Skip to main content

Adidas joins the wireless headphone game with two models designed for athletes

Since everyone seems to be making wireless headphones aimed at active lifestyles these days, why should a powerhouse athletic brand like Adidas remain on the sidelines? The company’s new audio line announced to coincide with this year’s IFA show in Berlin looks to rectify that situation.

Adidas Headphones is a partnership between Adidas and Zound Industries, and its first products are two wireless headphones aimed squarely at athletes and everyone else who feels a connection to the world of sport. The $149 FWD-01 is a pair of around-the-neck wireless earbuds and the $169 RPT-01 is a classic set of wireless on-ear headphones. Both models can be ordered right now via adidasheadphones.com and will ship on September 25.

Both headphones were co-designed by athletes according to Adidas, though none were mentioned by name. While the FWD-01 wireless earbuds look like many similar models on the market, save for a connecting cord that features a knitted material covering the wires, it’s the on-ear RPT-01 headphones that are especially noteworthy. Finding on-ear headphones that are built for workouts is something of a rarity. Plenty of people use their on-ears at the gym, but with the exception of a few models like the Poly BackBeat series, these aren’t generally sweatproof. The RPT-01 by contrast are IPX4-rated, so they’ll easily withstand the kind of moisture a heavy workout can create. Both their ear-cushions and headband liner are removable and washable, which means that when they start to smell like your Adidas footwear, you’ll be able to do something about it.

Beyond their ability to handle vigorous activity, the RPT-01 offer excellent battery life at a claimed 40 hours and can be fast-recharged via USB-C. The headband is highly flexible, which should help when shoving these cans in your gym bag.

The FWD-01 has a claimed 16 hours of playtime, which would be stellar if they were true-wireless earbuds, but as an around-the-neck design, it’s about average. They ship with a variety of eartips to help with getting a good fit, and they have the same waterproof rating as the RPT-01. Both models use Bluetooth 5.0, but Adidas hasn’t divulged which Bluetooth codecs are supported. A free companion app gives you some customization options, but again, there aren’t any details yet on what kind of customization is possible. Both models support phone functions like taking calls, but there’s been no mention of the ability to access voice assistants like Google Assistant, Siri, or Alexa, which is something an increasing number of workout-ready headphones and earbuds now offer.

We’ll be sure to let you know how these new Adidas wireless headphones perform in the real world when we get them in for testing.

Editors' Recommendations

Simon Cohen
Contributing Editor, A/V
Simon Cohen covers a variety of consumer technologies, but has a special interest in audio and video products, like…
Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones are the best Prime Day deal
sony wh 1000xm4 are the best prime day 2020 deal lowest price

Prime Day has entered day two with deals on electronics of all kinds, including some terrific Prime Day headphones deals. Here at Digital Trends, we keep an eye out for deals all year round, so we already have a selection of headphone deals for you to peruse. But sometimes a deal comes around which is so good we need to highlight it for you straight away, and that's the case with this deal on the audiophile-favorite noise-canceling headphones, the Sony WH-1000XM4. These tremendous headphones are now available with a $50 discount and with every purchase you'll also receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

Sony's flagship noise-canceling headphones are perfect for those who want to block out background noises while they work or travel. They sound great, with clear and detailed mids and highs, and the bass is well balanced so it doesn't overwhelm the listening experience. If you have a preference for how your headphones should sound, you can adjust the EQ and noise-canceling options using the free Headphones app for iOS or Android. And the headphones come with a built-in microphone so you can use them to take calls or attend virtual meetings as well.

Read more
These Sony wireless noise-canceling headphones are only $88 for Prime Day
sony whch710n wireless headphone deal prime day 2020 wh ch710n

Looking for a trendy pair of new wireless headphones? The
Sony <span id="productTitle" class="a-size-large product-title-word-break">WHCH710N headphones</span>
 are currently on sale for just $88 -- down from $200 -- as part of Amazon's Prime Day sales. This is one of the best Prime Day headphone deals currently available, so don't hesitate before pressing "buy." You never know when stock might run out. 

Become one with the Sony wireless headphones' advanced noise-canceling, so when you're wearing these headphones the outside world will cease to exist. You'll also get about 35 hours of battery life on one charge and if you're ever running low, a quick 10-minute boost will give you an additional 60 minutes of listening time. Apart from noise-canceling, you can also tune into the ambient mode which allows you to hear any important sounds in the world around you. Use these headphones for more than just music -- try hands-free calling when you're jogging or multitasking on an important work project. You'll even be satisfied with the comfort and fit of your new headphones. The oval-shaped ear pads and adjustable metal headband lets you adjust your headphones to envelope your ears completely for an optimal listening experience.

Read more
Sonos headphones coming soon? Patent reveals possible designs and features
Sonos Wireless Headphones Patent Illustration

We've been eagerly awaiting more details on Sonos' wireless headphone plans ever since Bloomberg let it be known in January 2019 that the multiroom audio company was actively developing them. Now, almost two years later, we have our first look at the designs thanks to a recently awarded patent from the United States Patent Office (USPO).

Buried within the 45-page patent document are drawings that illustrate two possible headphone designs -- one that uses a single-sided earcup fork, similar to a Bowers and Wilkins PX7 or Microsoft Surface Headphones 2, and another that uses what appears to be a forkless approach that reminds us a lot of the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.

Read more