A decade ago, Apple boldly ditched the 3.5mm audio jack on the iPhone 7 to sell its new AirPods product. After its launch, AirPods were initially criticized as Apple’s attempt to profit by lazily giving away EarPods that used to come with every iPhone purchase.
But now, Apple’s boldness is clearly the right move because other manufacturers are also no longer providing audio jacks on smartphones. AirPods are now the best-selling TWS earphones despite their high price. So when the Techlife Wireless Earbuds+ 2 was launched in Malaysia at just RM79 a pair, are they a good Bluetooth earphone to buy?
SPECIFICATIONS
Techlife Wireless Earbuds+ 2
Type TWS in-ear
Driver Dual 13mm dynamic audio drivers
Microphone ? microphone
Battery 6 Hours/30 hours
USB-C charging port
Wireless charging None
CODEC ?
Supported operating systems All
Touchpad Yes 2X
Waterproofing IPX4
Bluetooth 6.0
Selling price RM 79
DESIGN
Techlife Wireless Earbuds+ 2 are offered in a storage case and charging pod with a dual-tone color. In Malaysia, it comes in a choice of black or white colors. The entire cover is made of transparent plastic with black ink allowing the two audio buds to be seen from the outside. This is a design similar to the Galaxy Buds3 Pro which I quite like the aesthetic.
The entire body of the Earbuds+ 2 is shaped like a round river stone with a compact size. When in the pocket it does not cause discomfort. The plastic surface used is smooth so it traps dirt quite easily.
Because the entire body of this charging pod is made of plastic, it does not feel premium. It can be felt that the plastic used is quite thin compared to that used in AirPods, Galaxy Buds, Xiaomi Buds or any TWS that are sold at a higher price. Here you can see where Techlife has reduced costs to allow the Earbuds+ 2 to be sold at a price below RM80 a pair.
On the back is a USB-C charging port. It recharges the 300 mAh battery that comes with the earbuds. There’s no information on the size of the battery used in the earbuds. Techlife only says that they can be used for 6 hours or up to 30 hours using the charging pod. The recharging time is around 90 minutes.
There’s no pairing button included that makes the pairing process with a new device automatic. There’s no Google Fast Pair support. There’s only a light on the charging pod that tells you whether the earbuds have a charge or not.
The two included earbuds have a standard stem design with two silicone buds that are stuffed into the ears. They’re made of the same plastic material as the body of the charging pod. So again, they don’t feel premium or slick. They’re also too light so they feel strange when inserted into the ears.
Techlife says that the audio drivers used are dynamic with a size of 13mm. There’s a touch pad on the stem to pause/play music, skip music, change music/previous/default audio mode and answer/reject phone calls.
No information on the number of microphones used. The earphones are splash and sweat resistant IPX4 so there is no need to worry about them being damaged when used for a workout session.
USAGE EXPERIENCE
The tethering process as I said earlier is automatic. It is convenient for those who only have one device. There is no multipoint Bluetooth tethering support provided. If you want to tether to a new device nearby, the Bluetooth on the first device must be turned off. I do not know why the additional BT button is not provided. AirPods have removed the physical tethering button but they can still be put into tethering mode by double-tapping on the front.
After tethering, all controls are done through the Bluetooth settings only because the Techlife Wireless Earbuds+ 2 does not have app support. According to Google it is compatible with the Realme Link app but when I tried it it did not appear in the device list. So I do not know how to change the earphone settings such as turning off the touch pad, changing the EQ or performing a firmware update.
The earphones are so basic that there is no app to control them. The touch pad on the side is responsive to all touches. All control modes are standard like other earphones.
However, it can be used without issue on Android, iOS, Windows PC, macOS and even TV devices. However, as I mentioned above, the process of tethering to more than one device is less user-friendly.
AUDIO QUALITY
The audio quality of the Techlife Wireless Earbuds+ 2 is not satisfactory at all. I am too used to the much better audio quality enjoyed on AirPods and various earphones such as the Galaxy Buds FE. First of all, the sound feels flat with mixed audio. The bass is not strong enough and the singer's voice is drowned out by the hustle and bustle of the earphones that do not have good instrument isolation.
It reminds me of the days at MRSM PC three years ago when I bought SUNAI or Aimai brand earphones at Bazar Buluh Kubu. Because I did not have money, I had to buy low-quality original copy earphones. The audio experience is more or less comparable.
There is no ANC mode which is now standard on all earphones even in the affordable class. At mamak, you can still hear the sounds of people around you, the brother sitting next to you is watching TikTok and the water is being made behind the counter.
BATTERY
The battery is advertised to last up to 30 hours with the help of a charging pod or only 6 hours without it. I was able to achieve this usage life if the music is set to medium settings. The time it takes to recharge the battery is 90 minutes.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX
Here's what you'll get with every purchase of Samsung Galaxy Buds FE
1x Techlife Wireless Earbuds+ 2 Set
1x USB-A to USB-C Cable
2x Extra silicone ear tips.
1x Manual
CONCLUSION
Techlife Wireless Earbuds+ 2 are basic wireless earphones that retail for RM79 for a set. They're not earphones for audiophiles, media content lovers or those who just want to reduce ambient noise. From all angles of the review, the Earbuds+ 2 are not a good or satisfactory audio accessory. I hesitate to recommend even if you're looking for cheap earphones.
But this doesn't mean that the Earbuds+ 2 are electronic garbage. I see them as a purchase for those who are looking for earphones that they don't mind losing. For example, when camping in the middle of the forest during the rainy season and you don't dare to use your cheaper earphones.
They are also suitable as the first earphones for children who don't understand being things. As a father, my son has a habit of using things and then forgetting where he put them. I can't afford to lend AirPods to my kids and the Earbuds+ 2 is a solution that doesn't break the bank.
Pros
Very affordable.
Decent battery life.
IPX4 sweatproof.
Cons
Audio is less than satisfactory.
No app.
Build feels very cheap.
