TWS true wireless earphones - $25 to $50
4.5 STARS - The Baseus Bowie MA10 and MA10Pro are some of the most popular budget wireless earbuds under $50 on Amazon and AliExpress. How good are they exactly, and which of these two models is better?
Baseus Bowie MA10 specs and features:
Bluetooth 5.3 with AAC codec
IPX6 waterproof (strongly water proof)
5,5 - 8 hours listening on a single charge (ANC on/ off)
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 16 times
Has: ANC, Transparency mode, app support, multipoint connection
Doesn't have: spatial audio, wireless charging
Comes with 3 sets of ear tips, USB-C cable, English manual
$40 - See price on Amazon US, your Amazon country or AliExpress
Baseus Bowie MA10s / MA10 Pro specs and features:
Bluetooth 5.3 with AAC and LDAC codec
IPX6 waterproof (dust and water resistant)
5,5 - 8 hours listening on a single charge (ANC on/ off)
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Has: ANC, Transparency mode, app support, multipoint connection, spatial audio, wireless charging
Doesn't have: -
Comes with 3 sets of ear tips, USB-C cable, English manual
$50 - See price on Amazon US, your Amazon country or AliExpress
In and underneath this Baseus Bowie MA10Pro vs MA10 review, you will soon find comparisons with the CMF Buds by Nothing, Realme Buds Air 6, and Tinhifi Tinbuds1.
All reviews on Scarbir.com are unsponsored and honest. Want to support my research? Buy me a coffee or support me via PayPal.
Why are Baseus earbuds so popular?
Of all hundreds or perhaps even thousands of affordable wireless earbuds you can find on Amazon, the Baseus MA10 and Baseus MA10 Pro truly stand out from the pack. They have more sales and user reviews per month on Amazon than many earbuds I review on this site have in total.
So why these? Perhaps it's because in the world of so many unknown and generic OEM products, Baseus built up a bit of a brand name for itself by being one of the first providers of cheap Chinese power banks and cable hubs outside of China - just like Anker/ Soundcore and Ugreen. That still gives them an advantage on brand reputation, it seems.
Baseus track record on wireless earbuds, however, is very hit and miss. I've tested and reviewed seven Baseus earphones in the past years, of which the Baseus M2s were great, the Baseus W12 and Baseus EZ10 offered a surprisingly good sound, but other models were lackluster or even terrible, with the Baseus Bowie WX5, Bowie E12, Bowie E16 and infamously named Encock W01 not even handling the fit, Bluetooth connection, and controls well.
Where do the Baseus MA10 and Baseus MA10 Pro, also sold as Baseus MA10S, sit in? Are they actually any good? And which of the two is better?
Design, comfort and battery life
The Baseus Bowie MA10 has the bulkiest and heaviest charging case of all the 400+ affordable wireless earbuds I've tested on Scarbir.com so far. It's so big on all sides, you can't carry it comfortably in a jeans pocket. With its more than 100 grams, it's also heavy.
Baseus MA10
The reason is that it's one big power house. The case has a seemingly unlimited amount of battery capacity, and it can recharge the earbuds around 16 times fully. That should grant enough power for a big (holiday) trip of multiple weeks, and of course it also reduces the chances of your earbuds being empty if you haven't used them in a few weeks.
The Baseus Bowie MA10 Pro, or MA10S, was released one year later and cut off at least one third of the original charging case. It's still big and heavy compared to other wireless earbuds in the $50 price range, however.
The thing is: the MA10 Pro ‘only’ has enough battery capacity to recharge the earbuds 4 times fully, like most charging cases, while it's still rather big. It misses the super power of the regular MA10.
Baseus MA10 Pro/ MA10s - The battery percentage can't be seen here; it's in the top-middle
On the plus side, the MA10 Pro has a precise procentual battery indicator on the inside of the case, and you can recharge the MA10 Pro case via wireless charging too. The original MA10 only supports USB-charging and ‘only’ has four LED-indicators on the outside.
Both cases provide the with around 5,5 hours of playtime on a single charge, when you have Active Noise Cancelling activated, or up to 8 hours with the function turned off.
That's mediocre battery life for how big the earbuds are. The identically sized and shaped MA10 and MA10 Pro earbuds lack stems, and the part that goes into your ears is bigger than average. As it also has a rather fat inside, you can always feel these earbuds sitting in.
The rubber ring around them makes them even bigger, but these rings help ensure a tight and sports proof fit - which is great, as these earbuds are also IPX6 waterproof protected, making them protected from heavy rainfall and even the shower.
Despite the size, the earbuds are actually comfortable to wear, even for longer periods of time.
