TWS true wireless earphones - under $25
4.5 STARS - With an energizing bassy sound, terrific wearing comfort, six hours battery life, and good call quality too - the Mpow Mbit S is a great TWS for a tight budget.
Mpow Mbit S specs:
Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC codec
‘IPX8’ waterproof rating (heavy rain, shower and sweat resistant)
6 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Comes with 3 sizes ear tips and USB-C cable
$25 on Amazon US, Amazon Germany, other Amazon countries or AliExpress
Below this Mpow Mbit S review, you will find comparisons between the Mpow Mbit S vs Mpow M12, Edifier X3, SoundPEATS TrueDot, and Omthing AirFree.
Update January 20, 2022: The overall score has been adjusted due to more recent releases like the QCY T13, Earfun Free Mini and Jlab Go Air Pop - all for $25.
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Design, comfort and battery life
If you put all the Mpow wireless earbuds tested on Scarbir.com to each other, you'll have a hard time stating which is which. The Mpow Mbits S, once again, has a rounded, medium compact charging case. It has the Mpow logo on top, and on the front, four LED-lights indicate the current battery status.
The Mbits S case charges via USB-C but lacks wireless charging. That's absolutely no shame for its price, but a bit of a surprise since the recently released Mpow M12 at the same price has it.
Inside the case, the earbuds have the habit of lying in the wrong way, with the left side right and vice versa. This does keep the case compact, so it's no big deal - but you'll have to get used to it.
The earbuds itself have a stem of two centimeters with a flat surface. The insides of the earpieces are small - the only thing going in your ears are compact, round dots. You can hear your inner-ear a bit when you're moving your head with them in - but fit and wearing comfort on the Mpow Mbits S are great. They're (heavy) rain and even shower resistant as well.
There's little to complain about battery life too. The Mbits reach up to 6 hours of playtime on a single charge, and the case can recharge them four times fully before needing new power itself. What's more: a 15-minute recharge provides them north of 1,5 hours playtime, so they're always ready for your next commute.
Connectivity and controls
As the sides of the earbuds are flat, the touch panels on the stems' top-part are easy to operate. The Mpow responds well to your touch and has extensive controls:
Tap L or R once to play/ pause music
Tap R twice to skip a song, L twice to return a song
Hold R to increase volume
Hold L to decrease volume
Tap L or R three times: activate voice assistant
Speciality: tap R during calls to mute your microphone
Connectivity on the Mpow Mbits S is good - as always. The Bluetooth connection holds strong up to ten meters, and you can seamlessly switch between listening to one and two earbuds. Put a bud in the case and listen to the other, take the charged but out again, and you immediately jump back to stereo listening. Excellent stuff.
Calling and watching movies
Watching videos was a bit of a problem with the Mpow M12, as it missed solid audio-video synchronization. On the Mpow Mbit S, audio synchronizes perfectly with video on Android, but the sound has some delay on iPhone's YouTube-app. It fares fine on other video services on both systems. There is some delay in sound effects when playing games, as is the case on almost all wireless earbuds.
On to the good news: the Mpow Mbit S call quality has improved over earlier models.
The Mpow reduces sounds from your surroundings aggressively: the output of people talking around you is severely reduced in calls, a passing train is reduced to a mere 'zoof,' and even an accelerating scooter nearby sounds as if it's in the background. Even light wind noise is filtered out nicely. However: it does affect your voice: its volume can fluctuate because of the aggressive noise reduction. As your voice remains clear, it's still perfectly doable to have a phone call with the Mbit S.
Also read: The best earbuds under $25!
Sound quality of Mpow Mbit S: Bass energy
Dedicated readers of Scarbir TWS reviews may already suspect what to find here in the sound description. Mpow almost always comes with an energetic sound with boosted lower frequencies, and the Mbit S is no exception.
Thus, the Mbit S joins the tradition of the Mpow M7, Mpow M9, Mpow M20, Mpow M12, and the discontinued Mpow MS1. Don't expect an audiophile, analytical approach to music on this brand's earphones - expect energy, warmth, and enough smoothness to just keep on listening.
Especially on low to medium volumes, the lower-mids play a big role in the Mbit's music playback. Darker electronic tones and drums are emphasized, darker male vocals sound strong, and typical mid-instruments like guitars and piano play flirt with the lows, sounding warmer than neutral.
The Mpow Mbit S is most likely loud enough for most, but its volume doesn't reach as high as other new offerings like the Omthing AirFree or Aukey EP-T25.
Turn the volume up, and the upper-mids unleash. While they're never really recessed, female and higher-pitched male vocals are set free when you play music louder, then taking up the center stage in the music. Vocals come with big emphasis and nuances without sounding too bright - although claps and cymbals can be a bit harsh. Soundstage on the Mbit S is average. There's enough air though, with instruments and effects coming from your left and right.
