TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
FOUR STARS - The SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 are great wireless earbuds for sports, providing a tight fit and a hugely uplifting bassy sound.
SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 specs:
Bluetooth 5.0
IPX7 waterproof rating (heavy rain and sweat resistant)
4 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Comes with 3 sizes ear tips, 3 sizes sport-wings and USB-C cable
$35 on Amazon US, Amazon Germany or other Amazon stores - or AliExpress
Below this SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 review, you will find comparisons between the SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 vs TrueEngine 3 SE, SoundPEATS TrueDot, SoundPEATS TrueShift 2, and Mpow M30.
Update January 22, 2021: As the TrueFree 2 became more uncomfortable and the buttons became mushier over time, I've now downgraded the overall score from 4.5 to 4 stars. It's still a good choice!
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Design, comfort and battery life
The original SoundPEATS TrueFree was a rebadge of the QCY QS2, and it was good. You could say it was a trendsetter even. The QCY was the first ultra-cheap wireless earphone to deliver great sound at an insanely low price.
The cost of the TrueFree 2 has gone up slightly. SoundPEATS positions the TrueFree at 35 dollars, which is more than their excellent TrueDot. More importantly, the focus of the model slightly shifted: it's now, foremost, a TWS built for sporting and working out. And that's not just because of its generous IPX7 waterproof rating - making them heavy rain and sweat-resistant.
The SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 has rubber sport-wings in three sizes, that can be drawn over the earpieces. They are made from sturdy rubber and lead onto a rather sharp corner which can pierce in your ears. Once adjusted, you will notice how tight these earpieces sit in your ears. It's impossible to get them out unless you take them out. No matter how intense the sport is, whether you are moving your mouth to laugh or smile, whether you hang upside down: the TrueFree 2 can't be moved in your ears. They may not be the most comfortable, but these excellent for workouts.
Happily, the earbuds are still more compact than the competing QCY T9S, which feels bulkier in your ears. The Mpow M30, available at the same price, is tinier though and has more flexible sport-wings that are more comfortable in your ears.
The battery on the TrueFree 2 only lasts around 4 hours per charge, which is below average. The case can recharge them three times fully before needing new power via USB-C itself. Unfortunately, the case (with four handy LED-charging lights inside) is rather big. It's not the most pocketable earphone.
Connectivity and controls
Surprise: the SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 has actual buttons instead of touch panels. You have to apply pressure to activate them, and as the earpieces are to tight in your ears, this isn't always pleasant.
On the plus side, actual buttons prevent wrong touches, like on the Mpow M30 - where the touch panels can 'hang' in your actions and change the volume too much.
You play or pause music with a single touch. Double-press right to increase volume, double-press left to decrease it. Hold the right bud for 1,5 seconds to skip to the next song; hold the left one 1,5 seconds to return a track. Finally, you can activate the voice assistant on your phone by triple-pressing a button.
Over time, it does seem like the buttons can become a little mushy - harder to press than in the beginning. That's why the score has been changed from 4 to 3.5 stars later on.
Connectivity on the TrueFree 2 is robust, with the Bluetooth 5.0 stable up to ten meters from your device. There are no sound hiccups when working out, running, or cycling as well. Excellent.
The TrueFree 2 doesn't automatically pause music when you take an earpiece out, but it does let you switch between mono and stereo mode instantly. You can recharge one earpiece while listening to the other, then pick the earbud up and seamlessly return to stereo listening again.
Calling and watching movies
This section is where it becomes apparent the TrueFree 2 is a TWS suited towards sports. Both call quality and video playback don't perform very well.
Video synchronization fares well on Android but videos don't reach lipsync in the YouTube-app on iPhone. There's also a noticeable delay in sound effects when playing games. The latter is the case on almost all wireless earbuds, however.
Sadly, the call quality of the SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 is the worst encountered in Scarbir.com TWS reviews in a while. Even worse so than the recently released SoundPEATS TrueEngine 3 SE. Your voice comes through soft to the other end of the line, and even a slight breeze is enough to disturb the call completely. Darker surrounding noises are reduced fine, with sounds like engines transforming in a woosh-like sound. However, brighter sounds battle your voice, and all of a sudden, you can be completely inaudible without knowing the reason. It's rubbish.
Also read: The best wireless earbuds under $100
Sound quality of SoundPEATS TrueFree 2
Put the SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 in, and you'll start nodding your head. It has the engaging, bassy sound you may expect from sport-focused wireless earbuds.
How loud do you like your music? The TrueFree 2 has a bass that seems to behave less and less the louder you listen to them - and this isn't meant in a bad way. From background listening to medium volumes, the SoundPEATS has a steady mid-bass slam - nicely balanced out with the other frequencies.
