TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
THREE STARS - With the Apple AirPods Pro released, there is a noticeable increase of interest in active noise cancelling wireless earphones. The Bonola ANC or Samload ANC is one of the first affordable ANC TWS to enter the ring. At just $40, is it a steal?
Specs of the Bonola ANC:
Bluetooth 5.0
4-6 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 5 times
Comes with 3 sizes ear tips and USB-C cable
$40 on AliExpress or Amazon US/ UK - check current price!
The Bonola ANC has many different names. This is also a Samload ANC review, a J501 ANC review, and a TWS 30 ANC review. I use the different names in this article. Below, you can find a comparison of the Bonola ANC vs Apple AirPods Pro, SoundPEATS TrueEngine 2, QCY T5 and and SSK BT03.
Design, comfort and battery life
Of all the wireless earbuds tested on this site, the Bonola ANC may stick out of your ears the most - along with the Tronsmart Spunky Buds. The earpieces are shaped out of three round plates. The tiniest one is the ear tip that goes into your ear, the middle one (resting in your ear) is a bit bigger, and the largest round plate stays entirely out of your ears. It's a bit like the Frankenstein-pins sticking out of your head.
The worst part of this is not the looks - it's the consequence. Ironically, the cheapest wireless earbuds with active noise cancelling put through an enormous amount of noise coming from around you. If you love listening to music on lower to medium volumes, prepare to have your sound beaten by the wind.
Comfort is pretty good, happily. Just like the Apple AirPods Pro, the Bonola TWS 30 J501 ANC (just dropping all the name this model has here) has oval-shaped ear tips which may not be sports-proof tight in your ears, but still make a comfortable and good seal possible.
The battery case looks a bit like a small flask, dressed in matte black plastic. It has four LED-indicators on the inside to show the remaining battery life. The case can recharge the earpieces 5 to 6 times fully, giving the buds around 4 hours listening time after each charge - that's the score with ANC on, playing on medium volume. Without ANC, you'll be able to score up to two hours more. Those are very acceptable scores.
Connectivity and controls
The entire surface of the outer plates of the J501 TWS 30 ANC is prone to touches. With a single tap, you play or press the music. Hold one of the buds two seconds to activate or deactivate the noise cancelling. The earphones give you English feedback on what you're doing. The voice commands are clear but take some time. With two taps on the right piece, you skip a song, with two (or three) touches on the left one - you return a song. Changing the volume isn't possible.
The connection quality on the Bonola ANC is pretty good - with next to no drops even in areas crowded with wireless signals. The connection keeps stable up to 10 meters from your smartphone. Unfortunately, the earpieces have a master-slave setup. If you put the master in the case, both earpieces will stop playing. You can perfectly put away the other one and then grab it up to re-pair again.
Calling and watching movies
Audio-video synchronization is pretty good with the Bonola ANC, with even the YouTube app on the iPhone showing lip-sync often. Not always, unfortunately. Other video services like Netflix and Amazon Prime work great, as do video apps on Android devices. There is a noticeable delay while playing games.
The call quality of the Bonola ANC is acceptable. However: it's way better with ANC off. With ANC, noises are kept to a minimum, but so is the volume of your voice. If the other person has even a slight hearing problem, you will likely sound too soft. With ANC off, you sound much louder to the other end of the line. The problem is: if you get an incoming call, it's cumbersome to switch ANC off.
Active Noise Cancelling
Now, onto the noise cancellation of this $40 to $60 costing Bonola ANC or Samload ANC. The function is advertised heavily. It should eliminate all sounds around you, except for people's voices. 'Roaring planes, electrical vibrations, traffic, engine sounds' and environments like busy restaurants should all be silenced.
The truth is, the ANC barely works. Some distant automotive engine sounds are being brought to the background when you turn ANC on, but most of your surroundings, sound just as loud. Voices, but also steps, claps, thumps, and the electrical buzzes and humming the noise-cancellation SHOULD diminish, are still just as audible. In the different environments I tested the J501 TWS 30 ANC in, it only seemed to reduce engine sounds from a distance. Not anything else.
