TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
4.5 STARS - The SoundPEATS Mini puts splendid battery life, uplifting sound, and good call quality, all in a very compact pair of earbuds you can easily wear in bed or under a helmet.
SoundPEATS Mini specs and features:
Bluetooth 5.2 with AAC codec
IPX5 waterproof (rain and sweat proof)
7,5 hours playtime
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Comes with three ear tips and USB-C cable
$40 - Buy on Amazon US, Amazon Germany, or other Amazon stores
Below this SoundPEATS Mini review, you will find comparisons of the SoundPEATS Mini vs SoundPEATS Air3, Soundcore Life P2 Mini, QCY T13, and Realme Buds Air 2 Neo.
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Design, comfort and battery life
SoundPEATS has been releasing wireless earbuds like crazy lately. The Mini is the third $40 model after the AirPods-like SoundPEATS Air3 and Active Noise Cancelling SoundPEATS T3 were released only last month! This time around, the compact size and call quality should be the main selling points.
The SoundPEATS Mini is true to its name indeed: these earbuds are delightfully small. A slight bump on the inside makes them fit securely in your ears, and their lightness makes them easy and comfortable to wear for hours. They are excellent for in-bed and under-helmet use as well, as they barely stick out of your ears. It's a challenge to find more sleep-proof comfortable earbuds.
Taking them outside is easy as well; the IPX5 waterproof-rating protects them again rain and sweat.
Battery life is impressive: the Mini delivers around 7,5 hours of playtime on a single charge. The charging case can recharge the buds then 2,5 times before needing new power via USB-C itself.
The charging case can recharge the earbuds three times fully before needing new power via USB-C itself. It's light and thin, but like the Air3 and T3, it looks and feels very cheap. The lid on the case wobbles a bit, and the matte black finish is extremely prone to fingerprints and scratches: it looks old and heavily used after putting it in and taking it out of your jeans pocket once. It's okay for this price point - but a competitor like the SoundPEATS P2 Mini blows this out of the water.
Controls and connectivity
Like the other cheap models from the brand, the SoundPEATS Mini has all the controls you could want straight from the earbuds:
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 song
Hold L to return a track
Triple-tap L or R to activate the voice assistant
Other than the SoundPEATS Air3, you won't find a low-latency Gaming mode on the Mini. That's part of the reason why the controls are easy to learn.
Connectivity on the Mini is solid: there's a steady Bluetooth connection up to 9-10 meters away from your device, hiccups in the sound are rare, and you can always switch between listening to two earbuds and one - if you want to charge the other bud, for example. The earbuds don't automatically pause music playback when you take a bud out.
Calling and watching movies
The SoundPEATS Mini uses technology from Elevoc to reduce surrounding noises in phone calls and video calls. Elevoc already showed its strength for other manufacturers and in its own Elevoc Clear wireless earphone, and indeed: the Mini bears convincing call quality, especially for earbuds without stems.
Your voice sounds clear, full, and loud enough in phone calls and video conferences like Microsoft Teams or Zoom meetings. Background sounds like people talking or traffic passing by are audible, but your voice outweighs them in volume, so they don't become too distracting. Wind noise is a bigger threat to the call clarity and can take away your voice now and then. In other circumstances, calling with the Mini is easily doable.
Watching videos goes without problems, with flawless synchronization between audio and video on Android and iPhone. Unfortunately, unlike the Air3, this SoundPEATS doesn't have a dedicated low-latency gaming mode to reduce the delay in sound effects when you're playing games.
Also read: The best wireless ANC earbuds
Sound quality of SoundPEATS Mini: Uplifting
The SoundPEATS Mini has a steadily thumping mid-bass that provides modern music genres with plenty of energy. The sub-bass doesn't dive very deep, but it can show a gentle, pleasant rumble. And while the mid-bass isn't very textured, there's a lovely body to it that makes the lows uplifting.
The Mini elevates the upper mid-tones, meaning brighter vocals get a prominent role in music. Female and higher-pitched male vocals are upfront and clear, and so are instruments like violins and cymbals - all without becoming harsh or piercing anytime soon.
