Belkin SoundForm Rhythm
Belkin
Not every pair of earbuds needs to chase audiophile bragging rights. Sometimes what you actually want is something that pairs instantly, survives a sweaty commute or a gym session, and doesn't demand you baby it. That's the space the Belkin SoundForm Rhythm is aiming for, and after digging into how it performs across daily use, calls, workouts, and multi-device switching, it's clear this is a earbud built around convenience first, sound quality second — and that ordering matters a lot when deciding if it's right for you.
Design and Everyday Comfort
The SoundForm Rhythm keeps things simple: a short, rounded stem design that sits flush rather than jutting out awkwardly, paired with a compact charging case that slides into a pocket without adding noticeable bulk. Belkin has also built the earbuds and case using recycled plastic content, and the packaging skips plastic entirely — a small but genuine plus if sustainability factors into your buying decisions at all.
Fit is where things get more personal. Belkin ships three sizes of silicone ear tips in the box, which covers most ear shapes reasonably well, and the general consensus among owners is that the earbuds sit securely enough for walking, cycling, and light gym work. That said, comfort isn't universal here — a handful of buyers with smaller or differently shaped ears have found the earbud stems a bit long, occasionally catching on jacket collars or scarves and working themselves loose. If you've struggled with earbud fit before, it's worth trying the size range Belkin includes before assuming these won't work, but go in aware that the "one size disappoints someone" problem hasn't been fully solved.
Sound Quality: Honest Expectations
Belkin calls its tuning "Signature Sound," delivered through 12mm drivers with a small set of built-in EQ presets accessible via the bass control feature rather than a companion app. In practice, that means you get a few flavors of sound signature without ever having to install anything on your phone — a genuine convenience if you dislike app clutter, but a real limitation if you like fine-tuning your listening experience.
Where the SoundForm Rhythm consistently lands, based on real owner feedback, is in the middle of the road: clear vocals, reasonably balanced mids, and treble that doesn't grate. Where it doesn't excel is low-end weight. Several long-term users specifically flag that bass feels light for bass-forward genres like hip-hop or electronic music, even with the bass control engaged. If your listening diet leans heavily on podcasts, audiobooks, talk radio, or acoustic and vocal-heavy music, that's a non-issue. If you're chasing thumping bass, this isn't the earbud built to deliver it — and no EQ toggle fully closes that gap.
Calls and Noise Reduction
Every earbud in this price bracket claims to filter background noise, but the SoundForm Rhythm backs it with two microphones per earbud working alongside environmental noise cancellation specifically tuned for voice calls. The practical effect: your voice comes through with less of the wind, traffic, or office chatter that would otherwise bleed into a call. It's not studio-grade isolation, but for the everyday reality of taking calls on a train platform or a busy street, it does meaningfully cut down on the "can you repeat that?" moments.
Connectivity That Actually Saves You Time
This is arguably where the SoundForm Rhythm earns its keep. It runs on a modern Bluetooth 5.3 connection with a working range around 10 meters (roughly 30 feet), which comfortably covers "phone in another room" or "walked away from your laptop" scenarios without dropouts.
More useful day-to-day is Bluetooth multipoint support, letting the earbuds stay linked to two devices simultaneously. In real terms: leave a work call on your laptop, walk away, and your earbuds can flip to ringing on your phone without a manual re-pair. For anyone bouncing between a laptop for meetings and a phone for everything else, this single feature removes a genuinely annoying daily friction point that cheaper earbuds often skip entirely.
Compatibility is broad by design — these connect to any Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, tablet, or laptop, and Belkin's own support documentation confirms testing across recent iPhone and Samsung Galaxy generations, though as with any generic Bluetooth device, older or unusual devices should just be checked for standard Bluetooth audio support rather than any specific app requirement, since none is needed.
Controls: Simple, But Not Adjustable
There's no companion app for the SoundForm Rhythm, and that cuts both ways. On the plus side, setup is genuinely "put in ear, connect once, done" — no downloads, no account creation, no firmware update rituals. On the downside, all playback control happens through taps directly on the earbuds themselves: play, pause, skip, answer, and hang up are all covered, but volume is not. You'll need to reach for your connected device to adjust volume, and the touch zones can't be disabled if you'd rather they not respond to accidental taps or brushes. If you want an earbud that lets you customize or lock down its touch sensitivity, that flexibility isn't on offer here.