Baseus Bowie MA10 (+ battery life, - size) score:
Baseus Bowie MA10Pro (+ wireless charging, - size) score:
Controls, connectivity and app
Both the Baseus MA10 and MA10 Pro/ MA10S have solid connectivity. They pair and connect quickly after you take them out of the case. Thanks to their multipoint connection, you can also connect them to two devices at the same time, although it can then take a little longer to connect to one of the devices. Not a problem after the first few seconds.
The earphones switch to the other connected device instantly when you get an incoming phone call, or when you just press play on your other device - the first device then automatically pauses playback; it works great.
The app homescreen for the MA10 Pro
You can't setup a nice control scheme
Both models also enjoy support from the free Baseus app on iPhone and Android. It return for creating an account, it gives some useful options:
See battery percentage of each earbud and case
Switch between Active Noise Cancelling on, off, and Transparency mode
Choose between four ANC settings - Commuting/ Indoor/ Outdoor, or set manual strength
Change the controls
(De)activate the low latency gaming mode
Call your left or right earbud to find them back (works within 10 meters)
See where you left your earbuds the last time on a map
Update the firmware
Change the name of the earbuds
Choose between 12 equalizer presets
Create your own custom EQ
Only on MA10 Pro: choose Spatial Audio for music or games
Sadly, the MA10 and MA10 Pro have illogical controls. The app lets you fully customise the function of a double-tap on the touch panel, or holding the panel. However, you can only tie two functions to the triple-tap: (de)activating the voice assistant, or (de)activating the low latency gaming mode. There also isn't an option to add a single-tap.
This makes it impossible to setup a sensible control scheme in which you can play/pause, skip a track, change the volume and change between ANC modes. That's a shame, as the touch panels respond well to your input.
Score for both models:
Phone and video calls
The Baseus MA10 and MA10 Pro are decent for phone and video calls.
The MA10 Pro has a matte-shiny effect
The MA10 doesn't
Both earbuds passes your voice in a clear and natural way, and (just) loud enough too. Surrouding noises like background chatter, keyboard typing can also be heard in the call, albeit in the background. When you're on the move, things turn rapidly, and both your footsteps and wind noise are audible. They also cause dips in your voice.
Competitor like the CMF Buds by Nothing and the Realme Buds Air 6 handle calling in the wind better, while the MA10's fare better than the Soundcore A30i and Soundcore P30i.
Score for both models:
Video and games playback
Playing videos isn't a problem on the Baseus MA10 and MA10 Pro, with good synchronization between the audio and video on YouTube and other streaming services. This goes for both iPhone and Android phones.
Both models have a low-latency mode for games, which you can activate via the app or straight from the earbuds if you've setup the controls right. After hearing the three beeps, the sound in a challenging game like Call of Duty mobile synchronizes well - although the furing of gunshots still seems to sound a little slower than the effect on your screen.
The Baseus MA10 Pro/ MA10s has an additional Spatial Audio mode for games, but as it puts sounds artificially in other places, it doesn't really help with locating gunshots and explosions around you.
Score for both earbuds:
ANC quality test of the MA10 and MA10 Pro
In the middle of 2024, having Active Noise Cancelling on an $50 earbud isn't anything special anymore. Several earbuds in the price category, especially the Edifier TWS1 Pro 2, actually delivers very usable, strong ANC in your ears.
The Baseus MA10 and MA10 Pro are two other examples of excellent ANC performers in their price class. Helped by the big, ear-filling fit of the earbuds’ shape, these earbuds are capable or reducing or even removing lots of noise from your surroundings. Both earbuds do an excellent job of removing (darker) constant noises like a fridge, but also heavily reduce brighter sounds like keyboard typing or background chatter. Even the more challenging higher sounds - like bird chittering - are reduced strongly with the ANC turned on.
Better yet: this is still the performance without playing music.
This Baseus MA10 has good Active Noise Cancelling strength; but the MA10 Pro finetunes it
The Pro/ S model performs a bit better still in a way: it processes the noise more evenly between the two earbuds. In some tests, it seemed that the non-Pro version left more noise on one side than the other. The Pro/ S model also shows less white noise with the function activated - giving its performance a minor edge.
Like most affordable earphones, the Transparency mode isn't very good. It helps to pass through some chatter while you listen to music, but not let you follow a conversation. It also doesn't make traffic noise very audible when you're commuting.
Happily, wind noise is also left out quite well out of the music with ANC turned on. If you want to diminish it even more, it's no problem switching to the ANC off setting via the earbuds or the app. These are great performers for the price overall.
