Review: SoundPEATS TrueShift 2

SoundPEATS is known for its cool designs, beautifully balanced sound and, as of today, huge batteries in its charging cases. These earbuds give you (yes, you read that right) 100 hours of use before you need to plug in the charging case. Is there a downside? Yes! But it has nothing to do with sound quality. So what is it? Find out in this SoundPEATS TrueShif 2 review.

 

In this article

• 1. Quick facts: SoundPEATS Trueshift2
• 1.1 Sound quality
• 1.2 Microphone: calls
• 1.3 Earbud controls
• 1.4 Charging case
• 1.5 Battery: how long do they last?
• 1.6 Fit
• 2. Conclusion: our verdict
• 3. Alternatives

SoundPEATS Trueshift 2 specifications

• Price: €45.95
• Chipset: AB1536
• Bluetooth: 5.0
• Range: 10m
• Case battery: 3000mAh
• Earbud battery: 55mAh
• Cable: usb c
• Waterproof: IPX7 (5 seconds underwater)

One specification really stands out: the charging case's 3000 mAh battery capacity. 3000 mAh is a lot. Keep in mind that a typical earbud charging case holds around 500 mAh. But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Let's test the sound first. 

TrueShift 2 sound 

Sound quality score: 8

The sound of almost all SoundPEATS earbuds over €40 is impressive. Not so much because they deliver heavy bass, but because the mids come through so beautifully. You can hear every little instrument in your music. With these earbuds, it really matters that you set Spotify's quality to 'high'. 

The good-quality ear tips included with the earbuds certainly help, too. You know, those silicone sleeves that sit against your ears? It's interesting how a really good ear tip can improve sound quality. 

If you buy the TrueShift 2, you're making a solid choice for sound. Definitely above average, which explains our high score. Want slightly better sound? Try the SoundPEATS 3 SE or SoundPEATS SE. Just keep in mind that the difference is minimal. We've reviewed both. 

No bass?

These earbuds certainly do have bass. Their balanced sound and clear mids mean the lows are present in just the right amount, too. All in all, the balanced sound of the TrueShifts 2 makes listening to music a real pleasure. 

 

Microphone: is the TrueShift 2 good for calls? 

Microphone score: 7

The TrueShift 2 microphone is decent, but not as good as the SoundPEATS Truengine 3 SE's. That doesn't mean the TrueShift 2 has a bad mic. It says more about how well the Truengine 3 SE performs. It holds its own against €150 earbuds.

During calls, the person on the other end can hear you clearly, but with a slight echo. When we say 'echo', you might imagine a booming TV announcer's voice. That's not what we mean. It's a tiny echo alongside your otherwise clear voice. Think of someone making a call from a bathroom. 

The Truengine 3 SE has two separate microphone openings per earbud, while the TrueShift2 has just 1. That was a lot of numbers in one sentence. The point is that, with the more expensive Truengine 3 SE, your ear or finger is less likely to block the microphone opening. 

Buy SoundPEATS TrueShift2

 

Earbud controls 

SoundPEATS earbuds almost always have touch controls rather than buttons. The TrueShift 2 is no exception. Before ours arrived, though, we thought they had buttons. That's what they look like.

Controls: 7

The touch controls work surprisingly well. We never tapped the earbuds without getting a response. So no complaints there. 

One downside is that you can't customize which gesture does what. For example, if you want a triple tap to skip to the next track, you (...) can't. To skip to the next track, you have to touch and hold the right earbud. 

How do the TrueShift 2 touch controls work?

 

Here at Eardopes, we're big fans of the manuals included with all SoundPEATS earbuds. They're so detailed that you can find useful information for just about any situation.

SoundPEATSTrueShift 2 factory reset

Thanks in part to that helpful manual, we figured out how to reset the earbuds to their factory settings. The manual also explained that the issue happens when you don't press 'accept' on your device during pairing. No need to worry: according to the manual , a factory reset for the Truengine 3 SE is quick and easy. 

1. Place the earbuds in the case
2. Press and hold both earbuds' touch controls for 10 seconds
3. The factory reset is now complete. You can pair them again.

TrueShift 2 charging case

We could talk about this charging case all day. 3000 mAh of battery capacity. The little case (actually, not so little) doubles as a power bank. So, besides your earbuds, you can also charge your phone when its battery runs out. Just plug the usb end of your cable into the charging case and the usb-c end into your phone. If you have an iPhone, use your Lightning cable instead, of course. 

 

Battery: how long can you use the earbuds?

The case has a 500mAh battery, and the earbuds themselves have 55mAh batteries. That 500mAh isn't anything special. Neither is the 55mAh, really. What is special is that these earbuds let you listen to music for around 6 hours, or even a little longer.

Battery: 9.5

The QCC3020 chipset and AptX codec help the earbuds use power efficiently. That gives you a good amount of listening time. Another reason to choose quality. 

Fit: how does the TrueShift 2 sit in your ears? 

The earbuds are slightly larger than budget earbuds from brands like QCY. 

You get 3 different soft ear wings that help hold the earbuds in place. Each has a small anchor that grips the inside of your ear. The three versions are all different sizes. Useful if you want your earbuds to fit snugly. If earbuds usually fit you well, they're not a particularly useful addition. 

We think it's a shame SoundPEATS didn't include a rubber sleeve without that little anchor. Some people would probably prefer not to have the extra wing. 

Conclusion: is the TrueShift 2 right for you?

The sound is nicely balanced. Lows and highs come through clearly, but the real strength is in the mids. They make all the difference with most SoundPEATS earbuds, and the TrueShift 2 is no exception. 

The microphone is good. These earbuds work well for phone calls. The microphone isn't quite as good as the one in the SoundPEATS Truengine 3 SE. 

The battery and listening time are great! With 1 fully charged case, you can listen to music for more than 100 hours without needing a cable or charger. That's pretty nice! The charging case also works as a power bank to charge your phone. 

We really like the SoundPEATS TrueShift 2! Their biggest strengths are the sound and the large battery. But the fit does need to work for your ears.  

Buy SoundPEATS TrueShift2

---

Alternatives

SoundPEATS Truengine 3 SE vs. Trueshift 2 

The Truengine 3 SE sounds slightly better than the Trueshift2. But the difference is small and partly comes down to fit. In short, they're neck and neck for sound. 

The Truengine 3 SE has AptX. The Trueshift 2 doesn't. AptX transfers audio more efficiently, allowing earbuds to deliver better quality over Bluetooth. That's an advantage for the Truengine 3 SE.

The Trueshift2 has more battery capacity in its charging case: 

Speaking of the charging case: having 6 times as many mAh also means a much larger case. That makes it less convenient to carry and use, especially when you're out and about or traveling.

The TrueShift 2 has a higher waterproof rating than the Truengine 3 SE: 

---

Others also viewed:

• Browse all our wireless earbud articles
• Explore our in-depth article on QCY earbuds
• And check out our article on alternatives to AirPods
• Also check out the 3 best earbuds for running
• Also check out our hands-on look at the Eardopes B6 pro. They cost a little more, but the quality is worth it.