PC giant Dell is making a calculated leap into the crowded wireless earbuds market with its debut offering, the Dell Pro Plus. Priced at $230 and available now, these earbuds signal a strategic pivot towards catering to the evolving needs of the hybrid workforce, prioritizing professional communication and productivity features over being pure music powerhouses.

Image: The Dell Pro Plus earbuds, featuring a stem design reminiscent of competitors but optimized for professional use. (Source: ZDNET/Cesar Cadenas)

Engineered for the Conference Call
The Pro Plus earbuds shine brightest where it matters most for professionals: call quality. Leveraging AI-powered background noise reduction coupled with adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), the earbuds deliver consistently crisp and clear vocal audio during calls. Testers reported "shockingly natural" conversations, with the system adeptly minimizing ambient office noise and even boosting incoming audio from callers using lower-quality microphones. This makes them a compelling alternative to bulkier dedicated headsets for video conferencing and voice calls.

Productivity Power and Longevity
Dell leverages its hardware expertise to pack the charging case with a substantial 5,000mAh battery, significantly outperforming competitors like the AirPods Pro 3. Dell claims up to 33 hours of playback with ANC enabled, a figure validated by testers experiencing roughly four days of casual use on a single charge. Crucially, the case includes a USB-C adapter that unlocks Bluetooth Multipoint support when plugged into a PC. This allows seamless switching between two devices – such as jumping from an audiobook on a phone to a Slack Huddle on a laptop – a critical feature for multi-device professionals.

Sound and ANC: Respectable, But With Caveats
While competent for music, the audio profile leans towards a bass-forward signature, with higher frequencies slightly suppressed compared to audiophile-focused models like the Technics EAH-AZ100. Sound can be fine-tuned via the Dell Audio app, offering customizable EQ settings. However, testers noted occasional, unexplained crackling with lower-quality audio sources at lower volumes, suggesting potential software optimization issues.

The adaptive ANC performs well in typical office environments but is hampered by the earbuds' physical design. The elongated stem design, while familiar, allows more sound leakage than earbuds with a tighter in-ear seal (like the Sony LinkBuds Fit). This means they excel in controlled office noise but struggle to completely isolate louder ambient environments.

Image: The Dell Pro Plus charging case, notable for its size and integrated USB-C adapter enabling Bluetooth Multipoint. (Source: ZDNET/Cesar Cadenas)

The Pinch: A Control Conundrum
The most significant usability hurdle is the unconventional touch control system. Eschewing simple taps, the Pro Plus relies on pinching gestures – squeezing the earbud stem between thumb and finger. Testers found this system, especially the slide gesture for volume control, finicky and unintuitive, requiring precision and practice even after extended use. This stands in stark contrast to the more effortless controls found on many competing earbuds.

The Verdict: A Strong Debut Focused on Work
The Dell Pro Plus earbuds carve a distinct niche. They are not the ultimate choice for audiophiles or those needing maximum noise isolation in chaotic settings. However, for professionals prioritizing crystal-clear calls, reliable multi-device connectivity, exceptional battery life, and a sleek form factor, they present a compelling proposition at $230. Dell's first foray into audio successfully leverages its understanding of workplace needs, offering a specialized tool for the hybrid work era. Alternatives like the Sony LinkBuds Fit offer superior ANC, while models like the Status Pro X deliver richer musical experiences, but Dell targets a specific professional gap with notable success.

Source: Based on testing and reporting by Cesar Cadenas for ZDNET.