TWS true wireless earphones - under $100
FOUR STARS - Boya extends its line of recording tools such as clip-on microphones and transmitters with its first pair of true wireless earphones. It's a joyful debut.
Specs of the Boya BY-AP1 TWS:
Bluetooth 5.0
5,5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Comes with 3 sizes ear tips and USB-C cable
$60-$65 on AliExpress or Amazon US - check current price!
Below this Boya BY-AP1 review you can find comparisons of the Boya BY-AP1 vs Fiil T1X, Bomaker Sifi, Shanling MTW100 Balanced Armature and Soundcore Liberty Air 2.
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
From the looks of the charging case of the BOYA BY-AP1, it's hard to see this is a product over 50 dollars. With its simple round, black design, and button on the front, it looks like even cheaper competitors all over Amazon and AliExpress. The case does have the company logo imprinted on the lid, however. A LED-light underneath the button shows the charging status, and on the back, you'll find a USB-C connector to recharge the 400 mAh case.
However: the compact size of the case is excellent. The Boya is just as portable as the Bomaker Sifi, SoundPEATS TrueDot and Haylou GT1 Plus.
The earpieces have an oval-shape, with a slight bulb on one of the corners. That corner contains the microphone and should point to your mouth. You lay the Boya AP1 in your ears horizontally, just like on the Haylou T15.
This horizontal approach may not deliver the same tight fit as earpieces that should be put in your ears standing up, but the buds stay in good enough. Their round shape also makes them comfortable, although an extra pair of ear tips in between the middle and largest size would be welcome.
Battery specs of the Boya are very acceptable. The earbuds offer 5,5 to 6 hours of playtime on a single charge and can be recharged three times fully before the case needs a recharge itself.
Connectivity and controls
As with other new wireless earbuds, a single tap on the sides doesn't activate a control on the Boya BY-AP1. You need a double-tap to play or pause the music. With a 1,5 second press on the right bud, you increase the volume. Decreasing the volume is done with a long press on the left earpiece. You'll hear a soft beep to let you know when the volume control activates - neat.
With three taps, you forward (right) or return (left) a track, and it's also possible to activate the voice-assistant - by pressing an earpiece four times. The controls work flawlessly most of the time, but the left earpiece does seem to have registration issues once in a while.
Connectivity on the Boya BY-AP1 TWS is robust. The earpieces connect rapidly (and with an English voice prompt) when you take them out of the case, and the Bluetooth 5.0 signal performs stellar up to ten meters from your device. It's also possible to rapidly switch between one and two earpieces.
Calling and watching movies
It is a pleasure to watch videos with the Boya BY-AP1. Synchronization is flawless on both Android and iPhone, including the challenging YouTube-app on the iPhone.
While gaming, sound effects seem to come in slightly quicker than on most competitive earbuds. Boya states the AP1 has ultra-low-latency, and well, it delivers somehow. Still expect sound-effects from games to arrive a bit later than the action you see on screen, however - as is the case with all wireless earphones.
Phone calls and video calls on the Boya BY-AP1 sound clear, indoor. Outside, call quality isn't as convincing. Noises from your surroundings, like vehicles accelerating, are still audible, but not in an annoying way. Wind is, however. The other one can hear you're outside, but probably won't end the call for it - calling is entirely doable.
Also read: The best wireless earbuds under $100
Sound quality of Boya BY-AP1: Warm and rich
The Boya BY-AP1 delivers a warm, full sound with plenty of detail.
Put the BY-AP1 in, start playing music, and the first thing you'll notice is the warmth the earphone produce. The lower frequencies on the Boya are pushed forward quite a bit, with tuba's, basses, bass-guitars, darker electronic tones, and drums sounding full, yet layered. Mid-tones also have a warm undertone, which makes music sound relaxing, soothing even - while still maintaining natural instrumental tonality.
The bass is tuned delightfully, to please both bass-lovers and casual listeners. Listen to James Blake's Limit to Your Love to find out that the sub-bass has a strong rumble and provides depth. The mid-bass isn't the tightest, but nor is it muddy - it gives a nice slam. In Tones And I's challenging Dance Monkey, the bass drop has enough body, without sounding too light in any regard. Only in bass-heavier tracks, the bass can come across slightly boomy.
Another frequency elevated by the Boya is the upper-mids. Vocals and higher-pitched instruments like violins and cymbals are slightly boosted in volume and sound clear and with plenty of detail. Vocals get the room they deserve, whether's it's female highs or male lows. Voices appear full, rounded, good. Instruments, too, have a sweet impact. In Steely Dan's Jack of Speed, you can even hear the strings pulled with some force. They strike.
Still, the Boya can be challenged when songs require a lot of higher notes. That's where it becomes clear that some songs can't quite embrace the highest notes and may sound a bit flat. Take note fans of K-Pop, J-Pop, metal - but also more uplifting pop; you may be better off looking at more high-extending earphones, such as the Bomaker Sifi.
Last but not least, the Boya has a convincing soundstage, with instruments and details in the music coming from all around you - although separation and the placement of instruments could be even better. The Boya is a great sounding pair of wireless earphones.
Selected comparisons
Boya BY-AP1 vs Fiil T1X
As the current crown-bearer of wireless earphones under 100 dollars, the Fiil T1X mainly offers a more spacious sound. The soundstage is slightly bigger, and it's easier to place instruments in it. The T1X has more presence of the center-mids, and instruments and layers are better separated. The Boya has a smoother sound but can sound a bit flatter in songs with lots of higher tones.
Boya BY-AP1 vs Bomaker Sifi
The excellent sub-$100 Bomaker Sifi has slightly more bass impact than the Boya, and offers better left-right separation in high-quality recordings. Vocals on the Sifi also have a bit more room to shine from the other frequencies, as highs are extended further. The Boya has quicker rolled-off highs, making a more relaxing listen.
Boya BY-AP1 vs Shanling MTW100 BA
The $80 Shanling MTW100 with Balanced Armature is one of the finest choices lovers of acoustic music genres can make. The sound is a bit colder than on the Boya, but instruments come with even more natural tonality and texture. Instrument placement is terrific, too. The Boya is a better allrounder, however, due to its warmer tonality and more embodied lower-mids.
Boya BY-AP1 vs Soundcore Liberty Air 2
Soundcore's $100-$130 Liberty Air 2 sounds smoother and more mid-centric than the Boya, but its sounds also feels more closed-in. The Boya has bigger bass-impact and more weight on the lower frequencies, and mids sound more natural. The Liberty 2 Air offers a brighter sound. Comfort-wise, these are competitors, and the Soundcore wins when it comes to battery life.
Verdict
The Boya BY-AP1 may look generic, but hits the sweet spot. Boya's truly wireless earbuds debut convinces with its compact size, acceptable call quality, and rich, warm sound.
FOUR stars - very good
Buy Boya BY-Ap1/ check current price:
I received the Boya BY-AP1 TWS 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
