Hands-On Review: The design may look similar to other buds, but the new edifier TWS1 Pro earbuds will out-perform them all for features at this price range.
{Tech} for Travel
Edifier TWS1 Pro Earbuds – $49/£49
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
I’ve reviewed a few Edifier earbuds recently, and it’s clear they know how to deliver value for money and have never disappointed. The new TWS1 Pro buds continue this trend with a pair of sub $50/£50 earbuds that were a joy to review and maintain the Edifier portfolio of budget & travel friendly buds.
The Pro are more of a refinement to the original TWS1 buds but a welcome one with just a few subtle tweaks to keep Edifier ahead in the entry-level earbuds market. There’s still no ANC, but at this price, you’d be mad to expect otherwise.
But what you do get is another real good pair of wireless earbuds worthy of a place in your travel tech set-up.
TWS1 Pro Earbuds Features
Although much has been added, it’s what Edifier has taken away, I noticed first. The new Pro buds are smaller than the original TWS1 and are akin to the X3 earbuds in shape and size. This is no bad thing. It’s much easier to lay down, even on your side, whilst wearing them.
Not something you can do on a night flight with most wireless buds.
Power takes the headlines for new features with a 50% increase on the previous model delivering 12 hours of playback from a single charge, and, added to the additional 30 hours in the travel case, that’s 42 hours in between needing a wall charge. On the case, Edifier has taken Micro-USB away and added a USB-C port for easier and faster charging.
There’s also a new understated style to the TWS1 Pro buds. Gone is the high gloss 5 colour choices from the predecessor and, in come two matt finish colour-ways; Dark Grey and White/Ivory. The new shell even provides a higher IP65 waterproof rating than before.
But, how did they sound?
Audio Performance
During the review, I did everything I could with the Edifier TWS1 Pro earbuds except for travelling (cheers, lockdown!), and overall they are a good pair of buds. The audio performed well in all environments, with the nice tight fit of the tips inside my ear playing a big role in reducing external noises.
There’s no Active Noise-cancelling on buds at this price range, so it’s vital the fit not only holds them in place and is comfortable, but blocks outside noises too.
I found the TWS1 Pro very clear to hear, podcasts and audiobooks especially. Even when I listened to music, a singer’s voice was clear, but the music was a little flat. This probably wouldn’t have even stood out had it not been because I use multiple wireless headphones every week.
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It’s almost like Edifier aimed for a “middle of the road” sound for the TWS1 Pro Earbuds, which was apparent during the review.
The overall sound was good but not great.
42 Hours of Power
Power is the one area I’ve found Edifier earbuds has always excelled in, and during this review, the TWS1 Pro continued that tradition.
The press release with the earbuds stated up to 12 hours of use for the buds, with the case battery holding a further 30 hours of use in reserve. So, from a full charge, Edifier claims the TWS1 Pro can recharge 2.5 times from the case before needing to be fully recharged from a power source.
I’ve used them daily for nearly a month now, and where the slightly flat sound may have changed the tone of this review, the reliability and performance of the battery is so impressive, at this price point, that they’re worth the purchase just for this.
For frequent travellers, entry-level buds may never be their preferred first choice, but you’ll never get caught short with the TWS1 Pro buds in your pack.
The travel case is well-built, has USB-C for charging and is now finished in a more robust Matt finish instead of Gloss which is a big plus for me. Yes, it’s a bit more prone to greasy fingerprints, but it feels strong enough to last and did a good job of charing and protecting the Edifier TWS1 Pro earbuds during the review, whilst so far avoiding any scratches or wear and tear.
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Qualcomm® Technology
The TWS1 Pro buds have a few Qualcomm® features that make them even better value for money. For me, the most important of these is the Qualcomm® cVcTM 8.0 noise cancellation.
This removes background noises from your surroundings when talking on a phone or video call. Given video conferencing on Zoom etc. has become a part of most of our everyday lives, this is a must-have feature, and it works well. I had one colleague comment that I sounded clearer using them.
One of the most impressive factors of the Edifier earbuds during the review was how fast the TWS1 Pro would connect to iPhone or MacBook Pro using the newer Bluetooth 5.2, it was a breeze.
But, it wasn’t just a device to earbuds connection that impressed. The Qualcomm® TrueWirelessTM Mirroring technology worked remarkably well too. This enables the buds to link seamlessly together, and if you remove one and put it in the case, the remaining bud delivers your audio in mono mode.
Edifier TWS1 Pro Earbuds Specifications
| TWS1 Pro | |
| Earbud Dimensions | 28 x 14 x 29mm |
| Case Dimensions | 60 x 44 x 27mm |
| Earbud Weight | 4g (each) |
| Case Weight | 35g (empty) |
| Colour Options | Dark Grey White/Ivory |
| Controls | Touch Control Play/Pause – Single click Skip Back – Double Click Left Skip Forward – Double Click Right Volume Up – Press/Hold Right Volume Down – Press/Hold Left |
| Speaker | High-Quality PU+ Titanium Diaphragm |
| Key Features | Qualcomm® TrueWireless™ Mirroring Qualcomm® aptX™ Qualcomm® cVc™ |
| Charge Time | 40 Minutes QC |
| Playback Time | Up to 12 hours Up to 42 hours with case |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Waterproof Rating | IP65 |
| In the Box | Edifier TWS1 Pro Earbuds USB-C Charging Cable S/M/L Eartips Manuals |
Edifier TWS1 Pro Earbuds Pricing?
The TWS1 Pro earbuds are available from different retailers based on your location.
At the time of this review being published, readers in the UK can get the Edifier TWS1 Pro Earbuds for £49 from tech4.co.uk, which also offer express shipping.
For readers based in North America, Amazon currently has both colour options for $49.
