Well finding a good Running headphone or Running earbuds is as difficult as to decide to do Running as exercise đ
So in the quest of finding the best Running headphones I landed up shortlisting the three, Plantronics BackBeat Fit vs Plantronics BackBeat Go 3 vs SoundPEATS Q12 Bluetooth Earbuds / Headphones.
Reason being starting from Plantronics BackBeat Fit is the weight and its waterproofing capability (Precisely saying IP57 Water resistant capability)
Challenge to find the best:
Remember on this earth you will not be able to find out best Running headphones which are good looking, light weight, sounds great, feel comfortable and lastly costs a penny !!! No Way !!!
So coming back to the subject I tried to find out the best selling running headsets as well as tried to find which are the closest alternatives in terms of price-point. Again more points were the waterproof rating since Running can be done in light showers and headphones shall sustain the same. One more point is the battery backup, no use if you need to recharge the battery frequently.
As usual I shall begin with comparison table of specifications, please note that for SoundPEATS Q12 Bluetooth Earbuds all detailed specs are not available online, so some fields are left empty đ
| Model name | Plantronics BackBeat Fit | Plantronics Backbeat Go 3 | SoundPEATS Q12 |
| Color options | Power Blue, Sport Gray, Fit Fuchsia, Stealth Green, Black Core, Red, Blue, Green | Cobalt Black, Copper Gray, Copper Orange | Â Black, Red |
| Bluetooth Version | v3.0 | Â A2DP 1.2, AVRCP v1.5, Wideband audio HFP v1.7, HSP v1.1 | v4.1 |
| BT range | Â 33 feet | ||
| BT Pairing | Easy and Quick compatible with either Android or iOS | ||
| Frequency Response | 50 Hz – 20 kHz | 20 Hz – 20 kHz | Â NA |
| Speaker sensitivity | 105 dBspl/mW@1kHz | 104 dBspl/mW @1kHz | NA |
| Audio Format | A2DP Stereo | NA | |
| Codec | HQ Custom SBC Codec | Â NA | |
| Play time | 8 hours | 6.5 hours charging case = total of 13 hours power | 5-6 hours |
| Standby time | 336 hours; deep sleep mode (hibernation) | ?? | 150 hours |
| Sound | Extremely loud but weak Bass | Apt-X technology provides great clarity, deep bass impregnates just enough | |
| Safety for running, Cycling | Allows ambient sound best for Runner, Cycling, Biking etc where safety is more important | Blocks out ambient sound using the eartips | |
| Durability | Rugged, long lasting design | Good design, solid feel, will last long | Good design, rugged |
| Usage | The cord that wraps around your neck bounces a little bit | ||
| Sealed vs unsealed | Unsealed, they donât have silicone tips you insert into your ear canal to block external noise, beneficial for Runners or Cyclists for traffic listening or Parents who want to always listen to their children | Standard way, supplied with three sizes of soft, removable tips. | |
| Ear fit during use | Good fit, Never comes out of ears during exercise. | ||
| After use | During no-use, these headphones may drop down (not secured) | If you wear them around your neck but not in your ears, they stay put – no risk of loss | |
| Controls | The Play/Pause is readily accessible on the left ear, you can also long-press to go to a previous track or double-tap to skip ahead to the next track. Excellent to operate being on Cycle or Running. | Good ones, big, intuitive, can be operated while Cycling | Play/Pause/ adjust volume / change tracks controls on headphone, you can also answer the call with press of a inline control button |
| Voice indications | Small icon shows on smart phone to indicate battery level – A voice tells you battery levels (High, Low, Recharge). | Â NA? | |
| Water Resistance | IP57 rating (Water resistant) | Not water resistant | Not water resistant |
| Sweet proof | Yes, sweatproof nano-coating | Liquipel Nano coating | |
| Application | snowboarding, biking, running, workouts, swimming | Â Gym, Workouts | |
| Microphone to make phone calls | integrated microphones and support one-touch voice dialing | integrated microphone, one touch call receipt (CVC 6.0 noise reduction technology) | |
| Extra mile | App to update the BackBeat Fit’s firmware, and even find them if you loose them | ||
| Battery Type | Lithium ion | 80mAH Lithium Ion | |
| Battery Charging Time | BackBeat Fit keeps running for about 8 hours 2-2.5 hours to recharge15-minute quick-charge provides an hour of play to get you through the dayâs challenge. | portable charging case (select models) | 1-2 hours charging time |
| Accessories | Provided with neoprene case that acts as an armband to hold your smartphone during workouts, When youâre done with your workout, you can store the earbuds in the case | Â Charging case provided (you need to buy it) | |
| Weight | 24 grams | 19 grams | 15 grams |
| Best Buy Price | Best Buy | Best Buy | Best Buy |
So mostly I have tried to cover all the comparison points which will guide you to decide upon which one is good one for you.
Considering Plantronics is one of the best headset manufacturer, I expect more from them.
All the headsets of Plantronics are quick for pairing so as the Fit and go 3.
Plantronics backbeat fit charging : They are capable to be fully charged in couple of hours, same is true for Go3 and Q12 too.
All are equipped with microphones to get calls on the go,
Headset range which is one of the important criteria, but remember as on now technology of Bluetooth allows standard range of 33 feet which is applicable for all the above three headsets, only the difference being use of Low energy bluetooth technology which enhances battery life, that means you will be able to use the headphones for linger duration.
one of the most powerful point of plantronics backbeat fit is the Water Resistance rating which is IP57 rating, which will allow you to use them without any fear in light showers while running or cycling outdoors.
plantronics backbeat fit battery life, is much better than rest two as well as its deep sleep mode allows hibernation mode which lasts for months together !!
one more thing came to my mind of plantronics backbeat fit battery replacement, however my internet research showed me that it is virtually impossible for layman to change the battery, and changing the battery is difficult task .. so just forget about it đ
Coming back to the subject:
While I compared all Plantronics BackBeat Fit vs Go 3 vs SoundPEATS Q12 Bluetooth headphones, I found that at similar price range, compared to the basic function of using them for Running exercise, BackBeat Fit are the best ones.
So my recommendation will be to go for  Plantronics BackBeat Fit
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