TWS true wireless earphones - $25 to $50
FOUR STARS - The Tozo Crystal Pods is a great sounding pair of wireless earbuds under 50 dollars, but at the same time, it's not good enough.
Tozo Crystal Pods specs and features:
Bluetooth 5.4 with AAC codec
IPX5 waterproof (rain and sweat resistant)
6 - 7 hours playtime on a single charge (ANC on/off)
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Has: ANC, Transparency, gaming mode, app support
Doesn't have: multipoint connection, app support, wireless charging, spatial audio
Comes with 3 sets of ear tips, English manual
$30 - See price on Amazon US or your Amazon country
In and underneath this Tozo Crystal Pods review, you will find comparisons of the Tozo Crystal Pods vs Tozo NC9, QCY MeloBuds Pro, CMF Buds, Soundcore P30i, Moondrop Space Travel, and Redmi Buds 4 Lite.
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Design, comfort and battery life
The Tozo Crystal Pods had the transparent look and feel of wireless earbuds first seen on the Nothing Ear 1 from 2022.
In this price range, the look and feel has also been done before on the SoundPEATS Clear.
But even though it's been done before, it looks really cool:
The charging case with a see-through lid so you can see the earbuds sitting in. The red charging lights on the earbuds when they're charging inside it. The visible internals in the earbuds’ stems and earpieces. The white golf-ball pattern on the flat surface of the stems and the bottom of the case.
Tozo's most original update on the design are the grey metallic touch panels on top of stems.
The material also seems to be pretty scratch-resistant, even when you throw the pocketable case in with your keys.
All these things combined, make that the Crystal Pods looks more expensive than it is.
Shape-wise, these are your everyday oval earpieces that you can put in your ears without thinking. That said - you can always feel these earbuds sitting in your ears. These aren’t the most comfortable earbuds with this form factor.
The Tozo Crystal Pods has a solid 6 hours battery life, or around 7 hours with ANC turned off. A 10 minute recharge from the case is good for two hours of extra listening time.
The IPX5 waterproof rating makes them a safe choice for running or working out; they resist rain and sweat.
The Tozo Crystal Pods looks and feels like a more expensive pair of earphones, while covering the basics as well.
Controls, connectivity and app support
The Tozo Crystal Pods controls easily with the metallic round touch panels on top of the stems.
You can setup the controls of the earbuds in the free Tozo app for iPhone and Android phones, selecting different options for a single tap, double-tap, triple-tap and hold. This includes volume controls.
Weirdly, Tozo uses two different control options for the ANC modes; once for ANC on and off, and one for the Normal mode. You can't cycle between all three with one command.
Music doesn't automatically pause when you take an earbud out.
Like more earbuds in this low-budget price range, the Crystal Pods has no multipoint connectivity: you can only connect these earbuds to one device.
That's not the biggest problem: the Bluetooth connection between the left and right earbud can dip for multiple seconds in areas that are crowded with wireless signals.
That means dips will happen when you're passing a house with a wifi doorbell, walking on the sidewalk next to houses, or when you're entering an office. On a busy street, the signal may drop often.
These Bluetooth issues limit the enjoyment of this model. It makes the Crystal Pods less portable than wireless earbuds should be.
The homescreen of the Tozo app
The EQ that tones down the bass is worth checking out
The Tozo app has more than customisable control options:
Update the firmware
See the battery of each earbud
Switch between six ANC modes
Choose from 32 EQ presets or make and save your own equalizer
(De)activate the low-latency mode
Choose from tens of relaxing nature sounds
Try four AI features
The AI features seem pretty spectacular for earbuds on a budget. In theory, the earbuds would be able to record a meeting, do realtime translations, translate face-to-face conversations, or have you chat with the AI.
Forget the AI features immediately: they aren't really earbuds functions - and don't work well either. Everything that can be done with your voice, reverts to the microphone of your phone, and when you select the Crystal Pods microphone, the functions fail.
The Tozo Crystal Pods controls easily, but it lacks multipoint… and the ability to hold to connection between the two earbuds at all time. It makes this earphone less suitable for commuting.
Phone and video calls
The Tozo Crystal Pods isn't the best choice for phone calls and video conferences, although calls in quiet areas are doable.
