Design and comfort
The Dell Pro Plus Earbuds (EB525) forgo glossy finishes and vibrant colors. Instead, they feature a simple, matte black design and a familiar shape. Compared to models like the Apple AirPods Pro or the Sony WF-1000XM5, this appears almost understated, making them a perfect fit for everyday work.
The earbuds themselves measure 32,22 × 24,58 × 23,52 mm, remaining compact despite their extensive technology. Weighing approximately 6 g per earbud, they are comfortable to wear even throughout a full workday without causing any pressure.
Even with frequent head movements, such as when walking, typing, or talking on the phone while standing, they remain stable in place. They don't need constant readjustment, which makes for significantly more relaxed use, especially in meetings or when traveling.
The charging case weighs 50,4 g and is sized to easily fit in a business jacket pocket or small compartments of a laptop bag. Both the case and earbuds offer IP54 protection against dust and splashing water.
Dell keeps the contents of the box pragmatic. Besides the earbuds and charging case, there are four different ear tips (XS to L). A USB-C charging cable is also included.
sound quality
Music and media playback are solid, but not the focus of the Dell Pro Plus Earbuds (EB525). The overall sound is neutrally tuned. Bass is present, but remains controlled and rather restrained. Mids are clearly defined, which particularly benefits vocals. Treble is present without being harsh.
Dell thus delivers a mostly balanced sound profile, which, however, lacks some dynamics and depth when compared to models more geared towards music, such as the Sony WF-1000XM5 or the Apple AirPods Pro.
The Dell Audio app does allow for some sound adjustments. Several EQ profiles are available, enabling you to boost bass or slightly alter the overall sound signature. However, don't expect dramatic improvements.
This tuning is well-suited for everyday work. Conversations remain pleasantly clear even during extended use, without any individual frequencies becoming distracting or fatiguing. However, those who value powerful bass or a particularly wide soundstage will likely be disappointed.
Microphone quality and noise cancellation
The microphone is its greatest strength. Voices are transmitted very cleanly and remain easily understandable even in challenging environments.
At its core, this system uses an AI-powered microphone system with multiple MEMS microphones and a dedicated voice processing unit. The software separates the user's voice from the background in real time, which works surprisingly well in practice. Typical sources of interference such as keyboard noise, fan noise, or conversations in the vicinity are significantly reduced. What remains for the other person is primarily the user's voice, clear and present.
There are hardly any of the typical, slightly metallic discolorations found in many Bluetooth headsets, meaning Dell's quality comes very close to that of classic over-ear headsets with a boom microphone. For in-ear headphones of this size, that's quite remarkable.
The active noise cancellation is also well-implemented. The adaptive ANC automatically adjusts to the environment and reliably filters out consistent noises such as air conditioning or traffic. The transition between different noise levels is seamless and without any audible jumps.
This is complemented by a well-functioning transparency mode. Ambient noise is reproduced naturally and integrated effectively into the sound. This is quite useful if you want to have a quick chat with colleagues without having to remove the earbuds.
Connectivity, features and software
In addition to standard Bluetooth 5.3, Dell includes a USB-C dongle, which is stored directly in the charging case. This small receiver ensures a stable, low-latency connection to the laptop or PC and avoids typical Bluetooth problems under Windows.
Multipoint is also supported. The earbuds can be paired with multiple devices and switch between two active connections. In practice, this works largely seamlessly. For example, an incoming call on the smartphone interrupts playback on the laptop without requiring any manual intervention.
The controls directly on the earbuds are also well implemented. Volume, playback, calls, and ANC and transparency modes can all be controlled via touch. Inputs are reliably recognized and easy to learn.
The accompanying software, the Dell Audio app on your smartphone and the Dell Display and Peripheral Manager on your PC, offers essential functions without unnecessary complexity. These include customizing EQ profiles, checking battery levels, and installing firmware updates.
The PC software even allows for the centralized management and configuration of devices, simplifying integration into existing IT infrastructures. Furthermore, Teams, OpenOffice, and Zoom are officially certified.
Battery life
With active noise cancellation, around eight hours of playback is realistic, which is sufficient for most of the day in practice. For calls only, the battery life is slightly shorter, but still at a level that allows for several consecutive meetings without any problems.
The charging case provides additional power, extending the total runtime to over 30 hours. This is enough to easily get through several workdays without needing to recharge constantly. The fast-charging function is particularly useful in everyday use. Just a few minutes plugged in are enough to get enough power for the next meeting.
Charging is done via USB-C in the traditional way; alternatively, the case also supports wireless charging.
