TWS true wireless earphones - under $100
FOUR STARS - The Tronsmart Onyx Apex may not have very convincing active noise cancelling; these are versatile earbuds for everyday use.
Tronsmart Onyx Apex specs:
Bluetooth 5.2 with AptX Adaptive codec
4,5 hours listening on a full charge (ANC on)
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Comes with three ear tips and USB-C cable
$50 - Buy on AliExpress, Amazon Germany or other Amazon stores
Below this Tronsmart Onyx Apex review, you will find comparisons of the Tronsmart Onyx Apex vs Apollo Air/ Air+, Realme Buds Air 2, SoundPEATS T2, Cleer Roam NC, and Soundcore Life P3.
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Design, comfort and battery life
A new half-year, a new pair of active noise cancelling wireless earphones from Tronsmart - it seems that's the way it goes nowadays. The Onyx Apex is cheaper than the older Apollo Bold and recently released Apollo Air/Air+, and it looks the part. It has a generic charging case from black plastic, with four LED lights to indicate the remaining case battery and a USB-C port on the back. Wireless charging isn't supported, and the case lid can wobble a bit. The case is quite slim and rounded, though, making it easy to slide into a jeans pocket.
The earbuds themselves look like that of the Apollo Air, but they're slightly sleeker. The stems are short, you'll find a Tronsmart logo on the touch panel and on the inside, the Onyx Apex has a familiar AirPods Pro-like mound you can place diagonally in your ears. As it's quite close to the stem, though, it may be hard to get a comfortable fit. You may feel these earphones a bit when you're wearing them.
Tronsmart doesn't provide a waterproof rating for the Apex, but it survived a few raindrops in the test period. The battery life is average for ANC earbuds at this price: you'll get around 4,5 hours from a single charge. The case can recharge the buds four times fully before needing new power itself.
Controls and connectivity
Like other models from the brand, all the controls you want are on the earbuds:
Double-tap L or R to play/pause music
Tap R to increase the volume
Tap L to decrease volume
Hold R to skip to the next track
Hold L to return to the previous track
Triple-tap L or R to change between Transparency mode, ANC on, and ANC off
The touch panels are a bit too sensitive, perhaps. You may change the volume instead of pausing/resuming the music, or even both simultaneously. Happily, you can touch the earphones by the stem to avoid activating controls.
Connectivity is solid. The earbuds pair and connect quickly after you take them out, the Bluetooth connection is strong up to 8-10 meters away from your device, and you can switch between listening to left, right, or both at any time - if you want to charge one earbud while using the other.
Calling and watching movies
It's easy to take a phone call with the Tronsmart Onyx Apex. Unless you're walking or cycling in a fierce wind, your voice is loud and clear. Noises around you are suppressed well, and if they come through, they're identifiable as background noise. There is a little crackle on the line to deliver this performance, but this is a safe choice for phone calls indoors and outside.
It's also great for video calls like Zoom meetings and Microsoft Teams. Your voice is loud and full and is clearer than sounds around you, like chatter or distant traffic. Sudden sounds like claps and door slams are audible on the line, but even those don't really attack your voice clarity. Outstanding.
Watching videos, finally, is flawless as well. Audio synchronizes perfectly with video on iPhone and Android - although there is a noticeable delay in sound effects when you're playing games.
ANC Noise cancelling test of Apollo AIr (+)
What should be the selling point of the Tronsmart Onyx Apex, isn't. The ANC Active Noise Cancelling isn't all that strong. The Transparency mode is usable, however.
ANC mode quality: With ANC on, the Onyx Apex barely takes away more sounds of your surroundings than passive noise isolation already does. You can have non-ANC-bearing wireless earphones that fill up your ears well, and they will have the same effect. All frequencies are reduced in volume output somewhat, but both darker and brighter sounds are still audible - from distant traffic to the clacking of your keyboard nearby. Voices also come through loudly.
Transparency mode quality: The Ambient/ Transparency mode, designed to put through sounds around you when you need it, works well on the Onyx Apex. It emphasizes brighter sounds and makes you hear traffic when you're playing music up to moderate volume. Conversations are harder to hear; you may still want to take an earbud out.
Wind noise reduction: The ANC and Transparency modes let in some wind noise when you're using the modes, so it's convenient you can turn ANC off from the earbuds as well. This makes it easy to enjoy music when you're running or cycling.
