The True Wireless Earbuds segment picked up a lot of traction over the past year in India. The same momentum is also being carried in 2021 which has resulted in 156% YoY growth in Q1 2021. The main reason for this uptick is the rise of budget TWS earbuds in India.
The budget true wireless segment is filled with a lot of options. Smartphone makers like Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, OnePlus and Realme have already jumped in and launched their true wireless earbuds in India, bringing many new affordable options for consumers.
These are the best TWS under Rs 5,000:
1. Realme Buds Air 2
2. Oppo Enco W51
3. OnePlus Buds Z
4. Soundcore Liberty 2
5. Noise Elan
6. Jabra Elite 65t
7. CrossBeats Evolve
With the launch of multiple true wireless earbuds in India, we have a bunch of value for money TWS that bring a great sound quality as well as the overall experience. In the current list, we have nine TWS which all are from different brands. In case you want to jump on the train and join the Truly Wireless Stereo earbuds army, here are the best TWS earbuds you should consider.
The budget TWS segment now even offers a hand full of earbuds with ANC. In fact, in this list, we have three earbuds from Oppo and Realme with ANC. The battery life is also one aspect that seems to be getting better over a period of time.
Going forward, we are also expecting Poco to join the TWS army with its Poco Pop Buds.
Best true wireless earbuds in India under Rs 5,000:
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1. Realme Buds Air 2
(Chain)smokes the competition
Specifications
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2
Controls: Touch
Driver: 10mm Diaomin-class Hi-Fi
Mic: Yes
Battery: Up to 5 hours
Charging: Type-C
Reasons to buy
+Excellent fit+ANC and sound quality+Battery life+Great for calls
Reasons to avoid
-No volume controls gesture-No wireless charging
The Realme Buds Air 2 is a budget TWS with a lot of features packed into a tiny package. It brings ANC, Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, excellent app support, and more for Rs 3,299. The Realme Buds Air 2 is our new go-to budget TWS recommendation. The star of the show here is the active noise cancellation making its way to a budget TWS, that was unheard of before. The ANC is fairly good for the price which Realme is offering it.
The fit is extremely comfortable and easy to use for an extended period. The audio quality is surprisingly better than the Realme Buds Air Pro and the bass is also more punchy and thumping. It supports the AAC and SBC codec. The Realme Buds Air 2 offers mostly bass-heavy sound which most of us prefer and it serves well.
The battery life is also pretty solid with 5 hours of playtime without ANC and about 4 hours and 15 minutes with the ANC turned on. A full charge will take about an hour to charge from 0 to 100. A quick 10 minutes offers 90 minutes of playback. It misses out on the wireless charging feature which was present on the Realme Buds Air. Overall for Rs 3,299, the Realme Buds Air 2 won’t disappoint you.
Read our Realme Buds Air 2 review
Check out our Realme Buds Air Pro review
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2. Oppo Enco W51
Specifications
Connectivity : Bluetooth 5.0
Controls: Touch controls
Drivers: 7mm dynamic
Mic: Yes
Battery life: Up to 3.5 hours
Charging: Type-C charging port, quick charge
Reasons to buy
+ANC+Good audio experience+Fast charging
Reasons to avoid
-Average battery life
The Oppo Enco W51 brings all the good stuff from Oppo Enco W31 and adds active noise cancellation align with a slightly better sound signature. All this for under Rs 5,000. There is a 7mm dynamic driver onboard with Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and a range of about 10 meters.
Each earbud is packed with a 25mAh battery and the case is having a 480mAh battery. On a single, the Oppo Enco W51 can last up to 3.5 hours and with the included case, you get up to 20 hours of playback. However, the battery is pretty average here. A quick 15-minute charge keeps the earphones running for up to 3 hours. You can change this by plugging a Type-C charger or charge it wirelessly as it comes with Qi wireless charging support.
The Oppo Enco W51 is now available for Rs 3,999 on Flipkart and Rs 4,499 on Amazon.
Read our Oppo Enco W51 review
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3. OnePlus Buds Z
Specifications
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0
Controls: Touch
Driver: 10mm dynamic drivers, Dolby Atmos support
Mic: Dual mic
Battery: Up to 4 hours
Charging: Type-C, fast charging
Reasons to buy
+Comfortable fit+Good audio for the price+Price+IP55 rating
Reasons to avoid
-Limited touch control-Not so punchy bass
The OnePlus Buds Z are a great pair of truly wireless earphones for those who are on a tight budget. They offer decent sound, good battery life and a comfortable fit. However, the limitation of the touch control and not so punchy bass may let you down. Also, the OnePlus Buds Z sound better than the higher priced original OnePlus Buds. It comes with Bluetooth 5.0 and has 10mm dynamic drivers, with bass boost, dynamic stereo powered by Dolby Atmos and panoramic sound support.
