Amazon's best-selling cheap earbuds comparison - under $50
Somehow, after reviewing more than 305 cheap wireless earbuds, some of the worlds most popular cheap wireless earbuds on Amazon weren't tested on Scarbir.com yet! Time to change just that. What are Tozo's best earbuds?
Usually, wireless earphones get their own extensive review on Scarbir.com. Sometimes, earbuds aren't special enough for a long review or I'm late to review them, as they were released some time ago. In this case, I test these earbuds as heavily as I test all models, but I keep their reviews short and combine them in one article.
This is a special review combination. A comparison between four hugely popular $30 cheap wireless earbuds from Amazon, all from Tozo. Four models that have been available for a while and all have over (tens or even hundreds of) thousands user reviews on Amazon. Tozo's more costly models with ANC Active Noise Cancelling, the Tozo NC2 and Tozo NC9, already had their own reviews.
This test contains Amazon's best-selling Tozo T6 vs Tozo T12 vs Tozo T9 vs the lesser-known Tozo A1. Time to compare them. Which is the best?
Tozo T12: Tozo's best sounding earbuds
Very energetic and entertaining
DESIGN AND FEATURES: Being on the market for around 2,5 years, the T12 is still one the most popular wireless earbuds on Amazon. In 2022, it shows its age. Features are still decent for its $30 price, with around 6 hours of music playtime on a single charge and an IPX7 sweat-, heavy rain-, and showerproof rating. But... the T12 does have big earpieces to house these features. The oval earbuds are big, and completely fill up medium-sized ears. On the plus side, they almost function as noise-cancelling earbuds when you get a good fit - they heavily reduce background sounds.
The charging case has a neat indicator that shows the remaining battery percentage under the hood, but unfortunately, the case is too bulky to comfortable carry in a jeans pocket. (3.5 out of 5)
CONTROLS: Like the other models from the line-up, the T12 houses all the desired controls straight on the earbuds, letting you play/pause music, activate the voice assistant and change tracks and volume. It even has voice prompts to confirm you're changing songs. As the earbuds are larger and the touch panel is in the center, you won't easily activate functions by accident, like then you're readjusting the buds in your ears. Again: the touch panels do respond to water too easily, so actually showering with them is not really an option. (4 out of 5)
CALLS AND GAMES: As the T12 is older, it doesn't have the latest call and microphone processing going on, and that can be a good thing. Your voice sounds clearer and more natural than the other Tozo earbuds most of the time, and remains fairly natural when there's noise around you. However, these actual background sounds come through loud and clear - just like wind noise.
While video playback is flawless, there is a severe delay in sound effects when you're playing games. (2.5 out of 5)
SOUND QUALITY: The T12 has the typical sound found on most Tozo's earbuds, but executes it the best. You'll find a warm and energetic sound, helped a strong, thumpy and surprisingly deep bass that will have your head nodding before you realise it - although, mind you, it can become too loose in bass-pushing songs. Lower-mids are boosted but not overpowering, giving music a pleasant warmth, and higher vocals are forward and pronounced, yet also well controlled so they don't become harsh. They're not too thin either: especially female and higher-pitched vocals can be quite appealing on this budget pair.
Music has a sweet, airy feel, with effects and instruments coming from your left and right - even though sounds are hard to position precisely. Compared to the T9 and T6, the T12 makes cymbals a bit splashier, but it's also the most open and wide sounding pair of the bunch, delivering an uncomplicated and very entertaining sound. (4.5 out of 5)
The Tozo T12 could be a bit too big for smaller and even medium-sized ears, but surprise: 2,5 years after its release, this is still one of the most fun sounding earbuds under $50.
$30
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Tozo T9 review: Tozo’s best all-round wireless earbuds
strong battery, good build quality, pocketable
DESIGN AND FEATURES: The T9 is the most serious looking model from the Tozo lineup of wireless earbuds. The compact, matte black charging case has a neat shiny finish on the lid, and three LED-lights on the front indicate the remaining battery life. The earbuds also look more grown-up than the sister models, with the brand logo on the stems. They look and feel sturdy. The round part can feel a bit present in (medium-sized) ears at first, but fits snugly and eventually becomes comfortable and easy to wear.
