TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
FOUR STARS - If you're looking for wireless earbuds with an insanely powerful charging case, the SoundPEATS TrueShift 2 should be on your shortlist. It's not just holiday-length battery these earphones have to offer.
Specs of the SoundPEATS TrueShift 2 3000mAh:
Bluetooth 5.0
IPX7 water proof (heavy sweat, rain and shower resistant)
6 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 16 times
Comes with 3 sizes of ear tips, 3 sizes of ear wings and USB-C cable
$50 on AliExpress or Amazon US, Amazon Europe, other Amazon stores - check current price!
Below this SoundPEATS TrueShift 2 review you will find comparisons between the SoundPEATS TrueShift 2 vs SoundPEATS TrueDot, Fiil T1X, Mpow M5 and Mpow M20.
Design, comfort and battery life
The SoundPEATS TrueShift 2 has one of the biggest charging cases seen on truly wireless earphones so far. It's as big as the KZ E10 and the Mpow M20, and even heavier than both. Just like on the Mpow, the charging case also acts as a power bank for your smartphone. With the regular USB-port and 3000mAh of power, you should be able to give your smartphone at least a full recharge.
If you're not using the TrueShift 2 as power bank, the charger is capable of recharging the earpieces 16 times! That's enough to cover an entire trip or holiday. The case recharges via USB-C and provides the earpieces a robust 6 hours on a single charge. LED-lights on the inside of the case that shine through the lid show the current charging status. Neat. Both the case and the earpieces look and feel solid.
The earpieces of the TrueShift have a triangular shape. The earpiece is bigger than most affordable wireless earphones, but it remains tight and even comfortable in your ears. The rubber ear-wing on top keeps the earpieces in snug behind your ear flap. The TrueShift may be big, but it's so secure in your ears, it's easy to sport or work out with these earbuds.
Connectivity and controls
The SoundPEATS TrueShift has touch-sensitive sides. You increase the volume by tapping the right bud once and decrease it by tapping the left one once. Playing or pausing is done by a double-tap on either of the earbuds. By doing so, however, you may change the volume by accident. It can be a bit unfortunate because the TrueShift 2 can go LOUD.
SoundPEATS included a Mario Kart-like power-up sound to let you know you activated the play or pause button. It doesn't take away that the response of the touch panels could have been better. It's excellent, however, to have volume controls within reach.
By holding the right side 1,5 seconds, you skip to the next track; by doing so on the left bud, you return a song. Last - with three taps, you activate the voice assistant on your phone. The controls are intuitive enough (while working out).
Connectivity on the SoundPEATS TrueShift is excellent. The Bluetooth 5.0 signal keeps stable up to ten meters, even when there are walls in between you and your device. It's also reliable when you're walking or cycling. Furthermore, you can easily swap between listening one and two earpieces - while the other is recharging.
Calling and watching movies with TrueShift 2
Another thing the SoundPEATS TrueShift is good at is its call quality. When you're indoors, your sound is loud and clear - and separated well enough from voices around you. But also outside, the TrueShift performs above average. There's an audible white noise for the other end of the line that rules out your surrounding noise, without reducing your own volume. It's possible to take a long phone call with these.
Watching videos goes without delay on Android smartphones and on video services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+ on iPhone. The YouTube-app on iPhone shows quite a bit of delay, unfortunately.
As on 99% percent of wireless earphones, gaming, too, goes with noticeable sound delay - on both systems.
Also read: The best true wireless earphones under $50
Sound quality of SOundPEATS TrueShift 2
The SoundPEATS TrueShift has a sound character that perfectly embodies the sport fit of the earpieces. With a subtle boosted bass and elevated vocals, it can be enjoyed while working out - but also for other purposes.
Starting at the base: there's a nice bass slam, giving dance and pop songs their much-desired thump. Going even deeper, the sub-bass (the darkest bass-tones, you can somewhat feel instead of hear) can deliver a sweet rumble when asked for. Neither of them is overwhelming, however. The bass is controlled.
The lower frequencies enjoy the same approach as the bass. They have a nice weight to them, and darker male vocals, electronic tones, and drums come with plenty of detail - but they don't drown out other aspects of the music. This way, mid-instruments like the piano and the guitar, also get enough room.
The higher frequencies also enjoy some boost on the SoundPEATS TrueShift. Female vocals, higher-pitched male vocals, and instruments like cymbals and violins are a bit elevated over the mid-tones. They give the sound of the TrueShift a nice airy feel.
The TrueShift has a solid soundstage with music coming from all around you, but sound-placement can sometimes be a bit off. On some occasions, it seems like the left-right channels are imbalanced - with the right earphone producing more lows, and the left one more higher tones.
The SoundPEATS TrueShift, therefore, may fall a bit short to be an audiophile dream. However - if you're looking for a pair of wireless earphones to pump you up during your workout, without giving in on detail, the TrueShift will pass with flying colors.
Selected comparisons
SoundPEATS TrueShift vs SoundPEATS TrueDot
Whoah - you can fit around three pairs of SoundPEATS TrueDot's in the TrueShift case. Yet, the $25 sibling sounds better, especially if you prefer a boosted and still layered bass. The TrueDot delivers more detail and better instrument placement -exceptional even for the money. The TrueShift sounds clearer, because of its further extended highs. Call quality on the TrueShift is better - and so is the battery. The size... not so much.
SoundPEATS TrueShift vs Mpow M20
With the M20, Mpow also offers a pair of relatively big earpieces and a powerful, big charging case that also acts as a power bank. The Mpow M20 has a more bass-focused sound. The bass strikes hard and takes some of the mid-tones with it, providing a smooth and a bit dark listen. The TrueShift has a more controlled bass, with more detail in the mid-tones and highs. It sounds more balanced. The earpieces don't feel as bulky as the Mpow's, too.
SoundPEATS TrueShift vs Fiil T1X
Noted as the best TWS under $100 at the moment of writing, the comparably priced Fiil T1X is also very suited for sports. It, too, has volume controls on the earpieces and rubber ear-wings to ensure a tight fit in your ears. The TrueShift sounds more opened-up in the highs; the T1X controls its highs better and balances them out with thick, detailed mids and more bass presence. The F1X delivers more detail, more balance, and better placement. The SoundPEATS, of course, has a stronger battery case
SoundPEATS TrueShift vs Mpow M5
If you don't mind a big charging case, you may as well take a look at the Mpow M5 (or Mpow T5) - which was the best sounding wireless earphone under $50 for half of 2019. The Mpow may not have ear-wings for sports, but the sound is suited for working out - with a strong, fat, boosted bass, above-average soundstage, and sweet instrument placement - meaning you will hear details coming from everywhere. The TrueShift sounds brighter, more open, and makes vocal stand out more. The fit is also better, as the Mpow is a bit shaky in-ear.
Verdict
With its colossal battery case capable of recharging the earpieces 16 (!) times, 6 hours playtime per charge, great call quality, and sports-proof fit, the SoundPEATS TrueShift is a curious combination of features - that may just be the right package for you.
Four stars - very good
Buy SoundPEATS TrueShift 2/ check current price:
I bought the SoundPEATS TrueShift 2 myself for testing and review purposes. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
Consider buying this earphone? I'd really appreciate it if you use the links in this article. It won't cost you extra, yet it will financially support me a bit in my ongoing quest for great affordable audio. <3
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