After years of dominance in the Amazon salescharts for affordable wireless earbuds with the T6, T10 and T12, the Tozo brand now has two new offerings at just $20 each. How good are the Tozo A2 and Tozo A3 - and which of the two models is better?
Tozo didn't have the most reliable earbuds so far, with some connection issues or some models even malfunctioning the moment you receive them, but at least their service on Amazon seems well - often sending out a replacement model without any hassle. At least, the T6, T9 and T12 were massively entertaining with strong bass and an energetic sound. With a service and sound like that, it's no wonder these cheap models became so popular.
Unfortunately, the cheapest model so far, the Tozo A1, is less appealing, with a brighter and harsher sound. Now that Tozo builds upon the A-range with two new dirt-cheap models, how good are the Tozo A2 and A3 Mini?
Tozo A3 review: Fun-sounding AirPods-like earbuds for just $20
$20 — 5 hours playtime — AAC Codec — No IPX
The Tozo A3 is a pair of half-in-ear wireless earbuds. Or open earbuds. Or AirPods-like earbuds - whatever you want to call them. Thing is: they don't have rubber ear-tips. That means a couple of things.
You can still hear your surroundings when you use the earbuds, you'll hear severe wind noise when you use them outside, and they don't have the most secure fit. However, they are very comfortable to wear during their 5 hours of playtime on a single charge.
Those are all very normal aspects of half-in-ear earbuds. What's not so normal, is that the Tozo A3 has a noticeable white noise floor when you use them. If you're playing music at low volume or pausing in between two Instagram videos; you can pickup a subtle background hiss. Sometimes, there can be a little hiccup in the playback too.
Happily though, the Tozo A3 sounds fun. As these don't go into your ear canals as deep as earbuds with rubber-tips, the bass isn't the tightest or most detailed, but the mid-bass pushes happily - without taking the music hostage.
The A3 has a warm sound with boosted lower mid-tones, meaning there's a lot of emphasis on darker electronic tones and lower male vocals. Instruments in the mids, such as guitar or piano play, sound a little darker than natural, while female and higher male vocals are pushed forward so they're easily separated from the instruments. The A3 may not provide the most detailed sound and can even get a little messy in crowded pieces, but its warm and thick sound makes it extremely easy to listen to.
As far as specs and features go: you get what you pay for. There's no waterproof rating, even though the earbuds did survive a light rain in the test period. There's no app support or Active Noise Cancelling and no gaming mode, meaning there's a lot of delay in sound effects when you're playing games. Taking a phone or video call is doable only in quiet areas. The microphones make your voice appear full and dark, but it can get tricky when there's noise around you. Wind wipes away your voices clarity entirely.
The Tozo A3 is an extremely basic pair of wireless earbuds - but if you're just looking for some music on the go, it comes easily recommended for its $20 price.
Design and comfort: 4/5 - Not the most secure fit, yet very comfortable
Controls and connectivity: 3.5/5 - Track and volume controls on the earbuds, minor connection hiccups
Playback: 2/5 - Not always lipsync in videos, big delay in games
Call quality: 2/5 - Only doable in quiet areas
ANC: n/a
Transparency mode: n/a
App support: n/a
Sound quality: 4/5 - Easy to enjoy; entertaining warm and thick sound
VERDICT: FOUR STARS (Recommended)
$15 - $25
Buy on Amazon US
Buy on Amazon UK
Buy on Amazon Germany
Tozo A2 review: Read before you buy
$20 — 6 hours playtime — AAC Codec — IPX7 WATERPROOF
As you can read, the Tozo A3 does everything previous Tozo's did. There are no fancy features, and you want to look elsewhere for phone calls, but it has Tozo's typical warm and entertaining sound to make it worthwhile on its own. Sadly the Tozo A2 has a fatal flaw in this regard.
The Tozo A2 Mini may not go loud enough. Volume is personal of course, but I already almost maximized the volume bar on my phone during my work. Two other persons that tested the volume for me because of this, also called the maximum level ‘normal listening volume’. For active listening, the A2 may not be sufficient for everyone.
The sound itself? Once again, Tozo puts a lot of focus on the bass. The A2 bass is boomy, and not always in a good way. Bass tones can drag on (too) long and when there's a rumble, it's very loose. It can get messy in songs boosting the bass out of themselves. The bass bleeds into the boosted lower mid-tones that color the music warm. To outweigh the drums and darker (electronic) tones, vocals are pushed forward. Middle to higher female and male singers are prominent - while not very nuanced, and they can have a tiny bit of hiss - while overall treble is reduced. Apart from moments of bass boominess and the limited maximum volume, the A2 actually sounds entertaining with its warm character.
Still interested? Well, good, because the A2 has quite a bit going for it. It offers around 6 hours playtime per charge, you can change tracks and volume from the earbuds, and thanks to the IPX7 waterproof rating, you can even take it under the shower. The diagonal earpieces provide a comfort and snug fit, and the shape even rules out surrounding noise up to Active Noise Cancelling levels! You can also take a phone or video call with the Tozo A2, as sounds around you are reduced well. The same doesn't apply to wind, sadly: it will drown your voice immediately.
Overall, the Tozo A2 is a recommendable offering for its super friendly $20 price - as long as you don't listen to music very loudly.
Design and comfort: 4.5/5 - Very comfortable, good battery life, IPX7
Controls and connectivity: 4/5 - Operates easily, volume controls included
Playback: 2.5/5 - Heavy delay in games, videos could be more lively
Call quality: 3/5 - Doable in areas with some noise around you
ANC: n/a
Transparency mode: n/a
App support: n/a
Sound quality: 4/5 - Entertainingly bassy and warm, but doesn't go loud
VERDICT: FOUR STARS (Recommended)
$15 - $25
Buy on Amazon US
Buy on Amazon UK
Buy on Amazon Germany
Concusion: which Tozo earbud is better?
Both the Tozo A2 and Tozo A3 are likeable ultra-cheap earbuds. They both have a comfortable fit, plenty of playtime per charge, and boast an entertaining warm and bassy sound.
Which Tozo earbud is better for you, depends on your prefered fit - do you prefer an earbud with or without a rubber ear-tip? Other than that, it depends on the volume. If you like your music loud, go for the Tozo A3 - or one of the alternatives mentioned below.
Alternatives to Tozo A2 and A3
SoundPEATS Air3
If you're looking for cheap AirPods-like earbuds, you may want to up your budget from the Tozo A3. The $35 SoundPEATS Air3 has a comparable warm sound with lots of emphasis on the lower tones, but a bit more separation in the mid-tones. It also has slightly better call clarity, and good gaming mode that synchronizes sound effects.
The Tozo A2 sees strong competition from the $20 Earfun Free Mini, which has slightly bigger earbuds, but more pronounced and detailed mid-tones and treble - and it can also go a lot louder. The $25 QCY T13 is an alternative with a gaming mode and a wider soundstage, but it also sounds colder than the A2. The $25 Jlab Go Air Pop is another alternative with higher volume, on top of three bass modes to choose from. The $30 Soundcore Life P2i has the same abilities, but actual controls. It has even more bass than the A2.
Also read: The best wireless earbuds under $25!
Disclaimer: I bought these TWS true wireless earbuds myself or I received these products from the manufacturer or a distributor. 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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