TWS true wireless earphones - under $100
4.5 STARS - It may not have the biggest battery life or smallest charging case, the TRN T300 delivers an entertaining, spacious and lovely bassy sound.
TRN T300 specs:
Bluetooth 5.2 with AptX and AAC codec
IPX5 waterproof rating (rain and sweat resistant)
4 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 6 times
Comes with 3 sizes ear tips and USB-C cable
$60-$65 on AliExpress (possibly cheaper here)
Below this TRN T300 review, you will find comparisons between the TRN T300 vs Fiil T1 Lite, Earfun Free Pro, Soundcore Spirit Dot and Tronsmart Apollo Bold.
All reviews on Scarbir.com are 100% unsponsored and honest. Please support my research by buying via the links on this site. You can also support me via PayPal. <3
Design, comfort and battery life
The TRN T300 earpieces follow your ears' shape, like earlier released wired earphones from the brand. On the outside, there's a center round panel with the touch sensor, a microphone near the bottom, and a hidden LED-light that slowly blinks when you aren't playing any music.
The inside has a clever bulb on the top that clings onto the upper part of your ears. These earbuds may be bigger than usual and a bit loose in your ears (it's probably better to prevent workouts with them, even though they have IPX5 waterproof rating); they are surprisingly comfortable because of their shape.
The charging case is all but comfortable: it's too bulky to carry in a jeans pocket. Luckily, its specs are great: the case can recharge via USB-C or wirelessly, and a full case can recharge the earbuds around six times fully. Best of all, the inside of the case shows the battery percentage of the case and the earbuds' charging status, depicted in 1-4 battery stripes. There are countless generic cheapass earphones on AliExpress that already did this; now it's a feature on a pair of earphones that matter - it's super convenient and should be followed by others.
The TRN T300 earbuds deliver around 4 hours of playtime on a single charge, below average for the price. As the earpieces are on the bigger side, this is a disappointment.
Connectivity and controls
The control scheme on the TRN T300 is a little inconvenient by requiring you to tap four times to change the volume:
Tap L or R twice to play/ pause music
Tap L or R three times to activate the voice assistant on your phone
Hold R to skip to the next song
Hold L to return to the previous track
Tap R four times to increase the volume
Tap L four times to decrease volume
Even though changing volume requires four taps, the controls are pretty straightforward, and you'll get used to them in no time.
Connectivity on the TRN T300 is solid, but there's one little flaw: right after you take the earbuds out of the case, the right bud may need an extra second to give music playback. Other than this, connectivity was fine during testing - with a solid connection up to ten meters away from the device. It's also possible to continue listening to an earbud while you're charging the other. Take the charged bud out, and music playback will be stereo again instantly.
Calling and watching movies
Watching videos on the TRN T300 is a smooth experience. It has good synchronization between audio and video on both iPhone and Android, including the always challenging YouTube-app.
There is a noticeable delay in sound effects when you're playing games, sadly, which is the case on almost all wireless earbuds.
When it comes to phone calls, the TRN T300 does an amazing job of reducing background noises. Traffic passing by, trains, a construction site next to you - they can just disappear into the background when you're calling with these. Unfortunately, the T300 has a habit of dragging your voice along with these noises sometimes, making your voice soft and muffled when a lot is going on around you. Your voice is clearer and louder in quieter areas.
Also read: The best wireless earbuds under $100
Sound quality of TRN T300: open and Engaging
TRN threw both a dynamic drivers and balanced armature in the T300, which should imply a focus on the lows because of the dynamic driver, and clear highs due to the balanced armature.
The KZ SA08 recently pointed out that a higher number of sound drivers doesn't automatically mean music sounds good, but TRN put them to good use here.
The TRN T300 has impressive lows. The bass is full yet rather tight, with a mid-bass that can pack a punch. It isn't a bloated up-bass to overrule all other frequencies - it's a bass that does wonderfully well on its own besides the other frequencies. The bass is surrounded by space - space to separate different basslines from each other, separate it from higher frequencies, space that gives both the mid-bass and the deepest darkest sub-bass tones their presence.
