TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
4.5 STARS - With solid app support and a surprisingly crisp sound, the Tozo Crystal Buds are great wireless earbuds on a budget - but don't use them for phone calls.
Tozo Crystal Buds specs and features:
Bluetooth 5.3 with AAC codec
IPX8 waterproof rating (heavy rain, sweat and shower proof)
8 hours listening on a single charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Comes with 6 sets of ear tips, USB-C cable, English manual
$40 - Buy on Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon Germany or other Amazon countries (check for coupons!)
Below this Tozo Crystal Buds review, you will find comparisons of the Tozo CrystalBuds vs Fiil T1 Lite, OnePlus Nord Buds, and Samsung Galaxy Buds 2.
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Design, comfort and battery life
The Crystal Buds is Tozo's first pair of wireless earbuds with a fully written name, after releasing models like the Tozo T12, T9 and T6, the NC2 noise-cancelling earbuds and also the very budget-friendly Tozo A2 and A3.
Somethings don't change, however, like the look and feel of these earbuds. The charging case has a transparant lid that shows the earbuds' charging lights, and it also has a number on the front to show the remaining battery percentage. Convenient - just like the fact you can recharge the case via USB-C and wireless charging.
Open the lid, and you'll shortly see the remaining battery percentage of the case
The earbuds themselves have rather long nozzles, but they're not too deep and uncomfortable in your ears. The triangular shape is rounded and compact enough to provide a comfortable fit - although you may need to remove some pressure from your ears now and then to keep them comfortable during the 8 hours the battery can last on a singe charge. That's a great score.
Unfortunately, the Crystal Buds doesn't just lack Active Noise Cancelling; the earbuds also provide little passive noise isolation - meaning you can still hear plenty of sounds around you when you're listening music on low or moderate volume with these.
Thanks the IPX8 waterproof rating, you can workout, run, sweat, and even shower with the buds. All in all, it does nothing wrong for its friendly price tag.
Controls and connectivity
The Crystal Buds are a barebones pair of earbuds without Active Noise Cancelling, Transparency mode, or a Gaming mode. It also doesn't automatically pause music when you take an earbud out.
On the plus side, you can change the controls via the free Tozo app for iPhone and Android, and the default control scheme is easy enough:
Tap L or R to play/pause music
Double-tap R to skip to the next track
Double-tap L to return a track
Hold R to increase volume
Hold L to decrease volume
Triple-tap L or R to activate the voice assistant
Sadly, it happened a few times during the test period that the earbuds wouldn't immediately pair after taking them out of the case. Putting them back in the case and taking them out again always resolved it, but you don't want to encounter this when you're in a hurry.
The overall connection strength is great, however. The Bluetooth connection holds strong up to ten meters away from your device, and sound hiccups haven't occurred even once.
Phone and video calls on Tozo Crystal Buds
Tozo earbuds never convinced in the calling department, and unfortunately, the Crystal Buds is no exception. It's not recommend to take a phone or video call with these.
While your voice sounds rather natural, it can dip and fade even in quiet indoor areas. I've had numerous ‘I'm sorry, what did you say?’s in my dead-quiet own home, which does have a good reception. It only gets worse in noisy environments, let alone with outside wind noise.
Video and games playback
Apart from calling, it also isn't recommend to play games with the Crystal Buds. There isn't a dedicated Gaming Mode or low-latency mode, and the sound synchronization can't keep up with the action on your screen in a game like Call of Duty mobile.
Watching videos isn't a problem, happily - it works flawlessly on both Android and iPhone, with perfect lipsync synchronization.
App Support of Tozo Crystal Buds
The app support is where the $40 Tozo Crystal Buds becomes more interesting than many of its rivals. It's not without flaws: the app doesn't always immediately recognise your earbuds, and you may have to reactivate Bluetooth as a result. It does have some good features, however:
See the remaining battery of the left and right earbud
Customize controls
Check for firmware updates
Read the manual
Choose between 16 sound equalizer presets
Create and save your own equalizer
A library of nature and relax soundscapes, including the options to put these on repeat or make a playlist with them
The equalizer presets tweak rather than overhaul the sound
The app has a library of different soothing soundscapes you can repeat and put in a playlist - a nice addition
If you use your earbuds for working, relaxing, or sleeping in, the 20-or-so soundscapes are a nice addition to the Tozo app and the Crystal Buds in general. While some have a little sudden endings so they don't loop beautifully, most sounds are soothing and calming to listen to.
More good app features are the sixteen equalizer presets and the option to create and save your own equalizer, although it has to be said they only tweak the sound somewhat. Still, it's nice to be able to increase or decrease the lower frequencies via the Bass+ or Bass- presets, for instance.
