It’s been a while since we reviewed the Skullcandy Dime true wireless earbuds with their great sound and super-affordable price point. Since then, not only has Skullycandy released an updated version but also a limited-edition collaboration with Doritos. As such, not only are we reviewing the updated version but also the limited-edition Doritos colourway.
Estimated reading time: 12 minutes
Our Skullcandy x Doritos Dime 2 review looks at a pair of small true wireless earbuds with UV-reactive Glow Graphics that pack pretty decent sound, all for the low price of $35. Read on to see why they earned a Highly Rated badge and remain a solid affordable recommendation here at Techaeris!
Table of contents
The Quick Take
When they first came out over a year and a half ago, we were impressed with the sound quality and price of the Skullcandy Dime true wireless earbuds. An upgrade mostly in name, the Dime 2 earbuds don’t offer anything different aside from using Bluetooth 5.2 instead of Bluetooth 5.0 and the addition of Tile tracking. That’s not to say they aren’t decent as they still offer up the same audio quality as their predecessor does, there’s just nothing here that screams upgrade.
As for the limited-edition Doritos Red UV-reactive Glow Graphics, given earbuds are meant for use on the go, it feels a bit gimmicky. The idea is great, however even I had to go pickup up a UV flashlight just to test out the UV-reactive colours on the earbuds. It is fun, for sure, but when the earbuds are in your ears, you’re not seeing much of them anyways. Not only that, I’ve only really seen UV/black lights in clubs which isn’t really a place where you’d wear these.
On that note, the Skullcandy Dime 2 true wireless earbuds are still a great purchase, offering solid bang for your buck, especially if you pick up the non-limited edition colourway.
Specifications
The Skullcandy x Doritos Dime 2 true wireless earbuds we reviewed have the following features and specifications:
- UV-Reactive Glow Graphics
- Built-In Tile Finding Technology
- 12 Hours Total Battery Life
- Microphone, Call, Track & Volume Controls
- Auto Connect
- IPX4 Sweat & Water Resistant
- Micro-USB charging case with snap lid and integrated lanyard
- Ultra-compact at just 2.45 inches long and 1.53 inches wide.
- Sensible Battery Size – By consciously sizing the battery, the carbon footprint of Dime is less than half the size of other true wireless earbuds, while still delivering 12 hours of playtime.
- 100% Recyclable Packaging – The Dime series is the first in Skullcandy’s lineup to have 100% recyclable packaging.
- Smaller Form Factor – A smaller form factor means less plastic and compact battery size, making the carbon footprint of Dime just 1.2 kg CO2e.
| Headphone type | True wireless in-ear earbuds |
| Connection type | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Impedance | 16Ω±15% |
| Driver diameter | 6mm |
| THD | <3% at 1KHz |
| Battery capacity | Earbud: 20mAh (3.5h) Charging case: 150mAh (8.5h) |
| Frequency response | 20Hz – 20KHz |
| Sound Pressure Level | 95+/-3dB |
| Dimensions (case) | 2.45 x 1.53″ |
| Weight | 32g |
What’s in the box
- Skullcandy x Doritos Dime 2 True Wireless Earbuds
- Charging Case
- Ear Gels (S, M, L)
- Micro-USB Charging Cable
- 1-Year Limited Warranty
- User Guide
Design
The Skullcandy Dime 2 true wireless earbuds are pretty much identical to the Skullcandy Dime, so honestly, there’s not much new in this review from that one. Each earbud is barely larger than a quarter and fits nicely on a Canadian Loonie ($1 coin). These earbuds follow the stem style, having a short stem that includes a multifunction button (MFB) on each earbud. Just over an inch in length, they are just under an inch wide. With three different included ear gel sizes, I was able to get a secure and comfortable fit.
The short stem, as mentioned, has an MFB which covers the entire length. Raised within this MFB is the Skullcandy skull icon. At the bottom of the stem on each earbud, facing down, is the microphone for making voice commands or taking calls. On the inside of each stem is an L or R to indicate which ear that earbud goes in.
