TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
FOUR STARS - The Mpow M8 is another pair of wireless earbuds from the brand that has already released so many models below 50 dollars. This time around, it offers a pleasant sound without too much bass.
Specs of the Mpow M8:
Bluetooth 5.0 with AptX codec
IPX7 waterproof (sweat, heavy rain and shower resistant)
6 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Comes with 3 sizes ear tips and USB-C cable
$45 on AliExpress or Amazon Europe - check current price!
Below this Mpow M8 review you will find comparisons between the Mpow M8 vs Mpow M5/ T5, Mpow M7, Mpow M9 and SoundPEATS TrueDot.
Design, comfort and battery life
Like the previously tested Mpow M5, Mpow M7, Mpow M9, and Mpow M20, the newly released Mpow M8 once again has a different form factor. The earpieces have a round outer part with an actual button, even though it looks like a touch panel.
The most significant difference with the other brand models is the long nozzle on the earpieces. The Mpow M8 needs to go far into your ear canal to stay in tight. If you don't have very deep ear canals, the earpieces may wiggle in your ears every step or shake you make with them.
Let's rephrase this: of all 100+ wireless earbuds I've tested, the Mpow M5 sticks out of my ears nearly most of all - yet the nozzle of the M8 is even longer. It is not recommended to sport with these, therefore the fit is too loose. For regular commuting and everyday use, they will probably stay nicely in your ears.
As with other Mpow wireless earphones, the build quality is flawless. It all looks and feels solid. The sides on the matte-black earpieces aren't only shiny and round, they also include soft LED-lights underneath them, which completely light up when you put the earpieces in the charger.
And hurrah - for once, Mpow gives us a compact and light charging case! It has a USB-C charging port and four LED-lights on the front. It's capable of recharging the earpieces three times fully before needing a power boost itself. Each charge gives the earpieces around 6 hours of playtime. Solid specs.
Connectivity and controls
The Mpow M8 has real buttons on its sides. Controlling them requires a bit of pressure, meaning you will push the earpieces into your ears slightly. Nothing too inconvenient, happily.
The control scheme is just as straightforward as it is on other Mpow's. Play/ pause with a single press, increase the volume with two clicks on the right side (and decrease it with two on the left bud) and skip or return a track by holding the sides for 1,5 seconds. A beep confirms every action, so you know you can let go of the button. It's one of the most convenient control schemes you can have on wireless earbuds.
Connection strength is excellent on the Mpow M8, with its Bluetooth 5.0 signal keeping up to ten meters and also with some small walls in between. The earpieces pair and connect fast once you take them out of the case. Unfortunately, it's not possible to switch easily between one and two earpieces.
Calling and watching movies
The Mpow M8 is an excellent choice for watching videos. The audio syncs perfectly with video on both Android and iPhone, including the challenging YouTube-app on iPhone. There is a sound delay when you're playing games.
Calling is certainly doable with the Mpow M8. Your surrounding noises are reduced well, including vehicles accelerating nearby. Wind noise, too, is attacked effectively. The downside of this aggressive sound reduction is that your own voice sounds a bit metallic and soft. The other end of the line may have to increase the volume to hear you at all times.
Also read: The best true wireless earphones under $50
Sound quality of Mpow M8
The sound of the Mpow M8 is friendly as it gets. It sounds warm, smooth, and has a controlled bass.
The Mpow M8 gets its warmth thanks to the emphasized lower tones. The bass delivers a gentle thump that doesn't kick in your ears, but still gives the music a bit of punch. Within Mpow's extensive wireless earbuds line-up, this one has the most laidback bass.
That doesn't mean the bass is bad - in fact, it shows a good separation between different bass layers. The darkest tones of the sub-bass rumble sweetly, bass-guitars show some texture, and there's enough mid-bass slam in dance and pop songs. It pumps less than on the M5, M7, M9, and M20, however.
In the higher frequencies, the Mpow maintains its relaxed, laidback character. There's a slight emphasis on vocals, but they don't overrule the music, and never enter bright or harsh territory. In technical terms: they're quite rolled-off. It makes for a smooth listen but also prevents vocals and violins sounding detailed.
Furthermore, the sound feels a bit closed-in. The soundstage isn't as big as on the Mpow M5 or other competitors such as the Bomaker Sifi and SoundPEATS TrueDot. The Mpow M8 delivers a fair amount of spacial detail, with musical effects coming from left and right of you. Still, it can lack that sparkle of the best competitors - the feeling of being in a recording room in audiophile recordings, a café in blues songs, or a stadium in dance songs - as some competitors achieve. It's a more relaxing, no-nonsense sound instead.
Pleasant is the keyword of the Mpow M8 sound. It's a smooth listen for all genres - always controlled, never doing anything wrong.
Selected comparisons
Mpow M8 vs Mpow M5/ t5
Mpow M8 in the front, M9 left, M5 in the back and M7 on the right
The slightly more expensive Mpow M5 has a more uplifting, pumping bass than the Mpow M8. Its soundstage is bigger, and it's easier to place instruments and details in the music. The M5 has more elevated upper-mids, which can make crowded, challenging songs sometimes sound harsher than the M8. The M8 sounds smoother, more laidback. Battery life is comparable on both models. Happily, the Mpow M8 doesn't have blinking lights when playing music.
Mpow M8 vs Mpow M7
The M7 may be Mpow's most overlooked model in its line-up, which is a shame because it's a bass lovers treat. The M7 bass pumps and rumbles fierce - more than the one on the M8, and the M7 produces an even warmer sound with its thick emphasis lower-mids. The M8 has more presence in the mid-tones, ensuring a more balanced sound, and sounds more spacious too. Despite the long nozzles on the M8, it's still more comfortable than the M7, which has bigger earpieces.
Mpow M8 vs Mpow M9
The sound of the Mpow M9 is a lot like that of the above mentioned Mpow M7. That means the M8 has a more balanced, mid-centric sound than the bassy character of the Mpow M9. The M9 has a thick, pumping, and rumbling bass with full lower-mids. The bass on the M8 is more laidback, giving more space to vocals and instruments.
Mpow M8 vs Mpow M20
Want a charging case capable of recharging your smartphone as well as your earpieces? That would be the best reason to go for the Mpow M20 over any of the other models. The M20 has a fat bass too, but lacks in presence and detail in the mids and highs, and produces a closed-in sound. The M8 sounds more open and more balanced, better suitable for vocal songs.
Mpow M8 vs SoundPEATS TrueDot
Switching over to another brand, the $25 SoundPEATS TrueDot musically outperforms the Mpow M8. Its bass is more layered, tonality is better, and the TrueDot gives more room to individual instruments and vocals. It has a greater sense of space and makes it easy to place details around you. The Mpow M8 sounds more laidback, but also more flat in comparison. It delivers a more relaxing listen.
Verdict
The long nozzle may not make the best fit for everyone, but the Mpow M8 does all the basics right. The compact charging case, solid battery life, and its pleasant, smooth sound will appeal to many.
Four stars - very good
Buy Mpow M8/ check current price:
I bought the Mpow M8 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:
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