Edifier TWS1 True Wireless Earbuds Review

I am sure by now, almost every review refers to the Apple AirPods whenever earbuds are up for discussion. There has certainly been a surge in wireless earbuds since their release and more and more are also including a handy charging case. Edifier like many rivals also follow this now tried and tested approach, but the key feature even the Apple AirPods lack is aptX support and yet it is here within the Edifier TWS1 Earbuds, poking the iPhone giant squarely in the eye and for a price that is far more palatable.

Leaving you in charge

Last year I purchased a set of Bluetooth earphones, just so I could avoid a wire going from my pocket (where my phone would be), up under my coat and then back out to my ears. This worked out fairly well, however I couldn’t escape the dreaded moment when I would realise halfway around a walk once putting in my earphones that I had no power left, therefore no music. The advent of a portable charging case changes this completely!

The earbuds alone are rated for around 8 hours of music playback on a single charge, but with the charging case you can add another 24 hours on top of that. When you have finished with your music listening, the earbuds pop right back into their charging case and they merrily recharge ready for your next audio session. Then when you are back at home or near a power socket, you can recharge the charging case and off you go again. It works incredibly well and now I can’t envisage going back to wireless earphones as earbuds with a charging case make so much sense for this simple but important convenience.

Popping them back into the case puts them straight back on charge and it’s this constant in use, and then back to charging within a portable case that makes this option oh so sweet.

• TrueWireless ™ Stereo Plus for easier pairing and better connectivity
• Up to 32 hours of playback with Charging Case
• IPX5 splash and sweatproof
• Bluetooth v5.0 aptX for a strong connection with lower latency
• Up to 10m (30ft) connection distance (with walls)
• Low-profile, ergonomic in-ear design with touch controls
• cVc noise reduction for crystal clear calling

Sound as a pound

Retailing for around £50 ($50), the Edifier TWS1 Wireless Earbuds available in white or black actually pack quite a punch in terms of value and indeed sound quality. I must admit though, after inserting them into my ears – my initial impressions were quite disappointing. The sound was tinny, as in the lower and mid-range detail were lacking and this brings us to our first lesson in using earbuds in particular. It is all about selecting the right set of in-ear adaptors to suit the size of your ears. Once I tried the larger set, the difference in sound changed enormously as they sat quite tight within – ensuring firstly that the sound was far better and also that as they were far less likely to drop out. Even when fitting more securely in the ear, they never really became uncomfortable so ideal for those longer listening sessions.

With support for aptX, a more advanced codec for Bluetooth providing better sound quality than that of standard Bluetooth – the TWS1 Earbuds are a great match for owners of Android phones in particular, that support the extended format and wish to experience a greater depth of sound reproduction. They are also compatible with iPhones and iPads, even if they will only use the standard Bluetooth quality as iOS devices have never supported the aptX format and I doubt this will ever change.

The overall quality of audio reproduction is very good, and then sometimes middling. There is nothing here that will truly allow your soul to thrive on any of the incoming tones and beats, however they provide a nice sound with a good mix of low, mid and high range. Again £50, you get what you pay for – although I do feel at least you get a little more besides too for the money.

They just… work

Once you have paired the Bluetooth earbuds with your phone, operation is simple and pretty intelligent. If you remove one earbud from the charging case, this one earbud will automatically re-pair with your device, allowing you to use just a single earbud. This is pretty handy for phone calls, listening to podcasts and audio books, but also if you want to hear what is going on around you too. If you pick up the second earbud, well then you have both paired and you are ready for stereo sound. It all just works!

Each earbud also features touch controls, for when you don’t wish to reach for your phone…

• Pressing once: Toggles play / pause
• Pressing twice: Next track
• Pressing three times: Previous track

When in a phone call, instead a single press will either accept or end a call, pressing and holding will decline an incoming call.

The main omission here though you may have already spotted is there is no way to control the volume. This is just baffling to be honest, so you are forced to reach for your phone to make any volume adjustments.

Conclusion

They might not knock the socks off some of the more expensive competition, however it is hard to deny the value and feature set available from the Edifier TWS1 Earbuds. For around £50, they have a good sound quality that will satisfy your attention on walks, runs or when just sat in the comfort of a chair. The touch controls are helpful, if a little temperamental although the lack of volume control is very strange and the microphone quality is acceptable.

The Edifier TWS1 Wireless Earbuds won’t impress the audiophile, however your wallet will thank you for your kind consideration and your ears will too for the good all round performance the earbuds provide – especially at this price range.

Edifier TWS1 True Wireless Earbuds

£49.99

8

Rating

8.0/10

Pros

• Comfortable fit
• Good quality sound for the price
• aptX support

Cons

• Mid-range slightly lacking
• No volume control

Buy from Amazon UK

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