Sennheiser Accentum Open Review: Those OG AirPod feels with Sennheiser sound!

Remember how amazing the original AirPods were when they were launched in 2016? While some made jokes about their “EarPods without wires” design, they soon became a rage. This was not because they served up amazing sound or ANC (they did not even have ANC), but simply because they were so convenient. Using them was as simple as taking them out of a box and popping them onto your ears – no fuss about installing apps, fiddling with different-sized eartips, or going through elaborate pairing processes. They just worked. It is this spirit of convenience, combined with its trademark super sound, that Sennheiser is looking to bring to the market with its Accentum Open TWS. But is there room in the market for what many are nicknaming the SennPods?

Sennheiser Accentum Open Design and Appearance: Always wanted black AirPods? Wish granted!

The first thing that will strike you about the Sennheiser Accentum Open is how light they are. The buds and case in total weigh a touch under 40 grams (each bud is 4.35 grams and the case is 29.3 grams!), making them easily the lightest TWS we have used, lighter even than the AirPods. The case is very compact and easily slipped into our trouser pockets without any unseemly bulges.

In terms of appearance, the Sennheiser Accentum Open are very similar to the OG AirPods. In fact, they are the answer to those (we are among them) who prayed for AirPods in darker shades. The case is square and quite small and very light, and the buds themselves come with long stems with bulbous tops. The back of the stem is flat to accommodate a touch panel, and on the base of the stem is a golden spot (the charging contact point), adding a subtle touch of colour to the design. As indicated by their name, the buds are ‘open’ in design – they have no tips that tunnel into your ear, but instead hang on from your earlobe.

The buds are placed vertically in the case and attach magnetically to its lower part. The case snaps shut magnetically, too, and actually closes sharply at the slightest touch, which is a bit of a mixed blessing as it sometimes snaps shut even when you do not want it to. The case has the Sennheiser logo in front and no buttons on it – just a Type-C port at the base for charging, with a tiny LED next to it that shows battery level and connectivity status.

Our black Sennheiser Accentum Open looked rather smart, but did not scream for attention. They are light but seem reasonably solid and come with an IPX4 rating, which means that they will be fine in the gym and even in the rain. You can also get them in cream, but we so prefer the black.

Sennheiser Accentum Open specs and interface: Solid specs, simple, un-appy interface

The Sennheiser Accentum Open come with 11 mm drivers, and have two microphones on each earbud. As they are open in design, they do not come with ANC (active noise cancellation), although the microphones come with ‘beam forming for noise reduction in calls. They come with Bluetooth 5.3, ear detection (which pauses audio when the buds are out of one’s ears), multi-point support, and also support for SBC and AAC codecs, which might disappoint audiophiles expecting LDAC and aptX at this price, but is more than adequate for most users.

Allied with this is a very simple interface. There is no companion app, so all the controls are on the buds themselves. These are the first TWS from a non-Apple brand in a long time that come without any companion app. Pairing them with a device is not a difficult process, but it is slightly odd. The first time, the buds get into pairing mode the moment you flick open the case. However, to pair them to another device, you have to take the buds out, place them in your ears, and then press them for a few seconds to put them into pairing mode. This can be a little hit and miss sometimes. There is no need to worry about eartip sizes as there are none, and the buds are comfortable to wear, although they do drop out from time to time (like all non-hook TWS).

Using the buds is easy, once you get the hang of the commands. Increasing the volume is as simple as pressing the touch panel on the right bud, while holding the panel on the left one decreases it. A single tap on either bud plays or pauses audio, a double tap on the right bud takes you to the next track, while two taps on the left take you to the previous one. A single tap accepts a call, while a double tap ends or rejects it. You can pair them with up to eight devices, and the buds will remember the last two and switch between them depending on which plays the audio. There is no option to customise the controls, and there seems to be no way to summon a virtual assistant, which is a little odd at this price point.

Sennheiser Accentum Open performance: Great for those wanting open-ear buds

We used the Accentum Open with an iPhone 16 Pro Max, a OnePlus 13s, and a Xiaomi Pad 7, and our experience was very good indeed. It has been a while since we used TWS without ANC, but we did not find ourselves missing it as much as we had felt we would. Yes, external sounds do come in, but although not as convenient as those with ANC, the Accentum Open are usable even in relatively noisy conditions. They served up good quality audio at decent volumes on our walks, runs, and even during workouts, even while letting in that bit of ambient sound that kept us alert to our surroundings – we could hear our name being called out in a cafe or the honking of a horn in traffic. They do tend to fall out more easily than in-ear buds, though, so one has to be a bit careful in that regard.

Not surprisingly, audio quality is the USP of the Accentum Open. The TWS deliver the rich, open, and detailed sound that Sennheiser is legendary for. Mids (vocals) are outstanding, and treble is present without being overly sharp, which makes these great to listen to pop, classical music, and for hearing podcasts and audiobooks. As the fit of the buds is open, bass does not have the kind of rumble and thump that in-ear buds deliver, but it is still good enough to push one through runs and workouts. Volume levels are good, and if the surroundings are relatively quiet, watching films and shows and playing games can be quite an immersive experience. We would say that they are among the best open TWS we have heard, and are better than the AirPods in terms of clarity and detail. Just remember to use them in relatively quiet conditions for best results.

We got 6-7 hours from the buds, and the brand claims that with the case, one gets about 28 hours of usage, which is about three recharges. We ended up needing to recharge our buds and case once a week, which is good for its price point. Charging them takes about an hour using a 33W charger, although ten minutes of charging gets us about an hour of listening. Rather disappointingly, there is no support for wireless charging. Call quality is a little erratic. We had some crystal clear calls, and also cases where the person we were speaking to could not hear us clearly – ambient sound does creep in, so calls in noisy conditions are a bit of a no-no. Switching between devices worked fine, but could at times get stuck, making us pause audio on one source and then play it on the other to sort it out.

Sennheiser Accentum Open Review Verdict: Classic AirPod alternatives!

Sennheiser has launched the Accentum Open at $129.95/Rs 9,990. In terms of pure feature set, that is definitely on the high side, especially when you consider that you can get TWS like the Nothing (Ear) and the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 in that price range, which also come with ANC and wireless charging and comparable audio quality.

However, we do not think that the Accentum Open are targeted at the typical ANC TWS crowd, but at those who want a slightly more open fit. They are expensive but still more affordable than the AirPods 4, which are generally available for about $148/Rs 11,500, and let’s face it, they do sound better and battery life, although the AirPods handle calls much better.

Yes, we would have liked a lower price tag, but we think the Accentum Open are perfect for those who prefer buds that do not tunnel into their ears, and still deliver very good audio. Want OG AirPod feels with trademark Sennheiser sound? These are as good as it gets. As they come in black, too! SennPods indeed.

Buy Sennheiser Accentum Open (USA)
Buy Sennheiser Accentum Open (India)

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