TWS true wireless earphones - under $100
4.5 STARS - The Fiil CC are beautifully designed wireless earphones with excellent call quality and fantastic sound. Despite the lack of app-support and short battery life, these are desirable half in-ears.
Specs of the Fiil CC:
Bluetooth 5.0 with Airoha 1536 chipset and AAC codec
3-4 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Comes with USB-C cable
$80 on Geekbuying or $80 on AliExpress - check current price
Below this Fiil CC review, you will find comparisons between the Fiil CC vs Fiil T1X, Apple AirPods, SoundPEATS Truebuds and Edifier TWS200.
Update September 3, 2020: Due to increased competition on half in-ear earphones, like the 1more E1029BT and Xiaomi Mi Air 2 SE, the overall score has been adjusted from 5 to 4.5 stars.
Design, comfort and battery life
Most wireless earphones, no matter if they are dirt-cheap or in the $200 range, pretty much look and feel the same. No matter if they are full in-ears with rubber ear tips, or half in-ears like this one.
The Fiil CC - now this is something different. Of all 125+ wireless earbuds tested on Scarbir.com, the CC is the most beautifully designed pair of wireless earphones. More objectively stated: it is the most designed pair of wireless earphones so far.
The earpieces have a minimal Scandinavian-design vibe, consisting of black AirPods-like earpieces connected to small, square, matte grey stems. The stylish Fiil-logo is the icing on the cake. When wearing them, others will only see the super-thin grey part coming out of your ears, hovering just next to your cheeks. Their small form factor makes them light and comfortable to wear, yet they stay steady in your ears.
The charging case further completes the picture. It doesn't have a lid but instead makes the earpieces a part of its design. You put the buds in vertically. When looking from the front, you can even imagine the case and the earpieces forming the text Fiil together.
It's a smart design, too. The magnets on the bottom part of the earpieces cling tight to the case, but not too tight it's a crime to get the earpieces out. In the flat top of the earpieces are LED-lights, which indicate the charging status. The USB-C charging port hides on the bottom, so it doesn't interfere with the design. It can recharge the earpieces 3-4 times before needing power itself.
The small stems come at the price of battery life. Battery life is rarely better than 4 hours on half in-ear earphones with stem designs, and the Fiil CC is no exception. The battery lasts around 3 - 3,5 hours on Android. Thanks to the AAC-codec, you should get around 4 hours on iPhone. Compared to fully in-ears, those aren't great numbers. They're average compared to other AirPods-like designs.
On the other hand, it does well enough for commuting, and since a 10-minute charge gives the earpieces an hour of playtime, it's a sacrifice you may be willing to make.
Connectivity and controls
The Fiil CC has touch panels on the upper part of the stem. The Fiil CC comes with two control schemes, but unfortunately, you can only activate the advanced controls with volume and track controls via the app - which is not supported outside of China.
So which controls do you get out of the box? Bare to none. Tap the earpieces twice to play or pause the music, or take a call. Hold the side a while to activate the voice assistant on your phone, or reject a call. That's all.
The advanced control scheme would add changing tracks with the left earpiece (tap once to skip a track, three times to return one), and changing the volume with the right earbud (once to increase volume, three times to decrease it). As the touch sensitivity on the CC is pretty good, it's a shame to miss these control options.
Connectivity is robust on the Fiil CC. It's possible to swap between one and two earpieces instantly, and the Bluetooth 5.0 range holds great up to ten meters - even with thin walls in between, or when walking or cycling.
Calling and watching movies
Like the current best wireless earphone under $100 - the Fiil T1X - the Fiil CC delivers excellent call quality both indoors and outside.
The black dot on top of the stem - the Beamforming mic - does its work wonderfully. It blocks out surrounding noises like accelerating traffic, passing trains and slight wind incredibly, and replaces it with soft zoom-like sounds. When you're not talking, and you're in a quieter area, there's total silence coming from your end of the line. It's incredible.
When you're talking, your voice has a typical telephone sound, but it appears loud and crisp, and your voice is separated enough from voices surrounding you. It makes the Fiil CC great to use both inside and out.
Unfortunately, video playback isn't on the same level. There is noticeable delay in the audio when playing YouTube videos on iPhone, and there are lipsync-misses on Android as well. That should be fixed with the Low Latency settings, which should have be activated via the app. There's even a setting optimized for gaming... but the app is missing for non-Chinese customers.
Still, with its 4 hour talking battery life and great call quality, the Fiil CC has a unique selling point here and competes with the also excellent Edifier TWS200.
Also read: The best wireless earbuds under $100
Fiil CC app review: How to get it to work?
The Fiil CC has an app with lots of functionality, which is communicated on the product pages of the CC, on the box of the product, and in its manual. Unfortunately, according to Fiil, the app won't work outside of China. Indeed, the Android Fiil+ Global app doesn't connect to the Fiil CC, and the iPhone-app doesn't even mention the CC.
The lack of an app means a loss of a lot of features of the CC. These are things you can't do on the Fiil CC without the app:
Update the firmware
Activate the detailed control scheme, which would activate skipping/ returning tracks and changing the volume on the earpieces
Choose one of the low latency modes, which should optimize the audio-video synchronization for video's and games
Choose one of the 10 sound equalizer-settings
See the battery level in the app
Now, the Fiil CC still is a great pair of earphones without this app - especially since the out-of-the-box sound is so good. But announcing all these functions and not getting them, makes the functionality of the Fiil CC feel underwhelming. The lack of these valuable app features is disappointing, and there's only hope Fiil will get back to its decision.