Battery Life and Charging, Explained in Real Terms
| What you get | What it means day-to-day | |
|---|---|---|
| Per-charge playtime | 8 hours from the earbuds alone | Covers a full workday or a long haul flight without a top-up |
| Case-extended playtime | An additional 20 hours stored in the case | Roughly 3-4 more full charges before the case itself needs power |
| Combined total | Around 28 hours before anything needs plugging in | With typical daily use, that's most of a week between full case charges |
| Fast-charge boost | 10 minutes on the charger for about 90 minutes of playback | Enough runway from a short charge to get through a commute or a workout you forgot to prep for |
That combined total is a genuine strength. For someone using earbuds a couple of hours a day, this realistically means charging the case once a week rather than obsessively topping up every night — a real point of relief if you've been frustrated by earbuds that need daily charging discipline.
One practical catch worth flagging clearly: the case charges over USB-C, but no charging adapter is included in the box, and the earbuds don't support PD (USB Power Delivery) fast charging. You'll need your own USB-C power adapter rated between 1.5W and 5W — most phone chargers already sitting in a drawer will do the job, but don't expect this to fast-charge at the speeds a higher-wattage PD charger would deliver to a phone.
Water and Sweat Resistance
The SoundForm Rhythm carries an IPX5 rating, meaning it's built to shrug off sweat during workouts and splashes from rain or a spilled drink. It is not rated for submersion, so swimming or deliberately dunking these isn't something the rating supports — but for the realistic threats most earbuds face (gym sweat, a sudden downpour on the walk home, a clumsy coffee spill), IPX5 covers the bases most people actually need.
Who This Earbud Is Really For
A strong fit if you:
- Split your time between a laptop and phone and want seamless switching without re-pairing
- Prioritize long battery life and infrequent charging over premium audio detail
- Listen mostly to podcasts, vocals, or balanced music rather than bass-driven genres
- Want a no-app, no-fuss setup you can hand to a less tech-savvy family member
- Need light water and sweat resistance for commuting, walking, or moderate workouts
Less suited if you:
- Want deep, punchy bass for hip-hop, EDM, or bass-forward playlists
- Prefer adjusting volume or customizing touch controls directly on the earbuds
- Need serious sport-grade water resistance for swimming
- Want app-based EQ customization or firmware-driven feature updates
- Have had past fit issues with longer-stem earbud designs
How It Stacks Up Against the Alternatives
Positioned against premium true wireless options, the SoundForm Rhythm isn't trying to compete on sound fidelity — it's competing on practicality per pound spent. Multipoint connectivity and a combined battery life stretching toward 28 hours are features you'd typically expect to pay considerably more for, and Belkin has folded them into a genuinely affordable price point. The trade-off is exactly where you'd expect: bass response and app-based customization take a back seat.
Within Belkin's own earbud lineup, the SoundForm Rhythm sits a step above the brand's most basic models by adding Bluetooth multipoint and a more deliberate call-quality focus, while sharing a familiar shortcoming across the range — none of Belkin's budget-tier earbuds ship with a companion app, so if EQ customization matters to you, that limitation isn't unique to this specific model.
Against similarly priced competitors chasing the budget-conscious buyer, the SoundForm Rhythm's real differentiator is the combination of multipoint pairing and genuinely long battery life in one package — a combination that's harder to find at this price than either feature alone.
Strengths and Weaknesses, Weighed Honestly
The case for the SoundForm Rhythm is strongest when you value time saved over sound perfected. Multipoint switching removes a daily annoyance that plenty of pricier earbuds still fumble, the nearly week-long battery stretch between case charges is a legitimately rare convenience at this price, and the setup process asks nothing of you beyond a single Bluetooth pairing. Build quality feels sturdier than the price suggests, and the inclusion of multiple ear tip sizes shows Belkin didn't skip the basics.