The bass on the Mpow Mbit S has plenty of punch for modern genres like dance, pop, and hip-hop. In Master KG's Jerusalema, expect a fierce slap and strong thumping bass underneath. There are bass earphones that have a more in-your-face slam, however, and on the lowest volumes the bass on the Mbit S can be a bit mushy. On active listening volumes, there's definitely enough punch in the Mbit - both in the mid-bass and underlying sub-bass depths. On background to moderate volume, the sound can strike as a bit dull.
When you like to listen on loud volume, the Mpow Mbit S is one energetic cheap wireless earphone, with strong bass and pleasant warm sound.
Want to improve the sound further?
Always check out the different sized ear-tips in the box. If you feel the bass, you have the right size!
Mpow Mbit S comparisons
Mpow Mbit S vs Omthing AIrFree
The brand new $25, brilliant Omthing AirFree is tuned by 1more, and while its battery life is only 3,5 hours instead of Mpow's 6 hours, it's a strong competitor to the Mbits. With the volume up, the Mpow has a stronger pumping bass and more vivid sound than the Omthing, due to more prominent vocals and upper-mids. There's more airiness in the sound on the Mpow, too - it just feels more 'around' you. The AirFree does feel more balanced, however - the sound is more consistent between lower and higher volumes, and even though singers sound clear enough on the Omthing, you won't find them sharp sounding at all - smoothening out the ride Mpow offers. The AirFree also has more nuances in mid-instruments. Comfort-wise, both are great.
Mpow Mbit S vs Edifier X3
The Edifier X3 is still the most versatile ultra-cheap pair of wireless earbuds. It has the same battery life as the Mpow and comparable calling abilities, but comes with better video playback and a more pocketable case. The Mpow charges over USB-C instead of Edifier's micro-USB, however. The Edifier has a brighter sound, thanks to more emphasis on the upper-mids and highs. Vocals sound more prominent, but also a bit sharper on the X3. The Mpow puts more weight in the lower-mids, making music smoother. The Mpow bass packs more punch, and vocals are thicker, ‘stronger’ too if you turn the volume up. If you love listening on high volumes, the Mpow deserves your attention - even though it doesn't go as loud as the X3.
Mpow Mbit S vs SoundPEATS TrueDot
The SoundPEATS TrueDot, one of Scarbir's sub-$25 favorites, has a fatter bass than the Mpow, maintaining pronunciation while having a stronger thump. The TrueDot has more presence and detail in mid-tones, and it's easier to place instruments in its bigger soundstage. The Mpow bass has plenty of power but controls it better than the SounndPEATS. Highs are better managed as well, sounding less sharp when a song boosts them. The Mpow is a better all-round TWS, with 6 compared to 3,5 hours battery life and better waterproof rating.
Mpow Mbit S vs Mpow M12
Two comfortable Mpows for the same entry-level price: should you go for the Mpow M12 or Mbit S? Well, the Mbit S wins on practicality. It has better video playback and much better call quality, next to a more pocketable case. The Mpow M12 has wireless charging and can go much louder, and its design is more subtle because it doesn't have stems. Comparing the sound, it's nitpicking between these two. Both are energetic, have solid bass, boosted lower tones, and decent mids and highs. However: the Mbit S sounds a bit more dynamic, with more opened-up mids and tighter bass. Next to the call quality, that's its advantage.
Mpow Mbit S vs Mpow m30
The Mpow M30 is a different beast than most Mpow earbuds. It sounds a lot brighter than the Mbits S, with much more elevated upper-mid tones and highs. Therefore, vocals take in a more prominent place on the M30, no matter the volume level. The treble can make the M30 sound too bright but combined with the sport-tips and the idea you can hear highs clearly when you're working out or running, the M30 aims for another goal. The Mbit S battery is better - offering an hour more, and its tinier earpieces will be more comfortable to many as well.
Mpow Mbit S vs Mpow M9
Within the extensive Mpow line-up, the Mbit S is the direct followup to the Mpow M9, the previous model with stems. Pay attention: when you see M9 Amazon pages full of users reviews, those reviews will mostly about the Mpow M9! The good news is: the Mbit S is better than its predecessor. It has a more compact charging case, lasts 1,5 hours longer per charge and it's easier taking a call with the Mbit S. The sound has the same energetic character, but the Mbit S doesn't distort on higher volumes like the M9 could. The Mbit S has a tighter bass and more air on top of the sound. Comfort is also better, as the part in your ears is smaller.
Verdict
With an energizing bassy sound, terrific wearing comfort, six hours battery life, and good call quality too - the Mpow Mbit S is a great TWS for a tight budget.
4.5 stars - Great
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