iQOO is known for gaming-centric devices at accessible prices. Besides phones, the company is gradually extending that approach to audio. Two years after the iQOO TWS 1e, a new pair of in-ear truly wireless earphones, simply called the iQOO Buds, has launched in India. These new buds come in at Rs 1,899 and bring features like 10mm drivers, 42ms gaming latency, Bluetooth 6.1, multipoint connectivity, dual-mic call noise cancellation, and up to 50 hours of total battery life.
But this is also one of the most competitive segments in the TWS market. A long feature list alone is not enough anymore. So, the question is whether the iQOO Buds offer a good everyday experience, and after using them for about a week, I can tell you how well they hold up as a pair of affordable true wireless earbuds. Let’s get started.
The iQOO Buds have a familiar in-ear design with stems. There is nothing particularly distinctive about the earbuds themselves. The shape is conventional, and I found the fit secure and comfortable enough for extended listening.
Each earbud weighs about 3.8g, while the complete package weighs around 41.3g. Both the buds and the case are light and easy to carry around.
The earbuds are also IP54-rated, which gives them some protection against dust and water splashes. However, the matte black finish of the case could be prone to smudges and scratches, especially over a long period of use.
The earbuds, meanwhile, have a glossy black finish, and the magnets in the case hold them firmly. Taking them out is easy, too.
When you take out the earbuds, the LED indicator on the front of the case blinks in pairing mode. They glow a constant orange for charging indication.
You get a USB-C port on the bottom of the case, and above the LED indicator, on the front, there is also an iQOO engraving.
While all of this is par for the course, the light, plasticky quality of the case lid tells you one area where the corners have been cut. But it is functional, and only time will tell you about its durability.
Pairing is as easy as it gets, especially on compatible Vivo and iQOO phones. Just opening the case puts the earbuds into pairing mode when they are being set up for the first time. And on the familial phones, you’ll get a quick pairing prompt when the case is opened nearby.
It supports Bluetooth 6.1 in everyday use, and the connection was stable. Bluetooth multipoint is another notable addition. You can keep them connected to two devices at the same time. Playback will happen one at a time. So, pause on one device to begin playback on the other.
Gaming is where iQOO has the clearest reason for making these earbuds.
The Buds support 42ms gaming latency, and with the Esports sound mode on, the Buds can adapt sound based on games. For online videos, the latency was fine, even in the Standard sound profile.
The iQOO Buds use 10mm drivers and support AAC and SBC codecs. There is no active noise cancellation, which is worth keeping in mind when comparing it with some alternatives in this price range.
Again, with gamers in mind, iQOO’s acoustics team has worked on enhancing bass while keeping the mids and highs slightly controlled. This is meant to give game effects such as gunshots and explosions more impact without completely sacrificing the voices of players and other details.
Even in our frequency response curve test, iQOO Buds show a very bass-heavy tuning. The vocals are reasonably clear, but the elevated bass makes the overall presentation feel thicker than I like, and treble extension is limited.
You get EQ profiles called DeepX 4.0 sound effects in the companion app. This includes Mega Bass, Clear Voice, Clear High Pitch, Esports mode for games, and even an audiobook mode. I stuck with Standard mode as it is the most balanced one among the lot.
There is also spatial audio, with four modes: Theater, Concert Hall, Studio, and Live Concert. However, this feature requires a compatible Vivo or iQOO phone, so it is not something every buyer will get access to out of the box.
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The Buds are said to have a particular design and dual microphones for clear calls. There is also AI-based call noise reduction for sounds like wind and sudden horns.
You can take or reject calls through touch gestures. These touch controls can be customised through the phone or the vEarphones app. The app also comes with EQ settings, a Find earphones feature, and a remote camera shutter option on supported Vivo and iQOO phones.
In-ear detection is missing but is fair considering the price.
Battery life is one of the strongest parts of the iQOO Buds.
iQOO claims up to 12 hours from the earbuds and up to 50 hours with the charging case. It also claims that a 10-minute charge can provide up to four hours of playback. These figures are based on AAC playback at 50% volume with ANC disabled, so real-world results will vary.
In my testing, the earbuds lasted 10 hours and 32 minutes on a single charge. It was a continuous playback of a FLAC file at 80% volume.
The case has a 513mAh rated battery, while each earbud has a 51mAh minimum battery capacity. iQOO rates charging the earbuds at around 60 minutes.
So, the battery runtime is more than sufficient.
iQOO has clearly prioritised gaming, battery life and connectivity here. The 42ms latency, multipoint support and 10-hour-plus battery life are useful additions, especially at Rs 1899. The lightweight build and secure fit also make the iQOO Buds easy to use throughout the day.
The sound tuning will appeal to those who like heavy bass. This, however, makes the presentation thick, while the limited treble extension takes away some detail and separation. There is also no ANC, which is something some competing earbuds in this segment offer. Some of the features will be available in compatible iQOO or Vivo phones only.
For anyone, especially iQOO and Vivo phone users who play games, are fine with bass-forward sound, and want long battery life from their earbuds under Rs 2000, the iQOO Buds make a reasonable case. But for those for whom music quality or ANC matters more, there are better-rounded options in this price range.
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