The main earbud component is round, with two gold contacts towards the back for charging when placed in the included case. The eartip stem angles out and down from toward the front. The included ear gels (three sizes in all) are easy to change and have the Skullcandy logo raised on two sides of each one.
The case is small as well, roughly the size of a key fob from a vehicle. Under 2 1/2″ in length and just over 1 1/2″ in width, the case is about 7/8″ thick. On one corner is a small lanyard for attaching these to your keys or backpack. The case does have a curious design, though, as it has two cutouts exactly the size of the MFB on the stem of each earbud. When the earbuds are in the case for charging, the Skullcandy logo on both shows nicely. However, when the earbuds are in use, there are then two oval-shaped cutouts in the case. The case is also constructed from plastic but feels pretty sturdy and should last through multiple openings and closings. When opened, you can see the hollowed-out receptacles for each earbud with an L and R stamped on each side to indicate which one goes on what side. On the back side of the case is the Micro-USB charging point. Given this is the second iteration of these earbuds, USB-C would have been nice to see here. On that note, the included charging cable is super short as well and I ended up using my own cable as the included one caused the case to be hanging from my wall charging adapter while recharging.
Our review sample was, of course, the limited-edition Doritos red UV-reactive Glow Graphics colourway. Red in colour, the top of the case has some swirly lines across the top. When held under a UV blacklight (which, as mentioned, I’ve honestly only ever seen in clubs and one bowling alley), parts of these glow a brighter orangish colour. The earbuds themselves glow as well, except for the MFB section on the stem. Given these will be in your ears, not much of the reactive glow on the earbuds themselves is visible. It is difficult to take a picture under UV light, so you’re stuck with the stock(ish) image at the top of this article, but I can confirm they do indeed glow as shown. As far as branding goes, the only Doritos branding is a white printed triangle logo on the bottom of the case as well as the actual Doritos logo printed inside the case (in orange) when you open it.
The earbuds are also IPX4 sweat/water-resistant, so while not waterproof, they do offer some protection against moisture. Overall, these true wireless earbuds are compact with a comfortable fit and look decent at the same time. My only real complaint about the design here is the physical MFB button, as using it forces the earbud deeper into your ear and causes some temporary minor discomfort.
Ease of Use
Pairing is pretty simple. Taking the earbuds out of the case for the first time will put them in pairing mode. Depending on your phone, it might prompt you to pair when detected. If not, you can go into your Bluetooth settings and select Dime 2. Once paired, you’re good to go.
As far as controls go, some controls can be triggered with the MFB on either earbud, while others are specific to the left or right earbud.
- Power Off: Hold left or right MFB for 4 seconds
- Power On: Hold left or right MFB for 2 seconds
- Volume Down: Tap left MFB twice
- Volume Up: Tap right MFB twice
- Play/Pause: Tap left or right MFB once
- Answer/End call: Tap left or right MFB once
- Skip to next track: Hold right MFB for 1 second
- Skip to previous track: Hold left MFB for 1 second
- Activate Voice Assistant: Tap left or right MFB three times
- Clear Paired Device: Press left or right MFB twice and hold on the second press for two seconds
- Pairing Mode: Press and hold left or right MFB for 4 seconds when earbuds are off
The MFB controls are pretty straightforward once you remember how many taps or how long to hold it for the different functions.
The earbuds can also be used one at a time, allowing you to be aware of your surroundings and extending the battery life as you can listen to one while charging the other. Both earbuds have a microphone as well, so you don’t have to worry about which one is in when using it to make or take phone calls. You will be missing some control options if you use one earbud as some, like volume control or skipping tracks, are based on a specific earbud.
The Skullcandy Dime 2 earbuds also feature Tile tracking. If you’re in the habit of misplacing your earbuds, you can download and install the Tile app, connect your Doritos Dime 2 earbuds to the app, and be able to locate them if you ever misplace them.
