You’ll make your own mind up about the ‘distinctive’ looks - but Microsoft’s first stab at some true wireless in-ears has to be considered a success. The sound they make is balanced and enjoyable, and for dedicated Microsoft users they’re approaching ‘no-brainer’ status.

After listening to countless podcasts, video game remixes and late-night TV shows, it’s clear to me that Microsoft has found a decent audio niche. It’s building quirky-yet-comfortable devices that are easy to use. Aside from the weird connectivity arrangement of the Earbuds, I don’t have many complaints.

Despite being comfortable and secure in your ear – with good sound, long battery life and a pocketable case – they are big and attention-grabbing. People will look at you wearing these on the street. Two faulty sets is also a worry, and the lack of AAC support is disappointing to Apple users.

Surface Earbuds are a solid pair of true wireless earbuds, but they’re missing some core features we expect, as well as any true wow factor. Sound quality is smooth and works for a variety of genres. Microphone quality is high along with an eight-hour battery life. The design is a bold move, and it puts comfort at the forefront.

Microsoft's Surface Earbuds are an ambitious step in the right direction, but an uneven user experience holds them back from greatness.

The Microsoft Surface Earbuds takes the cake for the most futuristic-looking earphones on the market, but the value just isn't there. While the earbuds play nicely with Windows and Android devices, they lack basic features like remappable controls. If you must get a Microsoft headset, we recommend the Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 instead.

They’re super comfortable and have lengthy battery life, but the style won’t be for everyone

The Microsoft Surface Earbuds cost too much for what’s on offer. They don’t sound great, nor is the earbud style versatile – the shape may have been chosen for comfort, but it introduces its own issues.

When used as a productivity tool, the Surface Earbuds offer solid value

This leaves me to question who the earbuds are really made for. Are Windows computer users the key demographic for these? The simple integration with Office 365 apps could be an appealing perk for some, but the lack of some key features typically found on other earbuds in this price range is disappointing.

Microsoft's Surface Earbuds are extraordinarily comfortable, sound great, and get great battery life. But weird omissions like wireless charging, or in-ear detection make it hard to justify the $200 over stiff competition.

The true wireless Microsoft Surface Earbuds are cool to look at, but they offer inconsistent audio performance for the price.

The Microsoft Surface Earbuds are disappointing truly wireless earbuds for mixed usage. Due to their open fit, they block almost no background noise, and their mic's recording quality is poor. People who don't like the plunger-like fit of in-ears may find them decently comfortable, though they tend to cause fatigue during long listening sessions. Their sound profile isn't very balanced and they lack a fair amount of bass, though luckily, their companion app gives access to a graphic EQ so you can customize the way they sound.