Skullcandy Sesh Evo True Wireless Earbuds Review

Overview

The Skullcandy Sesh Evo arrived in 2020 as part of a wave of budget-friendly true wireless earbuds aiming to deliver solid functionality without demanding a premium investment. Now marked as discontinued on Amazon, these earbuds remain available through other retailers and continue to attract attention from buyers seeking an affordable entry point into the truly wireless audio space. The Sesh Evo packs a surprising number of features for its tier: built-in Tile tracking technology, an IP55 dust and water resistance rating, three switchable EQ modes, and a total battery life of up to 24 hours when combining the buds and charging case. With a 4.2-star aggregate rating across tens of thousands of reviews on both Amazon and Best Buy, the Sesh Evo has clearly resonated with a substantial user base, even as it faces criticism on consistency and long-term reliability fronts.

Design and Build

The Sesh Evo earpieces are small and lightweight, measuring roughly 21.5 mm in height, 17.2 mm in width, and 23.8 mm in depth, with each bud weighing approximately 5.7 grams. The housing features a matte-finish polycarbonate that resists fingerprint smudges more effectively than glossy alternatives. Skullcandy offers the Sesh Evo in several color options including black, blue, green, red, and mint, giving buyers a degree of personalization not always found at this tier.

Three pairs of silicone eartips in small, medium, and large sizes ship in the box to help users achieve a secure and comfortable fit. According to testing referenced by The Gadget Digest, integrated silicone wingtips extend 8.3 mm from the earbud body and feature three distinct contour zones designed to lock into the antihelix, concha ridge, and cavum of the outer ear. In lab testing at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Human Performance Lab, 94% of participants reported zero slippage during 45-minute treadmill runs at inclines up to 12% and speeds reaching 7 mph.

The charging case is compact, measuring 62.4 × 43.7 × 26.9 mm and weighing 47.2 grams. It features an eggshell-like finish with a flip-top lid and status LEDs on the front face indicating remaining battery life. A USB-C port on the rear panel handles charging. The case’s hinge mechanism underwent accelerated life testing of 5,000 open-close cycles—equivalent to roughly 13.7 years of daily use—without failure. The case is constructed from hard, sturdy plastic and maintains its structural integrity and finish over extended field use.

One important note: while the earpieces carry an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance, the charging case itself is not water-resistant. Users should avoid getting the case wet and should not expose the earpieces to significant water pressure, though wiping the buds with a damp cloth is fine.

Sound Quality

Internally, the Sesh Evo employs 6mm dynamic drivers delivering a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz with a 32-ohm impedance. The sound signature is distinctly bass-heavy and sculpted rather than neutral or analytical. PCMag described the audio performance as powerful, with boosted bass and crisp highs, noting that the sound signature is “not for those seeking accuracy.” RTINGS similarly characterized the out-of-the-box sound profile as delivering “intense thump and boom,” while cautioning that some users may find the presentation “very muddy.”

The Gadget Digest offered a slightly different take, noting that the Sesh Evo emphasizes clarity in mids and highs while delivering controlled bass—not tuned for audiophile precision but engineered for vocal intelligibility during coaching cues and podcast listening. This assessment aligns well with the inclusion of three dedicated EQ modes: one optimized for music, one for film, and one for podcasts. These presets allow users to tailor the listening experience to their content type, which is a meaningful feature at this tier and helps mitigate the limitations of the default bass-forward tuning.

For bass lovers and casual listeners, the Sesh Evo’s sound will likely be satisfying. Those seeking a flat, reference-quality response will want to look elsewhere. The earbuds also provide passive noise isolation thanks to their in-canal design, which helps block out ambient sound like office chatter without requiring active noise cancellation—a feature the Sesh Evo lacks entirely.

Controls and Connectivity

One of the Sesh Evo’s strengths is its comprehensive control scheme. Each earpiece houses a single push-button on its outer panel, with the left and right buds handling different tasks. Through these physical buttons, users can adjust volume, skip tracks, answer calls, activate a voice assistant, and switch between EQ modes—all without touching their phone. Pressing both buttons simultaneously for two seconds powers the earpieces on or off.

The physical button approach has its trade-offs. While it avoids the accidental touches that plague some touch-sensitive designs, the push-button mechanism can create pressure in the ear canal during operation, particularly for users who find the buds somewhat bulky. Some users may also find the control scheme requires a learning curve before it becomes second nature.

On the connectivity front, the Sesh Evo supports Bluetooth 5.0. The earbuds automatically enter pairing mode the first time they power on, and subsequently pair instantly with the last device used. The Gadget Digest measured latency at approximately 120 ms over Bluetooth 5.0 A2DP, which is adequate for most music and podcast listening but may introduce noticeable desync for gaming or video work. Solo bud mode allows using either earpiece independently, adding flexibility for users who prefer situational awareness on one side.

