I.am+ BUTTONS
ARE WILL.I.AM’S NEW HEADPHONES SUPER DOPE... OR JUST A BIG ‘NOPE’?
LOOKING PRETTY MUCH identical to the previously-released i.am+ EPs, music mogul Will.i.am’s rebranded i.am+ BUTTONS Bluetooth wireless in-ear headphones aim to please more fashion-conscious listeners, and they’ve teamed up with the likes of Kendall Jenner to spin a cooler (dare we say ‘doper’) image than the headphone market is usually accustomed to.
In some ways, the i.am+ BUTTONS succeed at being eye-catching — but on the other hand, we imagine there’ll be plenty of customers not ‘cool’ enough to pull this kind of fashion statement off. The disc-shaped headphones definitely stand out when worn, slightly resembling those big ear-gauges that the hardcore tribal kids wear, only without the droopy earlobes that come afterwards.
The earpieces are connected by a cable and are magnetic, so you can snap them together and wear them around your neck like a (rather odd-looking) necklace. Just below the left earpiece is a set of controls, allowing you to adjust your volume levels, as well as stop, start and skip your music. The set comes with a large number of silicone tips, so finding the right fit for your ear shouldn’t be a problem.
While we know there’s a certain segment of the market that will fall in love with the look of these headphones, the real question is, as always, ‘How do they sound?’ The answer? A little average, to be honest. While they’re not exactly tinny, there’s not a lot of bass in these ‘phones, which is a little surprising given Will.i.am’s involvement. Still, they equip themselves well enough, and you’ll get 6 hours of playback (120 hours in standby) off a single charge. Given the exorbitant $289 price point, though, we expected more.