TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
4.5 STARS - The Bomaker Sifi proves how much greatness can come out of such a small package. This is one of the best affordable true wireless earphones you can buy in 2019.
Specs of the Bomaker Sifi:
Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC and AptX codec
IPX7 waterproof (sweat, heavy rain and shower resistant)
6 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 5 times
Comes with 6 sizes ear tips and micro-USB cable
Below this review you will find comparisons between the Bomaker Sifi vs Syllable S101, Mpow T5/ M5, SSK BT03, Tronsmart Spunky Beat, Shanling MTW100 Balanced Armature and yes - the Apple AirPods.
Update Januari 2021: As the quality of new TWS wireless earbuds keeps improving and there are more and more great models on the market, the overall score for this model has been adjusted from 5 to 4.5 stars
Update May 29, 2020: Check out the review of the new Bomaker Sifi II!
Design, comfort and battery life
The Bomaker Sifi is one of the most portable pair of truly wireless earbuds on the market. The charging case is about the size of the ultra-compact Haylou GT1 and can easily be carried in jeans pockets. It feels solid, made from scratch-resistant soft matte black plastic. On top of the lid, there are a few lines that give the case grip. On the inside, four teardrop LED-lights indicate the battery status of the case.
The earpieces are also delightfully compact. They go deep into your ears, due to the rounded, asymmetrical shape of the insides. The Bomaker comes with six different ear tips. Half of them are thin and short, for a comfortable fit without any pressure. The other ear tips are more standard: they are longer and wider, filling up your ears and ensuring a tight fit. It’s great to have a choice. Unfortunately, there are no rubber ear wings to make them ultimately suitable for sporting - but these will stay in your ears by normal movement for sure.
Despite the small size, the Sifi boasts impressive specs. Apart from the IPX7 waterproof rating, the earpieces offer around 6 hours of playtime on medium listening volume. The lightweight charging case can further recharge them five times fully, before needing a recharge itself. One downside for bedtime use: the blue LED-lights on the earpieces keep blinking even when you're using them.
Connectivity and controls
With a single press, you play or pause the music or take a call. Press twice on the right side to increase the volume, twice on the left side, to decrease it. Advance to the next song by long-pressing the right bud, and return a song by long-pressing the left piece. Lastly, tapping three times activates the voice assistant on your smartphone. Possibly the best control scheme wireless earbuds can have.
The Bomaker Sifi has tactile buttons, but they almost press as easy as touch controls. The buttons don't offer the best feedback to your touches, but they work really well. Even when you're wearing gloves, skipping a song, or changing the volume is possible.
Connectivity on the Sifi is excellent. The earpieces pair and connect easily, and it's possible to quickly switch between 1 and 2 earpieces,. The Bluetooth signal keeps stable up to ten meters, even with walls in between. Even when you're walking or cycling with them in areas crowded with wireless signals, connection drops never occurred.
Calling and watching movies
Even though the earpieces show telephones on their side buttons, the call quality of the Bomaker Sifi is horrid. With the earpieces disappearing so far into your ears, the microphone has a hard time to pick up your voice. It only puts your voice through soft or not at all, while surrounding noises come through much louder.
Watching videos, happily, fares much better. Audio-video synchronization is perfect on Android devices supporting Bluetooth 5.0 and on iPhone too, including the ever-challenging YouTube-app. Like on almost other wireless earphones, there is a noticeable delay in the sound when you're gaming.
Sound quality of Bomaker Sifi
The Bomaker Sifi is among the most versatile and most complete sounding true wireless earphones you can get under $50. It convinces from the bass to the highs.
What separates the Bomaker Sifi from its countless competitors, is the clarity on the top end of the sound. Instruments like guitars, pianos, violins and cymbals, brim with life on the Sifi. Vocals, too, sound very clear. In higher quality recordings, it's entirely possible to hear details as grasps and breaths, just like you can hear the string-pulling of guitars and even clicks and clacks from the space where tracks were recorded. With its convincing soundstage and way above average instrument placement, the sound of the Sifi is surrounded by air. At the same time, the Sifi keeps its upper-mids and highs in tone. They never sound too sharp or too loud.
