TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
Now my backlog of TWS truly wireless earphones to test and review becomes bigger and bigger, I decided to review a couple of popular and older models in one post. Coming up: mini-reviews of the Nillkin Go, Baseus Encock W01, Alwup i9, Awei T6c, and Cloudfox FreePods.
Usually, I go into all the details and specifications of the TWS I review. To keep things readable, I decided not to sum up everything this time around.
I did test all these TWS the way I test true wireless earphones I review extensively. I check their comfort, fit, battery life, build quality, connectivity, controls, I watch videos with them and take calls with them, and of course: I test them on sound quality.
Please share in the comments if this approach is helpful to you. Here we go - the first collection of mini-reviews on Scarbir.com.
Nillkin Go review: snappy case, smooth sound
The mid-2019 released TWS true wireless earphones Nillkin Go gained some fans all around the world. The comfort and tight fit that the earpieces provide due to little ear fins, may be a reason for it. These can even be worn while sporting.
Another neat feature is the snappy charging case, which consists of two loose strong magnetic parts that cling to each other. It looks and feels fun - however: it's a bit tricky to grasp out the earpieces quick or when outside: there's always a risk of dropping a side of the case. With 5 hours of playing time and decent call quality, the Go is very suitable for everyday use. Audio-video synchronization on iPhone isn't that great, unfortunately.
When it comes to the sound, the Nillkin Go can go very, very loud. It has a smooth and sweet sound character, one you can also describe as dark. The Go has an emphasis on lower-mids and bass, and tones down the center-mids, like guitars and male vocals. Even though instrument separation is quite good, mids sound a little flat. Highs roll off quick too, preventing this TWS from sounding very lively with vocals. Take in a bass that isn't too well defined, and you get a TWS that sounds silky smooth - but is not atop of its game in the sub-50-dollars price segment.
Comfort, build and battery life: 3/5
Controls and connectivity: 4/5
Calling and watching movies: 3/5
Sound quality: 3/5
VERDICT:
Around $35 on AliExpress (check current price)
Alwup i9 review: Where do the user reviews come from?
I still can't figure out why the Alwup i9 is so popular on AliExpress. Are those fake user reviews? Do they come out of giveaways? Anyway - the Alwup i9 isn't as impressive as user reviews claim it to be.
It may be the cheapest looking TWS out on the market, with a bulky, cranky charging case made from shiny black plastic, with two just as shiny earpieces within. The earpieces are comfortable tiny but have their small tactile buttons right at the height that makes you push the i9 deeper in your ear, every time you control it. Call quality is sub-par, audio-video synchronization is surprisingly good.
The Alwup i9 has a clear, somewhat bright sound, with plenty of room for vocals and higher pitched instruments (such as violins). The bass underneath is controlled and delivers a gentle thump when you have the perfect (albeit hard to achieve) fit. Center- and lower-mids are a bit absent, though.
The resulting sound signature makes the bass feels like a separate identity next to the upper-mids and vocals. The sound is airy, and instrument placement is impressive, but in songs demanding center mids (like guitars, pianos, or male vocals) music can be hollow. It's not as catchy or engaging as popular competitors such as the Tronsmart Spunky Beat or Haylou GT2.
Comfort, build and battery life: 2/5
Controls and connectivity: 4/5
Calling and watching movies: 3/5
Sound quality: 3/5
VERDICT:
Around $25 on AliExpress or Amazon US/ Amazon Europe (check current price)
Baseus Encock W01 TWS review: Powerful, but big
Known from their phone accessories, Baseus also tries its luck in the market of true wireless earphones. The Baseus Encock W01 TWS isn't a model that will put the brand on the map, however.
The main problem is already on the outside. The charging case of the Baseus may be incredibly powerful with its 2000 mAh case, but it feels heavy and is too bulky to carry in the pocket of your jeans or jacket.
The earpieces itself are tiny and offer a convincing 5-6 hours of playtime, but they may be a bit too square to squeeze comfortable in your ears. The multi-flange ear tips and the tactile buttons don't improve to comfort either. You probably want to take them out sooner.
