TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
THREE STARS - When Chinese audio brands KZ and TRN release new budget wired earphones, their performance and sound are often close to each other. Things are quite different with these ultra-affordable wireless earbuds under $30. The TRN BT1 vs KZ SKS - which is better?
KZ SKS specs:
Bluetooth 5.2 with AptX and AAC codec
4,5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 7 times
Comes with 3 sizes ear tips, English manual and USB-C cable
$25-30 - Show current price on AliExpress
TRN BT1 specs:
Bluetooth 5.0 with AAC codec
IPX5 waterproof rating (rain and sweat proof)
3,5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 5 times
Comes with 3 sizes ear tips, English manual and USB-C cable
$25-30 - Show current price on AliExpress
Below this TRN BT1 vs KZ SKS review, you will find comparisons between the TRN BT1 vs Fiil T1 Lite, QCY T5, and Realme Buds Air 2 Neo.
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Design, comfort and battery life
The KZ SKS may bear the sweetest design of wireless earbuds you can get around this price. We've seen the round charging case and the slim Y-shaped earbuds before on the more expensive KZ SA08 and Z1 Pro, but in combination with the baby-blue color, the SKS truly stand out from many competitors. The triangular earpieces have all kinds of bumps on the inside, which make them feel extremely snug in your ears. You may want to release the pressure a bit after wearing them for around an hour, but they do feel and look fantastic.
Sadly, thanks to their shape, they pick up a ton of wind noise when you're walking or cycling - up to levels you can't even hear the music well anymore. KZ also doesn't provide a waterproof rating.
The battery on the KZ SKS is pretty decent, with around 4,5 - 5 hours listening per charge and up to 7 recharges (!) from the case before it needs new power via USB-C itself.
The TRN BT1 has a more conventional look. Its oval case is a slimmed-down version of the more expensive TRN T300, but still feels pretty chunky and it's too big in your jeans pocket. It has its USB port in the back, and under the lid, an incredibly useful display shows the remaining battery percentage of the case. The can can recharge the earbuds 5 times before needing new power itself - that's good.
The earbuds themselves are triangular-shaped on the inside, with a bulb that clings into the upper part of your ears. As TRN delivers only short ear tips with these earphones, they feel comfortable to wear - although perhaps a bit too loose for heavy workouts. Still, it's nice to have the IPX5 rain-proof and sweat-proof rating on them. They also pick up some music-interfering wind noise when you're walking or cycling, although less than the KZ's.
Battery life is below average. The case can recharge the earbuds three times fully, and each charge gives the buds 3,5 hours of playtime. Enough for commuting, but you can have better even at this price.
Connectivity and controls
The KZ SKS pairs and connects fast when you take it out of the case and keeps a stable Bluetooth connection up to 9-10 meters away from your device. It doesn't automatically pause music when you take an earbud out, but you can always switch between listening to earbuds or listen to one while you're charging the other - and back again.
Tap L or R hard to play/ pause music
Double-tap R to skip to the next song
Double-tap L to return to the previous track
Triple-tap L or R to (de)activate the low-latency mode
Hold L or R to activate the voice assistant
The controls are simple but seem a bit inconsistent. They seem to require different tap strengths: the SKS responds easily to light double-taps, but a single-tap requires a much firmer touch. It's not possible to change the volume from the earbuds, unfortunately.
The TRN BT1 has touch panels around the middle of the earbuds. They don't always register your touches well, as they demand a certain speed and time in between taps. The control scheme is easy:
Double-tap L or R to play/ pause music
Hold R to skip to the next track
Hold L to return to the previous song
Triple-tap L or R to activate the voice assistant
Hold L or R for 5 seconds to shut them off
There's no option to change the volume from the earbuds. It also doesn't automatically pause when you take an earbud out, but you can swap between listening to one or two earbuds at any time. Overall connectivity is good, too: the BT1 pairs and connects quickly and keeps a stable connection up to ten meters away from your device.
Calling and watching movies
The KZ SKS handles video playback well. There's good synchronization between audio and video on iPhone and Android apps, and thanks to the low-latency mode you can activate on the earbuds, sound effects in games only come with a little delay to what you see on screen.
The SKS earbuds may disappear into your ears quite a bit, but the microphone picks up your voice loud enough in phone calls and video calls - albeit surrounded by a slight humming and some crackles. Brighter background sounds come through loud; passing by scooters and wind noise are picked up a little too well. It's possible to have a relaxed phone or video call indoors, just don't take outside.
The TRN BT1 doesn't convince when it comes to videos, unfortunately. There's a noticeable mismatch between audio and video when playing videos in the YouTube app on iPhone. The video performance is better on other video apps and the whole of Android.
When it comes to games again, the BT1 has a severe delay in sound effects.
Phone calls or video calls with the BT1? Forget it. The microphone is terrible and muffles your voice so much that you're sometimes inaudible - even though there's enough volume! Don't even try taking them outside when wind noise also comes into play.
