We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-24 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want officially licensed team flair with simple button controls and a long single-charge runtime, choose SOAR NHL Unisex True; if you need a modern, workout-ready true wireless stereo set with a huge total battery reserve, water protection and low-latency Bluetooth, choose ZZU Earbuds.
• SOAR NHL Unisex True — biggest strength: Officially licensed NHL styling, straightforward touch media controls, and an advertised 10+ hours of music and talk time from a single charge.
• SOAR NHL Unisex True — biggest trade-off: Older Bluetooth 5.0, a 30 ft range, micro-USB charging instead of Type-C, and no water-resistance rating stated.
• ZZU Earbuds — biggest strength: Bluetooth 5.3 with a claimed 0.05s low latency, up to 9 hours per charge and up to 48 hours total with the LED-display case, plus an IPX7 waterproof rating.
• ZZU Earbuds — biggest trade-off: No licensed team theme, and the fit relies on silicone tips you have to match to your ears.
• Who SOAR is for: Fans who want their earbuds to show team colors and prefer button-style control over touch.
• Who ZZU is for: Runners, gym-goers and commuters who want sweat protection, long total battery life and the newest Bluetooth.
The SOAR NHL Unisex True Wireless Earbuds are built around a simple idea: a lightweight in-ear stereo set that happens to wear your team's colors. The earpieces use rounded tips and a plastic enclosure, and the package includes the charging case, a micro-USB cable, the stereo earbuds and a user manual. Audio comes from a dynamic driver covering 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz, which is the standard full-range window you'd expect from a mainstream true wireless stereo pair. Nothing exotic, but nothing missing either.
What stands out to me is the control scheme. SOAR lists physical control buttons that let you answer or end calls and play or pause music straight from the earbud, and the control type is described as media control via touch. Either way, the point is the same: you don't have to reach for your phone mid-song. Bluetooth 5.0 with a 30 ft range covers the normal case of a phone in your pocket or on a desk a few feet away, and the 10+ hours of music and talk time per charge is a genuinely long single-charge figure — the kind of number that matters if you listen through a full workday or a long drive.
ZZU Earbuds: Who It's For
The ZZU Earbuds (model T18) are aimed squarely at the active listener. The headline numbers are the ones that matter for real use: a 13.2mm dynamic driver tuned for deep bass, clear vocals and bright treble; up to 9 hours of playback on a single charge; and up to 48 hours total when you count the charging case. That case has a dual LED digital power display, so you can see how much juice is left in the case and whether the buds are charging, instead of guessing. For anyone who has ever been caught with dead earbuds on a commute, that readout is a small feature that punches above its weight.
The connectivity story is current: Bluetooth 5.3, a 33 ft range, and a claimed 0.05s ultra-low latency, which matters if you watch video or game and hate seeing lips move before you hear the words. The buds weigh 0.13 ounces each, and ZZU says the ergonomic shape was fit-tested on over 1,000 people, with three sizes of silicone ear tips in the box. That's the honest answer to fit complaints — one size never fits everyone. IPX7 waterproofing means sweat and rain aren't a death sentence, which is exactly what you want for workouts and outdoor runs. Charging is over USB-C, which is the cable most people already own.
Two caveats. First, ZZU itself notes that if you have otitis media, ear inflammation or an ear infection, you should consult a doctor before use — that's a fair warning for any in-ear product, and worth taking seriously. Second, there's no team branding here; the color listed is RoseGold, so this is a personal-audio purchase, not a fan purchase. If you want the licensed look, this isn't it.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for team pride and licensed branding → SOAR NHL Unisex True. It's an officially licensed NHL product in a team color.
• Best for battery reserve → ZZU Earbuds. Up to 48 hours total with the case versus a 10+ hour single-charge figure on SOAR; ZZU also gives you a live LED battery readout.
• Best for the newest Bluetooth and lowest latency → ZZU Earbuds. Bluetooth 5.3 with a claimed 0.05s latency versus Bluetooth 5.0.
• Best for the longest single session without the case → SOAR NHL Unisex True. Its 10+ hours per charge edges past ZZU's 9 hours per charge.
• Best for fit flexibility → ZZU Earbuds. Three sizes of silicone tips and a fit tested on over 1,000 people.
• Best for simple, no-fuss operation → SOAR NHL Unisex True. Button controls for calls and playback and a 1-year manufacturer warranty.
• Best for cable convenience → ZZU Earbuds. USB-C charging instead of micro-USB.
If I were buying for myself, I'd take the ZZU Earbuds. Bluetooth 5.3, IPX7 protection, a 48-hour total battery budget with a visible power display, USB-C charging and three tip sizes cover more of my actual day — workouts, commutes, video — than team branding does. I'd only pick the SOAR NHL Unisex True if the licensed look is the whole point, or if that 10+ hour single-charge runtime and button controls are exactly what you want. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the one thing that can shift the call.
how to connect true wireless stereo earbuds
Take the earbuds out of the charging case and they should enter pairing mode; on ZZU, the T18 buds connect automatically once removed. Then open your phone's Bluetooth settings, find the earbud name and select it. SOAR uses Bluetooth 5.0 and ZZU uses Bluetooth 5.3, both of which pair with standard Bluetooth-enabled devices.
how to use true wireless stereo earbuds
Both sets use touch controls. SOAR's buttons let you answer or end calls and play or pause music from the earbud; ZZU uses a smart chip for touch control of music, calls and your voice assistant. Insert them with the tips sealed in your ear canal — that seal is what gives you the bass and the sound isolation.
how to charge true wireless stereo earbuds
Drop the earbuds back into the charging case and the case tops them up; ZZU's case shows charging status and remaining power on a dual LED display. Charge the case itself with the included cable — micro-USB on SOAR, USB-C on ZZU — using any compatible adapter. ZZU's case supports faster charging over Type-C, and note that the adapter is not included.
how to turn on true wireless stereo earbuds
Most true wireless stereo earbuds, including these two, power on automatically when you lift them out of the charging case. If they've been sitting idle, a touch-and-hold on the control surface usually powers them on; SOAR's button controls and ZZU's touch controls both handle power and pairing the same way.
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