TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
FIVE STARS - The SoundPEATS Air3 is a logical successor to the highly recommended SoundPEATS TrueAir2+. It's more compact, adds a gaming mode, and has noticeably better call quality - easily making it one of the best cheap AirPods-alternatives.
SoundPEATS Air 3 specs and features:
Bluetooth 5.2 with AptX Adaptive codec
4,5 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 2 times
Comes with English manual, USB-C cable
$50 - Buy on Amazon US, Amazon Germany, other Amazon countries or AliExpress
Below this SoundPEATS Air 3 review, you will find comparisons between the SoundPEATS Air 3 vs TrueAir 2 (Plus), Haylou GT6 and QCY T13.
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Design, comfort and battery life
The Air3's most noticeable feature after the praiseworthy SoundPEATS TrueAir2 and TrueAir2 Plus, is its size reduction. The case may be the lightest of all 245+ wireless earbuds reviewed on Scarbir.com, and it's easy to slide it into any pocket. It feels cheap with its thin plastic housing and simple matte black finish, yet the case's lid is just sturdy enough to keep itself in place. There's a multi-colored LED light on the front to indicate the remaining battery, a re-pair connection button right underneath, and you'll find the USB-C port on the bottom. You'll have to use it after the case recharged the earbuds fully (for only) two times.
The earbuds themselves also shrunk. They boast the same look as before, with the shield-shaped SoundPEATS logo on top and a slim black line over the stem, but are about 4 millimeters shorter in length. That's impressive, considering the TrueAir2 was already compact and distinctive in your ears. This one is even more subtle to wear. The stems don't brush your ears, and you can just 'hang' the mounds in your ear without having to worry they fall out easily. The Air3 is comfortable to wear during its 4,5 hours playtime on a single charge.
As with most AirPods-like, so-called half-in-ears, the battery life of the earbuds and case aren't groundbreaking. Other challenges for this form factor also apply: SoundPEATS doesn't provide a waterproof rating for the Air 3, and you'll pick up a lot of wind noise when you're running or cycling with them. No wonder, as this half-in-ear design also makes you hear your surroundings while listening to music on these. It's still the safest choice for using earbuds in traffic.
Connectivity and controls
A new feature of the Air3 is the auto-pause function. Music automatically plays when you put the buds in and pauses if you take an earbud out. It then resumes playing when you lay it on a surface or put it back in your ears. You can also keep on listening to one earbud while you're charging the other. Take the charged bud out, and you'll resume playing in stereo effortlessly.
Other connectivity on the SoundPEATS Air3 is solid, too. The Bluetooth connection keeps a stable signal up to 9-10 meters away from your device, including in areas full of wireless signals.
The control scheme is extensive and logical:
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 song
Hold L to return to the last song
Triple-tap R to activate the voice assistant
Triple-tap L to (de)activate the low-latency Gaming mode
All the controls you could wish for, a right there on the earbuds - on a scheme you'll get used to quickly. You won't find ANC noise-cancelling or Transparency mode controls, as the Air 3 doesn't sport those functions.
Calling and video quality
Watching videos is enjoyable on this SoundPEATS, with perfect synchronization between audio and video on iPhone and Android. For games, you can activate the low-latency Gaming mode to reduce the delay in sound effects while you're playing games. Even though a slight delay remains, the reduction works well enough, even for online shooters like Call of Duty mobile and Fortnite.
Calling with the Air3 is an improvement over the TrueAir2. Your voice sounds warm and full in phone calls and video calls like Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, yet with enough clarity. Both indoors and outside, surrounding noises barely come through in calls. People chatter, claps, and accelerating scooters, are all reduced well. However: the processing of those sounds can drag away your voice into muddiness and inaudibility.
That means calling with these is only recommended in indoor or quiet areas.
Also read: Best wireless earbuds under $25
Sound quality of SoundPEATS Air 3: Warm
The SoundPEATS TrueAir2 raised the bar for the sound quality on AirPods-like earbuds, and the Air3 continues down the same path - yet there are some differences.
Like the TrueAir2 (Plus), the Air 3 has plenty of punch in the lower frequencies. Even though these are half-in-ears, which don't go far into your ear canals, there's enough body and depth in the bass. There's a steady mid-bass thump, and even though the sub-bass (the deepest darkest tones you feel as much as hear) can't really rumble, the bass sounds surprisingly deep. Bass slams are stronger than on the TrueAir 2, yet unfortunately, they can distort a little on songs that boost the bass out of themselves - an aspect the TrueAir2 controls better.
