Soundpeats H3 Review – Budget Audiophile Earbuds That Impress

Experience premium sound quality with Soundpeats H3, the budget audiophile earbuds that stand out for their triple drivers and crisp audio.

A Surprising Gem from Soundpeats

If you’re familiar with Soundpeats H3 earbuds, you probably know them as the brand that nails budget-friendly earbuds. But their new H3 model is a rare foray into the mid-range market—and it’s impressive enough to make audiophiles sit up and take notice, while gently nudging your wallet open. Trust me when I say these are some of the best affordable earbuds I’ve tested all year.

Soundpeats H3 (and nope, you didn’t miss an H2 that much) look and sound like a premium device. In fact, they easily blow away rivals in their price bracket, including the AirPods 4.

What truly sets these earbuds apart is their specs: each earbud packs three drivers (compare that to the single driver in AirPods). This triple-driver setup effortlessly handles a wide range of frequencies. You get bright, deep, and crystal-clear sound, a broad soundstage, and support for various audio codecs.

Personally, I love that Soundpeats didn’t follow the usual budget-brand script of crank-the-bass-to-eleven. Instead, these earbuds offer balanced sound with a distinct flavor, setting them apart from the sea of similar-priced competitors.

Audiophiles on a budget, this one’s for you—add the H3 to your wishlist right now, no joking.

Premium Look to Match the Sound

The premium vibe isn’t just in the audio. Both the earbuds and their case look sleek and elegant. The ear tips fit comfortably, and I never once worried they’d fall out—something many true “bean-style” buds struggle with.

But if Soundpeats H3 have any drawbacks, they’re mostly in functionality. Battery life and active noise cancellation (ANC) are a notch below other earbuds in this price range. Also, I faced some hiccups connecting to the apps (though this didn’t affect music streaming; these apps are mainly for extra features).

Release Date and Pricing

• Released: September 2025
• Price: $129.99
• Positioning: Slightly more expensive than AirPods in most regions

Launched as the successor to the 2021 Soundpeats H2, the H3 marks a big jump in price and a fresh design. The only link between the two seems to be the name.

At around $130, these aren’t your typical cheap Soundpeats buds. That price tags them against the AirPods 4 directly—but any earbuds attracting serious audiophiles usually cost way more. The top-tier models from Sony, Apple, and Bose sit in a much higher price bracket.

Specs That Impress

Technical Specs of Soundpeats H3

• Drivers: 12mm dynamic + dual balanced armature
• Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): Yes
• Battery Life: 7 hours (buds) / 37 hours (with case)
• Weight: 6g (bud) / 53g (case)
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.4
• Water Resistance: IPX5

Features That Matter

• ANC is decent but not the best in class
• Battery lasts 7/37 hours without ANC active
• Occasional connection glitches with companion apps

Officially, the buds offer 7 hours of listening per charge, probably with ANC off, since with ANC on I barely hit 5 hours.

Claimed total playtime with the case is 37 hours, though ANC drains battery faster. Still, that’s well above many competitors, so no serious complaints there.

ANC does soften outside noise but rarely blocks it out completely. I tested them in gyms, busy streets, trains, and airplanes. The noise cancellation cuts ambient sound loudness so music shines in the foreground, but silence? Not quite.

The transparency mode is a bit of a letdown—it tends to amplify background noise but mutes voices, which is the opposite of what it should do.

Adding to the challenge, Soundpeats offers two different apps for controlling these buds: SOUNDPEATS (in all caps, no hype here) and PeatsAudio. They work independently, so you only need one, but I tested both.

The SOUNDPEATS app sports similar features but is less stable—sometimes it wouldn’t even detect the buds, making me re-register them just to stream music.

You can toggle touch controls, adjust volume, change voice prompt language, enable LDAC codec, multi-point connect, check fit, and even try a 9-band equalizer. I say “try” because every time I opened the EQ, I got a Chinese error message followed by an English error screen. No dice, even after resets.

PeatsAudio has most of the same features, but its EQ actually works. Occasionally, LDAC switched on by itself—for instance, once when I was just staring at the toggle in the app (not touching it). Unless it was a haunted bud moment, that's probably a bug.

Soundpeats recommends PeatsAudio for full functionality and frequent updates, so if you snag these earbuds, make sure to install that one.