Sound Quality
As nothing has changed spec-wise with the drivers, the Skullcandy Dime 2 earbuds sound pretty much identical to what I recall from the previous version. Those who love a bit of extra bass will love these, and for the small physical size and 6mm drivers, they get pretty loud and offer up no distortion even at maximum volume. While they don’t have ANC, they do a great job of cancelling outside noises with their secure noise-isolating fit. In fact, typing on mechanical keyboards is indiscernible while having these on.
For testing, each song in my test tracklist from Spotify sounded pretty nicely balanced and with, as mentioned, just the right amount of warm bass that I tend to prefer (but not everyone does). Everything from rock to Top 40 to classical and everything in between sounded just fine. While there are most definitely better-sounding earbuds and headsets out there, for the price, the Skullcandy Dime 2 easily exceeded my expectations and will be more than adequate for most users.
Reception
With Bluetooth 5.2 on board, connecting the Skullcandy x Doritos Dime 2 earbuds to my smartphone or Windows 11 PC was quick and easy. While I tend to keep whatever device I’m streaming from nearby, the earbuds didn’t cut out regardless of where I was in the house when my phone was on the main floor.
Microphone/Call Quality
Each earbud has a microphone in it, so you do have a couple of microphones in play while taking calls. The other benefit is that you can still take or make calls and activate your voice assistant when only using one earbud. On that note, the microphones are pretty standard and while the other party during my test calls said I sounded o.k., they were able to pick up on some background noise, but faintly so.
Battery Life
At up to 3 1/2 hours on a single charge and another 8 1/2 on the case, the Skullcandy x Doritos Dime 2 earbuds do fall a bit short compared to other true wireless earbuds out there. During testing, I could easily get 3 hours, sometimes closer to the 3 1/2 hours before needing to recharge. The case did provide an extra two-and-a-half charges for a total of between 10 1/2 to 12 hours before needing to recharge the case. Some are getting up to 8 hours on a charge, but keep in mind these are pretty small and compact as well. On that note, Skullcandy did mention that the reason they are making products with more reasonable battery life is that small, efficient batteries cut down on their carbon footprint. Dime 2’s carbon footprint, for example, is less than half that of other earbuds.
Once dead, it takes about an hour to recharge. As mentioned above, you can use one earbud at a time, so that will extend your listening time if you swap them out and listen to one while charging the other.
Price/Value
Priced at $34.99, you are paying a $5 premium for the Doritos colourway over the stock version of the Skullcandy Dime 2 earbuds. Like the Skullcandy Dime before them, they offer probably the best bang for the buck on true wireless earbuds that I’ve seen or heard to date. If you do want to spend a little less and aren’t sold on the red UV-reactive glow graphics colourway, the stock Dime 2 earbuds are an excellent choice.
At this price, these are not only impulse buy territory, but if you lose one or damage them, you’re not going to be out a lot. Not only that, if you do lose or damage one or the case, you can contact Skullcandy to order an individual replacement at a reduced price.
Wrap-up
Decent true wireless earbuds usually cost at least $50, although many companies are reducing the gap between decent sound and price point. Skullcandy proved that users can have decent sound and an affordable price point with the original Skullcandy Dime earbuds and the Skullcandy x Doritos Dime 2 follows suit, albeit with only minor upgrades like the Bluetooth version and added Tile tracking. While not perfect, for the price point, they’re hard to beat. If you’re looking for a pair of true wireless earbuds that sound good, aren’t going to break the bank, can afford to lose, or want to start your kids off with, these will easily do that.
In some of our articles and especially in our reviews, you will find Amazon or other affiliate links. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. Any other purchases you make through these links often result in a small amount being earned for the site and/or our writers. Techaeris often covers brand press releases. Doing this does not constitute an endorsement of any product or service by Techaeris. We provide the press release information for our audience to be informed and make their own decision on a purchase or not. Only our reviews are an endorsement or lack thereof. For more information, you can read our full disclaimer.
Last Updated on March 13, 2024.