The sound signature on the OnePlus Buds is respectable for the price. The soundstage and the separation of the instruments are also decent. There is enough bass but it could have been punchier. The battery life on the Buds Z is also on par with others in the segment. You get about 4 hours of playback and there is also support for a quick charge. As for the functionality, the OnePlus Buds Z offer very limited options – double tap and long press. It also brings in-ear detection and IP55 rating onboard which are rare in the segment.
Read our OnePlus Buds Z review
4. Soundcore Liberty 2
Specifications
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0
Controls: Touch
Driver: 10mm
Mic: Yes
Battery: Up to 8 hours
Charging: Type-C
Reasons to buy
+Battery life+Sound quality+aptX support
Reasons to avoid
-Misses out on in-ear detection-Bulky
The Soundcore Liberty 2 is a unique style of true wireless earbuds that come in an in-ear style fit along with fins to get a strong fit. The TWS sports Bluetooth 5.0 paired with a 10mm diamond-inspired drive. These buds also support AAC, SBC, aptX codec. In terms of sound signature, you get clean vocals and punchy bass.
In the battery department, these buds are rated to last up to 8 hours and up to 32 hours with the included case – one of the best in the segment. A quick 10-minute charge offers up to 2 hours of playback time. Other features include complete touch controls including play/pause, skip track, and voice assistant.
5. Noise Elan
Specifications
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2
Controls: Touch
Driver: 6mm titanium driver
Mic: Dual mic
Battery: Up to 8 hours
Charging: Type-C
Reasons to buy
+Bluetooth 5.2+ENC+aptX support
Reasons to avoid
-Bulky -Not so bass heavy
The latest product from the popular audio and wearable maker, the Noise Elan is in the list for two reasons. Firstly, it brings environmental noise cancellation (ENC) on budget and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity both of which which is are rarity in this segment. With the ENC feature is built-in, the Noise Elan can suppress the environmental noise. The earbuds come with a total of four mics, two on each bud which delivers better noise cancellation. For audio, the Noise Elan sports a 6mm titanium driver with support for Qualcomm aptX adaptive sound.
On to the battery life, it can last up to 8 hours on a single charge and with the provided case, the TWS can go up to 36 hours, giving an additional four charge cycle. These are also in-ear style true wireless earbuds with interchangeable eartips. It comes with complete touch controls which perform operations such as manage tracks, adjust volume and there is also a transparency mode with which you can be aware of what’s happening around you while listening to your music and lastly, there is a dedicated gaming mode with 80ms low-latency.
6. Jabra Elite 65t
Specifications
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5
Controls: Touch
Driver: 6mm
Mic: four mic
Battery: Up to 5 hours
Charging: Type-C
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
Reasons to buy
+Understated design+Excellent battery life+Balanced sound quality
Reasons to avoid
-Slippery earbuds and case-Limited ear tip selection
Initially launched for Rs 12,999, the Jabra Elite 65t is now available for Rs 3,999. It brings a perfect balance of usability, features, and sound quality. It offers a reliable connection and is a pleasure to use day-to-day. Also, you get good battery life with up to five hours on a single charge and the case is good for an additional 10 hours(2 cycles).
Further, the Jabra Elite 65t offers good noise isolation and you can also adjust ambient noise when you want it. The earbuds automatically turn on when removed from the case and turn themselves off when placed back in the charging case. You can use one earbud at a time, though the right earbud acts as the master. The overall sound quality is excellent – it’s balanced. It also comes with app support.
Read our review of Jabra Elite 65t
7. CrossBeats Evolve
Specifications
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5
Controls: Touch
Driver: 9mm, dual driver
Mic: Yes
Battery: Up to 12 hours
Charging: Type-C
Reasons to buy
+Good sound quality+Battery life+Design
Reasons to avoid
-Fit not for all
Powered by QCC3020 Chipset and paired with Bluetooth 5.0, the CrossBeats Evolve buds are rated to last up to 24 hours with the included case and w shopping 12 hours claim on a single charge – which looks like a stretch. In terms of design, the earbuds come with a unique half-transparent look, which offers a stunning look. But, due to the large size, the fit might not be suitable for all.
On the inside, these buds are powered by a 9mm dual driver with a microphone as well. For charging the TWS uses Type-C port and these are also IPX4 sweat and water resistant. It supports HFP, SBC, HSP, A2DP, AVRCP, AAC codecs. The whole package is a bit bulky weighing 221 grams.
Best wireless earbuds under Rs 5,000 in India
Realme Buds Air 2Oppo Enco W51OnePlus Buds ZSoundcore Liberty 2Noise ElanJabra Elite 65tCrossBeats Evolve
These were some of the best True wireless earbuds available in India currently. In the near future, we can expect more earbuds to come to the market at an affordable price.
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