TWS true wireless earphones - under $25
4.5 STARS - If you're looking for the thick bass of Beats, JBL, Skullcandy, or Sony Xtra Bass, the Mpow MS1 grants all your wishes at just $25.
Specs of the Mpow MS1:
Bluetooth 5.0
IPX7 waterproof (heavy rain and sweat resistant)
4,5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Comes with 3 sets of ear tips and micro-USB cable
$25 on Amazon US or AliExpress - check current price!
Below this Mpow MS1 review, you will find comparisons of the Mpow MS1 vs SoundPEATS TrueDot, Mpow M30, Soundcore Spirit Dot 2 and Edifier X3.
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Design, comfort and battery life
It's always a question of what you can expect from wireless earphones for this price - even after testing 130+ models on Scarbir.com. With the Mpow MS1, the design is nothing special - but it's nothing bad either.
The square black charging case recharges via micro-USB and opens with a sturdy enough lid. On the inside, four LED-lights indicate the battery capacity, which can restore the earpieces three times fully before needing new power itself. You pick the earbuds up by their stems.
Whether you like stem-design earphones or not: it's the part on top of the stems that requires getting used too. It is round and may look small, but it fills your ears. You need to twist the earbuds in your ears before reaching its optimal comfort and the best bass sound - but they will then stay in tightly in medium-sized ears or bigger.
With around 4,5 hours playtime on a single charge (dependent on your volume), the Mpow MS1 has plenty of battery for commuting or traveling. A steady score for this price.
Connectivity and controls
The Mpow MS1 has touch panels on the top of the stem, with the same logical control scheme as other models from the brand.
You play/ pause music with a single tap, skip a song by tapping the right bud twice (and return a track by double-tapping the left bud), and changing the volume is also possible. Hold down the right bud to increase volume, the left one to reduce it. Finally, you activate the voice assistant on your phone by triple-tapping a side.
It works like a charm - mostly. At times, the touch panel can 'hold' a bit and trigger the voice assistant because you tried to activate two (other) functions in a row. Not a dealbreaker for sure, but there are more convenient-controlling Mpow's.
Connectivity on the MS1 is solid, with a stable Bluetooth connection up to ten meters from your device. It's also possible to seamlessly switch between mono and stereo mode, meaning you can charge one earpiece while listening to the other, and then can pick up the charged bud to go to stereo sound instantly.
Calling and watching movies with Mpow MS1
It's a joy to watch videos with the MS1 on both Android and iPhone. There is flawless audio-video synchronization on both phone systems, including the challenging YouTube-app.
As is the case with almost all wireless earbuds, there is a noticeable delay in sound effects when playing games.
Calling on the Mpow MS1 works... indoors. It doesn't have dual microphones to reduce surrounding noises, and as a result, calls are challenged by almost all outside noise, like traffic, birds, construction site sounds in the background, and other people talking. When you're in quieter areas in your house, school, or office - or even outside without wind, calling is certainly doable, as your voice sounds clear.
—> Also see: All TWS under $25 reviewed and rated
Sound quality of Mpow MS1: Strong bass!
As said in the beginning in this review, it's the bass that makes the Mpow MS1 stand out. It's big, it's strong, it's fun.
The MS1 has that thick juicy sound formed by a steady bass slam, big sub-bass rumble, and other lower-frequencies that join in on the fun. The bass takes up the biggest part in the music - you'll never miss the thumping. It's bulbous: it takes a lot of lower tones and concentrates it to a mess that can shake in your ears.
Speaking in a more audio-snobbish language, the MS1 doesn't produce the most layered or refined lower-frequencies. It can crackle (very) slightly at the highest volumes, and the bass isn't the quickest either - it's the guilty-pleasure type of bass. Power over finesse. Blatant power.
So what do you need to know more about the sound, other than that it's thick? Well, for example that highs aren't too extended, but especially female vocals are forward enough to sound loud and clear. They never sound harsh, but aren't toned down too much either. Vocals and upper-mid-tones spice up the music just enough so that it's not only the bass that empowers it.
As mid-instruments like guitars, the piano, and snare drums are a bit recessed, the Mpow MS1 isn't the most natural wireless earphone for more old-fashioned genres like jazz, classical pieces or acoustic pop songs. It's simply not the scope of the MS1. Still, there's enough detail to be discovered: the sound has a nice airiness, and instruments and sound effects are still surprisingly well-seperated.
In short: Mpow gave the MS1 a massive bass and didn't screw up the rest. It makes the MS1 an amazing low-budget revelation for bass lovers.
Selected Mpow MS1 comparisons
Mpow MS1 vs SoundPEATS TrueDot
For the same amount of money, you can get another pair of wireless earbuds with a great bass section. The TrueDot bass has a bigger slam and is slightly quicker than that of the MS1. On top, the TrueDot has better instrument placement and tonality, and sounds brighter thanks to more elevated upper-mid-tones. It's a better all-round, balanced choice. But as the MS1 bass can rumble heavier and the rest of the sound is smoother, the Mpow might just be the better choice if you're purely for bass. The hour extra battery life is a bonus.
Mpow MS1 vs Mpow M30
The M30 is one of the new other hit models of the same brand, but the Mpow M30 is an entirely different beast than the MS1. The Mpow M30 has a smaller part that goes into your ears, meaning more comfort for most. It also comes with three sizes of sport-wings, to grant a perfect seal into the ears and to make them more suitable for intense workouts. Mostly, the M30 sound is more balanced and brighter than the MS1, with much more elevated upper-mid-tones and highs, and less emphasis on the bass and lower-mids. If you love the biggest bass, go for the MS1 instead of the M30.
Mpow MS1 vs Soundcore Spirit Dot 2
Crowned the best bass wireless earbuds under $100 on Scarbir.com, the $80 Soundcore Spirit Dot 2 still has an advantage over this ultra-budget offering. The Soundcore bass strikes even harder and is faster too. The upper-mids and higher tones, like female vocals in dance songs, are further elevated, and the sound is airier, making it more engaging in both the lows and highs. The Soundcore also delivers more playtime on a single charge, and the sport-wings and IPX7 waterproof-rating make it more sport-proof. Mind you though - for this price, you can buy around three Mpow MS1's…
Mpow MS1 vs Edifier X3
The Edifier X3 isn't a bass-earphone so much, but it is the best all-round wireless earbud under just $25, with 6 hours battery life, good call quality, comfort, connectivity, and sound quality. Musically, it has a steady mid-bass-slam, but it doesn't come with the force, the rumble that the MS1 throws at you after each clap and thump. The X3 extends highs further, offers more space in between instruments and layers, and makes vocals 'pop' more than on the MS1. Especially darker male vocals seem recessed on the MS1 in comparison - but that's also because of the juicy lower-mids of the MS1, which the X3 in return lacks. The Edifier X3 scores extra points with its extremely small case.
Verdict
At just 25 dollars, the Mpow MS1 is the cheapest pair of wireless earbuds with truly powerful bass. There's little reason to spend more money on Beats, Skullcandy, or JBL.
4.5 stars - great
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I bought the Mpow MS1 myself for testing and review purposes. 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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