SoundPEATS TrueAir review: better than other half in-ear earbuds?

The SoundPEATS TrueAir are half in-ear earbuds with a distinctly premium feel. SoundPEATS clearly took inspiration from Apple's AirPods for the TrueAir. But the TrueAir earbuds have a few key advantages. You'll find all the details in this review.

There's a new version of the TrueAir: the SoundPEATS TrueAir2. See the review here.

Pros and cons

Here are the pros and cons of the SoundPEATS TrueAir. You can see at a glance whether these earbuds are right for you.

SoundPEATS TrueAir specifications

• Price: €30
• Chipset: QCC3020
• Colors: White & black
• Codec: Apt-X AAC SBC
• Bluetooth: 5.0
• Range: 10m
• Fit: half in-ear
• Case battery: 600 mAh
• Earbud battery: 40 mAh
• Cable: usb c
• Waterproof: IPX4

What stands out? The charging case's battery capacity: 600 mAh! That's worth noting. Comparable earbuds often have half that capacity in their case. At 40 mAh, the earbud itself has a slightly smaller battery. But it's still decent.

Fit: how do the SoundPEATS TrueAir feel?

The Truengine TrueAir are half in-ear earbuds. They don't have soft silicone ear tips that go into your ear canal. Instead, the entire plastic earbud housing sits against your ear canal, not inside it.

Fit: 6

What stands out about the fit is that they sit a little loosely in my ears (I'm an editor at Eardopes). And that's not simply because they're half in-ear earbuds. Other half in-ear models, such as the AirPods or QCY T7, stay in place a little better. They don't actually fall out, even when I shake my head from side to side. But it feels as though the earbuds are hanging onto a cliff edge, or in this case my ear, with one hand. That may be partly down to the plastic, which feels as smooth as ivory. The earbuds don't have a textured coating to give them some grip.

Overall, the fit just about earns a passing grade. The earbuds stay in place, but they don't feel quite right.

SoundPEATS TrueAir sound quality

Sound quality score: 6

The TrueAir have a clear sound. The mids and highs come through particularly well. These are exactly the frequencies SoundPEATS increasingly excels at.

Half in-ear earbuds always have a little less bass. That's because the sound isn't directed into your ear canal as effectively, and bass is the first thing you lose.

But we can't blame the lack of bass entirely on the half in-ear design. Comparable earbuds, also half in-ear, deliver a little more bass.

Microphone: calls and video meetings with SoundPEATS TrueAir

Microphone score: 8

SoundPEATS is known for good microphones, and the SoundPEATS TrueAir are no exception. The earbuds let the person you're talking to hear you loud and clear. And they do it without any advanced technology. No noise filter or wind protection.

In strong winds, though, it does become a little harder for the other person to hear you. There's more background noise, but they can still understand you. That's impressive for wireless earbuds in this price range.

Curious which earbuds have the best microphone? We've put together a comparison with all the audio samples.

Buy SoundPEATS TrueAir

Earbud controls

The controls on these SoundPEATS TrueAir earbuds are particularly good. A light tap is all it takes, and they respond very quickly. With some earbuds, you have to wait a second before you know whether your touch registered.

Controls: 8

As mentioned, the earbuds have touch controls. No buttons. That's no surprise: most SoundPEATS earbuds have touch controls.

How do the SoundPEATS TrueAir touch controls work?

The controls are exactly the same as on other SoundPEATS earbuds, such as the Truengine 3 SE.

Battery: how long can you use the earbuds?

With the 600 mAh case fully charged, you get 30 hours of total music playtime. That's a lot!

Battery: 8

Although the earbuds only have 40 mAh batteries, you can use them for over 5 hours. That's a good result for this type of earbud. Competing half in-ear wireless earbuds can't match that performance.

The charging case also feels very premium. Everything feels right. The light that turns on when you open the case, the click as the lid snaps shut: it feels like a pair of earbuds costing around €100.

Conclusion: are the SoundPEATS TrueAir any good?

The SoundPEATS TrueAir excel in battery life, controls and microphone quality. The sound is slightly below par for half in-ear earbuds, and they have noticeably less bass than in-ear models. The TrueAir feel very premium.

Buy SoundPEATS TrueAir

Alternatives

SoundPEATS TrueAir vs. QCY T7

First, the QCY T7 are a bit cheaper. Second, they sound a bit better, with bass coming through more clearly. The TrueAir, however, feel more premium, both the case and the earbuds themselves. The TrueAir battery is much better, with almost double the mAh capacity.

• See the full QCY T7 review

Others also viewed:

• Explore all our wireless earbud articles
• These are the best earbuds under €50
• Explore our in-depth article on QCY earbuds
• Also check out our article on AirPods alternatives
• See the 3 best earbuds for running
• Also check out our hands-on review of the Eardopes B6 pro. They cost a little more, but the quality makes it worthwhile.