TWS true wireless earphones - under $100
4.5 STARS - Lypertek took the much-praised Lypertek Tevi and upgraded it on almost every aspect - with phenomenal result. The Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0 version can take on the most expensive wireless earphones on the market.
Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0 specs:
Bluetooth 5.2 with Qualcomm 3040 chip and AptX and AAC codec
9 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 7 times
Comes with 4 ear tips, English manual, USB-C cable
Available in black and white
$90 - Buy on Amazon US, Amazon Germany or other Amazon countries
Below this Lypertek PurePlay Z3 review, you will find comparisons between the Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0 vs Lypertek Tevi, Lypertek SoundFree S20, Sennheiser CX 400BT, Moondrop Sparks and Sony WF-1000XM3.
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Design, comfort and battery life
The Lypertek Pureplay Z3 ‘2.0’ is a continuation of the much-praised Lypertek Tevi, which was later called PurePlay Z3. This 2.0 version is brand new. It has been improved on almost every aspect. When it comes to looks though, you may mistake it for being the same product.
The Z3 2.0 charging case is still a large oval box wrapped in a soft grey fabric, with the same four LED-charging indicator lights on the front and USB-C port in the back. The faux-leather strap made its return, and the earbuds still bathe in a big slap of black plastic inside the case.
Happily, the specs have improved. The case can now recharge wirelessly or via USB-C, and it can recharge the earbuds seven times (!) before needing new power itself. Every full charge grants the earphones around 9 hours of playtime - and a 15-minute quick charge in the case is enough to listen for another 2 hours. The PurePlay Z3 is a splendid option to take with you on a holiday trip.
The earphones themselves haven't changed. They're still the tiny little ovals that stick out of your ears only a bit and wiggle somewhat when you press the physical button on the side.
Mostly though, they are light, secure and comfortable enough to wear for hours without problems, and the IPX7-waterproof rating means you can take them for a run or workout easily - they can even survive a shower or a drop in the bath. Lastly, they filter out a lot of noise around you just by putting them in. Other than the large case, there's truly nothing to complain about here.
Connectivity and controls
It's a rarity these days, but the Lypertek PurePlay Z3 has physical buttons instead of touch panels. Even though pressing them can feel a bit mushy, they respond well to your input. The control scheme feels complete:
Press L or R to play/ pause music
Press R twice to increase the volume
Press L twice to decrease volume
Press R three times to skip to the next track
Press L three times to return to the previous song
Hold L or R 1 second to activate the voice assistant - when you're not playing music (1 beep affirmation)
Hold L or R 2 seconds to activate Transparency mode (2 beeps)
Controls are convenient, although you have you hit the volume presses multiple times in a row to increase or decrease the volume beyond one step, which can be a bit cumbersome. The Transparency mode barely works, unfortunately. It should let traffic noise or chatter come through on moments you need it, but fails to make these surrounding noises loud enough when you're listening to music at moderate volume.
Connectivity on the Lypertek PurePlay Z3 is good. There's a strong Bluetooth connection up to 10 meters away from your device, and hiccups in the connection and sound are rare. Music doesn't automatically pause when you take an earbud out, but you can switch seamlessly from listening to two earbuds to listen to one while charging the other - and back again.
Calling and watching movies
Taking a phone call isn't the biggest strength of the Lypertek PurePlay Z3, but it's doable if there isn't too much wind. Your voice output is low on volume, but as surrounding noises (like traffic or distant people chatter) are reduced neatly, your voice happily still sounds louder than the noise around you. Video calls (like Zoom meetings) again, make your voice very soft - let's hope there will be a firmware update to address this.
The PurePlay Z3 is available in black or white - and Lypertek even designed a wireless charging mat for its earphone (pictured left)
It's easy to enjoy videos on the PurePlay Z3. There's near-flawless synchronization between audio and video on both iPhone and Android, including the challenging YouTube app. There is still a noticeable delay in sound effects when you're playing games, however.
app support of Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0
Like other earphones around the 100 dollars mark, you can tweak the functions and sound of the Lypertek PurePlay Z3 via a free app. PureControl is available for Android and iPhone, doesn't require an account or ask for too much permissions, and has some convenient features:
Update the firmware for the earbuds
Find the earbuds on a map
Activate the Transparency mode ('Hear through')
Switch the double and triple-press options
9 preset equalizers
2 custom equalizers save slots
Activate LDX Audio
The app doesn't show the battery life per earbud
You can swap these controls
Equalizer options and presets are good
The LDX Audio feature works like an equalizer that increases the sense of space in the sound, producing a slightly larger soundstage and more space in between instruments. It adds a little warmth too. You can't use the function and an equalizer simultaneously, however. Also, while the preset equalizers are decent to good, you may not need them as the original sound is already so good…
The PureControl app is one of the easiest-to-use apps for wireless earbuds tested on Scarbir.com. Especially in the sound department, it's a solid addition.
Also read: The best wireless earbuds under $100
Sound quality of Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0
Suppose the recently released Lypertek SoundFree S20 is an amazingly talented young singer who baffles friends and enemies with endless energy. Then the Lypertek PurePlay Z3 is a seasoned musician who controls and masters all instruments - and keeps on pleasing the audience time and time again.
The Z3 separates itself from the S20 and practically all other wireless earbuds by its refined lower frequencies. Lower mid-tones, like lower guitar strings, piano play, and darker electronic tones, are lifted to the point they're very noticeable but not overdone. It makes darker male vocals sound lively and reach deep, and drums are textured and strike with impact.
