TWS true wireless earphones - under $150
4.5 STARS - The Nuarl N6 Mini 2SE falls a bit short on features for its 150 dollars price point, but its outstanding sound, extremely pocketable size, and IPX7 waterproof rating make up for it.
Nuarl N6 Mini 2SE specs and features:
Bluetooth 5.2 with AAC and AptX codec
IPX7 waterproof (sweat, heavy rain and shower proof)
Features Transparency mode, Gaming mode
6,5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Comes with 3 rubber ear tips, USB-C cable
$150 - Check price on Amazon US or other Amazon countries
Below this Nuarl N6 Mini 2SE review, you will find comparisons between the Nuarl N6 Mini 2SE vs Nuarl N6 Pro2, Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+, Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro, and Lypertek PurePlay Z3.
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Design, comfort and battery life
Many wireless earbuds in the higher price segment show off with a big, chunky charging case. Not the Nuarl N6 Mini 2SE (yeah, well, dethroning the Sony WF-1000XM4 as the worst earphone name on the market).
Its case is made from metal, feels sturdy, and has an elegant brushed steel-like finish. Most of all, the case is super compact - about two-thirds of an AirPods case.
The little box can recharge the earbuds four times fully, and you'll find four subtle LED lights underneath the lid that indicate the remaining battery. Once empty, you repower the case via USB-C. Wireless charging isn't supported. It's one of the features you come to expect for 150 dollars earbuds, but it's missing here.
The biggest feature, in a rare combination with such good sound quality, is N6 mini 2SE's waterproof level. The earbuds are IPX7 waterproof-rated, meaning you can take them for a run in the rain, for a workout even if you're a heavy sweater, and listen to them under the shower. They should survive a drop in the bath or pool as well.
Like the Nuarl N6 Pro 2, the Mini has a distinctive design. The combination of a metallic blue ring and a shield with a pointy end is something special. It feels durable too. The compact buds are egg-shaped and provide a comfortable and tight fit on the inside. Nuarl mounts square-ish rubber ear tips that cling into your ear canals and passively block an impressive amount of noise.
The earbuds provide up to 6,5 - 7 hours of playtime on a single charge, which is a nice score for this price, although nothing groundbreaking anymore. The case holds onto its battery for a long time and can recharge the buds four times fully before needing new power itself.
Connectivity and controls
The controls of the Nuarl N6 Mini 2SE require 'some' getting used to...
Tap L or R once to pause
Hold R to skip to the next song
Double-tap R to lower the volume
Hold L to return to the previous song
Double-tap L to increase the volume
Triple-tap R to (de)activate Transparency mode
Triple-tap L to (de)active Gaming mode
Hold L without playing music to activate the voice assistant
It's great to have all the controls on your earbuds, but increasing volume and returning a track on the same side just feels wrong. It's very counter-intuitive and even after using them for weeks, you may still need to think on which side you'll find which control. Unlike the Nuarl N6 Pro 2, the Mini doesn't benefit from Nuarl's app support and the option to change the controls.
The Transparency and Gaming mode introduce themselves with clear English voice prompts. The Transparency/ Ambient mode works well. It shows a lot of white noise as it emphasizes all brighter sounds from your surroundings, including chatter - which can be annoying, but makes the function usable when you're listening to music (on lower volumes).
Nuarls connection is rock-solid. The Bluetooth 5.2 signal keeps stable up to 9-10 meters away from your device and doesn't show hiccups. You can also switch to listening to one or two earbuds seamlessly - for instance, you want to charge one earpiece while listening to the other.
Calling and watching movies
Despite the earbuds size, it's easy to take a phone call with the Mini 2SE. Your voice comes through loud and clear, if a bit tinny. Surrounding noises like passing traffic, accelerating vehicles, and chatter are neatly left out of phone calls. Wind noise is audible, however, and can battle the clarity of your voice.
In Microsoft Teams and Zoom meetings, brighter background noises like door slams and chatter are much more audible, along with some white noise on the line. Yet, as your voice remains louder and clearer than those sounds, the N6 Mini 2SE is still decent for video calls.
Video playback is flawless on iPhone and Android, including the challenging YouTube app. The Gaming mode reduces the latency when you're playing games, but sound effects still appear noticeably later than the action you see on screen.
Also read: The best wireless earbuds under $100
Sound of Nuarl N6 Mini 2SE: Balance with bass
Like the previously released N6 Pro2, the Nuarl N6 Mini 2SE convinces with naturality and detail in the mid-tones, although the Japanese manufacturer adds more bass this time around.