Battery life is good, with up to 8 hours of playtime on a single charge. The IPX7 waterproof rating means they survive heavy workouts and even showers, although warm water will activate the touch panel. (4.5 out of 5)
CONTROLS: Despite responding to water too easily, the touch panels of the Tozo T9 respond adequately. All important controls are within reach, meaning you can play/pause music, skip and return tracks, increase or decrease volume, and activate the voice assistant from the earbuds. (4 out of 5)
CALLS AND GAMES: Calling is doable in indoor or quiet outdoor areas. Your voice is clear and loud enough, but nearby sound effects like claps, chatter, and accelerating vehicles damage the clarity of your voice. Not to mention wind noise. Fortunately, noise itself doesn't come through too loud.
Video playback is flawless, but there is a noticeable delay in sound effects when you're playing games. (2.5 out of 5)
SOUND QUALITY: A dynamic sound, tuned to please many. Boosted bass and lower-mids and forwarded vocals to give an energetic sound. The bass can be a bit bulbous, with strong, long-lasting thumps. It also reveals the sub-bass - the darkest bass tones you can feel as much as hear - easy, although things can become a bit boomy. The T9 is more bass-centric than other Tozo models, which can be entertaining for dance, electronic, and hip-hop songs.
There's enough treble to go against it. Female and higher male singers sound powerfully thick (if a tad colder than on the sister models), and upper-mids and highs roll off before they become sharp. The sound sits somewhere between spacious and closed-in, yet in techno and other dance tracks, it does have enough room to give a somwehat stadium-like vibe. While the bass can be a bit boomy, this is a little fun machine. (4 out of 5)
The Tozo T9 has an edge over the other models with better build quality and longer battery life. You also can't go wrong with it if you love your music a little bassy.
$30
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Tozo T6 review: Still good in 2022?
Small in size, loud in sound
DESIGN AND FEATURES: A two year old model in 2022, and it shows: these earbuds still have straight sides that forget to follow the shape of your inner ear. If they fit, they block out noise around you like noise-cancelling earbuds can (!). When they don't, you have to hang them upside down and you'll lose easy access to the touch panels. The buds look and feel cheap, despite their shiny black outside. The case is even shabbier and scratches easily, although it's slim enough to slide into a jeans pocket. Each charge provides the earbuds up to a decent 6 hours of music playback.
The IPX7 waterproof rating ensures these survive sweat and showers, but beware: water drains the microphones until you dry them, and there's another little problem... (3.5 out of 5)
CONTROLS: Tozo T6's touch panels are very sensitive - so sensitive they respond to warm water, which single-taps and pauses your music. You'll also easily activate a function when you readjust them or when you take a bud out of your ears. Controls are nice otherwise: double-tap to skip/return songs, hold to change volume, triple-tap to activate the voice assistant. (3 out of 5)
CALLS AND GAMES: Phone and video calls are doable on the Tozo T6, but your voice is only loud and clear enough in quiet indoor areas. Unfortunately, wind or noise around you pushes your voice away completely.
Watching videos is easy, with flawless synchronization between audio and video. There is a noticeable delay in sound effects when you're playing games. (2.5 out of 5)
SOUND QUALITY: Like other Tozo's the T6 aims to please many, and succeeds when you get the right fit to let in enough bass. The boosted mid-bass then packs a steady (but not boomy) punch, and the elevated lower mid-tones lift darker electronic tones and color music warm. Forward upper-mids bring out female and higher male vocals nicely above instruments, while treble overall is controlled and maintains comfortable even on higher volume levels - oh yes, the Tozo T6 can go very loud.
Voices can appear a bit nasal or thin, center-mids like guitars are a bit in the background (while slaps can still be punchy), and it's hard to place instruments precisely around you, but overall, this is another energetic and comfortable listen well worth its price. (4 out of 5)
While Tozo T6's earbuds may not be comfortable to everyone and its microphone only works well in quiet areas, these little fellows entertain with their powerful, pleasant sound.
