SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid review: ANC earbuds get affordable

The SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid earbuds offer active noise canceling at a very competitive price. ANC is an expensive technology. So what compromises did SoundPEATS make with the T2 Hybrid? Find out in this article.

In this article

• 1. Specifications: SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid
• 1.1 Sound quality
• 1.2 Microphone: calls and video meetings
• 1.3 Fit
• 1.4 Earbud controls
• 1.5 Battery: how long do they last?
• 1.6 Noise canceling
• 2. Conclusion: our verdict
• 3. Alternatives

Pros and cons

These are the pros and cons of the SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid. See at a glance whether these earbuds are right for you.

SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid specifications

• Price: €60
• Chipset: Airoha AB1562A
• ANC: 30db
• Bluetooth: 5.1
• Range: 10m
• Case battery: 380mAh
• Earbud battery: 55mAh
• Cable: usb-C
• Waterproof: IPX5

SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid sound

SoundPEATS is known for good sound at an affordable price. The sound is always well balanced: no thumping bass, just a balance between highs and lows.

The same goes for the T2. The sound is above average for earbuds in this price range. The mids are slightly less prominent than on their predecessor, the SoundPEATS Truengine 3 SE. In return, you get ANC and transparency mode.

Sound quality score: 8

The T2 Hybrid still delivers high-quality sound. Exactly what we expect from SoundPEATS. Although the sound quality is still better than the competition, we can hear that adding technologies like noise canceling and transparency mode has come at some cost to sound quality.

A fun side note: when we first held the SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid, the earbuds felt so light that we lost all hope of good sound. But once they were in our ears, the quality was a pleasant surprise. Thankfully, the sound has a lot more weight than the earbuds themselves.

Now for a quick breakdown of the SoundPEATS T2 sound, from highs to lows. The highs are where SoundPEATS always excels. They're crystal clear. Bells, hi-hats and other high notes are audible down to the finest detail.

As mentioned, the mids are less prominent than on the previous model. That takes away some of the sound's foundation. People often think bass gives music most of its power. But it's the mids that can make or break the sound. Although they're slightly softer than on the SoundPEATS Truengine 3 SE, they're still beautifully present.

The lows are also slightly less prominent. And honestly, that's more of a plus than a minus. It's exactly what makes these earbuds a good choice for discerning music listeners.

Microphone: how good are SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid calls?

The SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid microphone works well. Your voice comes through clearly, with little noise and a fair amount of detail. It barely picks up lower tones. But do you really need that in earbuds? Not really. Slightly more expensive earbuds do capture those deeper sounds.

Microphone score: 7

Listen to the SoundPEATS T2 in the voice sample we recorded for you below. You'll hear exactly how well the earbuds pick up your voice.

For the clearest impression, listen to this clip with earbuds. That makes it easier to hear how the earbuds' microphone changes the sound. On the other hand, we know you may be reading this article precisely because you're looking for earbuds! So asking you to listen with earbuds is almost cruel.

Buy SoundPEATS T2

Want to know which earbuds have the best microphone? We put together a comparison with all the audio samples.

Fit: how do the SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid feel?

The SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid are the first earbuds with a nicely compact design. More compact than the Truengine 3 SE and the TrueShift2. That has made a big difference to the fit. They're slim earbuds that don't get in the way of your ears.

Fit score: 7

The T2 Hybrid are also much lighter than their predecessors. That makes them much more comfortable to wear, with less pressure on your ear canals.

The only downside I can mention is that the earbuds stick out quite a bit. But it makes sense: SoundPEATS tried to keep them narrow, so the design had to be longer instead. Given the choice, I'd take length over width. This way, they don't get in the way of your ears.

The ear tips (the attachments that sit inside your ears) are a little flimsy. For these earbuds, we strongly recommend a set of foam ear tips for the SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid. They make the earbuds that little bit more comfortable.

Earbud controls

Interestingly, SoundPEATS controls are only good when they use touch controls, not buttons. SoundPEATS buttons always need too much force, painfully pushing the earbuds into your ears each time. Not comfortable. But we're in luck!

SoundPEATS chose touch controls for the T2 Hybrid. And once again, the rule holds: SoundPEATS touch controls are excellent. Just tap, and the earbuds do what you intended.