Center-mid tones like piano play and guitar play a smaller role in tracks. The Mini lacks some detail here, which is a logical factor for an earphone that mainly pushes the lows and highs. Happily, darker male vocals still have plenty of body.
What helps to make the Mini sound engaging is the airiness in the sound. Music feels floating around you - in a good way, with details halfway in front of you on your left and right. It's hard to place instruments precisely, but they're well-separated from each other.
There is something odd about the treble, however. While it doesn't jump into attention in songs with plenty of basses, higher-pitched vocals can sound a little cold and thin. The latter is especially noticeable in songs that push the highs out of themselves. Without the bass, the highs can sound too light - the Mini feels like a distant bathroom speaker sometimes.
Most of the time though, the SoundPEATS Mini is a joyful little pair of earbuds, with a lovely yet controlled thumping bass and sweet airiness.
SoundPEATS Mini comparisons
SoundPEATS Mini vs SoundPEATS Air3: Which is better?
Which should you choose: the SoundPEATS Mini or Air3? And what are the differences? Foremost, the Air3 has an AirPods-like design, meaning it doesn't come with rubber ear tips, and you can just 'hang' them in your ears. No matter how compact the Mini is, the Air3's design may even be more comfortable to you. The Mini does stay tighter in your ears and can be worn in bed more easily. The Mini also makes your voice clearer in phone and video calls and reduces more noise from your surroundings. Sound-wise, both have a boosted and engaging bass - although the Mini's is heavier and more rumbly on higher volumes. Vocals sound less bright on the Air3, which makes the sound warmer and more comforting. Battery life could be the deciding factor, perhaps: 5,5 hours on the Air3; 7,5 hours on the Mini. Both come recommended for their price.
SoundPEATS Air3 review ($40)
Sidenote: the SoundPEATS Mini is much better than the SoundPEATS T3
SoundPEATS Mini vs Soundcore Life P2 Mini
The SoundPEATS Mini comes right after the P2 Mini by Soundcore, which is also priced around 40 dollars. Despite the name, the P2 has a bigger and heavier charging case, and its earbuds have a larger stem design. The Soundcore's unique feature is that it comes with three sound options you can switch from right from the earbuds... but two of them sound a bit tinny and one very bassy. The last setting is the best one, and sounds bassier, warmer, and 'thicker' than the SoundPEATS Mini. Vocals are more forward but feel colder on the SoundPEATS, and the bass can be a bit looser on higher volumes. Still, the Mini is more balanced and easier to listen to than the P2 Mini. The SoundPEATS also convinces with better call quality: it reduces more background sounds in calls and makes your voice clearer in both phone and video calls.
SoundPEATS Mini vs QCY T13
The QCY T13 has stems but feels just as compact in your ears as the SoundPEATS Mini. The same doesn't apply to the case: the QCY's is almost twice as big. Both earbuds have an all-day battery life, and it's easy to take phone and video calls with them. The QCY T13 has a thicker sound: the mid-bass has more impact and can rumble heavier. Lower-mid tones are more present on the QCY, and upper-mids and higher vocals enjoy a warmer tone. The bass on the Mini strikes quicker, and it has more spatial details thanks to its airiness. While the QCY lets you change the controls via its free app support, the SoundPEATS has more and better-responding controls. The biggest weapon of the Mini is its stemless design: it's more comfortable for bed use than the QCY.
QCY T13 review ($25)
SoundPEATS Mini vs Realme Buds Air 2 Neo
Realme's Buds Air 2 Neo are other compact wireless earbuds that you can wear in bed. While they're not as tiny and comfortable as the Mini, the Realme offers impressive active noise cancelling that softens and silences noise around you. The SoundPEATS counters this with longer battery life and much clearer phone and video calls. Both earbuds have a rather cold tonality in their music, with vocals and instruments sounding a bit brighter than usual. The Buds Air 2 Neo resolves more detail in the mid-tones, but the Mini is the more engaging listen, with tighter and better-controlled bass, and more prominent vocals.
Verdict
The SoundPEATS Mini puts splendid battery life, uplifting sound, and good call quality, all in a very compact pair of earbuds you can easily wear in bed or under a helmet.
4.5 stars - Great
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