For Android users, the experience is even better because these support LDAC and Snapdragon Sound, allowing you to stream high-resolution audio with minimal compression. Even on an iPhone, which uses the standard AAC codec, the tuning is fun, energetic, and highly detailed. I did find the highs a little bright on certain tracks, but they never became harsh or sibilant to my ears.
Software & Features
To get the most out of the SoundPEATS H3, you absolutely need to download the PeatsAudio app. While the stock sound is great, the app unlocks the real potential of the hardware. It offers a 10-band custom equalizer and several presets, which is essential if you want to tame the treble or boost the bass further.
I personally recommend tweaking the EQ to add just a little warmth to the lower mids. The app also includes an adaptive EQ test that plays different frequencies to gauge your hearing ability and generates a custom sound profile. It is a nice touch that actually made a subtle but positive difference for my listening experience.
Connectivity is solid thanks to Bluetooth 5.4. I tested the multipoint connection by pairing the buds to my laptop and phone at the same time, and the switching was seamless. I could watch a video on my computer and immediately answer a call on my phone without fumbling with settings. Just keep in mind that using high-quality LDAC mode and multipoint connections simultaneously can sometimes cause stability issues due to bandwidth limits, but that is a limitation of Bluetooth technology, not just these earbuds.
Noise Cancellation & Transparency
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) on the H3 is surprisingly effective. SoundPEATS claims it reduces noise by up to 55dB, and while I cannot verify the exact number, the real-world performance is strong. In my testing at a local coffee shop, it completely cut out the low hum of the refrigerator and the air conditioning unit. It also did a decent job dampening chatter, though it won’t silence the world completely like a top-tier pair of Bose earbuds would. For the price point, the isolation is excellent.
The transparency mode is usable and handy for quick interactions. It sounds natural enough to have a brief conversation with a cashier without taking the buds out, though I did notice a slight white noise hiss when the environment was perfectly quiet. One thing to note is that there is no dedicated wind-noise reduction mode. If you are walking outside on a particularly blustery day, you might get some wind tearing through the microphones, which can be distracting.
Gaming & Video
I also spent some time testing the 60ms Ultra-Low Latency Game Mode, and honestly, it is a feature you shouldn’t overlook if you play mobile shooters. We have all experienced that annoying delay with Bluetooth headphones where you pull the trigger on screen, but the sound arrives a split second later. It kills the immersion and can actually mess up your reaction time.
With the SoundPEATS H3, turning on Game Mode (either through the PeatsAudio app or by triple-tapping the earbud) tightens that connection significantly. I played a few rounds of Call of Duty Mobile, and the audio felt almost wired. The sound of footsteps and gunshots synced perfectly with the visuals on my screen.
This feature isn’t just for gamers, either. If you watch a lot of YouTube or Netflix and notice that the lip-sync looks slightly off—where the actor’s mouth moves before you hear the voice—this mode fixes that instantly. I kept it off for music to prioritize connection stability, but for any video content or gaming sessions, that 60ms low latency makes a huge difference.
Battery Life & Charging
Battery performance is solid, though it depends heavily on how you use the earbuds. With ANC turned off, you can get around 7 hours from the buds themselves. However, if you crank up the volume and use the power-hungry LDAC codec and ANC simultaneously, expect that to drop closer to 4.5 or 5 hours. The case provides plenty of extra juice, totaling around 37 to 40 hours of playback, so you won’t be hunting for an outlet often.
However, I have a major gripe with the hardware features: there is no wireless charging. For a product billed as a “flagship” in 2025, relying solely on a USB-C cable feels like a missed opportunity. It isn’t a dealbreaker for everyone, but it is a convenience I sorely missed. On the bright side, they do support fast charging—pop them in the case for just 10 minutes, and you get about 2 hours of listening time, which has saved me on more than one occasion.
Microphone and Call Quality
I took several business calls and Facetime chats with the SoundPEATS H3, and the feedback from the other end was generally positive. The six-microphone setup uses environmental noise cancelling to isolate your voice from the background. People I spoke to said I sounded clear, even when I was walking down a busy street.
The algorithms do a good job of suppressing background clatter, although extremely loud noises, like a passing truck, will still bleed through slightly. For Zoom calls or daily phone chats, these are more than capable and arguably better than many competitors in this price range.
Final Verdict
I am genuinely impressed by what SoundPEATS accomplished here. They certainly cut a few corners on the build quality of the case and the exclusion of wireless charging, but it is obvious they poured every cent of the budget into the sound quality. The audio is rich, detailed, and genuinely exciting to listen to.
If you are an audiophile on a budget who wants that high-fidelity, triple-driver sound without spending hundreds of dollars, these are a fantastic choice. They look bold, they sound expensive, and they are easily the best-sounding earbuds SoundPEATS has ever made. For the price, this package really delivers.
Would you switch to the SoundPEATS H3 for the audio upgrade?
