I’m willing to bet there’s a good chunk of people out there who have never installed or used the companion app that goes with their Bluetooth headphones. After all, you don’t strictly need to use the app to use the headphones.
However, that means you’re not benefitting from multiple features in your headphones that can only be accessed or modified from within their mobile apps. So, at the very least, you should explore the app at least once, to make sure your phones are set up the way you want them to be. Here’s some of the stuff you can do.
9
Personalized Sound Profiles
Out of the box, your headphones have a specific sound profile, tuned to what most people should find acceptable. However, this is the lowest common denominator setup and not necessarily the best profile for your ears.
In your headphones’ app, it might be possible to tweak various aspects of the sound, and then save that unique configuration to your headphones so they now sound the way you like the most.
8
Firmware Updates Keep Things Fresh
Inside your Bluetooth headphones is firmware that operates all the smart features the device offers. Sometimes this firmware has bugs in it, and some features can have glitches, or won’t perform to their full potential. When the manufacturer fixes these issues, or adds new features, you need to do a firmware update.
Except for Apple’s headphones, which automatically update so long they are near a compatible Apple device, most headphones need you to open their app and manually start the update process.
7
Noise Cancellation and Ambient Mode Controls
If your headphones support Active Noise Cancellation or pass through modes, then the app is where you can activate, deactivate, or fine-tune these settings. The exact details of what you can change or manage will differ from one brand and model to the next, but there’s a good chance you can tweak things a little from their default behavior.
6
Button and Gesture Customization
Speaking of noise cancelation and other similar features, you can usually activate these using specific buttons or gestures on the headphones themselves. However, if you open your headphone app, you can change what specific buttons do, or how features cycle or toggle.
5
Find My Headphones Features
If you’re not sure where you left your headphones, then you’ll be happy to know that some headphone apps can activate a feature that helps you find them. For example, your wireless buds might have a speaker in the case that can beep loudly, so you can find them down the back of your couch or in your laundry basket.
4
Battery and Charging Management
While most headphones will show you a basic battery level, the headphone’s own app often has more information. For buds with three separate batteries (one in each bud, plus one in the case), this might be the only place to get detailed battery information, and in some cases even battery error codes or battery health reports.
3
Multi-Device and Multipoint Management
Many modern headphones can now connect to multiple devices simultaneously, or switch between them seamlessly. However, this feature isn’t on by default, because it may result in an audio quality or performance trade-off.
So if you want to make use of the feature, should your headphones support it, you’ll have to activate it within the app.
2
Exclusive Features and Extras
Many headphones have some sort of gimmick or unique feature that sets them apart from the competition. Some of these features are of dubious value, but if you paid for that feature you should at least try it out! In some cases, activating unique features or adjusting them to your liking can only be done in the official app, so if you want to experience everything promised on the back of the box, it’s time to get downloading.
1
User Guides and Troubleshooting at Your Fingertips
Before you hit up internet forums to diagnose what’s wrong with your headphones, or why you can’t get them to work the way they should, download the app first. It may have a digital version of the user manual, and even some troubleshooting tools. You may. even be lucky enough to find video guides or nice simple pictorial instructions to walk you through whatever you’re struggling with.
It should hopefully be clear at this point that the actual headphone hardware itself is only half of the product you purchased, and that the companion app is where the manufacturer dumped all the cool stuff it couldn’t add buttons for on the headphones. So, as much as it’s a drag to have an app for everything, I assure you that in this case it’s probably well worth it.
- Brand
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Sony
- Noise Cancellation
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ANC
- Foldable
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Yes
- Charging type
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USB-C
- Carrying case
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Yes
Sony has the best noise-canceling capabilities, while managing to sound great with stellar battery life.