The amount of detail in the bass is worth noting. The mid-bass in Zola Blood's Out of Time (TSHA Remix) can just stab - and the sub-bass can go deep. While the sub-bass isn't the tightest, it can be joyfully bulbous when representing bass drums, for example. Still, these darkest lows could have been even more articulated - and the bass isn't the fastest either.
The lower-mids join in on the fun. While they provide electronic and dance genres with their flow, they don't color the sound overly warm. Darker drums, guitar lines, and lower male vocals enjoy some emphasis - yet both the bass and these lower-mids can take a step back when they need to.
It's not just the lows that get room to shine. The TRN T300 has a bigger-than-average soundstage, which positions instruments and sounds effects around you. In Jonathan Wilson's In Heaving Making Love, the singer takes center stage with two guitars and other instruments surrounding him, coming from your left and right. You can often place instruments precisely in songs.
The T300 reduces higher notes. Upper-mids are extended enough to give female and higher-pitched male vocals enough clarity, and forward enough to counter the lower frequencies, but don't expect vocals to come with incredible clarity - nuances like gasps. A clearer sounding alternative like the Fiil T1 Lite resolves more micro detail in the middle and higher frequencies. The plucking of guitar strings, singers' gasps, resonating snare drums - they're hard to catch on the T300. That doesn't mean the T300 lacks body here - it just can't grasp the crisper detail of the class-leading alternative.
The TRN T300 delivers an engaging, warm, and full sound in return, with spaciousness and lows with plenty of detail.
TRN T300 comparisons
TRN T300 vs Fiil T1 Lite
You can get the Fiil T1 Pro at the same price as the TRN T300, but why would you if the $35 Fiil T1 Lite is just as excellent? The biggest difference between the T1 Lite and the T300, is the presence of mids and highs. The T1 Lite offers more body and micro detail in them, resolving details in guitars, drums, and vocals competitors fail to grasp - the TRN T300 included. The T300 has a bigger soundstage with more precise instrument placement. The TRN bass is a little more defined too, with more separation between basslines and a more detailed mid-bass. On everyday practicality, the T1 Lite has an advantage - reaching up to 6 instead of 4 hours playtime per charge, and with a much more compact charging case.
TRN T300 vs Earfun Free Pro
Bass lovers wanting to spend around 60 dollars on wireless earphones can't overlook the Earfun Free Pro. This tweaked version of the Fiil T1 Pro throws a lot of bass in the mix - a bass so fat, so thick, so almost-nauseous that it strikes stronger even than the TRN T300. The Earfun has more presence and detail in the mids, and provides vocals more clarity. The T300 extends highs a little less, making the sound smoother and a tad darker. The TRN bass is tighter, it offers more separation between basslines, and the music has more air between instruments and frequencies.
TRN T300 vs Soundcore Spirit Dot
The strong-bassed Soundcore Spirit Dot has one big advantage over the TRN T300, apart from its 5,5 hours of playtime per charge: it comes with rubber sport-wings that make the Spirit Dot stay tight in your ears even in the wildest workouts. It's one of the most uplifting, bass-pumping TWS you can get under $100, and its mid-bass is stronger and quicker than the T300 bass. The TRN sounds (only a little) more laidback, with a bigger soundstage and more space in between the instruments. The Soundcore elevates higher frequencies more but can be a bit sharp in doing so. The T300 makes them sound a little more natural.
TRN T300 vs Tronsmart Apollo Bold
Why should you get the TRN T300 if you can have the Tronsmart Apollo Bold with good Active Noise Cancelling and around 7 hours of playtime per charge? Not just because of the increased comfort on the TRN. The Tronsmart may have strong bass and a full sound; the TRN adds a lot of space and detail to it. The T300 basslines are better separated, its mid-bass is tighter, and the vocals more clear and forward.
Verdict
It may not have the biggest battery life or smallest charging case, the TRN T300 delivers an entertaining, spacious and lovely bassy sound.
4.5 stars - great
Buy TRN T300/ check price:
Buy TRN T300 on AliExpress (possibly cheaper here)
I bought the TRN T300 myself with a heavy discount from the manufacturer, in order to test and review this TWS. My reviews are 100% independent and non-commercial. 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
Also read:
Leaderboard: All rated wireless earphones
