Groov-e has just launched a new set of noise-cancelling wireless earbuds called the Groov-e Ultra Buds, as well as a pair of noise-cancelling over-ear headphones called the Groov-e Harmony. I’ll go over the specs below, but the most notable thing is that both models cost just £34.99 in the UK – that’s around $46 or AU$68, if the models ever make it to those shores.
If Groov-e isn't a name that immediately fills you with confidence for an audiophile-grade experience, you should know that for us that's been changing recently: earlier this year, we loved the Groov-e Serenity Sound Machine so much that we wrote a feature dedicated to how much it helped us fall asleep.
Then there’s the company’s reliable, feature-packed and very affordable Groov-e Zeus DAB radio clock, which also scored a very respectable four-star review, plus some incredibly cheap 2023 edition soundbars. So while the 2019 Groov-e SoundBuds didn’t receive very rave reviews from us during a heavy review (I helped test them for TechRadar’s sister publication What Hi-Fi?, and our review of the SoundBuds echoed these sentiments), there’s a back catalogue of sonic hits there.
A Groov-e feature I wish Apple would implement
The Groov-e Ultra Buds feature 28 hours of wireless audio playback including the charging case (per-bud life isn't listed, but based on those numbers, I'd guess it's around seven hours, plus three additional full charges in the case) and active noise cancellation, something rarely seen at this ultra-budget level.
You also get on-ear touch controls and a built-in microphone for calls, but the big draw for me is the clear LCD screen on the case. No, it’s not a smart display a la the JBL Live Beam 3, but it does offer detailed, numerical battery life on each earbud. This is far better, in my opinion, than the four-LED light strip now common on most sets of the best budget headphones, which can only give you vague estimates of remaining playback time with 25% accuracy.
And, as any AirPods Pro 2 owner knows, you only have one LED on your AirPods case, which means interpreting what green, amber, white, or a flashing variation of the above means for your battery status (unless you take out your phone).
I’ve spoken at length to our frequent contributor and reviewer Tom Bedford about this neat feature (he owns a pair of earbuds that have a digital display), and the truth is that no matter how effective the active noise cancellation is or how good the sound quality is, if your earbuds run out of battery 20 minutes after you leave the house and you haven’t noticed, you’re going to be upset. And when you consider that when the AirPods Pro 2’s head tracking, spatial audio, and noise cancellation features are turned on, you’ll get about 5 to 6 hours between charges, I really wish Apple would take being even more serious about disclosing AirPods battery life, so that you don’t have to rely on your phone to figure out what’s going on.
The Harmony over-ear headphones also offer active noise cancellation, plus something Groove calls “super low bass technology” for a more immersive sound experience. They’re also voice assistant compatible via a built-in microphone and 3.5mm audio cable if you want to listen wired. They list 25 hours of playback per charge, and unlike some of the models on the market in 2024, the design folds up nicely, too.
Again, the Groov-e Ultra Buds are available now with a suggested retail price of £34.99 (about $46 or AU$68, though availability here is still TBC) in black and will be released in white at select third-party retailers from October. The Groov-e Harmony are available now, also for £34.99, in grey from Groov-e and will be released in black at select retailers from October.
How good are they? Come back soon…