Customer feedback, however, reveals recurring connectivity concerns. Best Buy reviews flagged connection issues 191 times and pairing problems 78 times as notable cons, suggesting that while the Bluetooth implementation works for many, it is not universally reliable. Electronics Ranker’s analysis similarly identified connection stability as a weak point, alongside reports of one-sided failure and charging problems.

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Battery Life and Charging

Battery life is one area where the Sesh Evo delivers solid, if not class-leading, performance. The earbuds provide between 4.7 and 6 hours of continuous playback per charge, depending on the source and testing methodology. RTINGS measured approximately 4.7 hours, while other sources cite 5 to 6 hours. The charging case holds three additional full charges, bringing the total battery life to approximately 24 hours—consistent across multiple sources.

The case recharges via USB-C, with a full case recharge taking approximately 105 minutes from empty. Electronics Ranker lists the battery charge time as 3 hours, which may refer to a different measurement condition. A rapid charge feature provides quick top-ups for users who need a brief listening session on short notice.

Best Buy customers rated battery life at 4.1 out of 5 stars, indicating general satisfaction with endurance. However, charging-related complaints appeared 249 times in Best Buy’s cons filter, making it the most frequently cited drawback. These issues appear to relate primarily to the charging case and long-term charging reliability rather than the earbuds’ runtime per se.

Durability and Water Resistance

The Sesh Evo carries an IP55 rating according to the majority of sources, including PCMag, Electronics Ranker, and Tech Review Advisor. This rating means the earpieces can withstand light splashes and dust exposure. PCMag noted that users should be able to wear the Sesh Evo in the rain without issue, and wiping the earpieces with a damp cloth is acceptable—just avoid submerging them or exposing them to significant water pressure.

The Gadget Digest references independent IP54 certification per IEC 60529 standards, with dust ingress protection confirmed via 8-hour exposure to Arizona Test Dust and splash resistance verified through 10-minute exposure to water jets at 80–100 kPa pressure. Whether the rating is IP54 or IP55, the practical takeaway is similar: the Sesh Evo handles sweat, light rain, and dust exposure well, making it suitable for workouts and outdoor activity, but it is not designed for swimming or submersion.

The matte polycarbonate housing resists fingerprints and maintains its finish over extended use better than some glossy alternatives. The case’s hinge mechanism demonstrated durability in accelerated life testing, and the overall build quality feels solid for the category, as RTINGS noted that despite the simple design, the earbuds “feel durable.”

Tile Integration

One of the Sesh Evo’s standout features is its built-in Tile technology. Tile integration allows users to track down either earbud if misplaced, a feature that is notably uncommon in this price tier. Users simply download the Tile app and follow the activation instructions to enable tracking. Given that true wireless earbuds are inherently easy to lose due to their small size, this feature provides meaningful peace of mind and practical utility.

Electronics Ranker specifically highlighted Tile support as a “notable extra at this price,” and it remains one of the features that distinguishes the Sesh Evo from many competitors in the budget true wireless segment. The tracking functionality works when the earbuds are within range of a connected device or the broader Tile network.

Fitness and Sport Performance

The Sesh Evo is positioned as a versatile option suitable for workouts and active use. The combination of IP55 resistance, lightweight construction, and secure-fit wingtips makes it well-suited for running, gym sessions, and high-intensity interval training. The Gadget Digest’s real-world testing across 32 users over 14 weeks confirmed a 92% retention rate during treadmill sprints at 12 mph and burpee-heavy circuit training, which is a strong endorsement for fitness-focused buyers.

The passive noise isolation provided by the in-canal design helps block gym noise and ambient chatter, though it does not offer the adaptive noise cancellation found on more expensive models. For vocal intelligibility during coaching cues, podcasts, and audiobooks, the Sesh Evo’s mid and high clarity—particularly when using the podcast EQ mode—performs adequately.

At 5.7 grams per earbud, the Sesh Evo is light enough for extended wear without significant fatigue, though some users report that the buds can feel slightly bulky in smaller ears. The push-button controls are advantageous during exercise, as they avoid the accidental activation that touch controls can trigger when adjusting a hat or wiping sweat.

What Customers Are Saying

Individual customer reviews were not accessible for detailed analysis, but the aggregate ratings tell a clear story. On Amazon, the Sesh Evo holds a 4.2-star rating across 36,474 reviews. Best Buy shows an identical 4.2-star average across 7,367 reviews, with 82% of customers indicating they would recommend the product to a friend.

Best Buy’s rating breakdown reveals strong satisfaction overall: 4,309 five-star reviews and 1,537 four-star reviews, compared to 632 one-star reviews. Feature-specific ratings are also positive, with sound quality scoring 4.3, battery life 4.1, and connectivity 4.1 out of 5. Customers most frequently praised sound quality with 3,418 mentions, battery life with 993 mentions, and ease of use with 618 mentions.