Also read: The best wireless earbuds under $25
Sound quality of KZ SKS vs TRN BT1: Like bass?
KZ SKS: Unlike previous cheap KZ earbuds like the S1 Hybrid, S1D, and S2, the KZ wireless earphone has a ton of bass. When you surpass moderate volume levels, there's a downright bulbous mid-bass that thumps and rumbles in modern genres like dance, electronic music, or hip-hop. That's not all: each acoustic (bass) guitar string-pulling or drum also has a bassy effect, and even darker male singers can trigger a bass response. The mid-bass is always on the lookout to strike - including easy singer-songwriter songs - and when it does, it's strong and bloaty. Bass tones drag on a bit. Things are far from quick and uplifting, far from refined.
There's a fair amount of warmth in the KZ SKS sound thanks to the boosted lower mid-tones, yet there's still enough clarity in the upper mids. Female and higher-pitched male vocals are forward enough to take the lead in songs, but they can sound a bit metallic when the song itself pushes them. Higher instruments like cymbals and claps can sound a bit splashy, sharp even.
There's a decent separation between instruments and details on your left and right, and in songs without too much lower tones, music can even feel airy. Unfortunately, that effect is diminished by the constant white noise-floor underneath music playback... and starts to fade when the bass kicks in as well.
TRN BT1: Coming off from the KZ SKS, the bass on the TRN BT1 feels almost non-existent. The mid-bass can give a bit of thump in songs pushing the bass, but mostly restricts to a gentle yet quick slam. Underneath it, the sub-bass can rumble, but very loosely, and when both basslines combine, a bit of distortion can occur. Thanks to the more represented lower-mid tones, the BT1 still provides warm underlining in the sound.
It's less bass-intensive genres like blues, jazz, classical music, or soul, where the BT1 begins to sing. There's a sense of air in the sound as a whole and in between instruments. They are separated wonderfully and come from around you. While vocals don't always take in the center position, tonality is mostly good: center-mid female and male vocals, and also drums, guitars, and piano sound natural and clear on the BT1.
Higher-pitched vocals are forward, and like cymbals, they can have some sharp volume peaks and sound a bit thin when they're pushed. On this model, too, there can be a slight white noise floor underneath the music. Despite this, the tonality and instrument separation make the TRN BT1 a solid choice for more acoustic and classic genres.
TRN BT1 comparisons
As Scarbir.com focuses on sound quality, all comparisons will include the TRN BT1.
TRN BT1 vs Realme Buds Air 2 Neo
Did you know you can get earbuds with impressive ANC active noise-cancelling and Transparency mode for only 5 to 10 dollars more? The Realme Buds Air 2 Neo offers outstanding value for money. When it comes to music, the TRN gives more space to vocals, making them sound more upfront and natural. The BT1 separates instruments better and shows slightly more detail; the Realme has a smoother sound. The Air Buds 2 Neo also has a colder tone and thumpier, less controlled bass.
TRN BT1 vs Fiil T1 Lite
If you can afford to spend around 5-10 dollars more, the Fiil T1 Lite deserves your attention. It not only has a more compact case and 2,5 hours more battery life on a single charge, but also boasts a more versatile sound. The TRN BT1 sounds brighter and opener, with more space in the higher frequencies. The Fiil has fuller lows, with richer lower-mid detail, a stronger mid-bass, and a sub-bass that appears deeper. It makes it a more engaging listen for practically all genres that demand a bit of bass. Purely for acoustic and classical genres, you could make a different decision.
Fiil T1 Lite full review ($35)
TRN Bt1 vs QCY T5
Of course, a comparison with the cheapest good-sounding TWS can't miss. The $15 QCY T5 (avoid the T5s or T5 Pro; they're worse in connectivity and sound) still has a micro-USB charging port and looks extremely generic, but it's still a match in sound. The TRN resolves more individual details from instruments. It also pushes upper-mids and highs further, presenting higher-pitched vocals more prominent and making the sound appear more open than on the T5. By doing so, however, it also lets in a little more peakiness than the more rounded, full-bodied T5 sound. The TRN has a more dynamic sound.
QCY T5 full review ($15)
Verdict
The KZ SKS looks great, has decent battery life, and comes with a low-latency mode that works well - but thanks to its nauseous, bulbous bass, it isn't a very friendly allrounder for listening to music.
The TRN BT1 is quite the opposite. It sounds balanced and spacious enough to perform classical and more acoustic music with great ease. Still, even at this entry-level price, the call quality, battery life, and video performance could be better.
The winner between these, with waterproof rating, more wind-proof earbuds, and better sound quality, is the TRN BT1. Still - it may be worth it to save up a few dollars more for better alternatives.
Three stars - Worth considering
Buy KZ SKS or TRN BT1/ check lowest price:
I bought the KZ SKS and TRN BT1 to test and review myself. My reviews are 100% independent and non-commercial. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
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