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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize wireless convenience and portability, choose the Skullcandy Dime as they are smaller and less expensive, but have a shorter battery life. On the other hand, if you want better sound quality for gaming and enjoy a larger earbud with a longer wired connection, the Steelseries TUSQ with its boom mic could be a better choice, though they may not be as suitable for exercise due to their size. Neither option offers active noise cancelling, so consider this if you're often in noisy environments. If calls and meetings are a frequent part of your routine, the Steelseries TUSQ has a higher mic quality. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Skullcandy Dime
- Very good for air travel
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Steelseries TUSQ
- Good for music
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
5.7
7.6
The Steelseries TUSQ is good for music, while the Skullcandy Dime is poor.
Gaming
4.8
8.5
The Steelseries TUSQ is very good for gaming, while the Skullcandy Dime is poor.
Phone Calls
6.2
5.2
The Skullcandy Dime is only fair for phone calls, while the Steelseries TUSQ is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.1
4.7
The Skullcandy Dime is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Steelseries TUSQ is poor.
TV and Video
5.3
7.3
The Steelseries TUSQ is good for TV and video, while the Skullcandy Dime is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.5
6.0
The Skullcandy Dime and Steelseries TUSQ are both only fair for noise reduction, though the Skullcandy Dime is somewhat better.
Battery
3.5 Hours
N/A
The Skullcandy Dime has 3.5 hours of battery life. The Steelseries TUSQ does not have a battery.
Cost
$16
$83
$0
$20
$40
$60
$80
$100
The Skullcandy Dime has a price of $16 and the Steelseries TUSQ costs $83.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
The Skullcandy Dime and Steelseries TUSQ both have very good build quality.
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How the Skullcandy Dime and the Steelseries TUSQ compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Skullcandy Dime | Steelseries TUSQ |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$16 | $83 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Skullcandy | Steelseries | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2021 | August 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.7/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 6.2/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 4.8/10 | 8.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.4/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.6/10 | 4.2/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 3.5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 12 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | No | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | No | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 4.5 Grams | 11 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Boom | |
Shopping
Skullcandy Dime
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Dig into reviews and images
PC Magazine
Tim Gideon | April 2021
"For $25, the Skullcandy Dime True Wireless Earbuds deliver a powerful, balanced, rich, and bright sound signature. There’s really not much else to talk about, but the audio is better than you would expect for the price."
Steelseries TUSQ
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Dig into reviews and images
Can Buy or Not
Aloysius Low | March 2021
"The SteelSeries Arctis Tusq is a great headset for those on a more modest budget. You can use it for gaming or music, and I daresay it's also great for Zoom meetings when you don't want to be wearing on-ear or over-ear headphones."
Get a great deal on the Skullcandy Dime or the Steelseries TUSQ
About Skullcandy
Skullcandy is an American, consumer-oriented, earbuds and headphones manufacturer with 20 years of market experience. They sell a wide variety of, budget-friendly and unique, wired and wireless products that are sure to please the vast majority of users. Among their most popular offerings, the Crusher headphones, includes a pair of actual subwoofers inside the cups which makes the bass extra prominent for a unique and extra fun sound.
About Steelseries
Steelseries is a Danish gaming products manufacturer founded in 2001 and owned by GN Store Nord. Beside a large variety of gaming peripherals like mice, keyboards, and mousemats, Steelseries markets the Arctis line of gaming headsets which feature integrated boom microphones and RGB lighting. Steelseries has partnered with several game publishers and studios for limited editions of their products like a line of Cyberpunk 2077 themed headsets in 2020.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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