SoundPEATS Sonic review: true wireless earbuds with great battery life
The Sonic true wireless earbuds are the latest from SoundPEATS. A new chipset, a slightly different fit, a little more bass and a different color. But as modern life teaches us, you should never judge an earbud by its color. So we're listening closely and putting the SoundPEATS Sonic through an Eardopes test. You'll find the results in this review.
In this article
Pros and cons
Here are the pros and cons of the SoundPEATS Sonic, so you can quickly see whether these earbuds are right for you.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ Better fit ✔️ Incredible battery life |
❌Buttons could be better |
Specifications SoundPEATS Sonic
- Price: ~€50
- Chipset: QCC3040
- Codec: AptX
- Bluetooth: 5.2
- Range: 10m
- Case battery: 400mAh (average: 500)
- Earbud battery: 70mAh (average: 45)
- Cable: Usb C
- Waterproof rating: IPX 5
It's good to see SoundPEATS using QCC3040 chipsets in its earbuds instead of the QCC3020 chipsets found in earlier models. That previous chipset created 2 connection points on your device (laptop or phone): (L & R). But even with that chipset, you only had to press accept once when pairing for the first time.
Sound of the SoundPEATS Sonic
SoundPEATS is known for balanced sound. No massive bass. No radio-style EQ. Just a well-judged balance between highs and lows that brings everything together beautifully. So what has SoundPEATS done with the Sonic? Thrown its principles overboard!
The bass and lower frequencies are a little more prominent. Our contact had already warned us about the extra bass. But once we had them in our ears, it wasn't nearly as dramatic as we'd expected. The balance we know from SoundPEATS is still there. The bass is slightly stronger, but still nowhere near that of the MPOW M30, for example.
Sound quality score: 7.5
The SoundPEATS Sonic sounds really good! You get the full sound we've come to expect from SoundPEATS. The highs stand out a little less than on the previous model. They sound slightly duller. It's not distracting, but we do notice it.
Microphone: how good is the SoundPEATS Sonic for calls?
The SoundPEATS Sonic has to live up to the Truengine 3 SE. That's a tough task, because those earbuds had a fantastic microphone.
The SoundPEATS Sonic's microphone is slightly worse than its predecessor's.
Microphone score: 6.5
In the sample we recorded for you, you can hear that the higher frequencies are missing. That's a shame, because those are precisely the frequencies that give your voice detail.
Want to know which earbuds have the best microphone? We put together a comparison with all the audio samples.
Fit: how does the SoundPEATS Sonic feel?
The fit has changed a lot compared with the SoundPEATS Truengine 3 SE. While the 3SE felt a bit bulky in your ear, the Sonic's design takes the shape of your ear more into account. The nozzle that goes into your ear canal is slightly longer, and the housing is slightly smaller. All steps in the right direction.
Fit score: 7
The fit of the SoundPEATS Sonic wireless earbuds is much better than the previous model's. We did test them with a set of foam ear tips. We really recommend buying a set with these earbuds.
Earbud controls
Almost all SoundPEATS earbuds have touch controls. The Sonic doesn't. These earbuds have physical buttons. Buttons or touch controls: either can work well or badly. We don't particularly favor one over the other, as long as they're comfortable and work well.
Nine times out of ten, when earbud buttons don't work well, it's because you have to press too hard. If that's not an issue, we're happy. Earbuds sit in your ears, obviously. Having to press hard is uncomfortable because you're pushing something into your ear canal.
Unfortunately, we have to be strict here: just like the SoundPEATS TrueFree2, the SoundPEATS Sonic requires too much pressure against your ear. You do get used to it, and it's slightly better than the TrueFree2. But compared with our number 1 ANC pick, the Jabra 85t (around €200), the difference is huge. Those buttons press so smoothly. They're a pleasure to use.
Controls: 6
How do the SoundPEATS Sonic touch controls work?
| Left | Right | |
| 1x | Music: pause/play Calls: answer/hang up |
Music: pause/play Calls: answer/hang up |
| 2x | Volume down | Volume up |
| 3x | Voice assistant/Siri | Voice assistant/Siri |
| 1.5 sec. | Previous song/video | Next song/video |
|
4+ sec. |
Power off/on | Power off/on |
Compared with earlier models, SoundPEATS has changed just 1 thing: the controls for 1x and 2x have been swapped. Why? No idea. I found it handy to press 1x to adjust the volume, but perhaps SoundPEATS sees it differently.
Battery: how long can you use the earbuds?
You can use the earbuds for 35 hours. At least, that's what SoundPEATS says.
The charging case has a 400mAh battery capacity. We think that's a little on the low side. The previous model, for example, had 500mAh. But the earbuds themselves have 70mAh each! That's a lot of battery capacity per earbud!
That means you can use an earbud for 15 hours without recharging it in the case. 15 hours! In our view, that's a real innovation in earbuds. And we rate it highly.
Battery score: 9
Many manufacturers focus too much on the charging case. Take Eardopes, for example, because we have to be critical of ourselves too. The Eardopes B6 Pro has a 1000mAh battery capacity. The earbuds themselves have 60mAh each. That gives you 8 hours of music and calls. But these earbuds have 10mAh more per earbud. And Qualcomm's QCC3040 chipset uses battery power extra efficiently. That lets you use the earbuds for a very long time. It's good to see!
Conclusion: is the SoundPEATS Sonic any good?
| Score | |
| Sound | 7.5 |
| Microphone | 6.5 |
| Fit | 7 |
| Battery | 9 |
| Controls | 6 |
| Stability | 8.5 |
Alternatives
Sonic vs. Truengine 3SE
The Truengine 3SE has a different sound, with more balance between highs and lows. The Sonic has more low-end emphasis. You have to like that, and many people do. The Sonic's new chipset has plenty of advantages. Take pairing: you no longer have to connect twice, first to the left earbud and then to the right. That makes the Sonic easier to connect. The new QCC3040 chipset has another advantage: the earbuds last longer on the same amount of power. On top of that, the Sonic has more battery capacity per earbud. Plenty of points in the Sonic's favor!
Others also viewed:
- Explore all our blogs about wireless earbuds
- These are the 8 best wireless earbuds
- These are the best earbuds under €50
- These are the earbuds with the best microphone
- Explore our in-depth blog about QCY earbuds
- Also check out our blog about alternatives to AirPods
- Also check out the 3 best earbuds for running
- Also check out our hands-on with the Eardopes B6 pro.