$30
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Tozo A1 review: The smallest Tozo earbuds to the test
Compact, cheap and barebones
DESIGN AND FEATURES: Nope, not the T1. Tozo called its cheapest (these are only $20) wireless earbuds the Tozo A1. Besides the smallest packaging, it also has the smallest earbuds and most compact charging case of the bunch. The matte black case is prone to scratches and its lid wobbles a bit, but there are are still 4 LED-lights to show the remaing case battery. The earbuds are so compact that they'll fit the smallest of ears. They can be a bit loose in bigger ears, and the small rubber ear tips Tozo delivers, may not reach deep enough for everyone. Comfort is great, on the other hand - it's even comfortable to sleep with these earbuds. They also reach up to 6 hours of playtime and boast IPX5 waterproof level, meaning they're rain and sweat resistant. (4 out of 5)
CONTROLS: Even on its smallest and most affordable offering, Tozo didn't give in on controls. It has the same convenient scheme, with the option to play/pause music, activate the voice assistant and change tracks and volume. The touch panel sensitivity is quite good - you may, but won't quickly activate a control by adjusting these in your ears, or taking a bud out. (4 out of 5)
CALLS AND GAMES: The Tozo A1 puts your voice through clear enough in calls, but a bit too soft. Nearby and distant noise around you comes through very loud and overrules your voice, just like wind does. It's only doable to take a phone or video call with these in quiet areas.
Unfortunately, synchronization between what you see and what you hear in videos is off, and there's also a heavy delay in sound effects when you're playing games. (1.5 out of 5)
SOUND QUALITY: Perhaps Tozo choose another letter for the A1 and the T-series because of the sound tuning. The A1 is less bass heavy and less warm-sounding than its siblings. The sound is more geared towards the mids. Male and lower female vocals sound less warm, a bit more natural on the A1. Guitar and piano play also benefit from this approach - they're not recessed or dragged toward the lower-mids like on the models.
However, the A1 doesn't handle a combination of mids and higher frequencies very well. There's little separation between instruments and frequencies, and things can become restless and even shouty. The bass that's there, doesn't have the thump of its more engaging brothers, and lacks tightness as well. Not the most polished sounding earbuds. (3.5 out of 5)
Unless you're searching earbuds so small you can sleep with them or wear them under a helmet, the Tozo A1 does not live up to its more expensive family. It's better to spend a little extra.
$20
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CONCLUSION: Which cheap Tozo wireless earbuds on Amazon are the best?
If you decide to buy one of the wireless earbuds from Tozo based on the many, many user reviews on Amazon, you will likely not be letdown. The brands $20 to $30 models have all the controls on the earbuds, resist sweat and rain, and have good to great battery life. Another thing they have in common in the disappointing call quality: none of them handles phone or video calls very well. Price to performance wise, though, you can't really go wrong with any of them though.
Where they differ the most, is the sound quality, with the dirt-cheap Tozo A1 as the weakest link with its unpolished, colder sound. The Tozo T12 has the most entertaining sound with a thumpy and deep bass and lots of openness, whereas the Tozo T6 is surprisingly well-balanced and the Tozo T9 boosts the bass.
So which Tozo should you choose? The T12 for the sound quality; the T9 for its build quality and battery life, and pocketability.
What's the best alternative to Tozo earbuds?
The top recommendation for an alternative on the Tozo wireless earbuds, out of the 300+ wireless earbuds tested on Scarbir.com, is the Soundcore Life P2i for $35.
Opposed to all Tozo models, the Soundcore has excellent call quality for both phone and video calls. Both indoors and outside, it's safe to take a phone call or enter a video meeting with them. The sound has the same character as the Tozo T9, with a strong and thumping bass. The Life P2i has oval ear parts that provide a comfortable fit for many ears, and they're IPX5 rain- and sweatproof. Another thing of note is that the P2i has actual buttons instead of touch controls. Because of that, the Life P2i picks up your input better when you have sweaty, wet, or cold fingers.
Read the Soundcore Life P2i review here
Check out the best wireless earbuds under $25
Check out the best wireless earbuds under $50
Also read: These are the best sounding wireless earbuds
Disclaimer: I bought these TWS true wireless earbuds myself or I received these products from the manufacturer or a distributor. I test and review all audio products equally honest - 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
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