Your voice sounds natural and full, but lacks a bit of clarity.
This becomes more apparent when you walk or when there are voices or other sounds nearby. The microphones can have a hard time focusing on your voice, and the clarity in your voice drops as a result.
Wind noise is a threat to your audibility. Your voice doesn't fade away completely, but dips can be too heavy.
Video and games playback
The Tozo Crystal Pods has no problem playing videos on iPhone and Android phones.
The low-latency mode from the app makes gaming a blast. There's great synchronization between the action on your screen and when you hear the sound effects, and the sound also has some detail to show you where gunshots and explosions effects in a game like Call of Duty mobile are coming from.
Unfortunately though, you can't activate the low-latency mode from the earbuds itself.
ANC quality of Tozo Crystal Pods
Tozo Crystal Pods’ Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) is strong enough to lower the volume of sounds around you, but it's not strong enough to silence your surroundings.
You have to twist the earbuds in your ears a little bit to get the strongest effect.
Even then, middle sounds like a radio playing in the background, chatter, or keyboard typing are still clearly audible. Even a constant sound like the electronic humming of a fridge is.
As such, the ANC doesn't really bring rest to your head when you're not playing music. It does help to put your surroundings to the background when you are.
The ANC mode leaves out wind noise pretty well, so it's possible to cycle, walk or run with it in the wind. You can also select a Wind noise reduction mode from the app to deplete it further.
The Transparency mode lets in a lot of clearer sounds from your surroundings when you need it. Middle and higher-pitched sounds are boosted strongly, so (wet) traffic noise and conversations can be picked up when you're listening to music on low volumes.
Around the 30-40 dollars price point, the CMF Buds, Soundcore P30i and Moondrop Space Travel have stronger ANC. The same goes for the $25 Redmi Buds 6 Lite.
Tozo's own NC9 (the 2024 model) and the QCY Melobuds Pro also have noticeably stronger noise reduction than the Crystal Pods.
The ANC on the Tozo Crystal Pods helps to reduce volume of sounds around you, but there are many competitors at this small price that perform better.
Sound quality of Crystal Tozo Pods
The Tozo Crystal Pods has a surprisingly full and rich sound for its small price point, but there are some variables at play.
Like the Tozo T6, Tozo T9, and Tozo T12, the newer Tozo Crystal Pods is the next model from the brand to deliver a full, thumping bass.
The mid-bass can truly slam in your ears. Bass strikes aren't very tight, but they're full and feel powerful.
Other lower frequencies are also boosted heavily. This means there's an above-average presence of lower tones, like darker instruments, darker electronics and the lowest male vocals.
It can be a bit much; the lows feel artificially ‘bloated’. And on background and lower volumes, the sound is darker than average.
When you select the Bass- preset in the app, the lower frequencies are toned down, and the bass cleans up. While it's still full enough, drums and electronic basses have more kick.
This preset (or toning down the lower frequencies manually in the equalizer) also makes way for the mid-tones, like the guitar, piano play, and trumpets.
This is highly recommended: mid-tones on the Crystal Pods are excellent. Especially when you give them a bit of volume, instruments like the guitar and piano have a big role and appear full yet natural.
Vocals are slightly forward. They aren't as in-your-face as earphones from Soundcore or QCY-models, but they do stand out enough from instruments.
Claps and cymbals are the exception of the standout midrange, and are quite recessed. This does make for a smooth listening.
The Crystal Pods sounds more articulated and detailed than its direct competitors. Instruments have their own space and impact, from drums to flutes.
There's good left-right separation as well; in more acoustic and classical genres, you can hear minor details coming from your sides.
There are some varieties at play, however:
The Crystal Pods sounds great at higher volumes, where the mid-tones and treble stand out and shine.
There's a big difference in sound with the different ANC modes.
Normal mode is the default setting and offers a more natural balance in the sound.
With ANC on, the bass fulness increases vastly and the sound becomes more bloated.
On the very highest volumes, an earphone like the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE does give you better dynamics. These earphones sound great, but they don't break price barriers.
The Tozo Crystal Pods delivers the richest and most articulated sound of wireless earphones on a small budget.
