TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
FOUR STARS - Amidst hundreds of wireless earphones around the 50 dollars mark, the Haylou W1 tries to seduce you with Knowles sound drivers. Does it convince?
Haylou W1 specs:
Bluetooth 5.2 with AptX and AAC codec
IPX4 waterproof rating (splash proof)
5,5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Comes with 3 sizes ear tips, English manual and USB-C cable
$40 - Buy on AliExpress (possibly cheaper here)
Below this Haylou W1 review, you will find comparisons between the Haylou W1 vs Edifier TWS1 Pro, Earfun Free 2, Fiil T1 Lite, and SoundPEATS H1.
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Design, comfort and battery life
The Haylou W1 charging case perfectly aligns with earlier releases from the Chinese brand, like the Haylou GT1 Plus that got it all started or the recently released Haylou GT3. The W1 has a blue (or white) pebble-like oval case that's very prone to fingerprints and scratches. You'll find three subtle charging dots that indicate the remaining battery of the case on the front, and a USB-C port on the pack. There's no support for wireless charging.
The earphones have a more specific look and come in the typical brushed-steel metallic blue color previously seen on Realme and Poco phones. Or a white-metallic color scheme, if that's where you're going for.
The outsides of the stems are shiny and look metallic, with a LED light on top and the brand printed on the lower end. The part and the rubber ear tips that go into your ears are oval, like on the Oppo W51 and Haylou GT3, and feel light and are very comfortable to wear - even for a few hours in a row. The stems don't brush against your cheeks too much and seem rather slick. With their IPX4 waterproof level, they should withstand light rain, splashing, and hopefully a bit of sweat.
Thankfully, the battery life of the Haylou W1 has improved from previous releases from the band. The W1 can get around 5,5 hours of playtime on a single charge, which is plenty of time for commuting and daily activities. The case can recharge the buds four times before needing new power itself.
Connectivity and controls
The Haylou W1 has solid connectivity, with a strong Bluetooth connection up to 8-9 meters away from your device. The earbuds connect and pair fast when you take them out of the case, and you can always switch between listening to one or two earbuds at any time - so don't be afraid to charge one bud while listening to the other.
The W1 doesn't automatically pause music playback when you take an earbud out: pausing is solely done by tapping one of the sides. The control scheme is simple:
Tap L or R once to play/ pause music
Tap R twice to skip to the next song
Tap L twice to return to the previous track
Triple-tap L or R to activate the voice assistant
There's no action on a long press of the earbuds and that's a shame, as it would be perfect to have volume controls on the earbuds as well. Happily, the touch panel responds well to your input.
Calling and watching movies
In phone calls and video calls, the Haylou W1 microphone picks up your voice pretty well, making you sound both clear and full enough. Perhaps the volume could have been louder. While the Haylou leaves out darker background noise fine, brighter sudden sounds can come through in the call. As always, wind noise is a treat to the call clarity too - but it's doable to have a natural phone or video call in most circumstances.
For videos, the Haylou W1 does a perfect job of synchronizing audio and video on both iPhone and Android.
Sadly, there is a noticeable delay in sound effects when you're playing games, like on almost all wireless earphones. This Haylou doesn't come with a low-latency mode to cover up for it.
Also read: The best wireless earbuds under $100
Sound quality of Haylou W1: Clarity and?
Knowles. The name of this earphones driver's manufacturer is the first thing you may see on the product page of the Haylou W1.
Earphones using the Knowles balanced armature driver often have the image of sounding good. The drivers are renowned for their sound clarity, and sure enough, clarity is not a thing you'll miss here.
In line with recent popular TWS models like the Edifier TWS1 Pro and Moondrop Sparks, the W1 puts most of its effort onto the upper-mids and highs. But unlike these models, where you'll get used to the treble-intensive sound and soon will find the nuances and balance in it, the W1… mainly sounds bright.
It's noticeable most when snare drums, cymbals, and both acoustic and electronic claps play a role in the music. They are textured and sound lifelike in acoustic genres like rock, blues, or jazz, but they're so strong they often become splashy. They can even give the entire song a hissy vibe, undermining other frequencies in the sound. On higher volumes, the brightness from the W1 can easily turn into harshness.