Also read: The best wireless ANC earbuds
Sound quality of Tronsmart Onyx Apex: Fun
As the cheapest noise-cancelling sibling in Tronsmarts line-up, you won't expect the Onyx Apex to sound the best - but it does.
It has the now-familiar Tronsmart sound tuning. That means you can expect a warm, smooth sound with boosted bass. The mid-bass is always there to provide a gentle thump, whether it's in dance or hip-hop songs or a more easygoing singer-songwriter track. It isn't the quickest or tightest bass, but there's just a bit of bloat - someone described it as bloom, which feels very accurate - that makes the bass engaging. The sub-bass doesn't dive very deep, but it barely needs to, as the mid-bass and emphasized lower-mids already add so much fullness to the sound.
This time around, it doesn't stop there. The higher frequencies are slightly more prominent than on Apollo Air/ Air+ and much more prominent than on the Apollo Bold - and that's what makes a difference.
The slightly more opened-up upper-mids and highs push vocals further forward. They are more prominent now, and while they retain their smoothness, especially female and higher-pitched male vocals sound clearer and come with more nuances than before. Higher outbursts can sound a little thin, but the added forwardness gives vocals and even the entire music more energy.
They slightly lifted treble also adds some air, some deliberate floatiness to the sound. Don't expect outstanding separation between or placement of instruments, but music sounds pleasantly around you. Vocals are centered as they should be; instruments - drums most noticeably - appear more on your left and right.
Is it an insightful sound? Perfectly balanced? Excessively detailed? No, none of it. But it is nicely bassy, warm, smooth, and entertaining to listen to.
Tronsmart Onyx Apex comparisons
Tronsmart Onyx Apex vs Realme Buds Air 2
The Realme Buds Air 2 has a slimmer charging case you can take with you even easier, and it comes with free app support that lets you tweak the sound and controls. The Realme also comes with IPX5 waterproof rating, and it's noise-cancelling may have a slight suction-sound effect, but filters more noise than the Tronsmart. The Onyx Apex sounds warmer and fuller in the lows, with a bit faster and cleaner bass. The Buds Air 2 extends upper-mids and highs more, has a more natural tonality and shows more vocal nuances.
Tronsmart Onyx Apex vs Apollo Air(+)
The Apollo Air is slightly more expensive... and it's questionable whether it's worth the extra cost. The Air cancels out the noise better, has a IPX45 waterproof rating, and it has app support. Yet, essentials like battery life and call quality are perfectly comparable... and the Onyx Apex has an advantage in the sound department. The Apex sounds livelier and airier, thanks to slightly more opened-up mids, presenting more forward and energetic vocals. Both are warm and bassy, yet the Onyx Apex reduces a bit of bass boominess and balances the sound better.
Tronsmart Apollo Air/ Apollo Air+ review ($60-$80)
Tronsmart Onyx Apex vs SoundPEATS T2
The SoundPEATS T2 isn't flawless, as some models show an audible and annoying distortion when you're using its ANC mode without playing music. Both models aim for the same energetic sound with boosted bass and upper-mids, but the implementation on the Tronsmart is better. The T2 bass is muddier and rumbles a bit too loose; that of the Onyx Apex is tighter and quicker. The Tronsmart pushes vocals and upper-mids more forward - voices are clearer and more detailed, and music sounds airier.
Tronsmart Onyx Apex vs Soundcore Life P3
The Soundcore Life P3 is a slight step up in price, but also in build quality. It looks and feels sturdier and nicer, and comes with extensive free app support that lets you change the controls, sound, and noise-cancelling settings. The Tronsmart does sound better out of the box, though. The Life P3 has a boomier, less controlled bass, vocals are more recessed, and cymbals and claps are splashier. The latter is partly because of the added attention the Soundcore's has in the center-mids, which you can unlock better by choosing the Acoustic or a custom sound equalizer from the app. The Life P3 will cost you more, but specs are better: it has IPX5 waterproof rating, 7 hours battery life, and stronger ANC.
Soundcore Life P3 review ($80)
Verdict
The Tronsmart Onyx Apex may not have very convincing active noise cancelling; with its usable Transparency mode, great call quality, and engaging sound, these are good versatile earbuds for everyday use.
Four stars - Good
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