TWS true wireless earphones - $25 - $50
FIVE STARS - The SoundPEATS Mini Pro is a great deal in wireless earbuds, combining comfort, strong active noise cancelling, acceptable call quality, and good sound into a $50 package.
SoundPEATS Mini Pro specs and features:
Bluetooth 5.2 with AAC and AptX Adaptive codec
IPX5 waterproof (sweat and rain proof)
5 - 7 hours listening on a single charge (ANC on/ off)
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 2 times
Comes with 3 sets of ear tips, USB-C cable, English manual
$50 - Check latest price on Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon Germany, other Amazon countries or AliExpress
Below this SoundPEATS Mini Pro review, you will find comparisons of the SoundPEATS Mini Pro vs SoundPEATS Free2 Classic, Tozo NC2, Earfun Air Pro, Realme Buds 2 Neo.
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Design, comfort and battery life
Leave it to SoundPEATS to put their affordable earbuds in compact cases you can carry with you everywhere. The Mini Pro has the same tiny, oval case as the previously released SoundPEATS Mini, this time with a little - little! - more heft and a matte instead of a glossy or textured finish. It's a tad smaller than the cheaper SoundPEATS Free2 Classic, which has a textured case.
The Mini Pro case is not made of premium material, and it attracts fingerprints and scratches like crazy - a downside for a case you want to slide into any pocket as it's so light and pocketable. But it covers the basics well, with a multi-coloured LED-light on the front that indicates the remaining battery, and a USB-C port on the back.
It's the earbuds where it's at! These are among the tiniest noise cancelling earbuds on the market. They consist of two circles attached to each other: the outer one is visible in your ears (and looks a little special), the inner circle is the part that goes in your ears and feels extremely light and comfortable to wear. It doesn't have the grippiest hold, but they easily stay in (medium-sized) ears with rapid shake tests. If you dare to take them out for running or working out, the IPX5 waterproof rating protects them against rain and sweat.
If you want ANC earbuds for side-sleeping, it's good to know that you may still need to rest your head on your arm for the best comfort. Besides this, the Mini Pro earbuds turn their LED-lights on when you're not playing playing music - which is terribly inconvenient for bedroom or dorm use. The Realme Buds Air 2 Neo still has an advantage here. Let's hope SoundPEATS fixes this with an option in its app in the future.
Despite the size, the Mini Pro has a capable battery for everyday use. The earbuds reach up to 5 hours of playtime with ANC on; around 7 hours with the function turned off. The case can recharge them fully two times before it needs new power again. Those are all mediocre scores for noise cancelling earbuds - yet not often seen in earbuds this compact.
Controls and connectivity
SoundPEATS always delivers with extensive control schemes on its earbuds, and the SoundPEATS Mini Pro is no exception. The only thing missing is the option to return a track:
Double-tap L or R to play/ pause music
Tap R to increase the volume
Tap L to decrease it
Hold R to skip to the next song
Hold L to switch between ANC on, Transparency mode, ANC off
Triple-tap R to activate the voice assistant
Triple-tap L to (de)activate the Game Mode
The control scheme feels surprisingly logical in a short amount of time, although the accuracy could be a bit better. You may have to do more triple-taps to activate the gaming mode, for instance. It's also likely you're activating a function when you take an earbud out in your hand.
Connectivity of the Mini Pro is solid. The Bluetooth 5.2 signal keeps stable up to 9-10 meters away from your device, and the buds connect and pair quickly after you take them out of the case.
Calls, movies and Games
It's mostly convenient to take a phone or video call with the SoundPEATS Mini Pro. Your voice has a nice fullness to it, but more importantly, it's loud and clear enough - even though there can be a slight crackle underneath it. Sound effects in calls come through, but chatter, door slams and traffic don't sound too loud: your voice rises above the noise.
The combination of strong wind noise and sound effects around you threatens the clarity of your voice and can make you sound muddy, like on almost all wireless earbuds, but the Mini Pro does handle a slight breeze without problems.
Watching videos with the Mini Pro is easy, with flawless synchronization between audio and video. The dedicated Game Mode helps to also synchronize sound effects when you're playing games like Call of Duty mobile. As it's also easy to locate gunshots and action around you, these are great earbuds for gaming.
App Support of SoundPEATS Mini Pro
The SoundPEATS Mini Pro is said to have app support from the SoundPEATS app on iPhone on Android, but it's not working at the time of testing - which is about two months after the release of the earbuds. As user reviews of the app have been extremely critical, don't get your hopes up.
ANC Noise cancelling Test of Mini Pro
Having active noise cancelling on a $55 earphone is no specialty anymore these days, but the ANC on the Mini Pro is a strong offering in its segment.
ANC quality: On its best moments, Mini Pro’s ANC manages to filter all background sounds around you - leaving you only to hear your own breathing! Low, mid and high background sounds can disappear entirely.
Of course, you will have sounds closer by more often. In this case, static and regular sounds like electronic humming are filtered out nicely; brighter and irregular sounds like chatter, water splashing, or a radio are reduced but still audible. Mind you: they're a lot less audible than on many cheaper and more expensive ANC earbuds.
There is a little footnote, though. Sometimes it can feel like the wind puts some pressure on the ANC, making the effect less effective. The ANC can even emit short bursts of bass rumbling to process this. Happily, it’s doesn’t occur nearly as easily as on the SoundPEATS T2, and it’s also way less annoying. Twist the earbuds a bit, and you could be good again. These are above-average ANC performers.
Transparency mode quality: The Transparency mode - called Pass Through here, puts through sounds around you when you need it. This isn't limited to the highest frequencies so you can pick up chatter and traffic; it also lifts darker tones - while static sounds are still quiet. The effect feels natural on the Mini Pro, and even when you're playing music on moderate volume, you can locate traffic around you.
