Product provided by Kiwi Ears.
Coming in under $35 —depending on whether you go with the standard 3.5mm connection or the USB-C version with the built-in mic—the Kiwi Ears Belle are some really interesting in-ear monitors. At first glance, they actually look like true wireless earbuds, but they are definitely wired, which I’ll get into why that’s actually a plus in a moment.
The Unboxing & Design
Opening these up honestly reminds me of opening jewelry. They’re presented on this nice felt backing that just pops right up. I’m testing the silver version (they also come in black), and they have this great transparent design on the back end with a smooth, sparkly finish on top. Even though it looks like it might be textured, it’s very smooth and comfortable to hold.
One cool detail: the cable is also transparent to match the buds, and the connectors are color-coded—red for right and blue for left—which is super helpful because the tiny “L” and “R” labels can be a bit hard to read.
Sound & Performance
These are custom-tuned for a V-shape sound, meaning you’re getting deep bass and smooth treble via their 10mm drivers. I put these to the test playing Touhou Luna Nights, a game with constant high-treble music and punchy sound effects. The knives throwing and enemies exploding sounded great—very rich and natural.
Whether you’re into music, gaming, or just listening to podcasts (which is mostly what I do), the audio holds up really well.
Technical Specifications
- Driver: 10mm DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) Dynamic Driver
- Diaphragm Material: Custom-tuned Diamond-Like Carbon for enhanced speed and accuracy
- Impedance: 32Ω (±1Ω)
- Sensitivity: 103dB (±1dB) @ 1kHz
- Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
- Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): Less than 0.1% @ 1kHz
- Faceplate Material: Premium CNC-machined metal
- Cable Options: High-quality two-core silver-plated cable available in:
- 3.5mm Standard
- 3.5mm with Microphone
- USB-C with Microphone
- Included Accessories: * 1 pair Kiwi Ears Belle IEMs
- 6 pairs of Eartips (S/M/L sizes in both black and transparent)
- Type-C or 3.5mm cable
Practicality vs. AirPods
I usually “main” AirPods with my phone, but I can see myself using these when I’m just hanging out on the couch and want to get really immersed. The best part? No charging anxiety. You don’t have to worry about the battery dying in the middle of a session. Also, I know I’m not alone here: I drop my AIrPods too often and sometimes they slip out of my pocket in between the coach cushions!
The cable is plenty long, and they even include a slider to adjust the slack—which is great for me because I have giant ears and need that extra room! They also throw in extra ear tips in both black and white if you want to customize the look.
Who is this For
For $30–$35, these are a great deal. They look cool, the build quality holds up, and the sound is solid. They’d make a fantastic gift or a reliable set of buds for your Steam Deck or ROG Ally. For those who don’t want to worry about charging their earbuds, the Belle also make sense.