SoundPEATS Air6 HS Review: Can Budget Earbuds Sound This Good?
The SoundPEATS Air6 HS make a strong first impression, with Hi-Res Audio, LDAC support and a clean open-fit design.
SoundPEATS contacted me to review the Air6 HS. This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are my own and based on real-world testing.
Audio tech has become a big part of this blog. Over the last 13 years, I have reviewed a lot of earbuds, headphones and speakers, from well-known premium brands to much more affordable options that sometimes surprise me.
Recently, SoundPEATS contacted me to review the Air6 HS, a pair of budget open-fit earbuds that seem to be getting a lot of attention online. Before testing them, I had already read a few reviews and watched several YouTube videos about them. Most people seemed impressed, especially considering the price.
But I wanted to find out for myself.
Can a pair of budget earbuds really sound this good? I tested the SoundPEATS Air6 HS with both my iPhone 15 Plus and my Google Pixel 9a to see how they perform in real life, and whether the LDAC support on Android makes a real difference.
Quick Verdict
The SoundPEATS Air6 HS are genuinely impressive budget open-fit earbuds. The sound quality is the real surprise here — clear, open, and detailed, even on iPhone with AAC. On Android with LDAC, they perform very well too, though the difference in everyday listening isn't dramatic.
They're not perfect — no ANC, no wireless charging, and call quality is fine rather than exceptional. But for the price, they deliver a comfortable fit, a more secure design than AirPods, and sound that punches well above what you'd expect from budget open-fit earbuds.
How I Tested
Tested with iPhone 15 Plus (AAC codec) and Google Pixel 9a (LDAC)
Used Spotify Premium, YouTube Music, and YouTube for music, podcasts, and videos
Worn while working from home, walking, and during casual daily listening
Tested touch controls, call quality, connection stability, and battery life
Focused on real-world daily use — not lab measurements
Design and Charging Case
The charging case feels compact, easy to hold and more premium than I expected at this price.
I have to be honest here. I have never really liked the design of the original AirPods.
I know they became iconic, and I understand why so many people use them, but I always thought they looked a little cheap for the price Apple charges. More importantly, I never found them especially good ergonomically.
The SoundPEATS Air6 HS are clearly inspired by that open-fit AirPods-style design, but to my eyes they actually look more premium. I think it is mainly because of the contrast between the glossy black and glossy silver finish, with the SoundPEATS logo adding a nice detail on the side. My first impression was very positive.
But design is not just about how earbuds look. It is also about how they feel and how secure they are in the ear.
This is where the Air6 HS surprised me.
Two years ago, I bought my wife a pair of AirPods for Christmas. She could barely use them because they never fitted properly and she was always dropping one. I tried them myself for a little while and had a similar experience. They fitted my ears slightly better, but I never felt fully confident that I would not lose one while walking or moving around.
With the SoundPEATS Air6 HS, I had a much better experience. They sit well in my ears, feel light, and most importantly, they do not drop every five minutes. For open-fit earbuds, that matters a lot. You do not get the same sealed feeling as in-ear earbuds with silicone tips, but they still feel stable enough for everyday use.
So I have to give SoundPEATS credit here. The design is not only good-looking, it is also practical.
The charging case is nicely done too. It feels easy to hold, slips into a pocket without any problem, and the lid has a satisfying sound when you open and close it. That may sound like a small detail, but with earbuds, these small things affect the daily experience. I also really like the SoundPEATS logo on the back of the case. It gives the product a cleaner, more considered look.
There is no wireless charging, but at this price, I do not think that is a major issue. The earbuds themselves are very light at around 4g each, and they also have IPX5 water resistance, which makes them suitable for daily walks, light rain and workouts.
The Air6 HS also won a VGP 2026 Gold and Planning Award, which feels deserved here. They are not trying to reinvent open-fit earbuds, but they take a familiar design and make it feel more polished, more secure and better judged for the price.
Sound Quality on iPhone and Android
The glossy black and silver finish gives the Air6 HS a more polished look than many budget open-fit earbuds.
