TOZO Golden X1 Review: Small Earbuds, Huge Sound Performance

TOZO Golden X1 Review: The Golden X1 isn’t without flaws, but its rich audio and clever EarPrint tuning more than redeem it.

{Tech} for Travel

TOZO has a habit of delivering more than you expect for the money, and the Golden X1 is their shot at a proper audiophile-leaning flagship.

Compact in size, these wireless earbuds pack features usually found in pricier models. On paper, they tick most boxes for music-loving travellers: hybrid drivers, LDAC support, active noise cancellation, and Hi-Res Audio certification.

The design does feel deliberately aimed at travellers; they’re light enough for all-day wear, IPX6 water-resistant, and come with a travel-friendly case with an LED battery display. But, how do they stack up in a review?

At the heart of the Golden X1 are two drivers per ear: a 12mm dynamic unit for low-end punch and a custom Knowles balanced armature for mid and high-frequency detail. This hybrid setup gives basslines weight without losing vocal clarity or treble sparkle. The quoted frequency range spans 12 Hz to 44 kHz, and the earbuds carry both Hi-Res Audio and JAS wireless certification.

Audio quality gets a boost from LDAC, allowing higher-bit-rate streaming on compatible devices. For everyone else, AAC and SBC keep things broadly compatible.

TOZO’s OrigX Pro processing aims for a wide soundstage and crisp highs, while the companion app offers multiple EQ presets and a custom EQ. The standout here is EarPrint, a personalisation tool that tailors audio to your hearing profile for more balanced, natural playback.

The TOZO Golden X1 earbuds have Active Noise Cancellation, which is impressive for such a small device with hardly any stem. This removes external noises, while Transparency Mode keeps you aware of your surroundings when needed.

Bluetooth 5.3 ensures quick pairing and a stable link, but with most rival buds now opting for 5.4 or even 6, this could be a deal-breaker for some.

The earbuds are shaped for ergonomic comfort, fitting securely without creating pressure points on long journeys. Touch controls cover playback, ANC toggling, and volume adjustment via single or double presses, press-and-hold, and swipe gestures so that you can keep your phone in your pocket.

The charging case is compact enough to slip into a coin pocket, yet it packs a built-in LED display that shows battery percentages for both earbuds and the case. Charging is via USB-C or Qi wireless, and the case provides an extra 24 hours of listening on top of the buds’ 8 hours (ANC off) or about 5 hours (ANC on).

IPX6 water resistance protects the buds from sweat and rain, making them equally suited to workouts and wet commutes.

From the moment I unboxed the TOZO Golden X1, it was clear these weren’t just another pair of budget-friendly earbuds trying to punch above their weight.

In everyday use, they left a mixed impression, ranging from an enjoyable and noteworthy audio performance to a sub-standard hands-free calling experience.

The ergonomic design is up there with some of the best on the market, making them comfortable to wear for hours on end, and the charging case was, quite literally, a tale of two halves!

Sound quality is the first thing anyone will commend when they first try the Golden X1 earbuds. The 12 mm dynamic driver and custom Knowles balanced armature combine to create a lively, detailed soundstage that works across most music genres.

Bass is deep and textured without overpowering the mids, making kick drums and basslines satisfying without clouding vocals. Midrange clarity is impressive, voices sound natural, and instruments have a nice presence. Treble is crisp but not harsh, staying smooth at higher volumes.

All of the above is true when listening to a podcast, too, thanks to the EarFit test, which builds a profile of you and your ears to deliver a custom setting based on your ability to hear high, medium, and low frequencies. This made a massive difference in how the Golden X1 earbuds performed for me. Even after completing the test, the TOZO app stores the custom settings and provides a toggle switch to activate the setting as needed.

However, while the sound coming out of the earbuds into my own ears was exceptional, the same can’t be said about what others would hear during hands-free calling.

My voice was never clear to others, almost muffled and hard to understand, and as someone who spends hours a day on Teams calls and the occasional old-fashioned phone call, the feedback was unanimous, sadly. During the review period, TOZO pushed out an ‘Over the Air’ update (v3.1.9), but it didn’t address this issue. Hopefully, it’s something that’s resolved in future updates.

The TOZO app adds real value here. Unlike some companion apps that feel like an afterthought or are just built to tick another box, TOZO’s interface is well laid out and quick to navigate.

