Clink Audio VoiceBuds Review: A Worthy Purchase At Rs 2,999?
60-hour playback time, Type C charging, 10mm dynamic drivers, Bluetooth v5.3, ANC, ENC, snug fit, sliding earbuds case, priced at Rs 2,999
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The home-grown audio wearables brand is surely making its way through the hyper-competitive Indian consumer tech market. Building trust among users will probably be the biggest battle for the brand. The Clink Audio VoiceBuds is sleek, decent looking and promise to deliver good audio. Well, how does this product actually perform? Let's find out.
From the get-go, the Clink Audio VoiceBuds will get your attention because of the unusual design of the case. Instead of the conventional pod-shaped case, Clink Audio opted for a sliding case. The lid basically slides up to give users access to the earbuds.
I’ll have to admit, this design really impressed me. The very idea of a using different case to begin with put a smile on my face. Being unique is a quality that should be admired and encouraged in consumer technology. However, this is where my admiration hit a halt. The overall case build quality felt sub-par. The sliding lid felt flimsy and delicate. It did not give the confidence that other items in the market at the same price bracket would. The exterior of the case is a bit rubbery, which is another element I appreciated about the case. A rubbery surface over a matter or glossy one means that there is more grip and the case won’t just slip away on hard surfaces.
The ‘VoiceBuds’ have a dual texture. On one side, they feature a matte finish while the side facing the ears has a glossy finish. The buds weight merely six grams and sit very comfortably in the ear canal. The buds feature 10mm graphene audio drivers and offer IPX4-rated water resistance. For those who wondering, IPX4 means resistance against splashes and sweat.
Now, this is where things get interesting. The earbuds have a very good audio output. Despite the somewhat dull first impression, the hardware used in the Klink audio VoiceBuds is not bad at all. To begin with, they have somehow nailed the ergonomics. Just to be clear, the earbuds are not petite. Instead, they are on the larger side as far as TWS buds are concerned. The
The 10mm drivers do a good job of delivering an audio output that seems to be on par with the competition. The buds offer a 6-mic set-up for clear voice calls, Bluetooth V5.3 for quick connectivity and a 60-hour music playback.
I did not try anything different to test these buds. I stuck with the classics and that gave me a clear picture of what the VoiceBuds is capable of. Ice Cube’s Why We Thugs, Coolio’s Gangsta’s Paradise, Remember the Name by Fort Minor, when I Grow Up by NF, Black and Yellow by Wiz Khalifa, Eminem’s Not Afraid and a few other classics were used to test the audio output of the VoiceBuds. Ended this ballad with Sucker for Pain (Lil Wayne), In The End (Linkin Park) and Like a Stone (Audio Slave).
Despite there being no dedicated mode for bass, something all brands seem to have these days, Clink Audio VoiceBuds seems to have gotten it right. The bass is thumpy but not to the point that you feel like you’re near a Toyota Fortuner with a West Delhi number plate. The treble is better than I expected. Clarity is not compromised and instruments are clearly audible.
As far as call performance goes, the ANC isn’t that good. I was still able to hear nearby vehicles and crowd chatter. However, it is not a deal breaker at all. This was expected given the budget-friendly nature of the VoiceBuds. The in-call audio was decent as the person on the other end of the call was able to hear loud and clear.
The VoiceBuds has an advantage for itself on the audio front. The audio output is not bad and it delivers on its promise of above-par sound quality. With good charging speeds and a very long runtime (on a full charge), the VoiceBuds positions itself as a worthy everyday companion. The issue, however, lies in the build quality of the product. The case looks poorly built and despite the rubbery finish and the unique sliding design, the case feels cheap. Clink Audio needs to up the build quality if they plan on capturing the budget-friendly TWS earbuds market.
At a price range of Rs 2,999 (ecommerce sites), the Clink Audio VoiceBuds has stiff competition. We have the Redmi Buds 5 and the OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro at the same price range and with an already established rapport with Indian consumers.