Set against that, the compromises are real rather than nitpicks. Bass response undeniably falls short for anyone whose music leans heavy on low end, and there's no software path to fix that — what you hear out of the box is what you're stuck with. The lack of on-earbud volume control means you're never fully hands-free from your phone, and touch controls that can't be disabled will occasionally cause exactly the accidental pauses or skips you'd expect from a design without that flexibility. The missing charging adapter is a minor but real inconvenience if you don't already have a compatible one lying around, and the no-PD-fast-charging limitation means don't expect phone-charger speeds if you're used to newer high-wattage bricks.
The Verdict
The Belkin SoundForm Rhythm makes the most sense as a dependable, low-maintenance daily earbud for people who move between devices, care more about all-day battery life than audiophile detail, and don't want to fuss with an app to get decent sound. It earns its keep through genuinely useful conveniences — multipoint pairing and a battery life that comfortably outlasts most competitors in its price range — rather than through sonic excellence. If bass-heavy music is central to your listening habits, or you want granular control over EQ and touch sensitivity, look elsewhere. But for commuters, remote workers juggling calls between a laptop and phone, and anyone who just wants earbuds that work reliably without babysitting, the SoundForm Rhythm delivers real, tangible value for what it costs.
What People Say
76 commentsGood earbuds
Really like these earbuds. They come with a charging case, charging cable and different size silicone ear tips. The instructions are clear to follow and you can easily pair the buds to your phone by bluetooth. They fit in your ear really well and are comfortable (unlike some) and you can also change the size of the ear tips to suite your ear size, I got my son to try them using the smaller size and it was a perfect fit. The sound is clear and really blocks out the background noise. Nice and easy to tap to stop/play/skip/answer phone etc. Also, battery lasts well too! Overall really like these and would recommend.
Great Ear Buds
My first experience of Belkin ear buds I usually wear full size over ear Bluetooth headphones but was flying off on holiday and space limited in hand luggage.
Really pleased with these.
Connected to phone and tablet easily.
Full charge lasts at least 5 hours watching video or listening to music.
Good sound quality, also you can adjust your phone settings for your own optimum output.
Plenty loud enough.
Slightest criticism wish the little bud case opened 180 degrees not just 90, fiddly getting them in and out with fat fingers like mine.
Definitely choose these again.
Bad product do not purchase!!!!!
I bought this product a few weeks ago and upon trying it out it turned out to be of absolutely terrible sound quality. I took it back to the Argos store where I purchased the earbuds from and I was told a refund couldn’t be processed for me due to haven opened the pack. How was I supposed to test or try the earbuds if I didn’t open it? Spent a whole £25 on the device just to be unable to use it. It’s so infuriating. Anyway, if you know what’s good for you, do not purchase these earbuds because if you do and something goes wrong, you won’t get your money back!
Best for comfort!
These are, without a doubt, the most comfortable earbuds I’ve ever used! Usually they start to hurt my ears after a while but I don’t have this problem with these earbuds at all! Perfect fit and haven’t had any issues with them falling out.
Connectivity is easy and fast (iPhone user), controls are super responsive and extremely useful.
Sound quality is a lot better than I expected - excellent for the price!
Battery life is very good and charges fast which is always a plus!
Highly recommend these to anybody!!!
Don't break the bank
These earbuds are great and don't break the bank! For something as cheap as these are I was not expecting the world, but they are surprisingly good even when compared to my higher end sets. These are ideal for someone who plans to use them a lot, they are comfortable to wear an have good battery life. There made from plastic, but have a very nice finish. Smooth to the touch and they fit in the palm of my hand nicely. All in all I would highly recommend.
Lightweight & good bass
Great little pair of headphones, they are lightweight and have 3 bud sizes in the box, along with a charger lead.
These were so straightforward to connect with my phone, I just opened Bluetooth in my phone settings & connected. These have snappy bass, and a good quality of sound, I wish they had more features, but a great all rounder. Hurt your ears after wearing for a long period of time, but feel sturdy in your ears when they are in!