As mentioned earlier, I first tested the SoundPEATS Air6 HS with my iPhone 15 Plus. The iPhone does not support Hi-Res Bluetooth audio or LDAC, so you are limited to Apple's AAC codec. I used Spotify Premium, YouTube Music, and YouTube to watch videos, including one of my favourite 8D spatial audio tracks.
And frankly, the sound is extremely good.
At this price, I was not expecting this level of performance. I have tested earbuds around the $100 to $120 mark that, in my opinion, do not sound as good as the SoundPEATS Air6 HS. That says a lot.
The sound feels clear, open and surprisingly full for this type of earbud. Because they are open-fit earbuds, you obviously do not get the same sealed bass experience you get from in-ear earbuds with silicone tips. But what SoundPEATS has done here is genuinely impressive. The Air6 HS sound lively, detailed and enjoyable, without feeling thin or cheap.
They do not have active noise cancellation, but honestly, I did not really miss it. With this style of earbud, I see them more as everyday listening earbuds. They are the kind of earbuds I would use while working, walking, listening to music at home, watching YouTube videos or taking casual calls. They are not designed to block out a noisy train or a busy café, and I think that is perfectly fine.
The SoundPEATS app is also nicely designed. You get a good selection of equaliser settings, and if you want to go further, you can take the hearing test and use the dynamic equaliser. The app also reminds me a little of the TOZO app, especially with the selection of equalisers created by users. That is a nice touch because it gives you more ways to adjust the sound depending on your taste.
On the iPhone 15 Plus with AAC, the Air6 HS already sound very good.
I then tested them with my Google Pixel 9a, which supports LDAC. In theory, LDAC should offer better Bluetooth audio quality, but you usually have to dig into the developer settings to enable it properly, which is always a bit frustrating. To get the best possible result, I used Spotify Premium at the highest audio quality setting.
The Air6 HS sounded really good on the Pixel 9a too, but I have to be honest: I did not notice a massive difference compared with the iPhone 15 Plus. There may be a small improvement in detail and clarity when everything is set up correctly, but in normal everyday listening, the difference was not as obvious as I expected.
I also noticed that on my Pixel 9a, when using the highest LDAC settings, I had some connection issues. This has happened to me before with another pair of earbuds from Status Audio, so I do not think this is necessarily a problem with the SoundPEATS Air6 HS. It feels more like a Pixel 9a and LDAC stability issue when pushing the codec too hard.
At the right settings, though, the Air6 HS sound excellent on Android. In fact, for everyday use, I would say they sound just as enjoyable on my Pixel 9a as they do on my iPhone 15 Plus.
That is probably one of the biggest compliments I can give them. Yes, LDAC support is nice to have, especially if you use an Android phone, but these earbuds do not suddenly become poor on iPhone. Even with AAC, the sound quality is genuinely impressive.
For the price, SoundPEATS has managed to do something very good here.
Touch Controls and Call Quality
Touch controls are not something I use heavily, but I tested them properly during my time with the Air6 HS. You can customise the controls inside the app, and everything worked perfectly fine for me. The response was reliable, and I did not have any major issues with accidental touches or missed commands.
Call quality is okay. You can definitely tell you are speaking through earbuds rather than directly into the phone, but voices are clear enough for casual calls. This is not a feature I personally use a lot, but for quick phone calls, video calls or voice messages, the Air6 HS do the job.
I tested the SoundPEATS Air6 HS with both my iPhone 15 Plus and Google Pixel 9a to compare AAC and LDAC performance in real life.
Battery Life
On paper, SoundPEATS claims up to 9 hours of playtime from the earbuds and up to 45 hours in total with the charging case. You also get around 3 hours of playback from a quick 10-minute charge, which is a very useful feature to have.
Personally, I do not usually listen to music for very long hours non-stop. I use earbuds more throughout the day: a bit of music while working, some YouTube, a walk, a phone call, then back in the case.