Turn the volume up and the SoundPEATS bass increases in size, in quantity. The mid-bass slam becomes a generous thump or even a downright bulbous bass in songs that emphasize bass out of itself. The sub-bass doesn't always add its rumbles to the music, but wow - the lows can dive deep. The bass can be a tad too much in hip-hop songs and may not be as quick as the one on the Soundcore Spirit Dot 2. It can even be a bit sloppy at times. In most pop and dance songs, however, it works wonderfully.
And it's not just bass either: the upper-mids also stand out more when you turn the volume up. Vocals are forward, and especially female and higher-pitched male voices, take a central place in music. Even on extremely loud volumes with this strong bass, vocals and upper-mids sound clear, while music never sounds harsh or bright in the highs.
While it's hard to place instruments and sound effects precisely around you, the TrueFree 2 displays a sweet soundstage. It can surround you with music, and there's a lovely airiness. Like the other specialties, you do need a bit of volume to achieve this, however.
With its strong bass and forward vocals, there must surely be a part in the music gaining less attention. That part is the mids. More acoustic instruments like the piano, guitars, and drums, can at times be a bit recessed in more crowded musical pieces. In easier going songs, they do have enough weight to take their part in the impressive soundstage - and then even come with great detail and tonality.
The TrueFree 2 convinces with a hard-hitting and deep-diving bass, delivering a sweet amount of detail in its impressive soundstage on top.
SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 comparisons
SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 vs Mpow M30
Sport-wings that go inside your ears? Check. Same price? Check. The Mpow M30 and TrueFree 2 are direct competitors. The M30 has touch controls which are more comfortable to control, but harder to activate with sweaty fingers. It does offer an hour longer battery life, however. Its wings are also more flexible and comfortable, although the TrueFree 2 has a tighter fit. Musically, the Mpow M30 extends upper-mids and highs better, making you hear more details in the music when you're breaking a sweat. The bass is tighter, but also lighter than the TrueFree 2 one. The SoundPEATS has a more bassy, darker sound with emphasized lower-mids. These are both fantastic for sports and less so for other purposes - it comes down to your taste.
SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 vs TrueDot
Were you expecting a comparison of the TrueFree 2 vs TrueFree? Let's put it this way. The first TrueFree or QCY QS2 was great - but it was later overtaken by the SoundPEATS TrueDot, which offers a more dynamic sound, more bass emphasis, refinement, and amazing instrument placement. A TrueDot vs TrueFree 2 comparison makes more sense then.
The TrueFree 2 is a continuation of the TrueDot sound, giving more body to the bass. The TrueDot makes more room for mid-tones in between, making piano, guitars, and other acoustic instruments stand out. It still has better soundstage and instrument detail than its successor, but the TrueFree 2 sounds cleaner and more focused - it may even be more suitable for running and activities.
SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 vs Soundcore Spirit Dot 2
With bigger sport-wings inside your ears, the Spirit Dot 2 feels bigger than the TrueFree 2. The SoundPEATS also has more controls, and as call quality of the Spirit Dot 2 doesn't stand out either, does the TrueFree 2 take the crown of best bass/ sports TWS under $100? Not so fast - the Spirit Dot 2 battery lasts 1,5 hours longer. When it comes to sound, these are close. The SoundPEATS has a heavier, deeper bass, but the Spirit Dot 2 bass is slightly quicker. Along with the clearer, airier sound, the Spirit Dot 2 sounds even more engaging.
Soundcore Spirit Dot 2 review
SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 vs TrueShift 2
The TrueShift 2 was an earlier released sport TWS from the same brand. It has a much bigger and heavier case, as it also functions as a phone charger. The earpieces from both models cling into your ears, although the TrueShift 2 touch controls are easier to operate. The sound of these models are comparable in tonality (warm, not too warm), and both sound clear in the upper-mids and vocals. The TrueFree 2 offers a much stronger bass, however, making the sound more uplifting.
SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 vs SoundPEATS TrueEngine 3 SE
The TrueEngine 3 SE has the same case as the TrueFree 2, but bigger. Its battery life (6 hours instead of 4) and call quality (doable) are bigger performers than the cheaper TrueFree 2. When it comes to sound, these two differ, however. The TrueEngine 3 SE has a more laidback bass, almost showing some afterclap compared to the assertive and generous thump on the TrueFree 2. The sport-winged model also lifts vocals, making them more prominent in the music, and ensuring music sounds more dynamic when things get crowded. The TF2 has a more engaging listen.
Verdict
The SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 are great wireless earbuds for sports, providing a tight fit and a hugely uplifting bassy sound.
four stars - good
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I bought the SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 to test and review myself. 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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