TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
4.5 STARS - If you're looking for cheap AirPods-alternatives, you can't miss the SoundPEATS TrueAir2 or TrueAir2+ with its engaging sound, solid battery life and convenient call quality.
SoundPEATS TrueAir 2 specs and features:
Bluetooth 5.0 with AptX codec
IPX4 waterproof (light rain, splash and dust proof)
4,5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Comes with USB-C cable
$35 - Buy on Amazon US, Amazon Germany, other Amazon stores or AliExpress
SoundPEATS TrueAir2+ specs and features:
Bluetooth 5.2 with AptX Adaptive codec
IPX4 waterproof (light rain, splash and dust proof)
4,5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Comes with USB-C cable, supports wireless charging
$45 - Buy TrueAir2+ on Amazon US, Amazon Germany, other Amazon stores or AliExpress
Below this SoundPEATS TrueAir 2 review, you will find comparisons between the SoundPEATS TrueAir2 vs Fiil CC2, TaoTronics SoundLiberty 92, Xiaomi Mi Air 2 SE, 1more E1029BT, and Tronsmart Onyx Ace.
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Design, comfort and battery life
The SoundPEATS TrueAir2 and TrueAir 2+ stay away from looking like generic AirPods-clones by simple design features. On the top of the stem of the earbuds, you'll find the typical 'rounded shield' shape seen on the SoundPEATS TruEngine 3 SE before, and their dark grey accent and two vertical lines on each stem separate the TrueAir2 from generic 10 dollars avoidables.
On the inside of the stems, everything does look like AirPods, with the speaker aiming sideways in your ears. These TrueAir2 half-in-ears offer quite the comfort: they stay in your ears snugly the moment you put them in. The stems are aligned nicely with your cheeks as well, without brushing them. Unlike a competitor like the Xiaomi Mi Air 2 SE, the earbuds also aren't bulky in your ears.
The charging case has a nice design too. It's flat enough to slide in any pocket, and after opening it, you can very easily take the earbuds out. The case charges via USB-C, and a LED-light next to the port indicates the charging status. You won't find multiple lights indicating the remaining battery life of the case, however.
The case can recharge the earbuds four times fully before needing new power itself, giving the earbuds around 4,5 hours of playtime per charge. Nothing exceptional, but a solid score for half-in-ears.
SoundPEATS TrueAir2 and TrueAir2+ differences
The slightly more expensive SoundPEATS TrueAir2+ adds Bluetooth 5.2 and AptX Adaptive instead of Bluetooth 5.0 and AptX codec to the spec sheet, but the only difference you'll notice is that the TrueAir2+ offers wireless charging next to USB-C charging.
Connectivity and controls
The SoundPEATS TrueAir 2/ 2+ has extensive touch controls, with a control scheme you'll get used to quickly.
Tap R once to increase the volume
Tap L once to decrease volume
Tap R or L twice to play/ pause music
Tap R or L thrice to activate the voice assistant on your phone
Hold R to skip a song
Hold L to return a song
The touch panel responds well and quickly to your touch but can be a bit oversensitive - so you may change the volume already (achieved by one tap) instead of playing or pausing the music (for which you need two taps). Also, if you put an earbud out and hold it by its stem, chances are you'll skip or returning a song without meaning to.
Except for a slight hiccup that can occur when you've just turned the earbuds on, connectivity on the SoundPEATS TrueAir 2 is solid. The Bluetooth signal holds up around seven meters away from your device, which is less than average. You can, however, switch seamlessly between listening to one or two earbuds. Charge an earbud while listening to the other, take the charged bud out again and you'll resume playing in stereo right away.
Calling and video playback on TrueAir 2
Interestingly, the TrueAir 2+ handles outside phone calls better than indoor calls. The SoundPEATS does a good job of reducing sounds from your surroundings, wether it's other people talking, background music or even traffic… just passing by you within a few meters. Your voice even sounds loud and clear enough when you can't even hear your own voice anymore, because of a bus passing by.
In indoor phone calls or video calls, however, your voice is dark and muffled, and it can even be hard to hear what you're saying.
It's convenient to watch videos with the TrueAir 2+, too. Synchronization between audio and video is spot-on on both iPhone and Android, including the challenging YouTube-app. There is a delay in sound effects when you're playing games, like on almost all wireless earbuds.
Also read: The best true wireless earphones under $50
Sound quality of SoundPEATS TrueAir 2: warm
The SoundPEATS TrueAir 2 and TrueAir2+ perform well where it counts most. It has a pleasant and warm sound.
Surprisingly, the TrueAir2 (Plus) doesn't promote vocals to be the most important aspect of the sound. Where higher-pitched voices are strongly emphasized on most earbuds, vocals are a tad recessed on these SoundPEATS. Sometimes, lower vocals hardly seem louder than instruments around it. Higher-pitched male and female vocals are also somewhat toned down, but in a pleasant way. They play the main part in the music, but stay far away from harsh, bright territory. Vocals can miss a bit of detail as a result, but there's a lovely smooth-sailing vibe to them as well.
All this makes the TrueAir2 sound relaxed, even though it's got plenty of punch in the lower frequencies. There's a steady mid-bass thump, and the bass sounds lovely deep as well. As these are half-in-ears, don't expect the biggest ear-shaking rumbles - the speaker just doesn't go into your ear canal deep enough - but there's enough body and depth in the bass. The bass doesn't sound muddy (as it sometimes does on half-in-ears), it doesn't distort in bass-heavy songs; it's present but not too powerfull.
