Wireless earbuds have become so common that almost everyone I know has a pair on them. I recently stumbled across the Crossbeats Hawk, the company’s new wireless earbuds that catered to gamers with its RGB lights, long battery life, and low latency. But can they stand out from the competition? I used them for two weeks, and here’s what I think about the Crossbeats Hawk.
The Crossbeats Hawk came in a black case with a plasticky matte finish, and while they do not feel premium or sturdy, the RGB lighting on the case was literally a head turner. The same goes for the earbuds themselves.
As is the case with most gaming products, you get static blue and purple LED lights that add to the aesthetic and might come in handy if you drop them at night or in a dark room. You also get a USB-C dongle in the case, but more on that later.
How good is the fit?
I personally have no problem with any earbud shape, and the Crossbeats Hawk is no exception. These stemmed earbuds easily fit into my ears and are super comfortable even if I wear them for hours on end. However, this might only be true if you don’t move too much, and sometimes I felt like they would fall off when I jogged or took a brisk walk.
You also get a dedicated USB-C dongle in the case that reduces latency up to 10ms. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
Do they sound good?
Over the years, I have learnt to live with the fact that gaming audio accessories won’t ever sound as good as normal earphones because they are tuned for a different thing altogether.
If you listen to music a lot, the Crossbeats Hawk is not for you. Like most gaming earbuds, they have muffled highs, not so clear vocals, and high bass. However, playing games with these on is a different story altogether.
When playing Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, a multiplayer game that requires excellent reaction time and audio awareness, the Crossbeats Hawk did not fail, as I could clearly hear enemies in the bush. The same case is true for my Call of Duty sessions. I could easily spot enemies from afar, and listening to footsteps was never a problem.
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However, the lack of ANC and dedicated app support might be a letdown, as most, if not all, earbuds in the same price segment have great noise cancellation and come with app support.
The Crossbeats Hawk has four microphones on paper, but as is the case with most budget earbuds, they are passable. In noisy areas, the person on the other side could clearly hear me but complained that the background noise was equally audible. Clearly, these aren’t designed for taking calls in an outdoor setting, but they are clear enough if you are indoors.
What about the battery?
This is one area where the Crossbeats Hawk beats its competition by a huge margin. The company says that these earbuds can last up to 100 hours, and while I couldn’t verify the claim, they did last more than a week for me. I usually game for around two to three hours in a single session and more on the weekend, meaning they easily delivered me around 50 hours of charge.
These earbuds are pretty comfortable even if you wear them for hours on end. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
Crossbeats Hawk: Should you buy them?
Gaming earbuds are a pretty niche product, and so are the features that come with them. If you want to invest in a TWS solely for gaming that has a long battery life and doesn’t mind the audio quality and plasticky build, the Crossbeats Hawk is an easy recommendation.
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However, if you are in the market looking for a pair of wireless earbuds for listening to music and playing games, there are a lot of better alternatives from the likes of Sony, OnePlus, Boats, JBL, and others.
