Tozo Open Buds TWS Review: A Heavy Contender in Design, Sound, and Battery Life, with Room for Equalizer Customization
TOZO, a brand born in Seattle, United States, is gaining prominence by introducing some of the finest earbuds in its lineup. We previously reviewed the TOZO Golden X1, which exuded premium quality in every aspect, from packaging to the overall experience. Today, I have the TOZO Open Buds TWS, recently launched at a price tag of $69.99 (Approx. Rs. 5,833.62). Now, let me share my thoughts on these earbuds, starting with a discussion about the packaging.
Packaging
These earbuds came in compact packaging, which included a USB Type-C cable and an instruction manual placed inside a cover. This reminded me of how Apple keeps its packaging neat and clean. I then got my hands on the earbuds, which were placed under the Pebble-shaped case in black color. However, there is another White color variant, but I personally liked the black one. After, opening the case you will find both earbuds placed nicely next to each other. The case is a bit bigger than most of the buds I have used so far, so when I went to the gym I kept it inside my car.
Design
Design-wise, I would say that even though these are open earbuds but still the finish is still quite nice with its matte finish. As soon as you open the lid you are greeted with blue and red lights showing that it’s ready to connect. The right and left markings are clearly visible on the back of the earbuds as soon as you lift them up from the case. You will also notice the speaker grill on the backside of the earbuds.
Another, thing I noticed was that I could easily adjust the angle of the earbuds, which is a plus point as I can wear them easily. The company has named it a Biaxial rotation design. This means you can rotate it both vertically and horizontally.
While using the case, you may notice a small amount of smudge accumulating, but that is not a deal-breaker for me. These earbuds come with IPX 6 water resistance (This test mandates that the product should be sprayed with at least 100 liters of water per minute for a minimum of three minutes, and the outer casing shouldn’t be penetrated). This means if you, like me, enjoy working out, then you don’t have to worry about your sweat.
Connectivity and Features
Coming to the features, Tozo has its own app that works on both Apple devices and Android. For testing, I used my iPhone 12, and the earbuds connected without any issues. With a touch of a button on the phone, I was all set to test these earbuds.
Moving on to the app, it connected quite easily for the first time. However, for the second time, it took some time, but eventually, I was able to connect it. One thing I didn’t like is that there are only presets of equalizers. It would have been nice to have a custom equalizer, which could have been better. However, the presets are just fine, offering five options: Standard, Bass+, Classical, Vocal, and Treble+.
The app provides battery percentage information for both the right and left earbuds. When I first got the earbuds, there was an update available, and as soon as I updated it, I noticed a difference in the sound quality afterward.
While updating, you just need to ensure that you don’t close or exit the app. It took around 5-7 minutes for the update to be completed. These earbuds come equipped with Bluetooth 5.3 and offer a range of 10 meters from the source.
Coming to the touch controls, I would say both earbuds have good touch sensitivity. I was able to pause, unpause, or even switch to the next song with just a touch and didn’t encounter any issues with that.
To test the Latency of these earbuds, I tested it on my OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite and got a result of +77MS. I even played Call Of Duty on my OnePlus device with these earbuds on didn’t face any issues with the latency.
Sometimes, you may face some issues while connecting yourself to the TOZO App. I have found a quick workaround for this. If you are unable to connect, try disconnecting it via Bluetooth and then reconnecting it. This small trick worked for me to connect it to the app as well.
Sound Quality
Even though these earbuds don’t come with ANC, I still love the sound quality, and it doesn’t make me feel like there is any loss of sound. However, I am not used to wearing this type of earbuds for a long duration, so it may feel a bit uncomfortable if worn for an extended period. To check the overall sound quality, I listened to Kundalini (Extended Mix). And even though the sound quality is good with a 14.2mm large dynamic driver, I missed the bass of these earbuds(When the Vocal preset was set). However, you still choose from the presets that I have mentioned above, but even after the Bass+ the overall bass improved but not that of compared to an In-earbuds.Even though there is no ANC support, these earbuds come with DSP Noise Cancellation for Calls.
When I tested it, the other person was able to hear my voice without any background noise. So, I would say this is definitely a plus for these earbuds.
Battery Life
During my test, I was able to get around 12 hours, as both earbuds come with a substantial 70 mAh battery each. If you have your charging case, which has a 600 mAh battery, then you can extend it by 30 hours, resulting in an overall 42 hours of music time.
To charge the charging case, you can use the USB Type-C cable. One thing I liked about it is that, as soon as you plug it in, the white light keeps blinking, and once the charging is complete, the white light becomes stable. In my opinion, this is a good feature as it prevents the problem of overcharging the case.
Final Verdict
Even though these are Open Buds, they are still quite heavy contenders with their touch-sensitive controls, overall design language, sound quality, Gaming, and battery life. In my suggestion, if TOZO can bring customization to the equalizer, it will definitely be a good feature to look for.
The DSP Call Noise Reduction feature is also another thing that I love about these earbuds.
Pros:
- Design and Build Quality: The earbuds feature a sleek design with a matte finish, offering a sophisticated look. The Biaxial rotation design enhances comfort and usability.
- Connectivity and Features: Seamless connectivity with both Apple and Android devices, along with touch-sensitive controls, adds to the user-friendly experience. The dedicated app, despite some limitations, provides useful features such as battery percentage information.
- Sound Quality: Impressive sound quality with a 14.2mm large dynamic driver, delivering clear audio. The DSP Noise Cancellation for Calls ensures clear communication.
- Battery Life: A commendable battery life of around 12 hours, with an additional 30 hours from the charging case. The USB Type-C cable for charging and the indicator light for charging status are convenient features.
- Water Resistance: IPX 6 water resistance makes the earbuds suitable for workouts and protects against sweat.
Cons:
- Equalizer Customization: The absence of customization in the equalizer settings might be a drawback for audiophiles who prefer a more tailored audio experience.
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