On the criticism side, charging issues were the most frequently cited con with 249 mentions, followed by connection problems at 191 mentions and pairing difficulties at 78 mentions. Best Buy’s summary noted that customers particularly value the earbuds’ sound quality, affordability, and long battery life, while concerns center on the size of the charging case, occasional connectivity issues, and limited volume levels.

Electronics Ranker’s analysis corroborates this mixed picture, noting that the Sesh Evo performs best for value, portability, compatibility, and setup, while consistency is its weakest aspect. Recurring issues with connection stability, one-sided failure, and charging problems appear across multiple review sources, suggesting these are genuine patterns rather than isolated incidents.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Powerful, bass-heavy sound with crisp highs
Three switchable EQ modes for music, movie, and podcast listening
Built-in Tile tracking for locating misplaced earbuds
IP55 dust, sweat, and water resistance
Up to 24 hours total battery life with charging case
Lightweight, comfortable design with secure-fit wingtips
Comprehensive physical button controls without needing phone access
Solo bud mode for independent left or right earpiece use
Strong customer ratings for sound quality and ease of use
Bluetooth 5.0 with auto-pairing functionality
Durable build quality with matte fingerprint-resistant finish

Cons:

Discontinued on Amazon; availability may be limited
No active noise cancellation
Bass-forward sound signature lacks accuracy for purists
Battery life per charge of 4.7 to 6 hours trails some competitors
Recurring reports of charging case issues across review sources
Connectivity and pairing problems reported by some users
One-sided failure reports indicate potential long-term reliability concerns
Charging case is not water-resistant
Some users find the buds slightly bulky for smaller ears
Limited maximum volume levels noted by some customers
Sound can sound muddy to some listeners

Verdict

The Skullcandy Sesh Evo represents a solid value proposition in the budget true wireless segment, even as it approaches the end of its retail lifecycle on Amazon. It covers the essentials well—decent sound quality, adequate battery life, durable construction, and a feature set that includes Tile tracking and IP55 resistance that are uncommon at this tier. The three EQ modes add genuine versatility, and the physical button controls are a practical choice for active use.

However, the Sesh Evo is not without meaningful compromises. The bass-heavy sound signature will not satisfy accuracy seekers, the per-charge battery life is merely adequate, and the recurring reports of charging issues and connectivity problems across multiple review sources suggest that consistency and long-term reliability are genuine concerns. Electronics Ranker’s overall score of 67 out of 100 reflects this tension: strong features and value hampered by inconsistent execution.

For budget-conscious buyers who prioritize features and portability over polished long-term reliability, the Sesh Evo remains a worthwhile consideration—particularly if fitness use is a primary concern. Those willing to invest more may find better consistency and sound quality in alternatives from JBL, Anker Soundcore, or Jabra. But for the price-sensitive buyer who wants Tile tracking, EQ flexibility, and workout-ready durability in a lightweight package, the Sesh Evo still earns a qualified recommendation.

Specifications

Brand: Skullcandy
Model: Sesh Evo
Model Number: S2TVW-N743
Type: True Wireless In-Ear
Driver Size: 6mm
Driver Type: Dynamic
Frequency Range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Impedance: 32 ohms
Wireless Technology: Bluetooth 5.0
Noise Control: Sound Isolation (passive)
Active Noise Cancellation: No
Water/Sweat Resistance: IP55
Battery Life (Buds): Up to 5–6 hours per charge
Battery Life (Total with Case): Up to 24 hours
Case Additional Charges: 3
Charging Port: USB-C
Battery Charge Time: Approximately 3 hours
EQ Modes: Music, Movie, Podcast
Tile Integration: Yes
Solo Bud Mode: Yes
Controls: Physical push-button (volume, tracks, calls, assistant, EQ)
Eartips: 3 pairs silicone (S, M, L)
Colors Available: Black, Blue, Green, Red, Mint
Earbud Weight: Approximately 5.7 g per bud
Charging Case Weight: 47.2 g
Earbud Dimensions: 21.5 × 17.2 × 23.8 mm
Case Dimensions: 62.4 × 43.7 × 26.9 mm
Enclosure Material: Polycarbonate plastic
Latency: Approximately 120 ms (Bluetooth 5.0 A2DP)
Amazon Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (36,474 reviews)
Best Buy Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (7,367 reviews)

Skullcandy Sesh Evo in-Ear Wireless Earbuds - Black

This product has been discontinued on Amazon
Never lost with Tile - With Tile technology, Skullcandy makes it super easy to track down either earbud and keep your gadgets safe! Download the Tile app and follow the instructions to activate
Built-in Tile Technology: download and use the Tile app to easy track down your bluetooth earbuds if you ever misplace them