Wind noise reduction: Thanks to the earbuds sticking out of your ears a tiny bit, there will often be some wind noise when you're walking or cycling with these buds. Happily, you can just turn ANC off straight from the earbuds to reduce the biggest wind noise the ANC mode and especially the Transparency mode let in.
Also read: The best wireless ANC earbuds
Sound quality of SoundPEATS Mini Pro
Next to the comfort and Active Noise Cancelling, the SoundPEATS Mini Pro also has something to tell in the sound department.
The Mini Pro has the most natural presentation of treble on all SoundPEATS models. That says something after the countless earphones the brand released - including the much-praised SoundPEATS H1.
Instruments like violins and female and higher-pitched male vocals are forward, prominent and crisp, yet at the same time, they are still a bit brought back in comparison to SoundPEATS cheapest model, the Free2 Classic. That's a good thing - highs now sound more in reason with lower instruments. Whereas especially female singers can sound a little cold and bright on the Free2 Classic, they have a subtle, comforting warm undertone on the Mini Pro. Upper-mids have a bit of a metallic edge, though.
Other than that, the The Mini Pro has a nice tonal balance between the frequencies. Center-mid instruments like guitar and piano play appear natural without tending towards the highs or lows too much. Lower mid-tones enjoy plenty of room, but darker electronic tones don't take the music hostage.
The bass is more outspoken. The Mini Pro has an elevated, rapid-thumping mid-bass, that provides enough punch, but can also bloat a bit. Feel a bit boomy. The sub-bass (darkest bass tones you can feel as much as hear) got the same treatment: it may not be extremely deep, but the sub-bass is tight and quick.
When it comes to details, the Mini Pro covers the basic well. Vocals, both male and female, form the center-part of the music and often come straight in front of you, while instruments like drums can flank you slightly on your left and right. There's decent separation between instruments.
Unfortunately, the SoundPEATS Mini Pro loses some of its quality on higher volumes. It's here where cymbals and claps can become a bit splashy, recordings' white noise can show, and higher vocal notes can turn a tad shouty.
You're not getting a perfect sounding-pair of earphones, but this is a friendly, crisp musical presentation at a friendly price.
SoundPEATS Mini Pro comparisons
SoundPEATS Mini Pro vs Earfun Air Pro
Earfun released multiple ANC models over the last year and a half, like the brand new Earfun Air Pro SV. But it seems that one of their first attempts, the Earfun Air Pro, is one of the only one to actually stick on Amazon. It's a direct contender to the SoundPEATS Mini Pro, as it now has a comparable $55 price tag. For this price, the Earfun gives you a stem design, better call quality (especially for outdoor use), but less effective Active Noise Cancelling and Transparency mode. The Earfun has a warmer sound with stronger thumping bass. The SoundPEATS has a clearer presentation, presenting middle and higher tones in a more natural way.
Earfun Air Pro review ($60)
SoundPEATS Mini Pro vs Free2 Classic
Did you know SoundPEATS also has one of the best all-around offerings in wireless earbuds under $25? The Free2 Classic's looks and feels the same, but there are two major differences. First, it has smaller earbuds that disappear into your ears more than the Mini Pro's, making them more suitable to wear in bed or under a helmet - also because they don't use an annoying LED light. The second difference is the Free2 Classic doesn't have Active Noise Cancelling. Both models are comfortable, have acceptable call quality - but mostly indoors - and enough battery life for normal daily use.
When it comes to sound, these are clearly related. However, the Mini Pro wins on details that matter: positioning is better, highs are friendlier, and there's just a bit more lower-mids presence to make the sound more balanced.
SoundPEATS Mini Pro vs Realme Buds AIr 2 Neo
If you're looking for ANC earbuds you can sleep with, to silence the sound of your camping neighbours, hostel, or dorm room, the Realme Buds Air 2 Neo is a better option than the SoundPEATS Mini Pro. Even though it has slightly bigger earbuds, it is more comfortable for sidesleeping. It also doesn't have LED-lights that turn on when you're not playing music on them, which the Mini Pro does annoyingly has. With that out of the way: the SoundPEATS is better in any other way. Its sound is much cleaner, tighter, detailed, and more balanced, with also a warmer undertone than Realme's colder muddiness. SoundPEATS' gaming mode is (even) more effective, and call quality is ahead as well.
SoundPEATS Mini Pro vs Tozo NC2
If you're looking for ANC earbuds on a budget, you must have seen the wildly popular Tozo NC2 pop up on Amazon. Is it worth spending around $15 more for the SoundPEATS? Well, perhaps not on call quality, on which both models fare better indoors than outside. Or on battery life, which is around the same. What you could be paying extra for, is the more detailed sound of the Mini Pro. While the Tozo has a warm signature with a strong bass thump and forward vocals, the Mini Pro balances out frequencies better - reducing the bass somewhat in favour of the (upper) mid-tones, which sound more natural and give singers more nuances. Or you could pay extra for the ANC practicality. While both earbuds have strong noise cancelling for their price, you can always turn it off again on the SoundPEATS - for instance when you walk in a windy part of the city and want to remove wind sounds. It's this option that misses on the Tozo, making it less convenient for everyday use. It's the details that count, right?
Tozo NC2 review ($40)
Verdict
The SoundPEATS Mini Pro is a great deal in wireless earbuds, combining comfort, strong active noise cancelling, acceptable call quality, and good sound into a $50 package.
Five stars - Excellent
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I received the SoundPEATS Mini Pro 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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