The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC is easily one of the most Gen Z-focused TWS earbuds we’ve come across. Unlike most earbuds that are designed to disappear into your pocket, these are meant to stand out and complement your outfit. Beyond the bold design, the Method 360 ANC also packs features such as Sound by Bose, ANC, up to 40 hours of battery life, multipoint connectivity, and more. However, at Rs 12,499, the Method 360 ANC is a tough sell, especially when buyers can choose from the Sony Pulse Explore Wireless Earbuds, Marshall Minor IV, Apple AirPods 4, and several other renowned earbuds in the same price bracket.
Read on to find out what works and doesn’t work for the earphones in this Skullcandy Method 360 ANC review.
Table of Contents
Design
Skullcandy has given the Method 360 ANC a deliberately large, boxy design, which makes the earbuds stand out so much that you can’t pocket them without creating an awkward bulge. But I guess that’s done deliberately to flaunt the accessory rather than hiding it away. The case features a circular loop that lets you hang it from a backpack or belt loop for convenient carrying. It is a design that should appeal to young buyers.
The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC also comes in interesting and some bold colour choices: Primer, Leopard, Plasma, Future, Cement, Crazy Pink, Bone, and True Black. We received the classic True Black, and even this has been made to grab attention with its faded finish and contrasting white Skullcandy logo.
One thing I would’ve liked to see on the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC is an arrow or other indicator showing how to open the charging case. I wasn’t the only one who struggled; everyone I handed the earbuds to initially had trouble figuring it out. To save you the confusion, here’s how it works: firmly hold the case and either push the bottom section to slide it open or pull the loop upwards. While doing so, make sure you’re not blocking the side with the Skullcandy branding, as that’s the section that slides open to reveal the earbuds.
The case resembles the Sony Pulse Explore Wireless Earbuds, but instead of sitting side by side, the Skullcandy earbuds are positioned on either side of the case. There are strong magnets that keep the earbuds grounded, whether you hold the case horizontally or vertically. The body has “L” and “R” etched next to the slots to indicate the exact position of each earbud.
As for the earbuds, they feature a short stem, but not the compact form factor. Their relatively bulky design is due to the large touch-sensitive outer panel and the silicone grips along the edges. Like the ear tips, the grips are available in multiple sizes, allowing you to find a secure fit. This helps keep the earbuds firmly in place, making them well-suited for everyday use as well as workouts. The buds are IPX4 certified, keeping them safe from sweat.
However, the fit can become slightly uncomfortable during extended listening sessions. Even after switching to the smallest ear tips and silicone grips, I found myself taking the earbuds off after around 30 minutes of use. It would’ve helped if the earbuds sat a little less aggressively in the ears while still maintaining a secure fit, so they could rest more comfortably during prolonged use.
Connectivity, controls, and app support
The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC TWS earphones feature Bluetooth 5.3 for pairing with smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other compatible devices. The pair also support multipoint connectivity, allowing them to stay connected to two devices simultaneously. Android users get the added convenience of Google Fast Pair for quick setup. While the Method 360 ANC lacks a pairing button, you can re-enter pairing mode by long-pressing the outer surface of both earbuds to connect them to a new device.
You also get a long range for an uninterrupted experience, even if your phone is lying in another corner of the gym, and no latency whatsoever. Furthermore, earbuds support wear detection and a variety of touch controls, including the ability to play/pause audio, skip tracks, switch between Hearing Modes, accept/reject calls, adjust volume, and even control the camera shutter button.
These controls are customisable and can be assigned to a handful of other preset options via the compatible Skull-IQ app. I had the app, version 3.1.2, installed on my iPhone – there is an Android version of the app too. Apparently, the app has a terrible rating on both app marketplaces, with several users complaining about connectivity issues. I didn’t face any such trouble during my usage, although I must admit I had to reconnect the earbuds to the app despite the initial connection.
While the existing version of the Skull-IQ app doesn’t have the best layout, the large, colourful icons are easy to use and intuitive. Furthermore, you can set widgets for the in-app controls for quick and easy access. Besides customising touch controls, the app also lets users adjust latency, ANC level, and the equaliser. There are up to four EQ modes: Music, Bass Boost, Podcast, and Custom.
The only major feature the app seems to be lacking, in my opinion, is the ability to rename the earbuds. Otherwise, my experience with it hasn’t been nearly as bad as the app store reviews suggest.
