Plantronics BackBeat Fit 3100, the True Wireless come to sport

Wireless headphones have already conquered users, and the strange thing is seeing people using a wired headset on their smartphone on the street. Leaving behind the controversies about sound quality or whether to eliminate the headphone jack or not, what cannot be denied is that the comfort offered by the absence of cables compensates for other possible shortcomings, especially when it comes to practicing sports.

Taking a step towards the absence of cables we find the so-called "True Wireless" (true wireless), with the AirPods as a reference. Ideal for practicing sports, however, there are hardly any models of this type that are designed precisely for this type of activity. Plantronics comes to the rescue of those who want the maximum comfort offered by these headphones with its new model BacBeat Fit 3100 that we have tried and we tell you our impressions.

Design and features

They are extremely similar to the BackBeat Fit 2100, in fact we could say that there are about 2100 that have had the cable that goes from the earphone removed (it would be as true as saying that the AirPods are the EarPods cutting the cable). Practically the entire structure is made of a soft silicone that makes them extremely comfortable to wear. From the ear hook to the earpiece that is inserted into your ear canal, they are made of this soft and soft material. that allows them to remain perfectly fixed to the ear without fear that they may fall with the practice of any sport. It is also a material resistant to sweat and water, they are not designed for you to swim with them, of course, but you should not fear that it will rain with them on (IP57).

They have Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity with a range of up to 10 meters, and have an autonomy of 5 hours of listening, which you can increase by another 10 hours thanks to the included charger case. It is not a case that is designed to always carry in your pocket, but it is perfect to carry your headphones well stored in your bag or backpack, and always have them fully charged when you are going to use them. The materials of the case are good and it protects the headphones very well. You should not be afraid of accidentally dropping it, which is very welcome in a product of this type.

The case, as we pointed out before, gives you up to 10 more hours of battery life for your headphones. It has four LEDs that indicate the remaining battery by pressing the inside button, and with a 15-minute recharge you can enjoy one hour of use of the headphones. Placing them is very simple, I just find it a bit strange that the earphone on the left is the one placed on the right in the case, and the one on the right is placed on the left, but it is something you get used to quickly. A microUSB connector located on the back serves to recharge it (and the headphones) with a cable that you can carry inside the case itself, also a great idea.

Using headphones

These BackBeat Fit 3100 have a button each on their body, differentiating between pressing (click) and touching the surface. The left earbud is the one that takes care of the volume, one touch and it goes up, touching and holding it goes down. If you press and hold for a few seconds it turns off (or on). The right is the main headset, and by clicking we can accept or hang up calls, start or pause a playback, or invoke Siri and turn off / on if we hold a few seconds. With two clicks we advance track and with three we go back. The headphones have automatic on and off when removing them from the case and placing them back in it, so we can forget about those controls to turn off and on except for very specific occasions.

We can also expand these controls thanks to the BackBeat application that you have available in both iTunes (link) and Google Play (link). We can modify the touch control of the left earphone to control the volume, as indicated before, or for you to do other actions like play our favorite music list from Apple Music or Spotify, or to invoke Siri if we touch twice. Through this application we can also change the language of the voice that indicates the remaining battery or if we are linked to our iPhone, and we will receive the firmware updates that Plantronics sends us.

Sound quality

These are sports headphones, designed to enjoy outdoor activities, and that means that they prioritize our safety over sound. Why am I saying this? Because if what you are looking for are headphones that isolate you from outside noise and immerse you in the music you are listening to, this is not your model. In a similar way to what happens with AirPods, with these headphones you will hear everything around you, essential if you want to run or cycle outside. In noisy environments such as a gym this can be an inconvenience, but I insist, they are mainly intended to be used outdoors.

The sound quality is good, perhaps they can be put as a downside that the bass is not too flashy, but they are present. Taking into account that they lack noise reduction, we can rate their sound as good, with more than enough power. (I usually use them at little more than half volume). The signal is very stable, and only a couple of times in places where there were many people with many mobile devices have I noticed that the sound disappeared from one of the headphones for a few moments, something relatively normal and that even with the AirPods it has happened to me on some occasion under the same conditions.

Editor's opinion

The Plantronics Backbeat Fit 3100 headphones are designed for practicing all kinds of sports with them, and they more than meet this goal. With more than enough autonomy to endure long sessions, and even fast charging that gives you an hour of use with only 15 minutes of recharging, you will never find that they have no battery thanks to its charger case that is included in the box. They are extremely comfortable and you will hardly notice that you are wearing them, and it is practically impossible for them to fall with their fastening system. Their sound quality is good, although they do not intentionally isolate from the outside. If you were looking for something similar to the AirPods but prepared for sports practice, you will not find a better candidate. Its price is € 149,99 on the official Plantronics website (link), and are available in black and gray.