If there are some truly little joys that we can savour during our busy weekdays, it’s probably in the few moments when we get to cut loose by drowning out our commutes to and from work with music pumping through our earbuds. But where do you start in your search for the ideal pair of truly wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds that marry sound quality, battery endurance, active noise cancelling (ANC). and affordability all into a single, sleek package?
Well we’ve sifted through the wide expanse of the Internet and reached out to a number of our editors for their own personal favourite TWS earbud picks with ANC under the RM300 mark, and are happy to share them with you to get you started!
(All prices listed are accurate as of writing, and may be subject to change with future promotions/deals)
1. TaoTronics TT-BH079 (RM179)
Manufactured by Chinese electronics company TaoTronics, the TT-BH079 TWS earbuds offer a well-rounded package that comes in at a very pocket-friendly price tag of RM179. But don’t let the low price-point lead you to think that they’re shoddy, as they punch above their weight by offering features such as touch controls, noise cancelling of up to 40 dB, and a hardy battery life that will see them through a good 8 hours of playtime on a single charge, and 40 hours of use with the charging case.
The only downside to these earbuds are in the fact that their somewhat awkward shape could cause them to fall out of your ears, especially while jogging or chewing food. The setup process is also a little fussier than it should be, but it’s nothing that you won’t eventually figure out. Once they’re connected the first time, the earbuds will automatically pair with your phone without you needing to intervene.
Pros:
- Noise cancelling technology of up to 40dB
- Remarkable 40 hours of use with the charging case
- IPX7 water resistance
- Great Bluetooth range
- Fantastic sound profile with clear bass and treble
- Touch controls with volume function
Cons:
- Fussy setup
- May not necessarily fit in all ears comfortably
Purchase it on Lazada or Shopee!
2. SoundPEATS Mini Pro (RM249)
Another great no-frills choice on our list is the SoundPEATS Mini Pro, which currently retails on their official Shopee page for RM249. While they may look very unassuming, the proof is definitely in the way that they perform, especially with regards to delivering solid active noise cancelling at a wallet-friendly price point. Where that is concerned, we’re happy to report that these are stellar and do a great job of dampening most background noise to great effect.
The soundstage here is decent too, with the earbuds offering great lower frequency range, but fails to deliver the same quality on the higher end of the spectrum, especially when you have the volume cranked up. Battery life isn’t remarkable for its class, but its no slouch either and offers 5 hours of playback per charge with ANC. Charge them with the case, and you can expect around 21 hours of total use.
Pros:
- Great active noise cancelling
- Small case design makes it easy to pocket
- Volume control on the earbuds
Cons:
- No water resistance rating
- Average battery life
Get them on Shopee!
3. realme Buds Air 3 (RM229)
If noise cancelling is a must, then realme’s Buds Air 3 will definitely fit the bill. Coming just under RM250, you’ll be surprised by how many features that these earbuds come with. To begin with, sound quality is most certainly above average, with the earbuds capable of providing a relatively clean sound profile that represents bass, mids, and trebles clearly.
As for the feature set, here’s where things really left us properly surprised. Everything from an IPX5 water resistance for their earbuds, to a dedicated app for sound tuning, and phenomenal 42dB active noise cancelling, are all available on these budget earbuds. The earbuds will run for a total of 5 and a half hours per charge, which can be further extended to 30 hours with the charging case.
Pros:
- Impressive 42dB active noise cancellation
- Excellent sound profile
- Solid build quality
- IPX5 water resistance for the earbuds
- Dedicated app for sound tuning and other features
Cons:
- No volume control on earbuds
Buy yours on Lazada or Shopee!
4. Earfun Air Pro 2 (RM259)
The Earfun Air Pro 2 may sound somewhat comical, but these earbuds are definitely up for the task for those who are looking to nab themselves a pair of earbuds that come with Active Noise Cancelling. With that said, we have to warn you that the feature doesn’t do as great of a job here as other competitors that are battling it out in this segment, especially at reducing low frequency ambient noise.
Asides from that, they do offer a host of other conveniences that you should come to expect from any conventional wireless earbuds, including touch sensitive controls with volume control function, as well as a Transparency mode for if you need to listen to your surroundings through the ANC. As for sound, those who prefer a more neutral profile will take a liking to the Air Pro 2s, but if you have a penchant for dramatic bass, look elsewhere.
Pros:
- Decent, if not spectacular Active Noise Cancelling
- Great touch controls on the earbuds
- A neutral soundstage
Cons:
- No water resistance
- Pairs only to one device
Buy yours from Lazada!
5. HONOR Choice Earbuds X3 (RM249)
The newest entrant on our list here would be the HONOR Choice Earbuds X3, which were just introduced in the Malaysian market in January of this year. While we haven’t been able to get our hands on it yet, the specifications list on these pair of earbuds appear to be quite promising, especially with its quoted 40dB Active Noise Cancelling feature.
Replete with a 12mm Dynamic Speaker unit and offering support for aptX Audio Codec, the manufacturer claims that you can squeeze 9 hours of listening time out of these earbuds on a single charge, if you go without ANC. Combine that with the charging case, and you’re looking at 36 hours in total. Plus, it even comes with IP54 dust and water resistance too.
Pros:
- 40dB active noise cancellation with three modes
- IP54 dust and water resistance
Cons:
- No volume control for earbuds
Buy yours from Lazada!
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