Unlike other manufacturers, Amazfit is in no rush to inflate the lineup – PowerBuds Pro debut a year after the original model. I like this approach, the small number of models does not allow you to get confused in the product line. As befits the advanced version, the novelty has received active noise cancellation. And we have to figure out the rest of the differences in the review.
Design and ergonomics
The design of the case and the headphones themselves have been completely revised. The case is now vertical and the color of the set is exclusively white. Matte plastic is beautiful and practical, but the surface gradually gets dirty and requires wiping with damp wipes. The sizes are quite comfortable to wear in jeans. Although the slightly rounded shape still protrudes noticeably beyond the pockets.
It’s time to open the lid, but it’s not so easy to do it with one hand – the case is too wide and slippery. But there are no complaints about the closer, the spring and magnet are powerful enough for a clear stroke. Inside, an accent gray color and a combination of the same practical matte material and a spectacular gloss – PowerBuds Pro looks original.
The idea of ​​combining two colors continues in the headphones, all matte. Before us are plugs with a leg, but the format is rather unusual. It’s all about the flat outer side, the upper part in the shape of the auricle and a short, wide leg.
Let me remind you that the original Amazfit PowerBuds had additional calipers for a secure fit during training. PowerBuds Pro has nothing like this, but the ergonomics have not suffered from this, the earplugs do not fall out of the ears. It’s all about the good shape of the upper part and the adequate weight of 6.7 grams. IP55 protection protects against moisture and dust in adverse weather. You should not be afraid of rains and snowfalls in PowerBuds Pro. This is the most advanced standard I’ve come across at TWS.
The ear cushions are worn in such a way that there is a minimum distance between the mesh and the ear. The shape of the attachments is unusual, so 4 complete sets, including the installed ones, will be very useful. Transparent silicone tends to get dirty and yellow, I recommend regular soaking in soapy water or hydrogen peroxide.
Connection and management
Before pairing with PowerBuds Pro, I highly recommend installing the Zepp app for Amazfit wearable electronics. It displays the charge of the headphones and the case, all settings are performed and the firmware is updated. With the firmware update, support for Google Fast Pair will appear. But Zepp has two drawbacks. The first is associated with a poor-quality translation into Russian. The second is to display a permanent notification in the status bar to keep the application in the device’s memory. The latter is true for watches and bracelets, but not for headphones.
On the back there is a button for transferring to pairing mode.
The touch buttons are located at the ends of the legs and are marked tactilely, that is, soft squeezing is required for operation. Touching and releasing is accompanied by a pleasant sound that mimics the sound of a real key – a very pleasant feeling. There is a touch panel on the outside and is needed for fitness functionality, but more on that later.
Actions are assigned individually for the left and right headphones. Single, double and triple touches are customizable, long hold is reserved for switching noise canceling modes. Thus, even one earphone can fully control playback, only volume control is missing. The optical presence sensor precisely pauses when removing and resumes playback immediately after returning the earbud. The touch panel is locked in the first case.
The connection quality in close proximity to the smartphone is excellent, the sound goes without interference and delays. However, the power is inferior to other modern TWS, gaps appear through two concrete walls – the sound is interrupted, and after a second it continues without interference and compression. Also, when paired with the HONOR 30 Pro +, communication breaks occur every few hours, followed by reconnection after 3-5 seconds. The updates that came during the testing did not fix the problems.
Sound and microphone
In sound, the rest of the ranges fade slightly against the background of energetic and slightly voluminous lows. The high ones were especially retracted. The original version of PowerBuds sounds pretty much the same. A lot of people, myself included, love this kind of character that blends well with modern music. Otherwise, I advise you to slightly tighten the mids with an equalizer, dynamic emitters are very susceptible to adjustments.
The leg and active noise cancellation have a beneficial effect on the sound quality in headset mode. In a room with an open window and outside with a light breeze, the quality of the voice is gorgeous, without the characteristic feeling of compactness. Noise cancellation based on three microphones can cope with more difficult conditions. For example, several times I had to talk in a new subway car, there were no complaints from the interlocutor.
Noise reduction and permeability
Noise cancellation is adaptive and is not a marketing ploy. The system really changes three modes of intensity depending on the surrounding conditions, this is clearly visible. Noise cancellation failures in difficult conditions, for example, in the subway, were not noticed. In a quiet room, an almost imperceptible background noise remains, easily drowned out by music. It is an honest active noise cancellation system based on three microphones in each earbud.
Sound transmission is simple, with no voice focus or intensity adjustment. But the task is completed, you don’t have to take off the headphones in stores.
Fitness options
The earbuds are partly capable of replacing a fitness bracelet for tracking heart rate during workouts. An optical heart rate monitor is integrated into the right earpiece, the indicators coincide with the Huawei Band 4 Pro. When you touch the outside of the earbud during a workout running in Zepp, key information will be read out in English.
Also PowerBuds Pro are able to monitor the health of posture and hearing. In the first case, in the application, you can see if the angle of lowering the head is excessive and set up reminders to relax the spine by changing the position. In the second case, the system evaluates the current volume level and measures the recommended headphone usage per week.
Autonomy
PowerBuds Pro claims 5 hours and 45 minutes of continuous music playback with active noise canceling. In fact, the headphones lasted 5 hours and 40 minutes at medium volume with ANC enabled and posture health tracking. Before the right earpiece sat down, the first notification of a low level sounded at 9% 25 minutes before disconnection. The system then alerted you to a low level every 3-5 minutes with every percent leaking. The left earpiece in mono lasted another 28 minutes.
The case is rated for three full charges and charges itself via USB-C at the base of the case. The kit comes with a full meter cable.
Review after a month of use
I’ve tried a lot of TWS lately, and Amazfit PowerBuds Pro very worthy option. The format, design, noise cancellation, sound and autonomy were pleasantly pleased. And the fitness capabilities highlight the novelty against the background of monotonous headphones of this format. Only a weak connection can become a stop factor, but there is hope for firmware updates. Personally, I would prefer the Amazfit PowerBuds Pro to the competition.
Advantages:
- original appearance;
- practical body materials;
- really working adaptive noise reduction;
- sound aimed at modern music;
- additional fitness functionality;
- USB Type-C for charging.
Disadvantages:
- connection stability problems.
Controversial points:
- flaws in the Russification of the application;
- constant notice from Zepp.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