The Mini isn't a bass-heavy in the earphone in the sense you'd expect a Beats or Soundcore-logo on it, but there's some proper oomph in the lows here. The mid-bass sounds full. It has a strong thump and drags on a bit, although strikes roll off before they start to bloat and take too long. The sub-bass is solid, as shown by test track James Blakes Limit to Your Love: the darkest of bass tones show proper depth and can rumble - even though the rumble itself feels quite loose.
Yet, the bass is rarely the dominant factor in the music. This brand's specialty lies in the mids and highs, and once again, the Mini emphasizes treble without overdoing it. The Mini doesn't become peaky or harsh in the highs but still ensures vocals have enough room. Female and higher-pitched male vocals sound forward and have plenty of detail, like audible breaths in high-quality recordings.
Upper-mid instruments like violins and trumpets are well represented. There's comparable presence of and naturality in the center-mid tones: guitars and piano play sound slightly brighter than neutral but show a good amount of texture. Snare drums and cymbals take up the most prominent place in the Mini's average soundstage and come from your left and right - the latter without sounding splashy. In instrumental songs, the Mini is at its best - showing convincing separation and pulling out a lot of detail from individual instruments.
However, the N6 Mini 2SE also elevates the lower mid-tones slightly - like drums and lower electronic tones. This gives music more warmth and makes it more comforting to listen to than the N6 Pro2, but the overall sound can be a little thick when they join in. The Mini sometimes wants to accentuate so many frequencies it misses the elegancy and naturality of the N6 Pro2.
The Nuarl N6 Mini 2SE sounds impressive, and it's great it does so in a small and fully waterproof package. If you prefer a more natural and flatter sound, the Nuarl N6 Pro2 does things even better for the same price. If you'd like a little boosted bass as well, the N6 Mini 2SE is an excellent choice.
Nuarl N6 Mini 2SE comparisons
Nuarl N6 Mini 2SE vs Nuarl N6 Pro2
The Nuarl N6 Pro2 is bigger and heavier than the N6 Mini 2SE, and while it looks sportier with attached ear wings, the Mini has a better waterproof rating. The Pro 2 has actual buttons and app support to tweak the controls (a big plus). The app also brings two perfectly balanced sound signatures. The Pro2 beats the Nuarl in soundstage and naturality, with more texture in center-mid instruments and more fluent transitions between frequencies. The Mini 2 SE is warmer as lower-mids and bass are boosted. They make the Mini sound more engaging.
Nuarl N6 Pro2 review ($150)
Nuarl N6 Mini 2SE vs Lypertek PurePlay Z3: Which audiophile waterproof TWS is better?
The Lypertek PurePlay Z3 also combines great sound with IPX7 waterproof rating, and its actual sweat-proof buttons (and more logical control operation) make it more convenient for operating while you're running or working out. The Z3 sound is warmer, emphasizing lower mid-tones, and the Z3 bass is hookier, fuller; its mid-bass has more impact. The Nuarl has clearer center-mids and upper-mids, giving them more room than the Z3. Brighter instruments and higher-pitched vocals are more natural on the Nuarl. Music on the Z3 feels more around you.
Lypertek PurePlay Z3 review ($100)
Nuarl N6 Mini 2SE vs Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro
The Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro lacks the same dedication to center mids as the Nuarl. The N6 Mini 2SE has richer and fuller center-mids, with more natural-sounding guitar and piano play. Male vocals are more recessed, yet higher-pitched singers are fuller and more nuanced on the Nuarl - and sound tinnier on the Soundcore. The L3P bass is more layered, has more texture and impact, and this model has a wider soundstage with clearer left-right separation. The Soundcore looks and feels more premium, has ANC, outstanding app support, and comes with multiple sound modes and equalizers.
Nuarl N6 Mini 2SE vs Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+
The Cambridge Audio Melomania 1+ should always come to mind when you're talking about mids. It leaves center-mids alone like no other, making guitars, piano more natural, and old recordings sound like actual old recordings. The Nuarl pushes both lower and higher vocals more forward, and sounds brighter and more open. The Melomania 1+ is warmer, thanks to elevated lower mid-tones, and its sub-bass dives deeper, but the N6 Mini 2SE mid-bass is quicker and thumps more - whereas the Cambridge Audio bass can feel a little dry.
Verdict
The Nuarl N6 Mini 2SE falls a bit short on features for its 150 dollars price point, but its outstanding sound, extremely pocketable size, and IPX7 waterproof rating make up for it.
4.5 stars - gREAT
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I received the Nuarl N6 Mini 2SE from the manufacturer to test and review. 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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