Skullcandy Push 720 Open True Wireless Open-Ear Earbuds Review
If you’ve been searching for earbuds that let you stay connected to your surroundings while enjoying your favorite music or podcasts, you’re not alone. The demand for open-ear audio has grown significantly as more people recognize the importance of situational awareness during workouts, commutes, and daily activities. The Skullcandy Push 720 Open represents a fresh take on this concept, offering a unique listening experience that keeps your ears unblocked while delivering quality sound. These earbuds are designed for people who want the freedom of wireless audio without completely disconnecting from the world around them.
Open-ear earbuds have become increasingly popular among runners, cyclists, and fitness enthusiasts who need to hear traffic, approaching pedestrians, or gym announcements while staying entertained. Unlike traditional in-ear designs that create a seal in your ear canal, open-ear models sit near your ears and direct sound without blocking your ear openings. This design philosophy prioritizes safety and comfort, making them an excellent choice for those who find conventional earbuds uncomfortable during extended wear or who simply prefer staying alert to their environment.
Skullcandy Push 720 Open Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
| Driver Type | Open-ear directional audio |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 |
| Water Resistance | IP55 (water and dust resistant) |
| Battery Life (Earbuds) | Up to 9 hours |
| Battery Life (with Case) | Up to 28 hours |
| Charging Port | USB-C |
| Weight (per earbud) | Approximately 8g |
| Microphone | Dual microphones per earbud |
| Connectivity | Multipoint (connect 2 devices) |
| Special Features | Tile integration, physical buttons |
| Compatible Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Charging Time | 2 hours (full charge) |
- Open-Ear Awareness
- All-Day Comfort
- Long-Lasting Battery
Design and Comfort
The first thing you’ll notice about these earbuds is their distinctive design. They feature a wraparound ear hook that securely positions the speaker near your ear canal without actually entering it. The construction feels solid yet lightweight, making them comfortable enough for all-day wear. The ear hooks are made from flexible materials that adapt to different ear shapes and sizes, which means you won’t experience the fatigue that sometimes comes with traditional earbuds after a few hours of use.
The charging case is compact and pocket-friendly, with a satisfying magnetic closure that keeps your Skullcandy Push 720 Open secure when not in use. The case itself has a modern aesthetic that doesn’t scream for attention but looks refined enough to sit on your desk or nightstand. The build quality feels durable, and the earbuds themselves have an IP55 rating for water and dust resistance, which means they can handle sweaty workouts and light rain without issue.
One aspect worth mentioning is how these earbuds stay in place during physical activity. The ear hook design provides a surprisingly secure fit, even during high-intensity workouts or running sessions. You won’t find yourself constantly adjusting them, which is a common frustration with some wireless earbuds. The lightweight design also means you’ll barely notice you’re wearing them, which is exactly what you want from earbuds designed for active use.
Sound Quality and Performance
Open-ear earbuds face a unique challenge when it comes to sound quality. Since they don’t create a seal in your ear canal, they can’t deliver the same level of bass response or noise isolation as traditional in-ear monitors. However, these earbuds manage to deliver surprisingly clear and balanced audio considering their design constraints. The mids and highs come through with good clarity, making podcasts and vocal-heavy music enjoyable to listen to.
The bass response is present but understandably not as punchy as what you’d get from sealed earbuds. This is simply a trade-off of the open-ear design, and it’s important to set your expectations accordingly. If you’re a bass head who loves feeling every thump and rumble in your music, you might find these lacking. However, these earbuds manage to deliver surprisingly clear and balanced audio considering their design constraints. Even users familiar with premium options like the sennheiser momentum 3 will appreciate how the Push 720 Open maintains clarity in vocals and mids despite the open-ear design. The mids and highs come through with good clarity, making podcasts and vocal-heavy music enjoyable to listen to.
Volume levels are adequate for most situations, though you’ll need to crank them up a bit higher in noisy environments compared to traditional earbuds. The sound doesn’t leak excessively at moderate volumes, but people sitting very close to you might hear faint audio if you’re listening at higher levels. This is another inherent characteristic of open-ear designs rather than a specific flaw with these earbuds.