You get access to multiple EQ presets that cover a range of listening preferences, from bass boost to vocal clarity, along with the ability to fully customise your own sound profile. The standout feature, as mentioned above, is the EarPrint personalisation, which runs a short hearing test and then adjusts the sound to your ears.

The app also handles firmware updates, touch control customisation, and ANC/transparency mode settings, giving you control without burying options in confusing menus. A minor but frustrating issue with the app is that when I start using the Golden X1 Earbuds, it seems to forget my previous ANC settings and defaults the buds to normal or transparency modes.

TOZO deserves real credit for what it’s achieved with the Golden X1’s charging case, or at least, half of it. The lower section, where the built-in LED display sits, is genuinely excellent. It’s one of the clearest, most useful displays I’ve seen on an earbud case, sitting just beneath the surface so it looks clean and understated. The readout is bright enough to see outdoors, and the magnets pull the buds in with a satisfying snap, charging exactly as advertised.

The upper half, though, feels like it came from a different product altogether. The lightweight plastic lid doesn’t match the premium feel of the rest of the case, and the hinge isn’t as sturdy as I’d expect at this price point. It will stay open if you ask it nicely, but it doesn’t inspire confidence. It’s a shame, because if TOZO gave the lid the same level of attention as the base, this would be one of the best-designed cases around.

In terms of fit and comfort, the Golden X1 does a great job. The earbuds are lightweight at just 5.8g each, and the ergonomic shape sits securely in the ear without creating pressure points.

The included ear tip selection is generous, with six sizes to help find the proper seal, essential not just for comfort but for maintaining sound quality and effective noise cancellation. I found them comfortable enough for multi-hour listening sessions, and they stayed put during light exercise and walking.

The IPX6 water-resistance rating also means they’re more than capable of handling sweat and rain, so you won’t have to baby them.

In my testing, battery life landed just shy of TOZO’s stated figures. With ANC switched on for the majority of my listening, which is how I prefer to use earbuds, the runtime was a little lower than I’d like, especially when compared with a few similarly priced competitors.

It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s worth keeping in mind if you’re a heavy ANC user.

I went into this review with modest expectations, but the TOZO Golden X1 over-delivered on audio performance, albeit underperforming in other areas. For such compact, discreet earbuds, the sound quality is impressively full-bodied, enhanced by the EarFit configuration.

The active noise cancelling is impressive for its size, but not the best I’ve used at this price point.

One detail I didn’t expect to like, but did, was the LED display on the charging case. I’ve seen far too many budget earbuds with clunky, ugly displays that feel more like a gimmick than a feature, often plastered onto cheap cases found in an Amazon flash sale.

TOZO, however, has nailed it.

The only real let-down is the case lid and hinge, which lack the reassuring solidity of the rest of the build. I’m hopeful that the poor hands-free experience will soon be improved with an OTA fix to the microphones, enhancing voice calls.

These two issues stop the TOZO Golden X1 Earbuds from being a good all-rounder; however, if you’re looking for a pair of buds solely to listen to music or podcasts, and can keep the case somewhere safer than a pocket, these are a sound investment.

Features	TOZO Golden X1
Dimensions	Earbuds 25 × 23 × 22 mm Case 70 × 35 × 39 mm
Weight	Earbuds 5.8 g each Case 43 g Total 54.6 g
Colour Options	Galaxy Blue/Black Blue Champagne
Sound	12 mm dynamic driver Custom Knowles balanced armature Hi-Res Audio Wireless LDAC, AAC, SBC codecs
Power	Up to 8 h (ANC off) About 5 h (ANC on) 32 h total with case USB-C Qi wireless charging
Water Resistance	IPX6
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.3 USB-C
Features	Hybrid ANC Transparency Mode Multiple EQ presets Custom EQ EarPrint personalisation Touch controls
In the Box	Golden X1 earbuds Charging case USB-C cable 6 pairs ear tips Manual & guides
Website	tozostore.com

The TOZO Golden X1 Earbuds are available now for $129/£149 in Galaxy Blue/Black, Black, Blue, and Champagne, with colour options varying by market at tozostore.com.

At the time of this review’s publication, Amazon.com has the TOZO Golden X1 earbuds on sale for $99, making them one of the best sub-$100 buds available.