How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a desktop hub that charges your phone, watch and earbuds while showing the time, temperature and humidity, choose IHAO 5in1; if you need actual earbuds you can wear to the gym, choose Skullcandy Method Active. These two products share the letters "TWS" in their listings and almost nothing else — one is a charging station that happens to have a spot for true wireless earbuds, the other is a pair of true wireless earbuds that happens to need charging. Figuring out which one you actually meant to buy is the whole battle here.
• IHAO 5in1 — biggest strength: a 5-in-1 bedside hub that combines 15W wireless charging, a digital clock, a temperature/humidity display, a three-color night light and USB ports in one foldable unit.
• IHAO 5in1 — biggest trade-off: it is a charger, not audio gear. It holds and powers TWS earbuds but makes no sound itself, and its watch charging pad is specifically for Apple Watch.
• Skullcandy Method Active — biggest strength: genuine wearable earbuds with up to 9 hours of battery per charge, an in-ear sport fit, sweat and water resistance, and on-board volume and track controls.
• Skullcandy Method Active — biggest trade-off: older Bluetooth 4.1 wireless, a Micro-USB charging cable rather than USB-C, and no charging case or dock in the box.
• Who IHAO 5in1 is for: anyone building a cleaner nightstand or desk who wants one device to charge a phone, watch and earbuds while doubling as a clock and night light.
• Who Skullcandy Method Active is for: runners, gym-goers and commuters who want a simple, secure in-ear wireless pair with long single-charge battery life.
The IHAO 5in1 is best understood as a small piece of furniture for your electronics. It folds into a stand, runs on AC power with a North American two-pin plug, and combines five functions that usually live as five separate objects: fast wireless charging, a digital clock, a weather station readout, a night light and USB ports. The charging side is rated at 15W max, which IHAO positions as roughly 50% faster than a standard 7.5W charger, and it's compatible with Qi phones including iPhone and Samsung models.
The environmental display is the part that surprises people. It shows temperature and humidity in real time with a °F/°C toggle, which makes it genuinely useful on a nightstand or a work desk where you already want a clock. The night light adds three adjustable colors — warm, white and cool — so it can double as soft ambient light instead of a harsh lamp. Around the back you get USB ports and USB Type-C connectivity, so wired accessories aren't left out.
Buy it if you want to charge three devices at once — a phone wirelessly plus a smartwatch or earbuds — and you'd rather not have a tangle of separate chargers and a separate alarm clock. Skip it if what you actually need is sound. The IHAO produces no audio at all. It also isn't the right pick if you own a non-Apple smartwatch, because the watch charging pad is designed specifically for Apple Watch, even though the Qi pad and USB ports will serve other devices. Weight is listed at 14.4 ounces and the body is plastic, so it's light enough to move between nightstand and desk, but it's a plugged-in fixture, not something you'd carry around daily.
The Method Active is the opposite kind of product: a purpose-built pair of wireless sport earbuds. The in-ear design seats inside the ear canal, which Skullcandy says directs music in for fuller, less interrupted sound, and the package includes two pairs of EarGels in small and medium so you can get a tighter seal. The 16-ohm dynamic drivers cover a 20Hz–20kHz range — the standard full-range span — and the fit is aimed at movement rather than lounging.
For workouts, the key spec is sweat and water resistance. The listing describes it as water and sweat resistant to help keep moisture out of the earphones, and the product description references an IPX7 rating, which is the kind of protection you want when you're sweating through a run or caught in rain. Battery is rated at up to 9 hours of use per charge with a 2-hour charge time, which is a long single-charge figure for earbuds and means most people can get through a week of workouts without thinking about the cable.
Controls sit on the headset itself: volume, answer/end calls, and next/previous track. There's a built-in microphone for hands-free calls through a paired device. Wireless is Bluetooth 4.1, which pairs simply with any Bluetooth-enabled phone or tablet, though it's an older generation than what current flagships use. Charging is via the included Micro-USB cable — worth knowing if you've already moved your drawer over to USB-C. Noise control is listed as sound isolation, meaning the seal does the work rather than active noise cancellation.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for charging multiple devices → IHAO 5in1. It powers a phone wirelessly plus a watch or earbuds, with USB ports for anything else.
• Best for actual listening → Skullcandy Method Active. The IHAO makes no sound; the Method Active is the only audio product of the two.
• Best for workouts and sweat → Skullcandy Method Active. The sport fit and sweat/water resistance are built for exercise; the IHAO is a plug-in desk device.
• Best for a nightstand or desk setup → IHAO 5in1. Clock, temperature, humidity, night light and charging in one foldable unit.
• Best for long single-charge battery → Skullcandy Method Active. Up to 9 hours per charge, with a 2-hour recharge time.
• Best for Apple Watch owners → IHAO 5in1. The watch pad is designed specifically for Apple Watch, in addition to Qi phone charging.
• Best for call handling on the go → Skullcandy Method Active. Built-in mic plus answer/end and track controls on the earbuds.
• Best for a tidy, cable-light setup → IHAO 5in1. One AC-powered hub replaces several separate chargers and a standalone clock.
In my opinion, most people searching this comparison are actually shopping for earbuds and landed on the IHAO because its listing mentions TWS headphones — so if that's you, I'd buy the Skullcandy Method Active. It's the only one of the two that plays music, and 9 hours per charge with a sweat-resistant in-ear fit covers workouts and commutes without fuss. But if your real problem is a cluttered nightstand with three chargers and no clock, the IHAO 5in1 solves more daily annoyances per square inch, and I'd pick it without hesitation for that job. Decide which problem you have first — sound or space — and the choice makes itself.
how to connect tws headphones
Put the earbuds into pairing mode, then open your phone's Bluetooth settings, let it scan, and select the earbuds from the list. The Skullcandy Method Active uses Bluetooth 4.1, which pairs the same simple way with any Bluetooth-enabled device. Keep the buds within a few feet of the phone during the first pairing.
how to pair tws headphones
Pairing is a one-time step per device: power the buds on, enable Bluetooth on your phone or tablet, tap the earbud name when it appears, and accept the connection. After that, the Method Active should reconnect automatically when both are on and nearby. If it doesn't, remove the entry from your Bluetooth list and pair again.
how to use tws headphones
Charge them first — the Method Active takes about 2 hours and gives up to 9 hours of playback. Then fit the EarGels (small or medium are included) for a snug seal, and use the on-earbud controls for volume, answer/end calls and next/previous track. The built-in mic handles hands-free calls through your paired device.
how to reset tws headphones
A reset usually means clearing the earbuds' memory of paired devices so they can start fresh. The exact button sequence varies by model, so follow the steps in the Skullcandy Method Active manual that ships in the box. As a general fallback, delete the earbuds from your phone's Bluetooth list and re-pair from scratch.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: Konohan 15 vs PLT Poly Ear Cushion: Ear Pieces, LENISUOLE Gaming Headset vs Glomtheia Flare X, WJIAW Ear Cushions vs ZLFDSKGY 2, Sony MDRAS410AP/W vs Boytond Open Ear Earbuds