The sound of the Bomaker Sifi isn't just pleasant because of its clarity. It already starts at the bass. The Sifi displays dance and pop music as easy as more acoustic genres, with a sweet mid-bass thump and gentle rumbling sub-bass. This bass can strike heavy if a song requests it.
On the other hand, the Sifi doesn't blow the bass area up. Whoever's looking for a more Beats-like bass tuning, with constant pumping bass and elevated lower-mids, is probably better off with the SoundPEATS TrueEngine SE or Anker Soundcore Life P2. On the Sifi, the bass plays together perfect with the mids and highs, instead of beating them around the bush. Happily, lower-mids are lifted enough to give music on the Sifi a warm, even smooth sound.
The Bomaker Sifi is a little master. Whichever genre you're throwing at it, the Sifi convinces with clarity, dynamics, and detail. It's an amazing listen at just $50.
Selected comparisons
Bomaker Sifi vs Mpow T5/ M5
The Mpow T5/ M5 is another sub-50-dollars wireless earphone with stellar sound quality. It sounds more soft, more rounded than the Bomaker Sifi. Both offer excellent soundstage and instrument separation, but the Sifi has a harder hitting bass, more crispness, and detail in the mids and better-defined highs.
Bomaker Sifi vs Syllable S101
The Syllable S101 is another highly rated true wireless earphones below $50 on Amazon and AliExpress. It boasts a dual driver design with a dominance of the lower frequencies. It sounds warmer than the Bomaker Sifi, but also muddier. The Sifi outclasses it with more vibrant mids and highs, and a cleaner sound at the same time.
No review yet - buy on AliExpress
Bomaker Sifi vs SSK BT03
The sound of the Bomaker Sifi is quite comparable to the SSK BT03. The Sifi has a bigger presence in the lower-mids, the SSK bass offers more of a sub-bass rumble. The SSK BT03 also displays more clarity - but highs on the Sifi are more controlled. The SSK is a bit more aggressive, the Sifi a bit more balanced. It's a tie on sound quality, but comfort, battery life, and compactness of the Bomaker are better.
Bomaker Sifi vs Tronsmart Spunky Beat
Like the Bomaker Sifi, the $25 Tronsmart Spunky Beat punches way above its price. The Sifi offers more dynamics and tightness on the highest volumes, which aren't the strongest suits of the Spunky Beat. The Sifi has more presence and definition in the (upper-)mids and highs, a bigger soundstage and more precise instrument placement.
Tronsmart Spunky Beat ($25) review
Bomaker Sifi vs Shanling MTW100 BA
The $90 Shanling MTW100 with Balanced Armature offers more spatial details and more precise instrument placement than the Bomaker Sifi. The much cheaper Sifi does provide a more versatile sound, however, with a harder striking bass, more weight in the lower frequencies, and a friendlier, warmer tonality.
Shanling MTW100 Balanced Armature ($90) review
Bomaker Sifi vs Apple AirPods
Are you here, discovering the market of wireless earbuds for the first time? It's good to know that the Bomaker Sifi sounds much, much better than the $150 Apple AirPods and even the $250 Apple AirPods Pro. The Bomaker has a much livelier sound, with tighter bass, more clarity, and way more detail. If you're searching for your first entry in true wireless earphones and calling isn't of most importance - this is it.
Verdict
It's amazing what you can get out of wireless earbuds so small. The Bomaker Sifi sounds amazing and tops it off with comfort, great battery life, and terrific audio-video synchronization.
4.5 stars - Great
Buy Bomaker Sifi/ check current price:
Buy Bomaker Sifi on Amazon Europe (Germany)
I bought the Bomaker Sifi myself to test and review. 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