The same focus on treble makes both female and higher-pitched male vocals sound forward and clear; especially higher female vocalists can sound crisp. Unfortunately, the lower mid-tones lack the same presence. Therefore, voices don't reach their darker edges as easily as the bright ones, and they'll sound thin sooner than balanced. It also means that drums, darker guitar or piano play, or lower electronic tones play a bit of background role.
Normally, opened-up upper-mids and highs will let in space in the music. The Haylou W1 does have air in the sound, with effects and instruments coming from your left and right, but there isn't a very noticeable soundstage. The separation between instruments feels a bit lacking in crowded songs, and only in the highest quality recordings, you can sense that different instruments have different places.
The Haylou W1 has a separate dynamic driver to handle the low-end... but that may be easy to miss. The W1 has mid-bass over sub-bass depth, although both are limited. The bass doesn't really dive or sound deep, and while the mid-bass has a lovely rapid pace to lift up the music, it is slim. Even in dance or hip-hop songs that boost the bass out of themselves, it feels a little light - it's always more of a slap than a thump.
Long story short: having a Knowles driver and all the right codecs on board could be a great thing, but it doesn't stop there. While the Haylou W1 has an uplifting ultra-light yet quick bass and crisp higher vocals, it lacks finesse.
Haylou W1 comparisons
Haylou W1 vs Edifier TWS1 Pro
The Edifier TWS1 Pro is often praised for its sound, which combines a gentle but tight bass with opened up higher tones. The Haylou seems to strive for the same result but does so with less finesse. The Edifier has a pleasant, warmer undertone and offers a bigger, more noticeable soundstage with more space between instruments. While it's certainly bright, it reduces the peak that gives claps and cymbals on the W1 their splashiness. The Haylou mid-bass has quicker pacing, though. The earbuds also feel more comfortable.
Haylou W1 vs Fiil T1 Lite
The sub-$50 earphones Fiil T1 Lite have been a triumph for quite some time, and still sound more immersive than the W1. Like the Haylou, upper-mids and highs can be a bit harsh, but the T1 Lite delivers more layeredness, depth, and body in the bass and reveals more details in the mid-tones. The Fiil charging case is slimmer, and the earbuds last around 2 hours longer on a single charge; the Haylou has better call quality.
Fiil T1 Lite full review ($35)
Haylou W1 vs Earfun Free 2
The Earfun Free 2 doesn't avoid brightness, but the Haylou W1 still sounds brighter. The Haylou extends upper-mids and highs further, giving high-pitched female vocals more space but also letting in those splashy cymbals and hisses. The Earfun sounds slightly warmer, and feels more around you with its bigger soundstage and more space between instruments. The Haylou has a slightly quicker bass slam, but the Earfun puts more weight into the mid-bass, giving it more of a thump and punching power. The Haylou wins on call clarity; the Earfun has a better waterproof rating and battery life.
Haylou W1 vs SoundPEATS H1
If you have the luxury to spend 30 dollars more, don't hesitate to go for the Knowles-wearing SoundPEATS H1 instead. While it may not have the same quick bass pacing as the W1, its sound is more engaging. The H1 has a stronger bass thump and fuller lower-mids, giving more weight to lower electronic tones, drums, and darker male vocals. While H1's upper-mids and highs are more controlled than on the W1, it still has a bigger sense of space in the sound, with better separation and more room between instruments. The Haylou is better for making phone calls and has a more compact case; the SoundPEATS earbuds have double the battery life.
Verdict
The Haylou W1 is a solid option for wireless earphones around 50 dollars, but as the sound coming from the Knowles drivers can be a bit bright, the call quality and comfort that are the stars of the show.
Four stars - Good
Buy Haylou W1/ check lowest price:
Buy Haylou W1 on AliExpress (possibly cheaper here)
I received the Haylou W1 with a discount from the manufacturer to test and review. My reviews are 100% independent and non-commercial. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
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