TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
FOUR STARS - Compact earpieces, clear calls, and well-responding actual buttons: the Tronsmart Onyx Free improves on the beloved Tronsmart Onyx Neo and Spunky Beat, at a slightly higher price.
Specs of the Tronsmart Onyx Free:
Bluetooth 5.0 with AptX and AAC codec
IPX7 water proof (heavy rain and sweat resistant)
6 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Comes with 3 sets of ear tips and USB-C cable
$40 on AliExpress or GeekBuying - check current price!
Below this Tronsmart Onyx Free review, you will find comparisons of the Tronsmart Onyx Free vs Tronsmart Onyx Neo, Tronsmart Spunky Beat, Edifier X3, Haylou GT1 Plus and QCY T5.
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Design, comfort and battery life
The Tronsmart Onyx Free has a compact charging case that looks and feels sturdy, with a shiny black top layer on top of its rubber-look sides. You power it via USB-C on the back, with four LED-lights on the front showing the battery status. It can repower the earpieces up to five times fully before needing a recharge itself.
The earpieces also have impressive battery life for its size, reaching around 6 hours of playtime on a single charge, dependent on the codec your phone uses (with support for AptX, AAC, and SBC) and the volume you're playing music on.
The earpieces itself have the same round shape and tiny size of the Tronsmart Spunky Beat and Tronsmart Onyx Neo - which were beloved for it. They make not be lookers, but once again, they disappear well in your ears, making them bed-proof. Happily, they don't blink when you're playing music on them.
The earpieces are IPX7 waterproof as well, making them heavy rain- and sweat-resistant. Tronsmart also applies some sort of UV-protection, or so they state. Make of that what you will - its compact, comfortable earpieces are the Onyx Free's biggest triumph.
Connectivity and controls
Whereas the Onyx Neo and Spunky Beat had lackluster touch controls, Tronsmart uses actual buttons on the Onyx Free - and they are easy and comfortable to operate.
Press once to play/ pause the music.
Press the right bud twice to increase volume; the left bud twice to decrease it.
Press the right bud three times to skip a song; the left bud thrice to return a track.
Long-press a button to activate the voice assistant on your phone. It's a convenient scheme that responds well to your touch.
Connectivity isn't always as stellar, however. During the test session, the Onyx Free showed some hiccups in the connection in areas crowded with wireless signals, but also when sitting still. It occurred every session, for about five seconds - and then it was restored. Something to keep in mind.
It isn't possible to switch rapidly between mono and stereo mode; charging one earpiece while listening to the other one and then returning to stereo isn't an option.
Calling and watching movies With Onyx Free
Even though the earpieces disappear in your ears, it's effortless to call or video call with the Tronsmart Onyx Free. Just like the Onyx Neo, call quality is surprisingly good.
Your voice sounds a bit metallic but definitely clear to the other end of the line. It overrules sounds from your surroundings; voices around you, traffic, and background noises are greatly reduced. As almost always, wind noises do prove challenging for maintaining a good conversation, and sometimes, you can hear some processing-sounds going on. Yet, calling with the Onyx Free is convenient indoors and outside.
Watching videos is a joy on both Android and iPhone as well. Audio synchronizes perfectly with video, even on the challenging YouTube-app. As almost always, there is a noticeable delay in sound effects when playing games.
—> Also see: All TWS under $25 reviewed and rated
Sound quality of Tronsmart Onyx Free: bright
The Tronsmart Onyx Free builds on the signature established by the Onyx Neo. It has an emphasis on the treble, with upper-mid tones and highs that sound clear.
Yet, unlike the Onyx Neo, the Free doesn't sound overly bright or harsh. The highs are better controlled. Both female and higher-pitched male vocals sound clear, yet have a certain smoothness over them.
The same applies to instruments like guitars, violins, and even previously piercing cymbals: they are well-represented and sound crisp, but you won't feel the need to race to the button to decrease the volume.
