TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
FOUR STARS - Among the many 50-dollar TWS true wireless earphones from Mpow, the Mpow M9 has an Apple AirPods like design with stems. It doesn't automatically mean better call quality - but the M9 still has a lot to go for.
Specs of the Mpow M9:
Bluetooth 5.0
IPX7 waterproof (sweat, heavy rain and shower resistant)
4,5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 6 times
Comes with 3 sizes ear tips and USB-C cable
$40 on AliExpress or Amazon Europe - check current price!
Below this review you will find comparisons between the Mpow M9 vs Mpow M5/ T5, Mpow M7, Mpow M20 and Bomaker Sifi.
Design, comfort and battery life
How many different wireless earphones can one brand offer in the same price bracket? Mpow is pushing it, with the excellent T5/ M5, the generously warm-sounding the Mpow M7, battery-and-bass-monster M20, the older T6, and now the Mpow M9. It's Mpow's take on the Apple AirPods, with a stem-like design that should improve phone calls.
The Mpow M9 does, however, offer traditional in-ear earpieces, with rubber tips that disappear entirely into your ears. The earpieces are oval-shaped and lay horizontal in your ears. The stems are about two centimeters, and don't brush your cheeks too firm. Happily, they also don't protrude too far from your ears or cheeks.
Comfort-wise, the Mpow M9 is great. On top, it offers impressive passive noise-isolation. The earpieces reduce a lot of surrounding noise even when you're not playing music.
Mpow doesn't care for the size of the charging case, and just like the rest of the line-up, you can feel the case when you're carrying it in your jeans pocket. The case can recharge the earpieces up to 6 times, providing them with around 4,5 hours of playtime each full charge.
Connectivity and controls
The Mpow M9 has touch controls on the upper part of the earpieces. With a single tap, the music plays or pauses, or you take a call. Tapping twice on the right bud takes you to the next track, tap twice on the left side to return one. Holding the right side increases the volume. Do the same thing on the left earpiece, to decrease it again.
Unfortunately, the M9 responds a tad too easy on your input. It's easy to activate the play AND pause function right after each other with a single tap. Multiple times, the music paused right after increasing the volume - and when trying to skip a track, don't be surprised to pause the music here too. It doesn't work flawless, but at least it responds so quick, controlling them isn't too frustrating. It's actually a good thing to have touch controls with the ability to change the volume on a stem-designed earphone.
The connectivity on the M9 is reliable, with a steady Bluetooth 5.0 signal up to ten meters from your device. You can continue to listen to one earpiece when you put it in the case and then return to listening to both of them, by putting it back in again. This works for both earpieces.
Calling and watching movies
Watching videos with the Mpow M9 fares smooth on Android devices supporting Bluetooth 5.0. There is a minimal delay in the audio when watching videos in the YouTube-app on the iPhone, however. Gaming also causes a delay in the sound.
The call quality should be top tier on the Mpow M9, as its microphones are positioned down the stem. Unfortunately, the call quality isn't as good as on the Apple AirPods or QCY T5, for instance. The Mpow reduces surrounding noise heavily. That's great for traffic when you call outdoors, but it also makes your voice sound like you're talking into a pillow. If you must, it's easy to take a call with these - but don't buy this specific model for the call quality.
Also read: The best true wireless earphones under $50
Sound quality of Mpow M9
Dedicated readers of Scarbir.com probably know which sound signature they can expect from the Mpow M9. As always, it's warm, smooth, and a bit on the bassy side.
The Mpow M9 has an extreme 'V-shape', meaning that when you watch the sound frequencies drawn out in a graph, the lowest frequencies have a boost, and the vocals, the upper-mids, have too. Thus creating a V. This is a characteristic sound signature on Mpow models - and very, very clear the case on the M9. The bass has a solid thump, and lower-frequencies, such as darker electronic tones and drums, are boosted to play a prominent role in the music.
As stated, the upper-mids are elevated as well. Especially female vocals and higher-pitched male voices are dominant over the other mids and highs - such as guitars and piano. It's a combination of the bass, lower-mids, and vocals on the Mpow M9. It works sublime for newer music genres. Pop, dance, and hip-hop sound very engaging.
That is until you turn the volume up. On the highest volumes, the M9 can distort a bit, however. The bass can display a slight crackle, and highs can be annoyingly sharp, requiring to decrease the volume again. The Mpow M7 has both the bass and highs better under control - although both sound hugely entertaining.
For other genres, it can be better to look elsewhere than the Mpow M9. If you prefer listening to more acoustic and instrumental genres, like classical pieces, jazz, blues or rock, you may want to look out for a more mid-centric pair of wireless earphones, like the Bomaker Sifi, the Shanling MTW100, or, from the same house: the Mpow M5/ T5.
Selected comparisons
Mpow M9 vs Mpow T5/ M5
From left to right: Mpow M5/ Mpow M7 and Mpow M20
The excellent Mpow T5/ M5 ($50) also has a generous bass and elevated highs, with an even bigger and deeper thump. It also adds more emphasis on the mids, with more focus on instruments and vocals. The soundstage is bigger, and it's easier to place instruments within the music. Those additions make the M5 a more versatile pair of wireless earphones.
Mpow M9 vs Mpow M7
The Mpow M7 ($40) offers the same sound signature as the M9, but its execution is slightly better. The bass delivers a deeper thump, and its highs are more detailed and controlled. The M9 earbuds are smaller and more comfortable inside your ears since the M7 has actual buttons you push inside your ears.
Mpow M9 vs Mpow M20
If you'd like to combine your wireless earphones with a power bank, you may upgrade from the M9 to the Mpow M20 ($60). It's charging case is noticeably bigger and heavier, but it can also power-up your smartphone. Highs on the M20 roll off earlier, and there is even more emphasis on the lower-mids, making the sound of the M9 more balanced.
Mpow M9 vs Bomaker Sifi
The $50 Bomaker Sifi has more prominent mids over the Mpow M9, and displays a bigger soundstage with more clarity and details in instruments like drums and guitars. While the Sifi offers plenty of lower-mids, the M9 sounds so much thicker it can make the Sifi sound a bit thin.
Verdict
The stem-design doesn't bring the Mpow M9 the call quality you could hope for, and it doesn't win the sound quality battle over its cousins M5 or M7. It still sounds good though - and its passive noise isolation and comfort may even make this the preferred choice.
Four stars - very good
Buy Mpow M9/ check current price:
I bought the Mpow M9 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
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