Next to the bass, lower-mids (like darker electronic tones and drums) are slightly boosted, adding to the 'flow' in modern music and coloring the music warm. Mid-instruments like guitars and the piano also have warm underlining while still presented well enough in the brighter tones. The TrueAir2 has some nice spaciousness in the sound, with sound effects and instruments coming from your left and right, while vocals remain in the center of the sound.
With its smooth and warm character, the SoundPEATS TrueAir 2 and TrueAir2+ are always a pleasant listen.
SoundPEATS TrueAir2 comparisons
SoundPEATS TrueAir2 vs Fiil CC2
At a bit more than $50, the Fiil CC2 is a strong competitor to the TrueAir2. The SoundPEATS has a stronger mid-bass, deeper sounding sub-bass, and puts more weight in the lower frequencies, making music sound warmer and fuller. In songs with much lows, they can push higher-pitched vocals away a bit, making them sound a little off on rare occasions. Fiil makes another choice: the bass is less engaging, but vocals and upper-mids on the CC2 sound clearer, and mid-instruments like guitars and drums sound more natural.
The call quality on both models is outstanding, although the Fiil handles indoor calls a bit better. Battery life is slightly stronger on the CC2 (5 hours against 4,5), but the SoundPEATS has track and volume controls right out of the box - whereas you need Fiil's unreliable app to get those on the CC2. With the added controls straightaway, the TrueAir2 is even more convenient for daily use.
If you listen to modern and electronic genres mostly, the added lows of the TrueAir2 will work better for you; if you prefer listening to acoustic and older genres, the Fiil CC2 may be your top choice.
SoundPEATS TrueAir2 vs SoundLiberty 95
The SoundPEATS TrueAir 2 has more outspoken mid-tones, putting vocals and higher-pitched instruments more on the music's foreground than the TaoTronics SoundLiberty 95. It sounds more balanced, yet its bass has a stronger thump and is a little quicker, giving the TrueAir 2 a more uplifting character. The SoundLiberty 95 sounds more laidback, soothingly warm instead, with more focus on the lower mid-tones. The SoundPEATS has volume controls on the earbuds and has even better call quality. The SoundLiberty 95 boasts better battery life: around 6 against 4,5 hours. Both are great.
SoundPEATS TrueAir 2 vs SoundLiberty 92
The SoundLiberty 92 from TaoTronics has a similar sound to the TrueAir 2. Darker vocals sound even more recessed on the TaoTronics, while brighter (female) vocals enjoy a more prominent role. The TrueAir 2 sounds a bit more natural, with better tonality of mid-instruments and more details on your left and right; the SoundLiberty 92 is a bit more engaging due to the forward vocals and increased space in the higher frequencies. The TrueAir2 has better call quality in outdoor areas, where the SoundLiberty 92 prevails surrounding noise above your own voice. The TrueAir 2 has a slightly flatter case, too, and the stems are shorter and thus more elegant.
SoundPEATS TrueAir2 vs Xiaomi Mi Air 2 SE
Both the earbuds and the Xiaomi Mi Air 2 SE charging case are noticeably larger than the TrueAir 2's. The Xiaomi has slightly stronger connectivity than the TrueAir2, and the same battery life - but the TrueAir2 wins on outside calling. When it comes to music, however, SoundPEATS has the advantage. It sounds more open, has more detail in the bass and lower-mids, and while higher-pitched vocals don't have the same emphasis, they sound smoother - making the overall sound of the TrueAir2 just more pleasant.
SoundLiberty 92 vs Tronsmart Onyx Ace
The Tronsmart Onyx Ace is a wildly requested model for comparisons on half-in-ears, but if you read the Scarbir.com review, you'll see the TrueAir 2 outperforms it easily. The TrueAir 2 offers an hour longer battery life per charge and sounds much better - with way more detail and separation in the bass and lower-mids, clearer vocals, and more natural mids. The Onyx Ace sounds exactly like Apple's AirPods - and that's not a good thing.
SoundPEATS TrueAir2 vs 1more E1029BT
Are you open to another kind of design for half-in-ears? Consider the 1more E1029BT! Feature-wise, they don't stay in your ears as easily as the TrueAir2 and battery life is less stellar as well, reaching 3,5 hours at maximum. iPhone video playback is better on the SoundPEATS as well. However, in sound, the 1more may be a better choice if you listen to jazz, blues, or classical songs, as individual instruments come with more detail. If you also like a bit of bass, however, the TrueAir 2 has more body - the sound is both warmer and fuller.
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Verdict
If you're looking for cheap AirPods-alternatives, you can't miss the SoundPEATS TrueAir2 or TrueAir2+ with its engaging sound and solid battery life.
4.5 stars - Great
Buy SoundPEATS TrueAir2/ check current price:
Buy SoundPEATS TrueAir2+ on Amazon US
Buy SoundPEATS TrueAir2+ on Amazon Germany
Buy SoundPEATS TrueAir2+ on other Amazon stores
Buy SoundPEATS TrueAir2+ on AliExpress
I bought the SoundPEATS TruAir2 and TrueAir2+ myself to test and review. All my reviews are 100% honest and non-commercial. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
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