Battery Life and Connectivity
Battery life is a strong point for these earbuds. You can expect around nine hours of continuous playback on a single charge, which is impressive for true wireless earbuds. The charging case provides additional charges, bringing the total battery life to approximately 28 hours. This means you can go several days without needing to plug in the case, making them ideal for travel or long workdays.
The Bluetooth connectivity is stable and reliable, using Bluetooth 5.2 for a solid connection with minimal dropouts. Pairing is straightforward and quick, and the earbuds remember your devices for easy reconnection. The connection range is respectable, allowing you to move around your home or office without your phone in your pocket and maintaining a stable connection.
Call quality is decent for casual conversations, though the open-ear design means your voice might pick up more background noise compared to earbuds with better isolation. The microphones do a reasonable job of capturing your voice clearly, but don’t expect studio-quality call performance. For typical phone calls and video meetings in relatively quiet environments, they’ll serve you well.
Controls and Features
Physical button controls are placed on each earbud, giving you tactile feedback when you press them. This is refreshing in an era where many earbuds use touch controls that can be finicky or overly sensitive. You can control playback, adjust volume, skip tracks, and activate your voice assistant without pulling out your phone. The buttons require a firm press, which means you won’t accidentally trigger them during workouts or when adjusting the earbuds.
The earbuds support multipoint connectivity, allowing you to connect to two devices simultaneously. This feature is particularly useful if you switch between your phone and laptop throughout the day. You can seamlessly take a call on your phone while working on your computer without manually disconnecting and reconnecting.
One feature that stands out is the Tile integration, which helps you locate your earbuds if you misplace them. Given how easy it is to lose small wireless earbuds, this addition provides valuable peace of mind. You can use the Tile app to make your earbuds chirp or see their last known location on a map.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Excellent situational awareness during use
- Comfortable for all-day wear with no ear fatigue
- Secure fit that stays in place during workouts
- Impressive 9-hour battery life per charge
- IP55 water and dust resistance
- Physical buttons instead of finicky touch controls
- Multipoint connectivity for two devices
- Tile integration for finding lost earbuds
- Lightweight design at 8g per earbud
- Stable Bluetooth 5.2 connection
Cons:
- Limited bass response compared to sealed earbuds
- No active noise cancellation
- Sound leakage at higher volumes
- Not ideal for very noisy environments
- Call quality affected by background noise
- Lacks advanced audio codecs like aptX or LDAC
- Higher volume required in loud settings
Who Should Consider These Earbuds?
These earbuds are ideal for specific use cases and user preferences. If you’re someone who exercises outdoors, commutes in busy areas, or simply prefers staying aware of your surroundings, the open-ear design offers significant advantages. Parents who want to listen to music while keeping an ear out for their children will also appreciate the design. Office workers who need to stay accessible to colleagues while enjoying audio during focused work might find them perfect for their needs.
However, they’re not for everyone. If you primarily listen to music in quiet environments where sound quality and bass response are your top priorities, traditional in-ear or over-ear headphones will serve you better. Similarly, if you need maximum noise isolation for flights or noisy commutes, sealed earbuds or noise-canceling headphones are more appropriate choices.
- Open-Ear Awareness
- All-Day Comfort
- Long-Lasting Battery
Final Thoughts
The open-ear earbud category serves a specific purpose, and these earbuds execute that vision well. They deliver on the promise of comfortable, secure, all-day wear while keeping you connected to your environment. The sound quality is respectable given the design constraints, battery life is excellent, and the feature set covers all the essentials without unnecessary complexity.
For the right user, these earbuds solve real problems that traditional earbuds create. They allow you to enjoy audio content without sacrificing safety or awareness, and they do so in a package that’s comfortable and reliable. While they won’t replace your premium noise-canceling headphones for travel or your audiophile-grade earbuds for critical listening, they excel in their intended role as everyday companions for active, aware listening.