—> These are the best sounding wireless earbuds from $25 to $100
Tozo Crystal Pods comparisons
Tozo Crystal Pods vs Tozo NC9 (2024)
Unreviewed on Scarbir.com, the Tozo NC9 from 2024 is a slightly more expensive ANC earphone from the same brand.
The NC9 has an IPX7 waterproof rating which lets you take them under the shower, and its ANC is stronger too. They also feel less prominent in your ears, although they do stick out. The Crystal Pods has easier controls.
The Tozo NC9 has a livelier treble than the Crystal Pods. Vocals are more prominent and highs extends further, also giving the NC9 an airier sound. Yet while the NC9 is an engaging combination of bass and treble, the Crystal Pods fills the midrange up more - boosting the presence of instruments like guitars and piano better. It feels more balanced and richer.
Around $40 on Amazon US or your Amazon country
Tozo Crystal Pods vs QCY MeloBuds Pro
The QCY MeloBuds Pro or QCY HT08 costs a bit more than the Tozo Crystal Pods, but its ANC is heaps better and it has multipoint connection.
The latter meaning you can connect the earbuds to two devices at the same time. As the QCY also delivers clear calls in easy circumstances, these are great everyday all-rounders.
The MeloBuds Pro/ HT08 has more emphasis on treble, with clearer, more upfront and brighter vocals. It has more air in the sound as well. The Tozo has stronger bass thumps, controls the highs better, and offers a richer midrange.
Around $45 on Amazon US, your Amazon country or AliExpress
Tozo Crystal Pods vs Moondrop Space Travel
Two years after its debut, the excellent Moondrop Space Travel shows its age with only 3,5 hours of battery life and no multipoint connection. But it's still a good contender.
The Moondrop has noticeably stronger ANC that blocks more sounds from all frequencies better.
The Tozo is more versatile though, with more control options from the app, 2,5 hours longer battery life and better video and games playback.
The Moondrop Space Travel sounds more laidback, with a flatter bass. It has a more outspoken lower treble and more distinct vocals; but the overall mids still feel more natural and easygoing. The Tozo has a fuller bass and a thicker midrange, that can make it more engaging.
Around $30 on Amazon US, your Amazon country or AliExpress
Tozo Crystal Pods vs Soundcore P30i
The Soundcore P30i has the beautiful bonus feature that its case can function as a phone stand, but there are more reasons to prefer it over the Tozo Crystal Pods.
The P30i has an hour longer battery life with ANC on, and its noise cancelling is stronger - especially in reducing constant sounds. Moreover, P30i's earbuds are smaller and more comfortable to wear.
The Soundcore P30i has a thicker, bigger, punchier bass than the Crystal Pods, and can offer an engaging bass-treble sound with the Treble boost EQ. It does sound more closed-in and restricted than the Tozo Crystal Pods however, even though Tozo fills up the midrange better!
Around $40 on Amazon US or your Amazon country
Tozo Crystal Pods vs CMF Buds
The budget CMF Buds by Nothing are more budget earphones you could want based on their design. They could have an edge over the Tozo Crystal Pods.
Both earbuds offer around 6 hours of playtime on a single charge, rock a great gaming mode and don't have the best microphone output for calls.
The CMF Buds has stronger ANC that reduces constant sounds noticeably better, and also adds multipoint connection for two devices.
While the Tozo Crystal Pods has a strong bass, the CMF Buds has a massive bass that thumps ridiculously hard and bleeds deep into the lower mid-tones. With the easy to use custom equalizer, you can tone it down a bit and let much-needed treble in, but even with the best setup, the Tozo Crystal Pods sounds more open, better balanced and more detailed.
Around $40 on Amazon US, your Amazon country or AliExpress
Verdict: Tozo Crystal Pods
The Tozo Crystal Pods looks and feels great for its price, and it sounds great with a rich midrange and engaging bass.
Sadly, ANC and call clarity aren't highlights, and the Bluetooth connection dips between the left and right earpiece make these earbuds less versatile than they should be.
4 STARS - Good
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I bought the Tozo Crystal Pods myself to test and review. This doesn't influence my judgment. My reviews are 100% independent and non-commercial - read about it here.
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