The lower-mids get plenty of room too, helped by a rather clean mid-bass. The bass prefers tightness over thumping: there's a fair mid-bass slam, but it rolls off pretty quick. Sub-bass (the darkest bass you can feel as much as hear) representation is outstanding: the Z3 bass can appear dark and deep, yet shakes and rumbles are perfectly controlled - for instance in James Blake's test case Limit to Your Love.
The controlled state of both mid- and sub-bass pave the way for impressive layeredness in the lows - the PurePlay has no trouble handling multiple basslines and lower-mids together and presenting each with solid detail.
Center and higher mids are excellent as well. Vocals aren't very forward, but enough to stand out from instruments. No matter how high they sing; both male and female singers show their darker edges and reach their brighter bursts with ease. The Z3 tames treble somewhat and rolls off highs quicker than many competitors, staying away from becoming bright or harsh anytime. Still, it extends upper-mids up to the maximum within its safe zone. Vocals brim with life and instruments like guitars, trumpets, piano play, and violins sound amazingly natural.
It's not just the tonality that's good. Music plays in a moderate soundstage, with instruments and effects coming from besides and around you. While there's not an abundance of space between instruments, separation is outstanding even in crowded musical pieces and demanding genres. In more acoustic and classical pieces, it's easy to pinpoint instruments around you. With the LDX functionality from the app, there's always a switch to make the soundstage bigger and increase upper-mid presence - adding a slightly warmer undertone as well. In return, it only drops some of the more honest, natural tonality of the Z3.
Whether you play music with LDX on or off: the Lypertek PurePlay Z3 is incredibly capable, balanced, and detailed. It easily competes with the best, most expensive wireless earphones on the market.
Lypertek PurePlay Z3 comparisons
Lypertek PurePlay Z3 vs Moondrop Sparks
The Lypertek PurePlay Z3 and Moondrop Sparks have a lot in common: they have big charging cases, below-average call clarity... and mesmerizing sound quality. The Sparks puts more focus on treble, extending upper-mids and highs further and creating a more airy sound with wider left-right separation. Vocals are more upfront and present more nuances, opposed to a more laidback approach on the Z3. The Lypertek elevates lower-mids further and provides more texture to mid- and sub-bass, boosting a more natural instrumental tonality in lower and center-mids. The Z3 soundstage is smaller, but instrument placement more precise. It's not a matter of one sounding better than the other - these are brilliant in their own way.
Lypertek PurePlay Z3 vs Sennheiser CX 400BT
At around $130, the Sennheiser CX 400BT has a more intimate soundstage than the Lypertek. The PurePlay Z3 boasts a bigger, airier soundscape, in which instruments aren't as precisely placed as on the Sennheiser, but their tonality is just as impressive. The Lypertek boasts even more texture - and side-details like guitar string-plucking - in the mids, while the Sennheiser can appear just a bit smoother, while vocals are more forward and fuller on the CX 400BT. The Sennheiser has a slightly faster bass, but it's not as tight as the Z3's. The Lypertek also holds its dynamics and detail better in more crowded electronic pieces. Spec-wise, the Sennheiser has better (video) call quality against a better waterproof level of the Z3.
Lypertek PurePlay Z3 vs Lypertek Soundfree S20
Here we go - a Lypertek power clash between two TWS titans with just $20 price difference. For its slightly higher price, the PurePlay Z3 adds app support with extensive equalizing options and the LDX-setting for increased airiness in the sound. Despite this setting, the S20 has a slightly wider soundstage and more space between instruments and layers out of itself. The Z3 fills the stage with even more detail, mostly coming from the more elevated lower mids. The S20 extends upper-mids and highs further and pushes vocals more forward; the Z3 adds more lower end to vocals. The SoundFree S20 can go louder, is a tad brighter, and along with its stronger mid-bass thump, it has a more energetic approach, while the PurePlay Z3 adds a bit of warmth and even more definition - it adds honesty. Call quality and button placement are better on the S20, the Z3 wins on battery life and waterproof level. These are both plain brilliant.
Lypertek PurePlay Z3 vs Sony WF-1000XM3
The previous generation of Sony's $200-$300 flagship TWS has long been considered one of the best wireless earphones on the market. It misses the waterproof rating, portability, and simple controls of the Z3, but offers outstanding ANC noise-cancelling in return. The Sony puts vocals more forward and offers increased air around the upper-mids, which sound fuller and even richer. The Sony mid-bass 'pushes' more, and there's a warmer undertone; the Lypertek tonality is a bit colder. The Z3 has better definition in the lower frequencies - with clearer sub-bass and tighter mid-bass. Although Sony's soundscape is wider in the standard EQ, the PurePlay's instrument placement is more precise.
No Sony WF-1000XM3 review (original price above Scarbir.com limit)
Lypertek PurePlay Z3 vs Lypertek Tevi
The PurePlay Z3 2.0 may look and feel the same as the predecessor Tevi from 2019; its sound seems like a step up, with more definition in both mid-bass and sub-bass, and a bigger sound, with more sense of space and clarity from the upper-mids on up. This, however, is based on a very quick comparison. After an improvised firmware update process in 2019, I partially bricked my Tevi - I couldn't compare it much longer than 2 minutes.
Verdict
If call quality is your main concern, it may be better to look elsewhere. But with outstanding battery life, fully waterproof earbuds, convenient app support, and an astonishing sound that can take on much more expensive models, the Lypertek PurePlay Z3 is nothing short of a sensation.
4.5 stars - Great
Buy Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0:
I received the Lypertek PurePlay Z3 2.0 from the manufacturer to test and review. My reviews are 100% independent and non-commercial. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
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