Another difference is the Air 3 presents the lower mid-tones more prominent. They are severely boosted, injecting a lot of warmth in the sound, and pushing darker electronic tones and darker piano play, guitars, and drums forward. It can make music immersive - instrumental songs can put a warm blanket over you.
However, this added emphasis on the lows reduces the clarity in the higher frequencies somewhat. Male and darker female vocals can have a hard time outweighing the instruments around them, and even clearer female and higher-pitched male voices don't sound as forward and clear as on the TrueAir2 (Plus). The forwardness of the upper regions improves when you're turning the volume up, but on background listening volumes, music sounds less outspoken than the more balanced predecessor.
The Air3 can go plenty loud, and it's around 60% of the playing volume the higher frequencies and details increase. Don't expect the widest soundstage or precise instrument positioning, but music does feel around you with a fair amount of detail and decent separation between instruments and layers.
The SoundPEATS Air3 may not be as balanced and open as the TrueAir2 (Plus), it's sure to entertain with its nicely pronounced bass and soothing warmth.
SoundPEATS Air 3 comparisons
SoundPEATS Air3 vs SoundPEATS TrueAir 2 Plus: which is better?
Air 3 on the left, TrueAir2+ on the right
The SoundPEATS Air3, TrueAir2, and TrueAir2+ have lots in common. They look and feel the same, even though the Air3 is around 4 millimeters shorter and the case is more compact. Both products have the same 4,5 hours battery life, but the case of the TrueAir2 can recharge the earbuds 4 instead of 2 times more before needing new power. The Air3 handles especially indoor and video calls better than its predecessor, and its low-latency mode makes it more suitable for playing games. The TrueAir 2+ is the only model to support wireless charging.
Sound-wise, the TrueAir2, TrueAir2+, and Air3 are around 90% the same. They share the same warm character with steady mid-bass, boosted lower mid-tones and vocals that become more prominent on higher listening volumes. However, the TrueAir 2 (Plus) does sound more open and balanced, as it puts vocals slightly more forward and extends upper-mids and highs more. The Air3 boosts mid-bass and lower-mids further, providing more warmth to the sound, and sounding more detailed in these lower areas. Both sound excellent for half-in-ears, but for more vocal genres, the TrueAir2 (Plus) may still have a tiny edge.
So which is better, the TrueAir2+ or the Air3? It's an anticlimax - but yeah: the choice is up to you.
Buy TrueAir2+ on Amazon US, Amazon Germany, other Amazon stores or AliExpress
SoundPEATS Air3 vs Haylou GT6
The Haylou GT6 has a more articulated sound than the SoundPEATS Air3 and its predecessor. It has a tighter mid-bass, deeper sub-bass, and vocals and upper-mids are more pronounced. However, to achieve this, you need a very tight and secure fit with the GT6 - you may even need to press them in your ears so strongly it doesn't feel comfortable anymore. Without the perfect fit, the GT6 drops its bass, and highs feel a tad too sharp. It's easier to get a good sound out of the Air3; its warm sound comes hassle-free. The Haylou beats the SoundPEATS on battery life; the Air 3 has better comfort, video call quality, and smaller stems.
Haylou GT6 review ($20)
SoundPEATS Air3 vs QCY T13
If you don't mind earphones that go into your ears entirely, the $25 QCY T13 is a strong alternative to the Air 3. The QCY makes your voice sounds clearer in phone and video calls and boasts 7,5 hours instead of 4,5 hours of playtime per charge. Both lack an official waterproof rating but have a gaming mode... and sound great for the price. The T13 has a thumpier but much looser bass; the Air3 mid-bass delivers more concentrated and controlled strikes. The QCY sounds more open, with slightly less emphasized lower mid-tones, and more pronounced vocals and spacial details - coming from your left and right with an impressive airiness. The Air3 sounds warmer and smoother.
QCY T13 review ($25)
—> See all TWS reviews and ratings here
Verdict
The SoundPEATS TrueAir2+ may sound a little more balanced than the newer Air3, but with its compact size and added low-latency gaming mode, the SoundPEATS Air3 is without a doubt one of the best cheap AirPods alternatives on the market.
4.5 stars - Great
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I received the SoundPEATS Air3 from the manufacturer to test and review it. All my reviews are 100% honest and non-commercial. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
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