Feature rating: 3/5

Design That Stands Out

• Lightweight, snug fit earbuds without stalks
• Intuitive touch controls
• Bulky charging case

Soundpeats wasn’t known for original design before, mostly because the brand didn’t aim for it. That’s changed now—H3 sports a unique, dare I say stylish, look.

The charging case is too big to comfortably slip into jeans pockets, but it looks great. Its semi-transparent shell reveals the earbuds inside, with a gold trim contrasting the black body. Open it up, and you see the earbuds nestled in a faux leather-patterned interior.

One small nitpick: the “Hear the difference” panel has a wonky font where the “f” letters jitter in height. But hey, that’s just the editor in me fussing, not a technical flaw.

The earbuds themselves are true in-ear “bean” style with no stems, fitting fully inside the ear. Skeptical at first because I’ve tried too many earbuds that felt heavy and fell out, I was pleasantly surprised. The H3 sits comfortably, stays put, and feels almost invisible during long listens.

The shape subtly follows the curve of the ear, making them look like a natural extension rather than an awkward add-on. Plus, a small hook on the back helps keep them firmly in place.

Each bud features touch controls that feel responsive—you can tap anywhere on the outer surface, not just a tiny spot, to pause or play. This avoids that awkward moment of trying to “tap your ear” repeatedly.

One downside is water resistance. With an IPX5 rating, they handle sweat and light rain but won’t survive water immersion or heavy splashes like some rivals.

Design rating: 4.5/5

Sound Quality That Shines

• Three drivers per earbud
• Exceptionally neutral sound profile
• Wide codec support

Wondering why these earbuds get such rave reviews? It all boils down to sound.

Inside each earbud sits a 12mm dynamic driver paired with two balanced armature drivers—a rare setup at this price point designed to cover the full sound spectrum.

And it works beautifully.

The H3 might just be the best-sounding mid-range earbuds I’ve tested. There’s no overpowering bass boom (a common misstep in this tier). Instead, high frequencies get the spotlight. The balance and clarity bring vocals and treble instruments to shimmering life. The sound is fresh, sharp, and energetic.

Midrange frequencies also get the attention they deserve, detailed and rich—something most wireless buds in this category overlook.

Bass isn’t as heavy as competitors’ but is crisply defined. That tight bassline fits perfectly in the mix without stealing the show or muddying the sound.

Plus, sound separation is superb. Instruments layer neatly, making the triple driver system worth every penny.

Soundpeats also included wide codec support: aptX, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC, AAC, and SBC. I gave LDAC a quick whirl while streaming Spotify Lossless and was pleasantly surprised by the quality boost.

Sound quality rating: 4.5/5

Value for Money

Here’s my running list of great mid-range wireless earbuds I recommend to friends—and whether I’d buy them myself if reviews stopped flowing.

Soundpeats H3 definitely earn a spot on that list. While they lack some bells and whistles of competitors, their sound quality more than makes up for it.

They sound fantastic and, importantly, offer something different from the usual crowd at this price—at roughly half the cost of other audiophile-level earbuds.

Value rating: 4/5

Should You Buy Soundpeats H3?

Quick Specs Comparison Table

Apple AirPods 4

Priced similarly, these are natural rivals, but despite their popularity, Soundpeats H3 win on sound quality, looks, and battery life.

OnePlus Buds 4

If you want top-notch ANC and a bass-forward sound, these slightly cheaper earbuds might suit you better. They cater to a different crowd, so if H3’s sound isn’t your jam, check these out.

My Testing Routine

• Tested over 21 days
• Used at home, office, and outdoors
• Connected to Android phone
• Streamed music from Spotify, Tidal, Netflix, YouTube, and played games
• Tested in various transport modes including trains and planes

Soundpeats H3 offer some of the best affordable earbuds I’ve tested all year, with a sound that truly impresses audiophiles on a budget.

FAQ

• What makes Soundpeats H3 stand out among budget earbuds?
  Their triple-driver system delivers exceptional audio clarity and balance rarely seen in this price range.
• How is the battery life when using ANC?
  Around 5 hours with ANC active, and up to 7 hours when ANC is off, with a total of 37 hours including the case.
• Is the touch control responsive?
  Yes, the touch controls are intuitive and activate easily across the entire outer surface of the earbuds.
• Do Soundpeats H3 support multiple audio codecs?
  Yes, including aptX, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC, AAC, and SBC.
• Are the earbuds water-resistant?
  They have an IPX5 rating, meaning they handle sweat and rain, but aren’t suitable for swimming or heavy water exposure.

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