The GPods truly stand out from the crowd, so don’t be surprised if people stop to ask you about them once in a while. The rest of the design isn't quite as exciting, with the GPods featuring a plastic inner shell with the sound nozzle extending at an angle. The fit that you get with these is similar to that of the Nothing Ear (2), and while there's nothing wrong with the build quality, the glossy finish makes these feel more like budget wireless earbuds.

Selecting the Light tab lets you change the brightness level, turn the lights on or off, and adjust its lighting modes. Nothing Ear (2) also has a unique design thanks to its see-through stalk, and while there's no RGB lighting (take note, Nothing), the earbuds look refined and they have a comfortable fit. Nothing did a great job with the sound tuning this generation, and the Ear (2) deliver a fabulous sound that's on par with the best wireless earbuds. If you have a Samsung phone, it's hard not to suggest the Galaxy Buds 2. They have great battery life, a fun design that's available in exciting colors, and they sound great. You can also switch between various Samsung devices seamlessly, and they are a great value right now.I wish they were IPX5 for better protection, but IPX4 should be enough to take them out in the rain without worrying about ruining them.

To make the earbuds even more customizable, the company offers snap-on shells Image: Steve Smith / KnowTechie

Classic Series

In addition, they are IPX4 rated, which means they can withstand a splash of water in any direction. If you want to show off the earbuds, Bright is the mode that's ideal. This delivers a constant light across the surface of the stalks, and it isn't dynamic. Finally, there's a Breath mode that pulses the lights on or off. Even with the brightness set to medium, the lighting is bright enough that it is visible in daylight, and the vivid lighting is definitely the biggest differentiator here. These earbuds sound great, fit in my ear well, and last a decent amount of time without having to charge them. I had no issues taking them out on a run or wearing them around the house. The battery standard fits the previous description of "Keep the beat alive for up to 5 hours on a single charge, or up to 20 hours with an external charger". But it depends on how much you use the GPods. I used them less frequently than others, leaving me with more listening to my other colleagues. It all depends on personal use. I decided two years ago to add a bit of RGB lighting to my gaming rig, and in characteristic fashion, I went overboard. I now have RGB lighting on just about every product on my desk, including my keyboard, gaming mouse, the mouse surface, and gaming rig (Corsair's towering 5000T chassis). Even the DAC that I use — Fiio's K9 Pro — has an RGB light ring that changes based on the audio source material, and I have Corsair's light stands and Govee's desk lights that add vibrant RGB lighting across the front surface of my desk.