Launched together with the BackBeat FIT 2100 and the BackBeat FIT 350, the BackBeat FIT 3100 is Plantronics’ first foray into true wireless earbuds and according to the company, are set to deliver legendary Plantronics audio quality and uniquely boasts the Always Aware™ feature that enables outdoor enthusiasts to “hear what truly matters” like taxi horns, barking dogs and screeching brakes.

They also have soft, flexible earbuds that fit and hold comfortably no matter the activity, according to Plantronics, and are durable, safe and stylish.

An audio pioneer and leader in the communications industry, Plantronics creates rich, natural people-first audio and collaboration experiences so that good ideas can be shared and harder – wherever, whenever and however they happen.

Received a set for review 

I recently received a set of the BackBeat FIT 3100 from Plantronics, for my review.

Taking the earbuds out of the box and opening the case, I quickly realised that these ones are quite different to the other true wireless earphones that are out there in the market these days.

This is because the Plantronics version consists of two ear loops. One loop is inside the ear, while the other is placed is over the ears, and this makes it quite unlike a small, almost invisible earbuds that can be concealed inside the ears. And the feature also gives the earphones a very rugged, outdoorsy appearance.

The pairing process

Pairing the BackBeat FIT 3100 for the first time with my iPhone, took about 10 minutes, as the phone was having trouble with detecting the earphones despite the two devices being right next to each other on my dining table. 

In fact I even had to switch the BlueTooth on and off a few times, on both the iPhone and the BackBeat FIT 3100 before the two were successfully paired together.

Additionally, the BackBeat companion app also has to be downloaded in order to successfully detect and pair the earphones, rather than purely relying on the phone’s BlueTooth connection.

But from that point onwards, it has been quite seamless and easy to use the BackBeat FIT, with the earbuds auto-connecting to my iPhone each time I took them out of the case and put them into my ears.

Taking the earphones out for my runs

Overall, I thought that running with these earphones was also quite a good and pleasant experience. 

As I am training for the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon taking place next month, I have run with the BackBeat FIT 3100 earphones on a few occasions now, with my longest run to date with them, being about 2 hours and 35 minutes.

Solid and Sturdy

Thanks to the ear loops, the BackBeat FIT 3100 feels very sturdy inside my ears and regardless of whether I am going for slow, easy runs or pushing the pace, they hold fast and stay firmly inside my ears. So there was never any point during any of my runs, where the earphones were in danger of coming out.

However I have to mention that towards the end of my longer runs lasting over two hours, I did feel a bit of soreness in my ears, right at the place where the over-the-ear loop grips my ears. Perhaps the fitting was a little too snug. Unfortunately the ear loops are a fixed size and do not appear to be adjustable, though.

Good, Balanced Sound Quality 

The sound quality is quite good. The sound is quite balanced and the trebles are great, the bass was a bit flat for my liking, though.

Nonetheless, the BackBeat FIT 3100 is of decent enough quality for its small size, makes for easy listening of my favourite songs when I run.

So far, the reception has been pretty good too – I have not experienced any issues where the sound has dropped, even though some of the areas where I run through, are construction areas.

Always Aware™ Feature

As well, while the music is loud, I found that I was still able to be aware of my surroundings and I am not cut off entirely from the environment that I am in.

This is thanks to the Always Aware™ ear tips, which allow listeners to be able to still hear their surroundings when they exercise.

For myself, I usually run at a park near my house, so traffic horns and oncoming cars are not typically an issue during my runs. 

But I was still able to pick up sounds such as those coming from bicycle bells and oncoming e-scooters which had veered into the jogging lane and so I was able to avoid these accordingly.

Good Battery Life

The battery life of the BackBeat FIT 3100 is advertised as being five hours, with up to 10 hours additional in the charging case, and this is plenty of power for my long two to three hour training runs in preparation for my upcoming marathon. 

And listening to the earphones for a three-hour stretch at one go, the power proved to be reliable and solid.

Sweat Proof and Water Proof

The earphones are also IP57 sweat proof as well as being waterproof, meaning that if you get caught in the rain with the BackBeat FIT 3100 plugged on, you do not need to worry about anything. 

For myself, I have run with the earphones in the drizzle (but not in a downpour though) and I think that they have held up quite well.

Using the BackBeat App

Besides being used to pair the earphones to your smartphone device, there are also functions in the BackBeat FIT 3100 that can be customised using the BackBeat app, which is a free download on both the Apple and Android app stores.

On each earphone is a large button with reflective coating and by default, these control sound, playback and volume. 

But you can use the app to customise these functions to suit your needs, with some of the alternative options being to launch Google Assistant, toggling Mute mode, starting a Spotify playlist or even setting a timer. Do note though, that you need to disable the volume control feature in order to get these alternative actions.

Cost and where to buy the earphones 

The BackBeat FIT 3100 is priced at S$249 and the earphones are available at Plantronics retail stores across Singapore.