TWS true wireless earphones - under $100
FOUR STARS - The Shanling MTW200 is a solid wireless earphone for everyday use, with premium looks, sublime comfort, great battery life, and good call quality.
Shanling MTW200 specs:
Bluetooth 5.2 with AptX and AAC codec
IPX4 waterproof (splash resistant)
8,5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Comes with 4 ear tips, USB-C cable
Available in metallic-grey (tested) and silver
$90 - Buy on AliExpress
Below this Shanling MTW200 review, you will find comparisons between the Shanling MTW200 vs Shanling MTW300, Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus, and Realme Buds Air 2.
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Design, comfort and battery life
The Shanling MTW200 earbuds look as simple as they are elegant. They're available in silver or metallic-grey, which is tested here on Scarbir.com.
The earbuds have a rounded brushed-steel stem that flows into a matte-black upper part. This part that goes into your ears is round, compact, and rather flat. It sticks out just enough from the stem to reach deep enough in your ears and makes for a lightweight and very comfortable fit for hours in a row. The buds leave out an impressive amount of wind when you're running or cycling with them, and you shouldn't be afraid of light rain and splashes, thanks to the IPX4 waterproof rating.
Battery life is also impressive, as the Shanling MTW100 offers up to 8,5 hours of playtime on a single charge. These will last you an entire workday but are also great travel companions, as the case can recharge them up to four times fully.
This case - that's the real highlight.
The Shanling MTW200 probably takes the crown for the most premium-looking and feeling TWS case on a budget. It's made from brushed steel that seems surprisingly scratch- and fingerprint resistant, feels hefty, and it's extremely portable, as its flat side makes it easy to slide it into any pocket. The lid has weight to it and opens and closes smoothly, the latter with a click. It's like a little Zippo! With a USB-C port on the bottom and a single LED light on the front to indicate the charging status, it's no bigger than it needs to be. It looks and feels fantastic.
Connectivity and controls
Connectivity on the Shanling MTW200 is good. The earbuds pair and connect fast when taking them out of the case, and there is no hassle with automatic auto play/pause functionality that doesn't work properly half of the time.
You can switch seamlessly between using one and two earphones, and Bluetooth strength is solid, too - with a stable connection up to 9 meters away from your device.
The controls are perhaps a bit too sensitive. It can occur you change the volume while you're trying another function or by just readjusting the earbuds in your ears. That's partly due to the control scheme:
Double-tap L or R to play/ pause music
Tap R to increase the volume
Tap L to decrease volume
Hold R to skip to the next track
Hold L to return to the previous song
Triple-tap L or R activate the voice assistant
There are no controls for ANC noise-cancelling, Transparency mode, or a low-latency mode, because, well: these functions miss on the Shanling MTW200. It's great to have the other important controls at hand, though.
Calling and watching movies
Watching videos on the Shanling MTW200 is a breeze, with perfect synchronization between audio and video on iPhone and Android. There is a noticeable delay in sound effects when you're playing games, and there's no low-latency mode to reduce this delay.
It performs excellent in phone calls, however. The microphones reduce darker background noises around you (like heavy vehicles or constant traffic) and make your voice sound clear, loud enough, and even naturally full. Brighter sudden sounds like laughter and passing scooters can still come through, but having a phone call is easy here.
The same goes for video calls, like Zoom meetings or Microsoft Teams sessions. There are some brighter artifacts around your voice, but your output overpowers it, and again, your voice even sounds natural. Combined with the excellent 8,5 hours battery life on a single charge, this Shanling comes easily recommended to serial callers.
Also read: The best wireless earbuds under $100
Sound quality of Shanling MTW200: trebly
The Shanling MTW200 delivers a smooth trebly sound, with solid bass power and some occasional harshness.
Like the previously released and more expensive Shanling MTW300, the newest release from the brand has a soft focus on the treble area, meaning that the upper mid-tones and highs are emphasized on this wireless earphone. Female and brighter male vocals take up a prominent role in songs and have a big amount of clarity. They have a bit of smoothness, well-roundedness over them - as they avoid sounding too sharp or bright.
When directly spoken to, like in James Blake's Limit to your Love, the sub-bass gives a deep and fierce yet controlled rumble that tickles the senses. Most of the time, though, the bass of the MTW200 resolves around the mid-bass. It gives a steady slam with plenty of body, without becoming too aggressive or overwhelming. Lower mid-tones, like drums and darker electronic tones, are well-represented and give the lower frequencies enough weight to prevent the sound from turning too bright.
The Shanling shows a moderate level of detail in the mid-tones and space in the music. There's a fair soundstage with instruments and effects coming from your left, right, and in front of you, although it's hard to place instruments around you precisely.
Unfortunately, things start to change on loud, active listening volumes. The MTW200 can go really loud, but when doing so, highs overstay their welcome. The crispiest of sounds, like cymbals and claps, become harsh, and higher-pitched vocals in more crowded musical pieces can drop their smoothness and become metallic. Some sibilance, an emphasis on sss-tones, can also occur. The mid-bass can even become flappy - it lets go of its control. Basically, turning the volume on the MTW200 far up, often results in turning the volume down again.
While the Shanling MTW200 isn't the best performer for active listening on loud volumes, it offers a clear and smooth ride for casual listening during your workday or commuting.
Shanling MTW200 comparisons
Shanling MTW200 vs SHanling MTW300
So you want super comfortable, premium-looking, and feeling metallic wireless earbuds? You can go for both the Shanling MTW200 or MTW300. The latter is more expensive and has a heavier case. They both embrace treble and deliver enough definition in the bass, but the MTW300 takes its brightness up a notch, extending highs further and seeking the sharp edge in vocals. As a result, singers can be more immersive on the MTW300... and peakier. The MTW200 has more mid-bass and lower-mid weight. It sounds darker than the MTW300 - although that's not the best word to describe the MTW200. Both are lookers for those who are looking for treble.
Shanling MTW300 full review ($110)
Shanling MTW200 vs Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus
Its case may not be as striking, but the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus available at the same price shares the same strengths as the MTW200. It has premium-looking earbuds, amazing battery life (11+ hours!), and a sound that tends towards clarity. The Buds Plus controls upper-mids and highs better: a slight hiss underneath gives them all the space they need to sound clear and natural, without hitting the harsh peaks of the MTW200. The Shanling has a more forward and engaging mid-bass; the Samsung shows more subtlety and more definition in the lower-end. Except for Windows, the Samsung is even better at handling calls too.
Shanling MTW200 vs Realme Buds Air 2
Sleek, metallic-looking earbuds can be cheaper as well. The Realme Buds Air 2 doesn't have the same stellar battery life or comfort as the Shanling, but it does throw in decent ANC active noise cancelling and a Transparency mode at only half the price. The Shanling has more nuanced vocals and shows more detail in the center-mids. It has a tighter bass and offers more space between instruments. The Realme has a fuller sound. The Buds Air 2 emphasizes lower mid-tones and rolls off highs earlier, offering a slightly more laidback and friendlier sound. It holds its dynamics better at higher volumes.
Verdict
The sound of the Shanling MTW200 loses its smoothness when you're listening on high volumes. If you don't care about listening loud, the MTW200 is an easy recommendation, with its clear phone calls, excellent comfort, great battery life... and wonderful looks.
Four stars - Good
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