TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
FOUR STARS - With up to 6,5 hours of battery life and great sound quality for pop and dance music, the Bomaker Sifi II comes recommended for many music lovers.
Specs of the Bomaker Sifi II/ Bomaker Sifi 2:
Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC codec (no AptX, unlike the first Sifi)
6,5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Comes with 6 sizes of ear tips and USB-C cable
$40 on Amazon Europe, Amazon UK or other Amazon stores
Below this Bomaker Sifi 2 review, you will find comparisons of the Bomaker Sifi II vs Bomaker Sifi, Fiil T1X, SoundPEATS TrueDot, QCY T5, Haylou GT1 Plus and Whizzer B6.
Update September 2020: Due to increased overall competition with more functionality and/ or better sound, this TWS has been decreased in overall score. Check out the best earbuds on the Leaderboard.
Design, comfort and battery life
With the Bomaker Sifi II/ Bomaker Sifi 2 on Amazon, it seems the exceptional original Bomaker Sifi is harder or even impossible to get anymore. If you like the tiniest of charging cases, that may be a miss for you.
The 420 mAh charger of the Sifi II is still handily compact and fits in your jeans pocket easily, but it is both a tad higher and longer than the original. Happily, the build quality is convincing - and the charging method is improved too. It can now be powered via USB-C, instead of micro-USB on the original Sifi. The charging status-LEDs are now also placed on the front, instead of inside the case.
The earpieces of the Sifi II are bigger than the predecessor ones. Where the original has beans that could disappear entirely in your ears, the Sifi 2 earbuds have egg-shaped insides that fill your ears quite a bit. Like the last time, the Sifi II comes with a whopping six sets of ear tips - but if your ear canals are deeper than average, you may still be seeking longer ear tips. Once you're used to the earpieces filling up your ears, comfort is actually quite good. The Sifi II stays in place - even when used for running or other sports. Plus - the annoying blinking light is gone!
The battery on the Bomaker Sifi 2 offers up to 6,5 hours of playtime on a single charge. That's impressive - dependent on your volume, that's around 2 hours more than average for this price. The case can recharge them up to three times fully before needing power itself.
Connectivity and controls
The Bomaker Sifi II uses touch controls. Play or pause the music with a single tap, touch twice on the right bud to skip a song, twice on the left bud to return a track.
Changing the volume is possible, by holding down the right or left side for at least 1,5 seconds. With three taps, you activate the voice assistant on your phone.
The entire side of the earpieces is touch-sensitive and responds well to your input. However, due to the late response of the play/ pause function, you could sometimes accidentally combine controls. Another thing of note, it that it seems to be easier to change the volume on iPhone than it is on Android devices. Strange.
The connectivity on the Bomaker Sifi 2 is superb. The Bluetooth 5.0 connection holds up to ten meters and keeps stable when walking or cycling with the earbuds. They connect to your phone quickly, and you can swap between one and two earpieces instantly.
Calling and watching movies with Sifi II
The call quality of the Bomaker Sifi 2 is a bit left behind, unfortunately. Bomaker opted for the 'classic', unfiltered way of handling calls in wireless earbuds, meaning the Sifi II doesn't use CVC-processing to filter out noises from your surroundings.
The result is you and the other person on the line sound natural and full, but a call is only doable in perfect circumstances. A gust of wind, slight background noises, traffic, or other people talking in your area: all of those turn out to be challenging for the call quality.
Watching videos isn't a flawless experience on the YouTube-app on iPhone, where videos just miss out on lipsync. Audio-video synchronization is perfect for other video services on the iPhone, though. It also works fine on Android, although the first Sifi gained even better synchronization thanks to the (now missing) AptX codec. There is noticeably delay when playing games.
Also read: The best true wireless earphones under $50
Sound quality of Bomaker Sifi II: dance and pop
The original Bomaker Sifi is one of the very best sounding wireless earbuds under $100. How does its successor perform?
The Bomaker Sifi II finds a fine balance between an energetic sound and a relaxing approach you can listen to for hours. Nevertheless, the bass is quite strong. It has a steady thump that powers up more bass-oriented music and gives energy to easygoing tracks as well. While it isn't very textured, it is rather tight and accompanied by sub-bass that can shake in your ears when asked for.
It's good to know that the bass isn't overbearing or too dominant, though. The other frequencies are to thank, because they too are well-tuned.
The Sifi II puts an emphasis on lower mid-tones, elevating darker electronic lines and instruments like cello's, drums, and male vocals. They have a pleasant presence without overpowering other frequencies. Upper-mids, such as lighter guitar play, violins and female vocals, sound upfront and come with impressive clarity. Higher tones extend well, but they don't become harsh or tiresome.
