SoundPEATS added not one, but two new models to their line of great AirPods-like half-in-ear wireless earbuds. The SoundPEATS Air 4 Lite is a more basic model coming it at 40 dollars, while the regular SoundPEATS Air 4 adds Active Noise Cancelling and costs 80 dollars. Show How good are they, what are the differences, and which is better? Time to put them to the test. SoundPEATS Air4 Lite review: The new best cheap half-in-ears$40 — 6,5 hours playtime — LDAC Codec — No IPXThe SoundPEATS Air4 Lite improves over its predecessor on major aspects, making it the best pair of half-in-ear wireless earbuds under 50 dollars. The most important improvement on both the Air4 and this Air4 Lite over its already great predecessors, is that the fit is better than before. Whereas the SoundPEATS Air3 and Air3 Deluxe HS could be loose and even fall out your ear when you're working out or bowing towards one side, the new models stay in secure and tight. They can safely be worn while biking and running, without giving in on comfort: they're so light you can still forget you're wearing them after a while. SoundPEATS Air3 Deluxe HS (left) vs SoundPEATS Air4 Lite (right) Now, that could just be the end of it: the Air3 Deluxe HS with better fit? Seal the deal: best new cheap AirPods-clones. There's more to it, though, as the Air4 Lite also supports multipoint connection, meaning you can connect the earbuds to two devices at the same time - like two phones or a phone and a laptop. It can take a little while for the earbuds to pair after taking them out of the case. Once connected, however, switching is seamless. It happens automatically when you push play on a video or music on your other device, or when you receive a phone call. These phone and video calls are a bit hit-and-miss. The Air4 Lite does a much better job at handling wind noise when you're calling than its predecessors. Wind noise is very audible, but your voice is picked up too - something that the Air3 Deluxe HS couldn't manage. The microphones are also great in ruling out other sounds than your voice. People talking, coffee machines, and traffic are all barely noticeable. Unfortunately, if you're moving around a bit while you're calling, your voice lacks detail, and you have to speak clearly to be heard properly. Happily, SoundPEATS nails other tasks for everyday use. The 6,5 to 7 hours of playtime on a single charge is outstanding for half-in-ears, and the big touch panels on top of the stems respond well to your input, making changing tracks and volume a breeze. The gaming mode does a solid job of reducing delay in sound effects when you're playing games, and while SoundPEATS’ Android and iPhone app is finicky, it does let you switch between different sound presets or create your own equalizer. Surprisingly, the sound is different from before. For the first time in the Air-series, the Air4 Lite no longer boosts the lows out of the box. The bass merely consists of a light mid-bass slam, and lower-mids like darker electronic tones and drums, don't have the same weight they had on previous models. Thankfully, the Bass Boost EQ preset saves the day. It gives the mid-bass substance (without the thumps of full-in-ears, mind you) and feeds the lower-mids some welcome depth. Even with that setting, the Air4 Lite sounds relatively clean. That's because the upper-mids are lifted a bit from the rest of the frequencies. This brings airiness and also nuances in female and higher male vocals and instruments, but especially on higher volumes, it feels like the upper-mids are taken too much apart. Without getting too peaky or harsh, especially higher electronic tones can be too intrusive and can motivate to turn the volume down again. Happily though, albeit with the Bass Boost EQ, the SoundPEATS Air4 Lite is a straightforward and easy listen on regular volume. While both the call clarity and sound quality could be improved upon, the complete package of the SoundPEATS Air4 Lite makes it the best AirPods 3 alternative under 50 dollars.
SoundPEATS Air4 review: The ANC is a lie$80 — 6,5 hours playtime — APTX Codec — No IPXHalf-in-ear wireless earbuds with Active Noise Cancelling? It's nothing but a false promise. It's a question why SoundPEATS added Active Noise Cancelling to semi-in-ear wireless earbuds. Is it because these earbuds just happen to have a chipset that support the functionality? Is it because SoundPEATS wanted a more upmarket price for their Air line-up of earbuds? Is it to justify extra money over the Air4 Lite? ANC doesn't work on earbuds that don't fully enclose in your ears, and the SoundPEATS Air4 does nothing to counter that. Ok, maybe it removes a tiny, tiny bit of volume from some higher sounds around you, but the effect is not noticeable enough to call it Active Noise Cancelling. These earbuds have an open shape, and they act as such: you will always hear your surroundings while you listen to music. In fact, what the ANC mode does, is rather annoying. It passes through wind noise as a higher-pitched, more intrusive sound than it normally is. You'll want to to turn the function off manually when you walk, run or cycle with these earbuds. To make matters more questionable, the ANC has a big influence on the bass: the ANC mode provides a much fuller and deeper bass. So basically, when you turn the ANC off because of the wind noise, you're also letting go of the bass. The entire function is inconvenient. It's a shame that the SoundPEATS Air4 is held hostage by this inconvenience, as it sounds really good. Especially for half-in-ears, the Air4 has an impressive bass response. With either the Bass Boost EQ preset or with ANC on, the mid-bass delivers hefty slams that near the thumps of full-in-ear earphones. The bass is quickly paced and while you shouldn't expect sub-bass rumbles and depths, there's enough fullness and fun to be had from the lows - although heavy bass-boosting tracks can show that typical crackle. The Air4 moves over to the mid-tones and highs in a more fluent manner than the Air4 Lite. Lower mids like darker electronic tones, drums and male vocals, are gently emphasized and inject a comforting warmth into the music. Center-mid tones like acoustic guitars and piano play have a subtle warm undertone and plenty of body. Male singers and lower female vocalists benefit from their forwardness and this body - most vocals sound clear and nuanced. Higher-pitched singers can appear a little flat in comparison - but overall, there's an engaging and dynamic musical presentation - with a bit of air thrown in as well. When it comes to everything else, the Air4 shares its strengths with the Air4 Lite. The charging case is matte instead of glossy, but has the same oval and compact enough shape. The earbuds look and feel the same, and thus have the same terrific comfort and secure fit. The touch panels are equally responsive and there's the same multipoint connection that lets you connect the earbuds easily to two devices at once. The battery life is highly comparable too, delivering 6,5 hours of playtime on a single charge - with ANC off. The call quality is remarkably close as well, although your voice sounds more natural on the Air4 than the warmer representation on the Air4 Lite. That means noise around is suppressed well and wind noise isn't the end of your audibility, but that also means your voice loses a lot of clarity when you're moving or doing some chores while talking a call. The SoundPEATS Air4 is good to downright great in the basics, but it also wants you to… not move… so you can have a clear phone call and listen to music with ANC on, which greatly improves the fullness and dynamics of the music. It sounds better than the Air4 Lite, but it's also more inconvenient. A desirable offering, but not in every situation.
Disclaimer: I bought these TWS true wireless earbuds myself or I received these products from the manufacturer or a distributor. 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 |