Score for both earbuds:
Also read: The best wireless earbuds under $100
Sound quality of Baseus MA10 and MA10 Pro/s
Baseus MA10
Like the overall quality, the sound performance of Baseus earbuds varied from surprisingly great (like the older W12) to below average. Happily, the Baseus MA10 and MA10 Pro are in the camp of the good ones.
Baseus chose a warm, smooth sound character for both these models.
The mid-bass delivers solid and deep thumps and the sub-bass (darkest bass tones you can feel as much as hear) is capable of a full and dark rumble, as shown well by James Blake's Limit to Your Love. Neither of the bass frequencies is very precise; especially the mid-bass pushes more than it kicks and punches. As the bass also doesn't take other parts of the music hostage, the bass is comfortable to listen to for sure, without being too powerless.
The strong warmth in the MA10's and MA10 Pro's sound is caused by the heavily emphasized lower mid-tones. Darker guitars, male vocals, and lower electronic tones are prominent, pleasantly full… but they also play main role in the music, if you're not paying attention.
That's because Baseus doesn't do much with the higher frequencies out of the box. In the standard Baseus equalizer preset, these earphones skip the middle tones (guitars/ piano), drag higher vocals in the dark, and pretty much deny the existence of treble.
Whether you want it or not, you NEED to create your own equalizer on these earbuds. There are 11 sound presets that don't do much to liven up or balance the sound, so you'll have to play around with the 8-band EQ yourself. Happily, both earbuds are very open to tweaking the sound. So, let's share what I came up with.
If you think my equalizers underneath look different, it's because I think they need to be. Both earbuds are tweaked slightly differently out of the box and respond differently to EQ’ing. I think that's because of the addition of Spatial Audio on the MA10 Pro - which you can immediately forget because it actually emphasizes lower tones and sometimes actually decreases the sense of space in the sound.
With these custom equalizers, both earbuds sound great in their own right:
My preferred EQ for the Baseus MA10
My preferred EQ for the Baseus MA10 Pro
The original Baseus MA10 now adds treble and presence to its already warm and bassy basis. Center-mid tones like guitars and piano play are less in the background, and both moderate to higher vocals are much more forward - while still remaining their smooth, warm undertone. Higher instruments are also more prominent, and as they are more clearly separated from vocals, there’s some air in the sound, while the treble still steers clear from sounding bright and harsh. (Full EQ scheme: 0, 0, 0, 0, +3, +4, +3)
The Baseus MA10 Pro/ MA10s shows both a stronger and more textured bass the moment you start tweaking. To balance things out, I actually reduced the lower frequencies on this model and brought out the higher ones more excessively. This immediately helps to make the center-mids and highs pop more; female and male vocals are more prominent and sound much clearer and more balanced than out of the box. Treble is still rolled-off quite early, though, and maintains the smooth character. (Full EQ scheme: -2, -3, -2, -2, 0, +2, +3, +2)
Baseus MA10 Pro/ MA10s
Normally, I don’t dive deep into equalizing the earbuds in my review. The Baseus MA10 and MA10 Pro/ S make tweaking obligatory: these earbuds perform below-average without equalizing, but compete with the finer offerings under $50 when you do. While that's great, it also means the Baseus MA10 and MA10 Pro possibly aren’t the user-friendly earphones you expect from the brand.
Score for both earbuds:
Verdict: Baseus MA10 vs Baseus MA10s
The Baseus MA10 and MA10 Pro / MA10s are atypical offerings in the wireless earbuds market under 50 dollars.
The MA10 has a truly cumbersome charging case, but it makes up for it with an entire holiday trip of battery capacity.
The MA10 Pro is $10 more expensive and slightly more pocketable, but it misses that speciality. Its addition of Spatial Audio doesn't make up for it, wireless charging might for you. It's impossible to pinpoint which of these two is better.
What remains are two earbuds that have an awkward control scheme, offer clear calls (only) in quiet areas, but also throw in strong Active Noise Cancellation, multipoint connection… and a mediocre sound that can be tweaked to greatness.
Don't mind carrying big charging cases around or fiddling around yourself? Then the Baseus MA10 and MA10 Pro are well worth considering.
Overall score for both models:
Buy Baseus Bowie MA10/ check price:
Buy on Amazon US
Buy on other Amazon countries
Buy on AliExpress
Buy Baseus Bowie MA10 Pro/ MA10s/ Check price:
Buy on Amazon US
Buy on other Amazon countries
Buy on AliExpress
I bought the Baseus Bowie Ma10 and Ma10 Pro for myself to test and review. My reviews are 100% independent and non-commercial - 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
Was this article helpful?
Also read:
Guide: The best earbuds under $75
Leaderboard: All rated wireless earphones
