Despite the best efforts of companies like DJI to shrink wireless wearable mics and make them as unobtrusive as possible, a lot of content creators still prefer a mic they can hold. So as wired headphones continue to make a comeback, Portronics has released a pair of USB-C earbuds called the Conch One with their microphone attached to a short cable instead of being integrated into the inline remote.
Portronics sells many of its products on Amazon, but at launch the Conch One are only available through the company’s website and Amazon India for ₹1,999, or around $23. They feature 14.2mm drivers so you should get some good thump out of them, and the inline remote includes volume and playback controls, a mic button, and a unique mode button. A long press of the button toggles between a listening mode that offers four different EQ settings to enhance what you’re listening to, and a karaoke mode with eight different settings of its own.
With content creators going so far as to clip their wireless mics to random objects like forks to make them handheld, these buds could catch on as a much cheaper and simpler alternative that will work for as long as your phone has power. But if you only ever plan to use them while talking on the phone, they could be less convenient than an inline mic which are typically positioned close enough to pick up your voice. When not in use, the Conch One’s mic looks like it’s going to hang down too far to be usable hands-free.
