TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
FOUR STARS - A shiny white charging case, and polished white round earpieces with relatively small ear tips? This isn't the AirPods Pro - it's the $50 TFZ Coco Q1, likeable in design and sound.
Specs of the TFZ Coco Q1 TWS:
Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC codec
IPX5 water proof (sweat and rain resistant)
5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Comes with 3 sets of ear tips and USB-C cable
$50 on AliExpress or Amazon US/ Europe/ UK - check current price!
Below this TFZ Coco Q1 TWS review you will find comparisons of the TFZ Coco Q1 vs QCY T5, Haylou T15 and KZ E10 TWS.
Design, comfort and battery life
The TFZ Coco Q1 TWS has the same shiny white color as the Apple AirPods, in both the earpieces and the charging case. The case is relatively compact and sturdy. The lid closes gently with a soft touch, and opening it requires a bit of force (and perhaps a bit of nail).
On the front, an LED-light shows the case's charging status. It can charge the earpieces fully four times, providing the earpieces almost 5 hours playtime per charge. What's more, is that it's USB-C powered, and the standby time is delightfully long.
The earpieces are round, with the microphone positioned in the tiny stem. When you're wearing them, people may mistake them for AirPods Pro from a distance. The Coco Q1 has a clean look - stylish even. It's further helped by the LED-ring on the earpieces, which light up subtle when they're connecting and pairing. On the inside, the earpieces feel more rubbery and have a slight hook to make them tight in your ears.
The Coco Q1 TWS may not be the most comfortable to wear in bed - you'll press a bit too much on the side, but for everyday use, it's certainly comfortable.
That is - when you have the right ear tip on them. The Q1 comes with three sizes of rubber tips, but they're all a bit smaller than most ear tips, and swapping them is hard, due to the stiffness of the rubbers. Please ensure you've pressed the tips on all the way down too. If not, the earpieces have a hard time charging in the case.
Once you're down with the right tips, the Coco is a great companion.
Connectivity and controls
The TFZ Coco Q1 TWS has excellent connection strength, holding its Bluetooth 5.0 signal to ten meters, even in areas more crowded with wireless signals and with walls between you and your smartphone. It's also possible to swap quickly between listening to one and two earpieces.
The Coco Q1 has touch panels on the side that respond well, but surprisingly, there isn't a single-tap action. Instead, it takes a ‘long’ 1,5-second touch to play or pause the music. You won't accidentally control these buds, that's for sure. It's actually quite clever.
With two taps on the right bud, you advance a track. Touch the left bud twice, and you return a song. Long-pressing the left earpiece activates the voice assistant of your smartphone. It's not possible to change the volume, unfortunately.
Calling and watching movies with Coco Q1
It's easy to enjoy videos on the TFZ Coco Q1, if you're using an Android phone or watching Netflix, Amazon Prime or Disney+ on your iPhone. Unfortunately, the Coco Q1 doesn't always hit perfect synchronization on the YouTube-app on iPhone, which appears challenging time and time again.
Expect a noticeable delay in the sounds when playing games as well.
The TFZ Coco Q1 has two microphone techniques to make the most out of its call quality, and it definitely delivers when you're indoor. Even when there's some background noise with other people talking, the other end of the line will hear your voice loud and clear. Outside, calling is doable if there isn't too much wind. Surrounding noises are reduced good, but your voice is also dampened a bit.
Also read: The best true wireless earphones under $50
Sound quality of TFZ Coco Q1
The TFZ Coco Q1 comes with rubber ear-tips that are a bit less wide than most ear tips. These make the bass less prominent and instead pave the way for vocals and treble.
The Coco Q1 TWS is a slightly bright-sounding wireless earphone but in the right way. Female and higher-pitched male vocals take center stage on these earbuds and present themself with lots of clarity. QCY's T5, which is known for its emphasis on the upper-mids and vocals, sounds a bit tame in comparison with the Coco Q1 - it's thát treble-focused. Still, vocals and instruments like violins, guitars, and even cymbals don't sound too bright or painfully sharp.
Lifting the upper-mids and highs creates an extra benefit in the sound. It creates airiness. Indeed, the Coco Q1 has plenty of it. You're surrounded by the music, with instruments coming from all around you. The separation between the different instruments and electronic layers is good too.
Darker male vocals and heavier-sounding instruments can sound a little recessed on low-volumes on the Q1, but that changes when you turn it up. Then they join the parade.
As said: the smaller tips make the bass less prominent as well. The bass on the Coco is like an ideal son-in-law. It's nowhere in your face, disrupting other frequencies. It's a bowtie-wearing gentleman when requested, presenting a gentle laidback thump, yet with just enough depth and rumble to liven things up.
Now, this is the sound signature described with the rubber-tips that come standard with the TFZ Coco Q1. Swap them for more regular ear-tips from most other wireless earphones, and the bass instantly becomes more boosted (and a bit muddy, unfortunately), and upper-mids and highs are strongly reduced. In this scenario, the Q1 suddenly sounds a bit like the QCY T5, which is nothing to be ashamed of, either. If it weren't so hard to swap the ear tips on this model, it would have been a bonus.
With its extended higher frequencies and merely supporting bass, the TFZ Coco Q1 will please treble lovers.
Selected comparisons
TFZ Coco Q1 vs QCY T5
The hugely popular $25 QCY T5 is just as comfortable as the Coco Q1, even though it has stems that slightly brush your cheeks. The T5 has a balanced sound with elevated upper-mids and highs, bringing out the vocals and lighter-sounding instruments... but the Coco Q1 takes it up a notch. The higher frequencies enjoy more emphasis on the Coco, and sound more spacy, with better instrument placement. The T5 has a more assertive bass, that is only reached on the Coco when you put other-than-stock ear tips on it.
TFZ Coco Q1 vs KZ E10 TWS
Comparing the Q1 to the last extremely treble-focused wireless earbuds tested on Scarbir.com, it becomes clear the $40 KZ E10 sounds even brighter than the Coco Q1. It has an airier feeling and presents vocals with more detail, but also seems brighter and harsher than the Q1, with moments where cymbals can become painful. The bass is more integrated into the Q1 sound, especially on higher music volumes, and tonality is less cold than on KZ's offering. Comfort and battery life are much better on the Coco.
TFZ Coco Q1 vs Alien Secret QCC010
The $30 Alien Secret QCC010 is another true wireless earphone with elevated upper-mids and highs. The Coco Q1 puts even more focus on them, however. Highs extend better, with brighter sounding instruments and vocals sounding a tad more detailed. The Alien Secret offers better instrument tonality in the lower-mids - drums sound more lifelike - and puts more weight to the bass and lower-mids, making the Alien Secret sound fuller than the Coco.
Alien Secret Predator QCC010 review
TFZ Coco Q1 vs Haylou T15
The Haylou T15 is another $25 competitor that puts more weight onto the higher frequencies than most other cheap wireless earphones. Instruments in the mid-tones, such as guitars and pianos, sound a bit more natural and detailed on the Haylou. They are slightly warmer and smoother on the Coco Q1. The Q1 has less bass and lows on lower-volumes, but strikes back on higher volumes, on which the Q1 sounds more clear AND dynamic - and the T15 a bit thin. The Coco also wins on practical aspects, like the battery, comfort, and watching videos.
Haylou T15 review coming soon
Verdict
If you love a clear, treble-focused sound and bass is not your primary concern, nothing will hold you back from the TFZ Coco Q1 TWS. It's a sweet package with its clean looks and great comfort and fit.
Four stars - very good
Buy TFZ Coco Q1/ check current price:
I bought the TFZ Coco Q1 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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