Controls: 8

The gestures assigned to each action also make sense. That wasn't a given this time, since the T2 Hybrids have 2 new features: ANC and transparency mode. You control them much like on the Jabra 85t: tap twice on 1 side (the left on the SoundPEATS) to switch to the mode you want: ANC, transparency or neither.

SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid connection issue

(Update!) After using the SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid for a while (about 2 weeks), we ran into a connection issue. Whether it was the earbuds or my phone, I don't know. Either way, I had to factory reset the T2 Hybrid. Normally, you reset SoundPEATS earbuds by holding down the touch controls while they're in the case. But not with the T2.

How do you factory reset the SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid?

Here's how to factory reset the SoundPEATS T2:

1. Place the earbuds in the case
2. Remove the SoundPEATS from all your devices (phone and laptop)
3. Tap both touch controls 5 times in a row while the earbuds are in the charging case with the lid open. Each of the 5 taps should be brief: don't hold down the controls.
4. Reconnect, and the earbuds should work perfectly again.

How do the SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid touch controls work?

Battery: how long can you use the earbuds?

The case battery is on the small side: 380mAh. Compare that with the Eardopes B6 pro (1000mAh). The Eardopes B6 Pro completely outperforms these SoundPEATS. That goes for sound, too. But back to the SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid.

So the case has a small battery. The earbuds, though, have a 55mAh battery. And while that's not huge (the Eardopes B6 Pro has 80mAh), they last a long time between charges.

That's because the earbuds use an Airoha AB1562A chipset. It's energy-efficient, as long as you leave ANC off. Switching ANC on makes the chipset work much harder.

You can use the earbuds for 30 hours without recharging them. Nothing surprising, but certainly not a unique selling point either, let's put it that way.

Battery score: 6

SoundPEATS chose some costly features for the T3 Hybrid. As we mentioned in the introduction, something has to give. In this case, SoundPEATS reduced the battery size to keep the earbuds affordable. Fair enough, but for the European market, you could add more features and charge a higher price. Most Europeans wouldn't mind. But there you go.

How good is SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid noise canceling?

The SoundPEATS T2 noise canceling works well. According to the specs, it can keep 30db out of your ears. That's a lot! Still, ANC remains an expensive technology. It takes a lot of processing power, and your battery lasts noticeably less time with it switched on.

The noise canceling does produce a slight hiss. Switch it on and you'll hear a very faint, distant noise. That's the opposing sound being actively played into your ears. On more expensive earbuds, that sound is more refined and less noticeable.

We don't mind: noise canceling is a somewhat overrated technology to begin with. It looks good on an earbud spec sheet, so manufacturers are keen to include it. But real added value? Not all that much. Even earbuds without ANC block out plenty of sound through passive noise canceling. Yes, you read that right: passive noise canceling. Want to know more? Take a look at our guide to noise canceling and the best earbuds with it.

Conclusion: are the SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid good?

The SoundPEATS T2 Hybrid are good earbuds. The sound is nicely balanced. The microphone falls a little short of slightly more expensive earbuds like the Eardopes B6 pro, but it's still good for the price. Your voice comes through clearly. The fit is a significant improvement over the previous model, the 3 SE. The charging case battery is mediocre, while the earbud batteries are decent. And despite the modest battery capacity, battery life is very good! That's thanks to the energy-efficient chipset. You can listen for 30 hours without recharging. The touch controls work well, and even with the new features (ANC & transparency mode), the earbuds are easy to control. The ANC is really good for the price! Better than we expected. It's a shame the battery drains faster when you use it. The new chipset makes the earbuds' connection very stable!

Buy T2 Hybrid

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Alternatives

SoundPEATS T2 vs. Eardopes B6 Pro

The SoundPEATS have slightly less bass than the Eardopes B6 Pro. They excel more in the highs, which come through more clearly. The Eardopes B6 Pro microphone is the clear winner among all the earbuds we tested, so it's no surprise the SoundPEATS can't keep up. The Eardopes also win easily on battery capacity: 1000mAh in the case, compared with 380mAh for the SoundPEATS. All in all, the Eardopes are better, but also about €20 more expensive.

Check out the Eardopes B6 Pro

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• Take a look at our hands-on with the Eardopes B6 pro.