Also read: The best wireless ANC earbuds
Sound quality of Tozo Crystal Buds: Clear!
Crystal Buds? You only need a minute with the earbuds to know why Tozo named them as such. The have a much clearer and more natural presentation than before.
In previous models, Tozo always opted for a warm sound with a thick and strong bass. It was best executed by the Tozo T12, and also done very well in the recently released AirPods-like Tozo A3. It's an entertaining approach that gets its fair share of praise in Amazon user reviews, but it has little to do with naturalness, or a faithful reproduction of music.
The Crystal Buds does things differently. It has a clear sound with emphasized upper mid-tones. Female and higher-pitched vocals have a strong, forward presence in the music come across crisp and detailed. They are bright, but not overly so, and have enough body too - although they touch highs easier than they dip into the lows.
It's not just vocals that convince. Brighter instruments are displayed well too. Cymbals, violins and higher electronic tones are prominent without being too splashy. The Crystal Buds can be on the verge of sounding harsh, a bit peaky, but keeps things in control most of the time - even on high volumes. Sibilance, the emphasis of sss-tones, is kept at a minimum as well.
Meanwhile, center mid-tones may be the biggest star of the show. Piano play and acoustic guitars reach the level of naturalness of the wonderful Samsung Galaxy Buds 2. Music is helped further by a bit of spaciousness, and a strong left-right separation.
Bass is no longer the main feature of this Tozo, and it's also its weakest asset. The mid-bass is a bit fit-dependant, and can either come with only slams, or a nice thumping. Still: don't expect the tightest or deepest mid-bass. Underneath it, the sub-bass (darkest bass tones you can feel as much as hear) doesn't show itself very easily, but when it does, it strikes with a tight and deep rumble - as shown by James Blake's test track Limit to Your Love.
Want a bit more bass? This is where the free app support steps in. With the Bass+ equalizer, the subtle lower-mids also gain a little weight, without damaging the crispness in the mids and treble too much.
The Crystal Buds are Tozo's best-sounding earbuds yet, while the model maintains the friendly pricing the brand is known for. A great combination.
Tozo Crystal Buds comparisons
Tozo Crystal Buds vs OnePlus Nord Buds
There aren't many sub-$50 wireless earbuds with a clear and natural musical presentation, but the Tozo Crystal Buds does have competition from the OnePlus Nord Buds. The OnePlus provides music with a slightly warmer undertone, by lifting the lower mid-tones a bit further and in higher vocals as well. The Tozo extends highs a little further, and its mid-bass thumps a little bit more - whereas the Nord Buds has a cleaner bass presentation. The Crystal Buds has a higher waterproof rating and longer battery life, but if gaming or calling are important as well, definitely head over to the OnePlus.
OnePlus Nord Buds review ($50)
Tozo Crystal Buds vs Fiil T1 Lite
The long-time Scarbir.com favourite Fiil T1 Lite remains one of the best sub-$50 earbuds with a clear and engaging sound, and the T1 Lite still holds against the Tozo Crystal Buds. With the terrific Bass-equalizer from the Fiil+ Global app, the Fiil has a stronger and more detailed bass than the Tozo, and it gives mid-tones and treble a pleasant warmer undertone - while the Crystal Buds resolves more detail in upper-mids and higher vocals. The T1 Lite sounds a bit thicker. It's more suitable for calls too. Tozo's app support, availability, battery life, and comfort are all one step ahead, however.
Fiil T1 Lite review ($40)
Tozo Crystal Buds vs Samsung Galaxy Buds 2
As the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 shift from around $75 to $120, it's always way more expensive than the Tozo Crystal Buds. Yet at its price point, it's the best execution of a natural and detailed sound to date. It outperforms the Tozo as well, with (even) more natural mid-tones - that have a slight edge in texture and towards the lower-mids. As the Samsung also has a tighter mid-bass and deeper-diving sub-bass that shows itself easier, it remains the better choice, if budget is not of your concern. If it is though - the Tozo does save you a good few bucks.
Verdict
Tozo takes it up a notch with the Tozo Crystal Buds. Its long battery life, high waterproof rating and solid app support are only bonuses on top of its natural and crisp sound.
Buy Tozo Crystal Buds/ check price:
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Buy on Amazon UK
Buy on Amazon Germany
Buy on other Amazon countries
I received the Tozo CrystalBuds from the manufacturer totest and review. My reviews are 100% independent and non-commercial - read about it here.
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Also read:
Guide: The best earbuds under $75
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