Skip to main content

Plantronics rolls out new wireless headphone models ready for any workout

backbeat-fit-featured-header
Having a pair of excellent workout headphones is a must for anyone who takes both their fitness and their tunes seriously. However, not all sport headphones are the same, and what you’re looking for will differ based on how you work out and where. Plantronics has announced a slew of new wireless sport headphone options to bolster its BackBeat FIT lineup and help fitness enthusiasts find the best fit for them and their workout.

The new cans, include the BackBeat FIT 500, BackBeat FIT 300, the BackBeat FIT Training and BackBeat FIT Boost. All of the new options sport waterproofing and wireless designs, but they differ in important ways, making some better for the gym and others better for the outdoors.

BackBeat FIT 500 ($100)

The BackBeat FIT 500 are on-ear wireless headphones with a P2i military-grade nano-coating to protect the headphones against sweat and moisture. They feature memory foam earcups for blocking out the ambient sounds in your gym or other surroundings so you can focus on your form and rep count, and Plantronics claims they boast an impressive 18 hours of playback.

That number is all the more impressive given the price; you’ll be able to pick up a pair of the BackBeat FIT 500 for $100 in early October through the Plantronics online store or Amazon. They come in teal or black

BackBeat FIT 300 ($80)

Plantronics claims that the BackBeat FIT 300 are among the lightest Bluetooth headphones ever designed. While not totally wireless like Apple’s Airpods and competing true wireless buds, the small lead running between both earbuds includes a clip that can be fastened to your shirt.

The earbuds also feature “secure-fit” eartips to help them stay in your ears and block out noise while you jog or crank out that last set of burpees for your WOD (that’s Workout of the Day, for the non-Crossfit crowd). Plantronics claims they provide six hours of playback per charge.

The BackBeat FIT 300 are available now for $80 from Amazon, Best Buy, and Plantronics, and comes in four color schemes: black/gray, dark blue/blue, gray/coral, and gray/lime green.

BackBeat FIT Training and BackBeat FIT Boost

backbeat-fit-boost

Next up are the BackBeat FIT Training and BackBeat FIT Boost editions. The two versions are the same headphones, but both are offered with different bundling options. While they share the same wireless, waterproof design of the other models in the BackBeat FIT lineup, the headphones feature an open-backed design so you can stay aware of your surroundings, which is especially important for those who run or bike near busy streets or parks. They offer a claimed 8 hours of battery playback per charge.

The only difference between the two comes in how they’re bundled. The Training edition includes unlimited access to 12 handpicked workouts from the PEAR Personal Coach app, and six month access to Pear+ membership. The Boost model comes with all of that, but also bundles in a quick-drying mesh charging pouch, which can add up to a claimed 10 more hours of battery life, for just $30 more. The pouch also features a touch-sensitive battery meter so you can keep track of the charge remaining in both the Boost headphones and the pouch itself.

The BackBeat FIT Training will be available for purchase from Plantronics’ online store in October in blue, gray, black, fuchsia, or green. They will retail for $130. The BackBeat FIT Boost are available now for $160 in gray, black, or blue from Amazon or Plantronics online.

Update: This article originally stated the BackBeat FIT 500 were waterproof however they instead have military-grade P2i moisture protection. The Article has been updated to reflect this.

Brendan Hesse
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Brendan has written about a wide swath of topics, including music, fitness and nutrition, and pop culture, but tech was…
There’s a rare deal on the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones today
Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones seen in black.

The massively popular Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones rarely appear in headphone deals, so if you've had your eye on them for quite a while, you're in luck because they're currently $51 off on Walmart. From their original price of $400, you'll only have to pay $349, but only if you hurry because we don't expect stocks to last long. You're going to miss out on the offer if you take too long, so don't hesitate -- add the wireless headphones to your cart and check out as fast as you can.

Why you should buy the Sony WH-1000XM5
The best headphones that you can buy right now are the Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones, and it's not even close. At the heart is their outstanding wireless sound, supported by top-quality active noise cancellation that uses two processors and eight microphones to block all unwanted sound, as well as crystal-clear hands-free calling using four beamforming microphones and advanced audio signal processing. The wireless headphones also offer Bluetooth multipoint connection so that you can quickly switch between different devices, touch controls for functions like adjusting volume and calling your digital assistant, and Speak-to-Chat and Quick Attention features to stop your music and let ambient sound in without having to take them off.

Read more
Sony’s premium soundbars will finally get support for VRR, ALLM
Sony HT-A7000 Dolby Atmos soundbar close-up of top panel.

It's been a long time coming, but the wait is almost over. Sony's premium home theater soundbars are set to receive a software update that will add support for variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low-latency mode (ALLM), two HDMI 2.1 gaming features that have been absent since these products launched.

The soundbars in question are the Sony HT-A5000, HT-A7000, and the multi-wireless speaker HT-A9 system. All three are scheduled to receive the update this fall, but Sony has declined to share specific timing, saying only that there will be more information closer to the rollout date.

Read more
What is Roku? The streaming platform explained
A roku powered TV hanging on a wall running Roku OS 12.

How do you get your Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, or Prime Video fix? Chances are it's through a streaming device or smart TV, and there's a good chance that it's through a Roku device or one running its pioneering streaming operating system. At this point, cord-cutting is old news, and Roku was one of the earliest companies to drive the adoption of web-based streaming with its self-contained, app-driven devices.

Today, watching something "on Roku" is standard parlance and the company's popular platform can be found baked into some of the biggest TV brands in the world as well as in its own lineup of streaming devices sticks, and set-top boxes. Even so, that doesn't mean you totally get what a Roku actually is. What is Roku? How does Roku work? Do you need a subscription to use it? Is it just a device you buy, or is it software?

Read more