Tech Roulette: TWS Earbuds That Are A Bang For The Buck
True wireless stereo products are clearly taking over the consumer tech market, especially in the below INR 10,000 range. Keeping that in mind, BW Businessworld brings you a showdown amongst three TWS products that will be judged upon design, comfort, and performance. These products cater to diverse audiences that prefer simplistic designs, bassy audio or extremely budget-friendly price tags.
Rabbit Wave Buds Pro
The Rabbit Wave Buds Pro was the most unexpected entry in this list. The product feels extremely well-designed and built. Taking inspiration from an actual rabbit, the Rabbit Wave Buds Pro keeps audio as its number one priority. The most impressive couple of features in this power-packed TWS product are the ENC and ANC combination. Not to mention a dedicated gaming mode with low latency in audio, Bluetooth 5.1 support, and last but not least, a much-needed Transparency Mode. It seems like some brands just forget about the last one.
First Impressions: Design
The Rabbit Wave Buds Pro is a spectacularly designed product. Its speciality lies in the simplicity of its design. The earbuds feel very premium and so does the case. The finishing on the case and the earbuds is seamless with no abrupt creases or edges.
Definitely a 4.5/5 in terms of built quality.
Comfort
I’ll start with the fact that the earbuds sit perfectly and do not require constant pushing in. Rabbit has nailed the ergonomics with the Wave Buds Pro. Be it office work, a jog, a weights session at the gym, or gaming night, Rabbit Wave Buds Pro will stay where they are supposed to.
It’s a 4.5/5 in terms of comfort.
Real-World Performance
The Wave Buds Pro stand its ground when it comes to real-world performance. The 13mm drivers do a fantastic job with the audio. With a single tap and hold on the right earbud, you shuffle between Transparency, ANC and ENC modes. Similarly, with a single tap on the left earbud, you can switch between game and music modes.
I cannot emphasize enough how amazing it is to have Active Noise Cancellation, Environmental Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode. These features together make any TWS product complete, in my opinion.
The 13mm drivers make sure that the audio is consistent when listening to music or playing a game on a smartphone. Calling experience isn’t far behind, either. The audio is loud and crisp. Pocket Full Gadgets, the company behind the Rabbit brand has genuinely made a good product that is versatile as well as functional.
A 5/5 for performance.
Boult Maverick
Boult Audio has always been one of those brands that is always on top of its game when it comes down to audio. The product we will be talking about here is the Boult Maverick. The Boult Maverick introduces a great combination of presentation and substance. The tagline says “For everyone. Not just gamers” and I believe it. The designers have gone for something futuristic here, clearly inspired by the movie ‘Tron’.
We live in an era where everything is about that immersive experience. Be it gamers or casual music enthusiasts, everyone wants a satisfactory audio experience. Features such as a dedicated gaming mode (Combat Mode), noise cancellation, fast charging, and 10mm drivers make sure that users get exactly what they want.
First Impressions: Design
The Boult Maverick gives off a strong CyberPunk vibe and if you’re into something like that, I cannot imagine it being anything less than a dream come true. The LED lighting on the case spanning across the case’s centre line is a sight to behold for those who appreciate the little details. The light glows in the form of a gentle pulse multiple times when you open the case. The charging case has a translucent top, once again, staying true to the futuristic design language. Coming to the earbuds now, they have the same LED lighting on them in the form of tiny rings that blink from time to time. When in Combat Mode, Maverick’s dedicated gaming mode, these ring lights gently pulse instead of blinking. The overall built quality is definitely praiseworthy as well.
It’s a 5/5 for the design.
Comfort
The buds did feel very comfortable and caused no problems as far as ergonomics go. However, they did begin to fall off once movement intensified, i.e., exercising. The issue was largely taken care of once I changed the ear tips to a small size.
Giving it 3.5/5 for comfort.
Real-World Performance
Boult Maverick offers outstanding audio for the price. The low-latency clad Combat Mode does a good job while gaming. The volume is inherently loud and the highs and mids are great. Listening to music was a delight. The amplified bass combined with noise cancellation does a fabulous job in providing an immersive audio experience. The strong bass can be an issue for those who are only looking forward to listening to soft music as the instrumentals might get a tad bit overpowered.
For those who wonder, yes, there is a lot of difference between the music mode and the gaming mode in the Boult Maverick. Combat Mode can be activated and deactivated by pressing and holding the left earbud. Boult claims a low latency of 45ms and I have no doubts about it. The gaming experience was pretty seamless with the Maverick.
In the end, it is a TWS product that is majorly designed and made keeping gamers in mind. However, non-gamers can enjoy it just as much. What matters is that the audio is great, courtesy of the 10mm drivers. The buds are IPX5-rated water and dust-resistant, making them immune to damage caused by sweat. Connectivity is not an issue, thanks to Bluetooth 5.3. Last but not least, the 35-hour playtime backup is something to cheer for.
It’s a 4/5 in performance.
Swott Airlit 006
The final contender in the TWS series is the Swott Air Lit 006, the only one amongst the three to be made in India. That being said, the product looks and feels amazing. The built quality is impressive and the fact that it did not fall off even once while running or weight sessions at the gym is actually applause-worthy.
First Impressions: Design
The Swott Airlit 006 is a sleek, extremely well-built, and neat product designed with an eye for detail. The thing that will catch your eye from the get-go is the digital charge indicator located right at the front and centre of the case. This is something that not many TWS products in this price range offer. The type-C charging port is at the bottom of the case. The case flips open smoothly with no hindrances in motion whatsoever. Once again, it is a neat and compact package.
A clear 4/5 in terms of design and built quality.
Comfort
The Swott Airlit 006 might not look like it, but it is extremely ergonomic. Once set in the ear canal, the buds will not fall off. Readjusting earbuds due to a bad design is one of the many concerns that tag along with TWS earbuds. However, the Swott Airlit 006 has left no stone unturned in that area.
A 4/5 for comfort.
Real-World Performance
The Bluetooth 5.0-equipped Swott Airlit 006 is a godsend for those who want an immersive and holistic audio experience but have a limited budget. The TWS buds are a bang for the buck with almost flawless real-world performance.
I cannot emphasize enough the fact that how important the LED display on the front is. One look and you will know the charge of the case as well as the buds. The audio is clear with nice highs and mids. Call quality, however, is an area that can be worked on but it does not affect overall performance.
In case you’re wondering whether the Airlit 006 is gaming compatible, no it is not. Although it is not marketed as a gaming product, I would say go for it. At this price point, the quality of audio Swott has managed to offer is commendable. With only 10 minutes of charging, the Airlit 006 offers about 100 minutes of playtime. On a full charge of 60 minutes, the Airlit 006 offers a 20-hour playtime courtesy of its 400mAh battery. The touch controls on the buds work efficiently and are great for everyday use. For fitness enthusiasts, the buds come with IPX4-rated water and dust resistance.
The Swott Airlit 006 covers a lot of ground when it comes to performance and that is why I see it as a jack of all trades rather than a speciality product. Once we factor in the price, we have ourselves a truly holistic TWS product.
It is a worthy 4/5 in performance.
