The Skullcandy Indy ANC True Wireless are well-built in-ears with great noise isolation. Thanks to their ANC feature, they can block out background noises like bus and plane engines and chatter from people around you. Their bass-heavy sound profile adds an extra thump and punch to audio, but can also sound muddy, dark, or veiled. There are a few EQ presets available in the Skullcandy app. Their 5.1-hour continuous battery life may not last through your day, but their portable charging case makes it easy to power up while on-the-go.
Our Verdict
The Skullcandy Indy ANC aren't bad for neutral sound. They have a bass-heavy sound profile that may be muddy or boomy for fans of a more neutral sound. While vocals and lead instruments are clear and present in the mix, upper harmonics are dark and veiled. There are a few EQ presets available in their app, so you have some ability to adjust their sound.
- 3 EQ presets.
- No graphic EQ.
The Skullcandy Indy ANC are great for commute and travel. Their portable design makes it easy to bring them on-the-go, and their ANC feature does a decent job blocking out bass-heavy background noises like bus and plane engines. The ANC feature does an even better job blocking out the sounds of people chatting around you, too. However, these headphones may not be comfortable for long listening sessions, and their 5.1-hour continuous battery life may not last through long international flights.
- Well-built, portable design.
- Great noise isolation.
- IPX4 rating for water resistance.
- 5.1-hour continuous battery life.
The Skullcandy Indy ANC are great for sports and fitness. These well-built headphones have a portable design that makes them easy to bring on-the-go. They're stable enough to wear during more intense workouts. They have an IPX4 rating for water resistance, though we don't currently test for this. However, their in-ear design may feel a bit fatiguing after long listening sessions.
- Stable enough for exercise.
- Well-built, portable design.
- IPX4 rating for water resistance.
- 5.1-hour continuous battery life.
The Skullcandy Indy ANC are alright for office use. These headphones are decently comfortable, and their ANC feature can block out the sounds of coworkers chatting nearby. They don't leak a lot of noise, either, so you can listen to music at loud volumes without really bothering your coworkers. They only offer just over five hours of playback time on a single charge, which may not last through your 9-5 workday.
- Great noise isolation.
- 5.1-hour continuous battery life.
The Skullcandy Indy ANC aren't compatible with PS4 or Xbox One consoles. You can use them with Bluetooth-compatible PCs, but their latency is likely too high to be suitable for wireless gaming.
The Skullcandy Indy ANC are wireless-only, so they can't be used for wired gaming.
The Skullcandy Indy ANC is okay for phone calls. Their integrated microphone has a decent recording quality, so your voice is understandable but also a bit thin. They have great noise isolation, so you aren't distracted by background noises during your calls. However, they're better suited for making calls from quiet environments as the microphone can struggle to separate your voice from ambient noise.
- Great noise isolation.
- Mediocre noise handling performance.
Changelog
- Updated Aug 03, 2023: Compared their companion app with the Amazon Echo Buds True Wireless 2023 (3rd generation)'s.
- Updated Apr 25, 2023: Added a comparison to the Skullcandy Sesh ANC True Wireless in the Batterybox.
- Updated Jun 29, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Jan 22, 2021: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Skullcandy Indy ANC come in 'Black' and 'Chill Grey' color variants. We tested the 'Black' variant, and you can see the label for the model we tested here. There's also a limited edition variant called the 'Feisty Indy ANC True Wireless', which are available via the manufacturer's website. They're pink and have an 11” x 17” art print. We expect the other color variants to perform similarly to our model.
If you come across another version, let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Skullcandy Indy ANC are truly wireless in-ears with great noise isolation. They have a similar design to the Skullcandy Indy Evo True Wireless, and their stability fins help them stay in your ear during your workouts. Unlike the Indy Evo, they have an ANC feature, which helps them block out more background noises. Also, they come with a few EQ presets for sound customization, but they aren't as customizable as headphones with a full graphic EQ.
See also our recommendations for the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds, the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds under $100, and the best noise cancelling earbuds.
The Skullcandy Indy ANC True Wireless are similar headphones to the Skullcandy Indy Evo True Wireless, but they have a few extra features. The Indy ANC have an ANC feature that does a better job isolating against background noise. Their continuous battery life is longer, and their app comes with EQ presets. However, the Indy Evo have a more neutral sound profile out of the box, which some listeners may prefer.
The Skullcandy Sesh ANC True Wireless are better in-ears than the Skullcandy Indy ANC True Wireless. Their ANC can isolate you from low and mid-range background noise, like rumbly bus engines or chatty coworkers. The Sesh ANC also have a longer continuous battery life and access to a graphic EQ via their companion app, unlike the Indy ANC's preset-only app, which limits personalization. However, the Sesh ANC's mic isn't as good for calls, making your voice sound thinner and quieter than the Indy ANC's mic. If you're a fan of the bud-and-stem design, like Apple's AirPods lineup, you'll also prefer the Indy ANC's design to the Sesh ANC's more compact build.
The Skullcandy Indy ANC True Wireless are a bit better for most uses than the Skullcandy Indy Fuel Truly Wireless. Thanks to their ANC feature, the Indy ANC have better noise isolation, longer continuous battery life, and presets you can adjust in their app. However, their sound is a bit more bass-heavy than the more neutral Indy Fuel, but both headphones have a dark and dull treble range.
The Skullcandy Indy ANC True Wireless and the Sony WF-SP800N Truly Wireless are similar headphones, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The Sony have a more comfortable and stable fit, and their battery life is longer. They also have a graphic EQ for greater sound customization. While the Sony have longer continuous battery life, the Skullcandy's portable charging case offers more additional charges. Also, the Skullcandy have better noise isolation.
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