Comparison Hoco ES26 vs Hoco ES20 Plus

The capacity of the battery installed in the headphones of the corresponding design (see "Power").

Theoretically, a higher capacity allows to achieve greater battery life, but in fact, the operating time also depends on the power consumption of the headphones — and it can be very different, depending on the characteristics and design features. So this parameter is secondary, and when choosing it is worth paying attention not so much to the battery capacity, but to the directly claimed operating time (see below).

The time required to fully charge the battery in properly powered headphones (see above).

In this case, we mean the battery charging time from 0 to 100% when using a standard charger (or a third-party charger with identical characteristics). Accordingly, in fact, this indicator may differ from the claimed one, depending on the specifics of the situation. However, in general, it is quite possible to evaluate different models and compare them with each other: headphones with a shorter claimed charging time will in fact charge faster (ceteris paribus).

Also note that an increase in battery capacity (and headphone battery life) inevitably implies an increase in charging time. To compensate for this moment, special fast charging technologies can be used — however, they affect the cost and require the use of specialized charger.

The declared operating time of headphones with autonomous power supply (see above) when listening to music on a single battery charge or a set of batteries.

As a rule, the characteristics indicate a certain average operating time in music listening mode, for standard conditions; in practice, it will depend on the intensity of use, volume level and other operating parameters, and in models with replaceable batteries - also on the quality of specific batteries. However, based on the stated time, you can fairly reliably assess the autonomy of the selected headphones and compare them with other models. As for specific values, relatively “short-lived” devices have a battery life of up to 8 hours, a figure of 8 – 12 hours can be called quite good, 12 – 20 hours – very good, and in the most “long-lasting” headphones the operating time can exceed 20 hours.

The type of connector used for charging the built-in battery of headphones, more specifically, for connecting an external charger. Such a device can be a wall or car adapter, a power bank, or even a USB port of a PC or laptop (if you have the appropriate cable). In true wireless models (available with a stem, without a stem, with over-ear attachment, and clip-on), the “charger” cord connects to a special docking station where the “buds” are placed for charging (while the station itself usually has its own battery and can also function as an independent power bank). In wireless and combined solutions of a more traditional design, the charging input is often located on the headphones' body. Regarding connectors, the most common options are:

— microUSB. A smaller version of the USB connector, created for portable devices. It appeared quite some time ago but remains popular even nowadays and is used by the vast majority of manufacturers.

— USB-C. A miniature USB connector, positioned partially as a potential successor to microUSB. Unlike its predecessor, it features a reversible design that allows the plug to be inserted into the port any side up. It is still relatively rare, but it is highly likely that the situation will change in the coming years.

...— Lightning. A proprietary connector by the company Apple. Like USB-C, it has a reversible design, but is somewhat more convenient and reliable. However, the use of Lightning is limited to products from Apple itself and its owned brand Beats.

The total weight of the headphones; for true wireless models (see "Cable Type"), the weight of each individual earbud is listed.

This parameter is directly related to the design (see above) and some features of the functionality. Thus, the mentioned true wireless devices are very light, their weight does not exceed 25 g. More traditional in-ears and in-ears can be noticeably heavier, up to 50g for in-ears and up to 100g for most in-ears. Overhead models, for the most part, are quite massive: among them there are many models weighing 200 – 250 g, 250 – 300 g and even more than 300 g. It should be noted that a significant weight for false ears is often not a disadvantage, but an advantage: it allows them to stay on the head more securely, creates an impression of solidity and reliability, and most often does not create significant inconvenience.