Audio and ANC
The biggest highlight of the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC is its Bose-backed audio setup. The IEMs have been co-tuned by Bose, with the renowned audio brand helping fine-tune the sound profile for better quality, balance, and depth. While I wouldn’t necessarily describe the tuning as perfectly balanced, I found the overall sound quality and depth to be where they should be for a TWS in this price range.
The earbuds have a slightly bass-heavy sound signature in the default ‘Music’ EQ mode, which makes them particularly enjoyable with tracks that have plenty of lows, such as Sunflower, Old Town Road, Wavy, and Case. The added bass ensures you get a thumpy, energetic presentation that makes you groove to the beats. If that’s not enough, users can switch to Bass Boost EQ in the compatible app, but it can slightly overshadow the vocals or other elements.
As a result, the acoustics may not land quite the way they should, particularly with tracks that rely heavily on vocals, instruments, and finer details. While listening to Count On Me, Kabira, Wish You Were Here, and similar tracks, I found that the slightly bass-heavy tuning sometimes took away from the clarity and subtle nuances in the mid-range. Vocals remained fairly clear, but the overall presentation lacked the openness and natural separation that would have made these tracks more enjoyable.
I wish there were a preset EQ for a more balanced output. The only other preset available, apart from Music and Bass Boost, is Podcast, which focuses primarily on vocals. Fortunately, there is a Custom EQ option that lets you customise the output based on your preference. You can experiment with different frequencies until you find a setting that matches your taste. I kept my EQ in the following settings under Custom mode, and it delivered a near-balanced experience.
Another highlight of the Skullcandy earphones is the active noise cancellation (ANC), which performs respectably well at reducing external noise. It is not class-leading, but you can rely on the Method 360 ANC for everyday listening, even on bustling streets. Users can control ANC intensity and switch to ‘Stay Aware’ mode to remain aware of their surroundings. The mode feels quite natural and does not create the sense of passive isolation that can make some users feel nauseated.
Battery life and calls
The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC offers a claimed battery life of up to 40 hours with the charging case when ANC is disabled, dropping to 32 hours with ANC enabled. On a single charge, each earbud is rated to last up to 9 hours, which is impressive for its class. In my testing, the battery life met expectations. With around two hours of daily use, the earbuds easily lasted a week, with roughly 70 percent charge still remaining. This was with mixed usage, including ANC on/off, voice calls, Low Latency Mode, and audio playback at an average volume of around 60 percent.
I can vouch for the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC lasting its claimed playback time between charges. The earbuds also support fast charging, adding two hours of playback time with just 10 minutes of charge. The battery life can be tracked with an exact percentage via the compatible app, while the small LED light at the bottom of the case gives you a rough idea of where things stand.
If you’re primarily buying the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC for voice calls, it may not be the ideal choice. While the earbuds are perfectly usable for casual calls in moderately noisy environments, the built-in microphones struggle to capture your voice with the clarity you would expect at this price point. Voices sound slightly muffled on the receiver’s end, making calls less crisp and reducing the earbuds’ reliability for important conversations.
Verdict
The Skullcandy Method 360 ANC is a pair of TWS earbuds that prioritises personality as much as performance. Its bold, boxy design, striking colour options, Bose-co-tuned sound, capable ANC, long battery life, and multipoint connectivity make it an interesting option for buyers who want their earbuds to stand out. The slightly bass-heavy sound signature also works well for bass-driven tracks, while the Custom EQ gives users enough flexibility to fine-tune the output to their liking.
However, the Method 360 ANC isn’t without its shortcomings. The bulky design can become uncomfortable during longer listening sessions, the microphones aren’t particularly impressive for voice calls, and the default tuning isn’t ideal for listeners who prefer a balanced or neutral sound. Competitors like the AirPods 4 and Marshall Minor IV can do a much better job at that. They are known for sounding more balanced and offering crisp call quality. We also have the Sony Pulse Explore wireless earbuds retailing around the same price, with an identical design, but none of these options offers ANC.
At Rs 12,499, the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC makes an interesting buy for users looking for a bold, boxy design, a secure fit, Bose-backed audio tuning, and capable ANC.
Editor’s rating: 8.5/10
Pros
- Distinctive and eye-catching design
- Punchy bass-heavy sound
- Effective ANC for everyday use
- Long battery life
Cons
- Bulky design
- Call quality could be better
- Skull-IQ app could use some refinement
