TWS true wireless earphones - under $25
THREE STARS - The Mpow Mdots offers a joyous bassy sound but is held back by average comfort and serious connection issues.
Mpow Mdots specs:
Bluetooth 5.0
IPX6 water proof (heavy rain and sweat resistant)
4 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Comes with 3 sizes ear tips, 3 sizes ear fins and micro-USB cable
$25-$30 on Amazon US, Amazon Germany or other Amazon stores, $20 on AliExpress
Below this Mpow Mdots review you will find comparisons between the Mpow Mdots vs Mpow Mbit S, SoundPEATS TrueFree 2, Edifier X3 and 1more PistonBuds.
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Design, comfort and battery life
The size, the shape, and the build quality of the Mpow Mdots earbuds are precisely the same as the previously reviewed SoundPEATS TrueFree 2. Unfortunately, that isn't really a good thing.
The oval earpieces are medium-compact in size, but together with their attached ear fins, they can be too bulky to fit comfortably in medium-sized ears - even if you select the tiniest from the three sizes. The fins themselves have a slight hook that makes them cling into the upper part of your ears, but the fin is rather sharp. Even if the Mdots may seem comfortable at first, the ear fins become stingy, annoying over time. However, it's perfectly possible to use them for sports as they have a secure fit and an IPX6 waterproof rating, making them withstand heavy rain and sweat.
The Mpow Mdots has an oval charging case with a bit of a wobbly lid. It's rather compact and has a single LED-light that indicates the charge by coloring green of red. It can recharge the earbuds four times before needing a recharge itself, but unfortunately, it gets power via micro-USB instead of USB-C.
The earbuds themselves have up to 4 hours of playtime, which is less than most new competitors in this price class.
Connectivity and controls
The Mpow Mdots have physical buttons, meaning you have to press them rather than just touch the sides. That's good news if you plan to sport with them, as actual buttons respond better to sweaty or wet fingers than touch panels. The control scheme is easy:
Press L or R once to play/ pause
Press R twice to skip a song
Press L twice to return a song
Press L or R three times to activate the voice assistant
Hold R to increase the volume
Hold L to decrease volume
You have to press the buttons with some force, but the buttons are still easier to control than the deeper and mushier, painful-to-press SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 buttons.
The Mdots make it possible to switch between mono and stereo listening. Charge one bud while you're listening to the other, take the charged bud out again, and you'll resume playing in stereo.
Unfortunately, Bluetooth connectivity on the Mpow Mdots is plain bad. The earbuds lose connection from your device within ten meters, and the left and right earpiece struggle to synchronize with each other afterward - if they succeed at all... Areas crowded with wireless signals also cause more hiccups in the sound than most other wireless earphones, and each hiccup can cause this problems between the earbuds. A deal-breaking performance.
Calling and watching movies
Watching videos is great with the Mpow Mdots. The audio synchronizes with video on screen perfectly on both Android and iPhone, including the challenging YouTube-app.
There is a noticeably delay in sound effects when you're playing games. The Mdot doesn't have a low-latency gaming mode to counter this delay.
Calling with the Mdots isn't advised. In quieter indoor areas, taking a phone call won't cause problems, but even mild surrounding noises come through clearly in your calls. Wind noise is put through loud, and things like people chatting in the background and traffic passing by, can cause stutters on the line.
Also read: The best earbuds under $25!
Sound quality of Mpow Mdots: Bassy joy
There's one thing you can always rely on when choosing an Mpow product, and that's the amount of bass. The Mpow Mdots is no exception.
The Mdots has a prominent mid-bass, which always delivers a steady slam, even in easier-going songs and on lower to medium volume levels. Turn the volume up, and the bass becomes inevitable. The mid-bass kicks and punches in your ears, and while the darkest sub-bass tones don't sound overly deep, it can rumble fiercely. Expect a strong shake in James Blake's test case Limit to Your Love.
The Mdots further flirts with the lows, as lower mid-tones like drums and darker electronic tones are also heavily emphasized. They give the Mpow body in the sound.
Upper-mids are also well-represented. Female and higher-pitched male vocals are forward and enjoy plenty of presence, but the Mdots caps them off before they have a chance of sounding too bright. That said; they are still much more prominent than center-mids like guitars and piano play. In genres other than modern pop, dance, and hip-hop, it can feel there's a bit of a gap between the highs and lows.
The soundstage (the 3D-feeling of the sound) isn't the biggest, but music does feel around you, with especially drums and claps coming from your left and right. Another important note: people who love listening to music as loud as possible, may find the Mdots volume output too soft on both Android and iPhone.
With strong bass, royal lower-mids and thick vocals, the Mpow Mdots aims for fun - and it delivers.
Mpow Mdots comparisons
Mpow Mdots vs SoundPEATS TrueFree 2
The Mpow Mdots and SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 share the same big, slightly uncomfortable earbuds with sharp ear fins - and they're a lot alike in sound too. Both have strong mid-bass, a rumbling sub-bass, and forward vocals. It's hard to separate these from each other, but there seem to be some differences. The SoundPEATS extends the upper-mids slightly, giving lighter claps and cymbals more impact and vocals a bit more clarity. The Mpow rolls the highs off earlier and puts its effort in heavier boosted lower-mids itself. It's better to choose between these on other aspects: the Mpow is cheaper and has better controls - but the TrueFree 2 has much better connection quality.
Mpow Mdots vs Edifier X3
How bassy and bassy the Mdots sound is, becomes clear next to the Edifier X3. The Edifier has a steady mid-bass slam, forward vocals, and extended upper-mids and highs, but it sounds very middle-of-the-road next to the Mpow. The Mdots takes away the mids' body and offers a more aggressive sound, with more pronounced, stabbier bass, more forward vocals and more space in the sound. The Mdots has volume controls; the Edifier X3 has more compact and comfortable earpieces, 6 instead of 4 hours battery life, and better connection strength.
Mpow Mdots vs Mpow Mbit S
The Mpow Mbit S sound is close to that of the Mdots, although its bass is a bit mushier on lower volume levels, and sounds deeper on higher volume levels. Both models don't go as loud as most new competitors, however. The Mbits has a rounder, friendlier sound - the Mdots prefers to attack. Its bass has a punchier, stronger slam and the mids are clearer and sharper. The Mbit S sounds warmer, but less defined. However, the Mbit S is a better rational choice with 2 hours longer playtime per charge, better connectivity, and a more comfortable fit.
Mpow Mdots vs 1more PistonBuds
The 1more Pistonbuds (also sold as Omthing Airfree) is a comparably priced cheap wireless earphone with limited battery life, but an engaging sound with plenty of bass. The 1more bass is less thick, but more layered. It's easier to hear different basslines, and sub-bass notes sound deeper and more textured than on the Mpow. 1more's vocals are less 'thick' as well; they are positioned more laidback and high outbursts are more controlled. As a result, the 1more sounds a little darker than the warmer and more in-your-face Mpow. The Pistonbuds wins on comfort and connectivity.
Verdict
The Mpow Mdots offers a joyous bassy sound but is held back by average comfort and serious connection issues.
Three stars - worth considering
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I bought the Mpow Mdots to test and review myself. 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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