From my experience, the battery life feels solid. I never had that moment where I suddenly worried they would die in the middle of the day. For normal everyday use, I think most people will be perfectly fine with the battery performance here.
The fast charging is also a nice safety net. Even if you forget to charge them properly, a quick 10-minute top-up gives you enough battery to keep going for a few more hours.
There is no wireless charging for the case, but again, at this price, I do not think that is a deal-breaker. The battery life is strong where it matters most.
Pros and Cons
What I Liked
- •Excellent sound quality for the price — clear, open, detailed
- •More secure fit than AirPods — stays in place during walks
- •Premium-looking design with glossy black and silver finish
- •LDAC support for Android users
- •Well-designed app with custom EQ and hearing test
- •Solid battery life with fast charging
- •IPX5 water resistance — fine for walks and workouts
- •VGP 2026 Gold and Planning Award winner
What Could Be Better
- •No active noise cancellation — limited by open-fit design
- •No wireless charging for the case
- •Call quality is fine but not exceptional
- •LDAC difference over AAC is subtle in everyday use
Final Thoughts: Are the SoundPEATS Air6 HS Worth It?
The SoundPEATS Air6 HS were my first proper experience with earbuds from the brand, and I have to say it clearly: I am sold.
I went into this review curious, but also a little cautious. I had seen plenty of positive comments online, but with budget earbuds, there is always the same question: are they genuinely good, or are they just good for the price?
After testing them on both my iPhone 15 Plus and Google Pixel 9a, I think the Air6 HS are genuinely good.
The design is better than I expected, the fit is more secure than the original AirPods-style shape suggests, the case feels nice in daily use, and the sound quality is the real surprise here. Even on iPhone with AAC, they sound clear, open and impressive. On Android with LDAC, they perform very well too, although in my real-world use the difference was not as dramatic as I expected.
They are not perfect. There is no active noise cancellation, no wireless charging, and call quality is fine rather than exceptional. But none of those points ruined the experience for me, especially when you consider the price.
What matters most is that I enjoyed using them. I reached for them often, I liked the sound, and I never felt like I was using a cheap pair of earbuds.
For a first experience with SoundPEATS, the Air6 HS have made a very strong impression. If you want affordable open-fit earbuds with excellent sound, a comfortable fit and good battery life, these are very easy to recommend.
Why You Can Trust This Review
I spent over 20 years working in sound and lighting within the entertainment industry. I've been reviewing headphones, earbuds, and audio gear for over 13 years on Dapper & Groomed — always focusing on real-world use, not spec sheets.
SoundPEATS contacted me to review the Air6 HS, but all opinions are my own and the brand had no input on this article. I tested these earbuds on both iPhone and Android over several weeks of daily use.
FAQ
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No. They have an open-fit design similar to the original AirPods, which means they sit in the ear rather than sealing the ear canal. This makes proper ANC impractical, but they're designed for everyday comfort and casual listening rather than blocking out the world.
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Yes. Even without LDAC, the Air6 HS sound excellent on iPhone with the AAC codec. I tested them extensively with my iPhone 15 Plus and the sound quality was genuinely impressive — clear, open, and detailed.
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In my real-world testing, the difference was subtle. LDAC on Android may offer slightly more detail and clarity, but it's not a night-and-day difference. The Air6 HS sound very good on both platforms.
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The SoundPEATS Air6 HS have a similar open-fit design but, in my experience, a more secure fit. My wife struggled with AirPods falling out — she hasn't had the same issue with these. Sound-wise, the Air6 HS hold their own very well, and they're significantly more affordable.
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Up to 9 hours from the earbuds and 45 hours total with the charging case. A quick 10-minute charge gives you around 3 hours of playback. In daily use, I never ran into battery anxiety.
About the Author
Jerome is the founder of Dapper & Groomed. He spent over 20 years working in sound roles in the entertainment industry and has been reviewing audio gear, tech, and men's lifestyle products since 2013. His reviews are never approved or previewed by brands — just honest, real-world testing.