The Baseus Encock W01 sounds smooth and a bit dark, with an emphasis on lower frequencies such as bass-guitars, cellos, darker electronic tones, and male vocals. In the mids, instruments like guitars and female vocals get enough room to breathe, and there's even some spaciousness to the sound. Calling isn't the strongest suit of the Baseus W01; however, audio-video synchronization is pretty decent. If you want cheap wireless earbuds with a big battery case, consider the Anomoibuds IP010 Plus too.
Comfort, build and battery life: 2/5
Controls and connectivity: 3/5
Calling and watching movies: 3/5
Sound quality: 3/5
VERDICT:
Around $30 on AliExpress or Amazon US/ Amazon Europe (check current price)
Awei T6c review: Poor choice of ear tips
Awei was one of the first Chinese low-budget brands to enter the market or Bluetooth sports earphones with a wire between the two earpieces. These models sounded very bassy. Surprise: this truly wireless earbud doesn't.
The sound of the Awei T6c is clear, clean, and well-controlled. However, don't expect too much detail. There's just enough presence in the lower-mids to give songs their body and warmth, but the bass feels distant. As if it doesn't really want to partake in the rest of the music.
The latter, however, is very dependent on the ear tips you use. That is the Awei T6c's biggest problem. It comes with strange, square-ish ear tips that just can't bring all the frequencies together in the sound. Furthermore, they fill your ears just too much to be comfortable for anything longer than a few minutes. If you have other ear tips lying around, definitely try them out. They will likely improve the Awei T6c.
Unfortunately, connectivity is also lackluster, with the Bluetooth signal regularly dropping as you carry your smartphone in your jeans pocket. Last, the right earpiece just stopped working while listening to them once. There's no good reason to choose the Awei T6c over so many great competitors in this price range.
Comfort, build and battery life: 2/5
Controls and connectivity: 2/5
Calling and watching movies: 3/5
Sound quality: 2/5
VERDICT:
Around $20 on AliExpress or Amazon Europe (check current price)
Cloudfox Freepods T39 TWS review: oof
The Doss or Cloudfox Freepods may be the fanciest looking ultra-cheap wireless earphones on the market. That's why I decided to take the gamble and went out to buy these. Perhaps I shouldn't have.
Along with the looks, the comfort of these well-rounded wireless earphones is pretty good, but that's where the praise stops. The sound of the Freepods is an even brighter version of the already clear UiiSii TWS60. That means that almost all of the power of the sound goes to the higher frequencies. There's quite a bit of detail in vocals, violins, and cymbals - but songs that have elevated upper-mids out of themselves are tiring or even painful to listen. Sibilance - the emphasis on sss-sounds, is also very present. With only a supportive bass and lack of lower-mids, the Freepods often sounds too harsh or too sharp.
But it's not the sound quality that is the worst part of the Cloudfox/ Doss Freepods. It's the lack of build quality. There's a very audible, loud ground noise floor underneath the music. The left earpiece displays a loud beep now and then, while the right earpiece seems to have a resonating loose piece inside (!). Connectivity, too, is terrible, with the Bluetooth signal failing at the slightest moment you either replace your smartphone or yourself away from the smartphone. Avoid.
Comfort, build and battery life: 2/5
Controls and connectivity: 1/5
Calling and watching movies: 2/5
Sound quality: 1/5
VERDICT:
Around $20 on AliExpress or Amazon Europe (check current price)
With so much TWS true wireless earphones to test, I'm thinking of reviewing more wireless earbuds in the form of a mini-review. Are these short reviews helpful to you? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Disclaimer: I bought these TWS true wireless earbuds myself, with the exception of the Awei T6c, that was sent to me by Awei. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
Consider buying this earphone? I'd really appreciate it if you use the links in this article. It won't cost you extra, yet it will financially support me a bit in my ongoing quest for great affordable audio. <3
Also read:
Leaderboard: All rated wireless earphones