Don't expect to block out your entire office with these when you're not listening to music.
Looking for the best noise cancelling audio on a budget? Try the OneAudio A9 headphone.
Sound quality of Bonola/ Samload ANC
While the Samload or Bonola ANC will presumably be bought mostly for its noise cancellation capability, the sound quality is quite interesting too. Sometimes a questionable tuning can still sound sweet.
The Bonola ANC is among the darkest sounding wireless earphones released this year. It not only gives huge emphasis on the bass and lower mids - but it also lacks practically every bit of mids and highs you'd expect. Even the smooth-dark-sounding AirPods Pro sounds fairly bright in comparison. On the Bonola, typical mids such as guitars, piano, male and female vocals sound either distant or they play a part in the bass section.
Not all is bad, though - this earphone still sounds lovely full. The bass has a sweet thump in medium bassy songs (although it can get too boomy in bass heavier songs). The lower-mids are generous also - bass-guitars, cello's and especially darker electronic tones are all over the place. Don't expect a tremendous amount of detail or definition, don't expect a single song to sound natural - but, if you're into a huge amount of bass or a dark, 'nightly' sound, the J501 TWS30 may still entertain you.
The difference with or without ANC is not always noticeable, but in less bass-heavy songs, it's clear that the Bonola sounds a little darker and warmer still without ANC. With ANC turned on, there is a bit - a tiny bit - more emphasis on the mids. Switching that button doesn't really change the sound signature, though.
It's an alright performer then. Just don't listen to it in the wind.
Selected comparisons
Bonola ANC vs Apple AirPods Pro
Yes, the Apple AirPods Pro is around $200 more expensive, but hey - these are both wireless earphones with noise-cancelling qualities, right? The AirPods Pro have more definition in the bass area and more pronounced mids and highs, making vocals come alive compared to the dark sounding Bonola. The ANC is way better, too, suppressing traffic noises and electronic humming convincingly.
Also read: Apple AirPods Pro vs 16 cheaper wireless earphones
Bonola ANC vs SSK BT03
The SSK BT03 is a bit cheaper than the Bonola/ Samload ANC, and blocks sound way better out of itself. Just by putting the small, bean-shaped earpieces in your ears, the SSK blocks more surrounding noise than the ANC function of the Bonola. Always keep in mind that this passive noise isolation on earphones can work better than a mediocre ANC. The SSK BT03 has better sound quality too, with tighter bass and a more refined mid- and highs-presence.
Bonola ANC vs SoundPEATS TrueEngine SE
If you're tempted by the bassy sound character of the Bonola ANC, the SoundPEATS TrueEngine SE may be right up your alley. It, too, has a big emphasis on the bass and lower-mids, and strongly drowns mids and highs for it. The bass has more of a punch than the Bonola, and there's slightly more detail in mids too. Also, the TrueEngine SE looks and feels like a more premium product.
SoundPEATS TrueEngine SE review here
Bonola ANC vs QCY T5
While it doesn't have noise-cancelling qualities, the QCY T5 is pretty much the perfect Apple AirPods competitor on the cheap. For just 25 dollars, it provides a way more balanced and clear sound, excellent comfort, and outstanding call quality both inside and outside. Best of all - it has a Gaming Mode, which makes video and games synchronize seamlessly with the sound.
Verdict
The Bonola ANC/ Samload ANC/ J510 TWS30 is a solid attempt at cheap wireless earphones with active noise canceling, but it doesn't quite work yet. Sound quality, comfort, and controls are passable - but the ANC is lackluster, and on the move, it's even one of the noisiest earphones you can buy.
THREE stars - worth considering
Buy Bonola ANC/ check current price:
I bought the Bonola ANC 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
