Why does it always feel like wireless headphones run out of battery at the most pivotal moment? More than that, waiting for them to finally charge can take an eternity and throw your flawless, systematic morning routine out the window.
Enter the Adidas RPT-02 SOL, a pair of self-charging headphones that are powered by light. The use of Powerfoyle technology transforms natural and artificial light into energy that will keep the battery level at 100 per cent - no pesky wires necessary.
Pretty impressive, right? We decided to put this bold claim to the test and see if they were as game-changing as they appear by spending every waking moment blasting our (late 90s, early 2000s-dominated) playlist.
Read on to find out our verdict.
Specs
- Play time: 80 hours (without any light)
- Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
- Charging Time: 2 hours
- Charging Port: USB-C
- Microphone: Yes
- Voice Command: Yes
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2
- Bluetooth Range: 10 metres
- Weight: 256g
- Water Resistance: IPX4
Design
On first look, you can tell right away that these headphones are well designed and as soon as you place them on your head, the comfort sets in. There’s plenty of padding around the ear, and the headband can be slightly adjusted. Despite such a hard-wearing construction, they are incredibly lightweight and after wearing them for a few minutes you can easily forget that they are even there.
Reading more into the design, the sustainability credentials are impressive. Similar to many new Adidas clothing lines, the negative environmental impact has been significantly reduced. Built from 87 per cent recycled plastics, and featuring no cables, these headphones are some of the most sustainable on the market.
Features
The most stand out feature is of course the Powerfoyle technology that powers the headphones solely through light. As all forms of light, including artificial light, can top up battery levels, you don’t need to be reliant on the temperamental British weather to provide a source of energy.
I tried out the headphones in various locations with different levels of lighting including eating lunch in a brightly lit living room, a jog through the park on a cloudy morning and an evening stroll at sunset. Throughout all of these tests, the battery life impressively remained at 100 per cent.
But for the true test, I needed to find out how quickly the battery life would drain, so I put through their paces in total darkness. I drew all the curtains, boiled the kettle and set in for a Saturday night in-in with a cuppa and an audiobook (Becoming by Michelle Obama - if you must know). A few hours later, the battery level had barely shifted and when exposed to light again, they charged up in just 30 minutes. Offering 80 hours of stored playtime, you’ll never have to worry about battery life again.
For the next gruelling assessment, I tried them out during an intense hour workout and they proved to be a great gym companion - the IPX4-rated design makes them entirely sweat and splash proof. The inner headband and ear cushions are also removable and washable so you can either wipe them down or put them on a quick wash so they’re fresh for your next wear. They aren’t entirely noise cancelling, but the volume levels can be adjusted to block out much of the background noise.
To get the most out of this product, it is worth downloading the Adidas Headphones app. Through the easy-to-use interface, you can conveniently control and customise features like sound levels.
Verdict
Adidas has well and truly shaken up the headphone market - the innovative technology is highly impressive and no doubt other companies will follow with more solar-powered tech.
Over a weekend of usage, the battery was barely drained and they automatically charged up at the feintest exposure to natural or artificial light. With the rise in energy bills, we’re grateful to have one less thing to need to constantly charge up.