In the whole line, there isn't a set of tones that outclasses or pushes away the others. They all walk a fine line between detailed and pleasantly smooth, warm, and cold. Especially modern, electronic genres sound generous and full.
The Sifi II has a solid soundstage, with details and effects coming from around you - although the most come from your left and right. Especially drums and claps feel beside you.
Compared side by side to the original Sifi, however, the first one delivers an airier sound, with better instrument tonality and placement, and more space between instruments. The Sifi II gains air at higher volume and then offers a fuller sound - whereas the first Sifi can become a bit harsh at times. The Sifi II keeps its dynamics in shape - with the bass, mids, and highs all performing steadily. However - it just misses that upper-mid elevation, that airy and detailed spark of its predecessor.
Generally speaking, the second Sifi dropped the rough edges of the fantastic original, but also traded in its sparkle in the mids and highs.
Selected comparisons
Bomaker Sifi II vs Bomaker Sifi
The Sifi II may cost the same as the original Bomaker Sifi; it feels more grown-up in the design, battery life, and build quality. Its touch controls are easier to operate than the actual buttons of the first one, and the heavy blinking light is gone. The Sifi II earpieces are bigger, and harder to use in bed - but still comfortable for carrying longer times.
In sound, the Bomaker Sifi II seems a more smoothed-out, grown-up version of the first Sifi. The Sifi II has a tighter bass and a more balanced presentation overall. It controls the higher-notes better than the original Sifi, which can sound harsh in higher and crowded parts. The original does however have deeper bass, and more space in the sound and between the instruments and vocals. Instrument tonality is also better, making the original Sifi better for acoustic and classical genres. The Bomaker Sifi II is a very good, well-thought-out crowd pleaser - but the original Sifi is an ultra-cheap audiophile surprise.
Bomaker Sifi II vs Fiil T1X
The Fiil T1X may be the best sounding wireless earbuds under $100, but it sees strong competition from the Bomaker Sifi II. The Sifi II has jucier, more pronounced lower mid-tones, but the T1X sounds a tad warmer and gives more stage to mids - like guitars, claps, and cymbals. It has to be said that's mostly noticeable in acoustic genres, though - not so much in uplifting pop or dance songs. There's a bit more nuance in instruments and vocals on the T1X, but the Sifi II holds its dynamics and airiness better at higher volumes.
Bomaker Sifi II vs SoundPEATS TrueDot
The insanely priced $25 SoundPEATS TrueDot once again shows its teeth against Bomaker's newcomer. The TrueDot has a more dominant bass, which may not please everyone - but also convinces with detail in instrument placement. Drums, guitars, and pianos sound warmer on the TrueDot. The Sifi II counters with a more balanced presentation and more emphasis on the lower-mids, and something purely practical: 2-3 hours longer battery life.
Bomaker Sifi II vs Haylou GT1 Plus
Reader request: The $25 Haylou GT1 Plus has more emphasis on mid-tones than the Sifi II, which gives guitars and pianos a slight edge on the GT1 Plus. The Sifi outclasses the Haylou when it comes to dynamics, however. Not only are the highs further extended and even clearer, and is the bass more present: they also remain their identity on the highest volumes, whereas the GT1 Plus can sound flatter in comparison.
Bomaker Sifi II vs QCY T5
Reader request: Known for its clear upper-mids and highs, can the cheaper QCY T5 be better than the Sifi II? Well, the latter has a much more pronounced bass, with more definition in the sub-bass and a fiercer slam. It also keeps up with the T5's clarity in the upper-mids and highs, well-extending higher-pitched vocals and instruments. Simply put: the QCY T5 sounds a little flat compared to the more dynamic Sifi II.
Bomaker Sifi II vs Whizzer B6
Reader request: Since the Sifi II has a surprisingly fierce bass, a comparison with the Whizzer B6 may well be in order. The bass is quite comparable, both delivering a strong slam without being overbearing. The Sifi II has fuller lower-mids, better tonal accuracy and offers more detail. On the B6, especially male vocals can sound a bit more canned-in. The Bomaker is the better allrounder.
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Verdict
The Bomaker Sifi II offers outstanding value for money, with its 6,5 hours battery life and excellent connectivity. Call quality and iPhone-video playback may not be the best, but it's a great option if you love modern music genres.
Four stars - very good
Buy Bomaker Sifi II/ check current price:
Buy Bomaker Sifi II on Amazon Europe (Germany)
I bought the Bomaker Sifi II/ Bomaker Sifi 2 myself for testing and review purposes. 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
Also read:
Leaderboard: All rated wireless earphones