The Free is easier to listen to than its predecessors - complemented by an airy sound, with a wide soundstage that releases effects and details from the left and right of you. The bass on the Onyx Free delivers a gentle mid-bass thump. It's quick enough to make modern music genres like pop, dance, and electronics sound energetic, but it doesn't dive very deep. Don't expect heavy rumbles from the sub-bass or heavy punches, but bass-lovers won't be put off with the output either.
Most of the time, lower-mid tones such as drums and darker electronic tones are lifted enough to give the Free a balanced sound. That's not always the case in brighter songs, however. Occasionally, the Free can sound thin. Not shouty like the Onyx Neo - but still a bit flat. The Tronsmart Onyx Free doesn't go very loud, but you probably wouldn't want it louder because of this.
With its behaving bass, crisp vocals, and airy sound, the sound of the Onyx Free is likely to please many - but high-volume and dedicated bass-lovers may look elsewhere.
Tronsmart Onyx Free comparisons
Tronsmart Onyx Free vs Tronsmart Onyx Neo
The Onyx Neo is beloved by Scarbir.com readers for its everyday practical use: its tiny earpieces are comfortable to wear in bed and under helmets. It has outstanding call quality both indoors and outside.
Yet... the call quality of the Free is even better - clearer! For other aspects, it improves on the Neo as well. The Free has a more balanced, pleasant sound, and longer battery life. Most importantly, its actual buttons respond way better than Neo's cumbersome touch controls. Choosing between these two? Go for the Onyx Free.
Tronsmart Onyx Free vs Tronsmart Spunky Beat
The Onyx Free also improves over the previously released Tronsmart Spunky Beat. While the Spunky Beat may have an even more premium-feeling charging case (with integrated USB cable), battery life and the outstanding call quality of the Free perform better. In the sound, the Spunky Beat has a more powerful bass and more extended highs, making the music more dynamic... and more shouty. The actual buttons on the Onyx Free make the Free easier to operate than the Spunky Beat.
Tronsmart Onyx Free vs Tronsmart Onyx Ace
The hugely popular Tronsmart Onyx Ace is a different kind of model, with AirPods-like half-in-ear design. The Onyx Free has a more vivid sound, with more extended highs and more refined bass. The Onyx Ace has a bigger bass slam and more body in the lower frequencies, but less air and separation, making the sound more muffled, more closed-in. Call quality on both is good; the Onyx Free has better battery life.
Tronsmart Onyx Free vs Haylou GT1 Plus
The Haylou GT1 Plus has a more compact charging case then the Onyx Free, but the Free's earpieces are slightly tinier and go deeper into your ears, making them more comfortable for bed-usage. Battery life on the Free is better, as is call quality. The Haylou does have a more balanced sound, with less focus on the treble, but still clear and crisp sounding upper-mids and vocals. It sounds a bit flatter, whereas the Onyx Free can be a bit brighter. Free's actual buttons have more functions and work more reliable the Haylou's touch panels.
Tronsmart Onyx Free vs Edifier X3
With longer playtime on a single charge, impressive call quality, and an extremely pocketable charging case, the Edifier X3 might be the biggest challenger for the Onyx Free. The Edifier has better connection strength and lets you switch easily between the earpieces, and also throws in a more engaging sound with more forward vocals and boosted bass. Outside call quality is a tad better on the Onyx Free, however, and the tinier earpieces are more comfortable to wear.
Tronsmart Onyx Free vs QCY T5
The QCY T5 is another budget wireless earphone with an emphasis on the higher frequencies, but it does have a more balanced sound. The T5 sounds warmer, its bass can dive deeper, and it doesn't sound as thin as the Onyx Free can be at times. The Free is more suited towards everything with voices. Its treble-focused sound makes podcasts sound clearer, and phone calls too, with sound better than on the T5 - especially outside. Both earbuds are compact and comfortable - but the Free is easier to wear under helmets and in bed.
Verdict
With its focus on the treble and light bass, the Tronsmart Onyx Free's sound signature may not compete with the best-in-class. Yet, with convincing call quality, controls, and its bed-proof earpieces - the Onyx Free can be a great daily and nightly commuter.
FOUR stars - Very good
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I received the Tronsmart Onyx Free from Tronsmart for testing and review purposes. 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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