Good but not brilliant
Decent set of ear phones, that offer good quality sound. Designed well and weigh light. I first noticed that the packaging is not the best when unpacking but the product itslef had a nice modern sleek design. The headphones fit nicely into ear and and come with larger buds for larger ears. The sound quality is good but no noise cancelling tech. Very easy to set up using Bluetooth and they seem to charge quickly.
Do not buy this dreadful product
I wasted money on this about a month ago. The Bluetooth connection is incredibly patchy, dropping out regularly, making them essentially unusable. They lose charge rapidly. Their "touch sensitive" feature is appalling - want to readjust them? Paused your audio. Want to scratch your ear? Paused your audio. These are headphones designed by someone who doesn't use headphones. Oh, and they fall out easily.
Would recommend for a good ‘off brand’
Great alternatives to the pricey ones. Easy set up and compatible with 3 devices I’ve tried. Come with different size buds for comfort. Happy with these and will get good use out of them and the price is great. I’m still to work out how to work it along side my phone for answering as it’s all touch on the buds but I’m getting used to them. Sound is good for all formats of media.
Belkin ear buds filure.
I bought this a month ago and have been happy with them until yesterday (20/05/2025) when the left ear bud failed to function, the system say that the buds are paired and connected but the blue light does not appear on the left bud and there is no sound.
Please can you tell me if they can be replaced under warranty or not ? I have destroyed the box they came in.
Love them, comfy, funky and the sound is fantastic
These are the very best wireless earbuds bar none. They retain their charge as promised, fantastic!!! The price was on point and even had money off so I got them for under £20!! The buds are super comfortable, I even sleep in them safely and comfortable. They are just so funky in black with blue lights when you lift the lid, like a wee alien ship. I love them!!!
Good value
I purchased these ear buds recently and am reasonably satisfied. They are good value for money at only £20. The only criticism I have is that the push controls on the buds themselves is a bit delicate.There have been occasions where adjusting them ,while listening to music, has resulted in skipping forward, a little annoying...but for £20 I can live with that
Honest Review
and reliable Bluetooth connectivity at an affordable price. With a battery life of around 5-6 hours per charge, they’re great for everyday use. However, they lack deep bass, active noise cancellation, and have an average microphone for calls. While not the best for audiophiles, they are a solid budget-friendly choice for casual listening. Rating: 4/5.
Great! Super!
Had a phone for 30 years and never used wireless headphones before! These are perfect if you don't want any fancy extras. Easy to set up and use, with 3 sets of silicone buds for small, medium and large lugholes! Comfortable in-ear and clear sound. Doesn't cut out background noise but personally don't want that.
Basic Bluetooth buds with no controlling App
Nothing special, I found very similar ones in a pound shop for a fiver. These do the job but nothing special. Belkin haven't made an Android App for these although they do for other models so you just have to control using normal phone or device controls.
I wont recommend as you can get similar much cheaper.
Excellent set of wireless earbuds
I bought these to use on holiday as I didn’t want to take my expensive set. I have been very impressed at the sound quality, battery life and overall quality of these earbuds. They come with 3 sets of rubber sleeves to get the correct fit in the ear. They turn on / off automatically when removed from the box.
Simple & Great
I bought this quite a while ago as a cheap replacement after I lost my last pair and I think it worked as it should and I think it was an amazing choice, it lasted pretty long and it's got nice controls and the sound is pretty clear in my opinion, I have no specific complaints for a pair this cheap.
Good for the price
I wasn't expecting much for ear pods that were under £20. Will say, I was impressed with the sound. Unfortunately, the pods kept losing the Bluetooth connection. Also, there is no app to allow you to change the instructions for the pods, i.e. you can't change single tap and double tap instructions.
Great Mic But No Bass
These are very nice and good quality airpods, the mic sound is very clear, i actually bought it for calls, its good for calls, but no good for music or anything like that, because the speaker dont have bass, Thats the only reason i did not give five stars, rest is okay, battery is good as well
Decent for the money!
Bought these as I couldn't face a quiet train journey but didn't want to spend a fortune. I was pleasantly surprised by the sound quality and fit (I often find myself having to adjust earbuds frequently). You can certainly spend more and get better sound, but for casual use these are great.