This review will be updated if/ when the app will be activated for non-Chinese users. Let this be a shoutout to Fiil: make it happen!
Sound quality of Fiil CC: Spacious and rich
The Fiil CC is one of the first half in-ear earbuds that can compete perfectly with fully in-ear earphones. It sounds fantastic.
Unlike full in-ear earphones, half in-ear earbuds with the 'AirPods-like' design don't go all the way into your ear canals. Therefore it's hard to acquire the same full and detailed sound for half in-ears. The Fiil CC does an impressive job, however.
The CC has a refined bass, with a steady bass-thump that makes music sound uplifting. More so, it has addictive and surprisingly powerful sub-bass, which can rumble gently, almost passively in your ears.
In the mid-tones, the Fiil CC passes trough a lot of detail, with instruments like guitars, drums, and piano's sounding clear and natural. Lower-mids are also well represented, with darker electronic tones and (for example) lifelike cello's in classical pieces.
Moving up in the highs: voices, especially female and higher-pitched male vocals sound forward, crisp and detailed. They give the Fiil CC a clear, bright sound character, although the sound doesn't become harsh. When the highs kick in and the bass still pumps, the lower-mids can move a bit to the background, however.
The Fiil CC is a versatile beast - it shines in both modern and more traditional genres. The tonality may be a tad colder than usual, but instruments make up for it in texture. The soundstage is fantastic, with convincing air in the sound, and it has splendid instrument separation.
Isn't there a thing to complain? Well, there is. Music can sound a bit thin in parts of songs that rely on higher-pitched tones alone (sometimes occurring in modern dance and pop genres). Other moments, the sound can be a bit too cramped, crowded. It's in these particular moments you notice the Fiil CC is, all in all, a half in-ear. It's just that what Fiil has done with it, is such an amazing achievement; you keep forgetting it.
The Fiil CC is a joy to listen to.
Selected comparisons
Fiil CC vs Apple AirPods 2nd Gen
Even though the Fiil CC doesn't have its app at the moment, it can easily compete with the regular Apple AirPods 2nd gen - costing twice. The Fiil CC has a more detailed and layered sound, presenting instruments and vocals with more nuances. The bass is tighter, and the soundstage much bigger than on the Apple. Call quality is comparable as well, although the AirPods still delivers better call quality riding or walking in the wind. Battery life and controls are surprisingly similar, but while the AirPods have a much-copied iconic design... the Fiil CC is the real looker.
No Apple AirPods review - see the Apple AirPods Pro test
Fiil CC vs Edifier TWS200
Costing around $40, the Edifier TWS200 is the best bang-for-your-buck if you want cheap earphones with great call quality. The Fiil CC is just as suitable for calling, however. The Edifier has the same lack of controls as the CC, but does offer half an hour more battery life. The CC has a fuller bass and delivers more detail from the lows to the highs. Its soundstage is bigger, highs extend further, and vocals and instruments sound more natural and textured. Soundwise, the Fiil takes the crown.
Fiil CC vs SoundPEATS Truebuds
Next to the Fiil CC, the SoundPEATS Truebuds lack body in the lower frequencies in the music. Highs are well extended on the Truebuds, but the bass and lower-mids have a hard time catching up. The Fiil CC does this way better, delivering a more balanced sound, coming across less bright and more balanced. Soundstage, instrument separation, and tonality are also better on the CC. The Truebuds has half an hour of battery life more, and a much more powerful charging case that can also recharge your phone. If you want better call and sound quality, however, the Fiil CC is the clear winner.
Fiil CC vs Fiil T1X
The Fiil T1X is Scarbir.com's current best TWS under $100, with great sound quality, battery life, good call quality and sport wings to make these in-ears suitable for all uses. With the CC, you lose the sports fit and about 3 hours of battery life, but win in design - and comfort because of the half in-ear design. You also gain clearer call quality.
Comparing the sound, the CC strikes as brighter, with more extended highs and forward vocals. The T1X has a thicker bass and more prominent lower-mids. Instrument placement is great on both, but the CC has an airier sound.
The combination of sport wings and boosted bass, makes the T1X more suitable for modern genres and working out; making it a more versatile earphone altogether.
Fiil CC vs Xiaomi Mi Air 2 SE
If you'd like to save some money, the Xiaomi Mi Air 2 SE costs around half and comes recommended as well. The Fiil CC does have a more balanced yet vivid sound, a stronger and more detailed bass section, and a better soundstage with details coming from all around you - rather than the Air 2 SE, which concentrates sound effects to your left and right. Call quality-wise, the CC may have a slight edge - although both are great for calls. The Xiaomi does offer half an hour more battery life per charge, however.
Verdict
Even while battery life is limited and the supporting app is missing, the Fiil CC is a pair of wireless earbuds that stands out from the crowd because of its great call and sound quality - and fantastic design.
4.5 stars - great
Buy Fiil CC/ check current price:
I received the Fiil CC from Geekbuying to test and review. As they supported me this way and I'd like to do something back, I recommend buying the CC from Geekbuying. My reviews are 100% independent and non-commercial. 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
