SoundPEATS TrueAir2 review: "are we really going to say this?"
The SoundPEATS TrueAir2 succeeds the well-reviewed TrueAir. A better chipset, a smaller battery and a smaller earbud. But how good is the sound? And the microphone? That's what we found out in this review. There's something specific we want to say, but we're not sure we can say it quite so plainly. Well, maybe later in this article.
In this article
Pros and cons
Here are the pros and cons of the SoundPEATS TrueAir2. See at a glance whether these earbuds are right for you.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️Sound ✔️Fit |
❌Slightly smaller battery |
Specifications SoundPEATS TrueAir2
- Price: ~40
- Chipset: QCC3040
- Colors: White & black
- Codec: Apt-X AAC SBC
- Bluetooth: 5.2
- Range: 10m
- Fit: half in-ear
- Case battery: 300 mAh
- Earbud battery: 30 mAh
- Cable: usb c
- Waterproof: IPX4
- Wireless charging: no
Sound of the SoundPEATS TrueAir2
The only thing that wasn't good about the predecessor (SoundPEATS TrueAir) was the sound. We gave it a 6.
But these SoundPEATS TrueAir 2 sound much better. The updated QCC3040 chipset does its job, and the speakers deliver fantastic sound.
💡 Also check out the best true wireless earbuds we've tested so far.
And that's from half in-ear earbuds. These are earbuds without a rubber or silicone ear tip that goes into your ear. Instead, a hard shell rests against the opening of your ear canal. We've explained the difference between half in-ear and in-ear earbuds clearly in this article.
In short, half in-ear earbuds often sound disappointing. In-ear earbuds usually sound better, especially in the bass.
But the sound of these SoundPEATS TrueAir2 surprises us. It's much better than we expected. So, are we going to say it? Are we going to spell it out? Are we going to compare them with that fruity American brand? And will we conclude that these SoundPEATS sound better? Are we really going to say that? Not yet. Maybe in the conclusion.
Sound quality score: 7.5
The sound of these SoundPEATS TrueAir really is very good. But what makes them so good? Mainly their range of sound: treble, mids and bass. That's truly unusual for half in-ear wireless earbuds.
Apple's AirPods struggle with that too. The AirPods don't sound nearly as good as much cheaper in-ear earbuds.
Is there room for improvement? Yes. The treble is just a little too prominent. It could be dialed back a bit. It's not distracting, but we're picky listeners.
All in all, we're very surprised by how good the SoundPEATS TrueAir2 sound.
Microphone: are the SoundPEATS TrueAir2 good for calls?
First, this is the place to mention that the SoundPEATS TrueAir2 have Qualcomm's very fast QCC3040 chipset. It improves call quality across the board, including online meetings if that's what you use them for.
The microphone's sound itself is decent too. Clear, but not particularly pleasant. The lower frequencies are a little thin, though not to the same extent as with QCY earbuds.
Of course, we've recorded another sample for you with these earbuds. We're one of the only review sites that does this. Now, why might that be? Let's put it politely: we review earbuds we've actually worn. And that counts for something. Listen to this sample:
Microphone score: 7
As you can hear, your voice comes through clearly with these SoundPEATS TrueAir2. With cheaper earbuds, entire sections can sometimes be impossible to understand, or there's a harsh hiss in the audio. That's certainly not the case here. There is a faint hiss, though. If you listen to the recording above with in-ear earbuds, you'll hear it very clearly. Then again, there's a good chance you don't have any handy. After all, that's why you're reading this review: you're looking for earbuds.
It might be interesting to compare them with the earbuds Eardopes had developed, with a strong focus on microphone quality. So far, these Eardopes B6 pro have the best microphone of any earbuds we've tested.
Want to know which earbuds have the best microphone? We've put together a comparison with all the audio samples.
Fit: how do the SoundPEATS TrueAir2 feel?
The TrueAir2 has an angled design. Where the rounded earpiece usually sits straight on the stem, SoundPEATS has tilted it on the TrueAir2. That makes for a surprisingly good fit. The TrueAir, its predecessor, didn't have this.
Another benefit is that SoundPEATS listened to our request to use matte plastic instead of glossy plastic. At least, we're trying to believe we have enough global influence for SoundPEATS to use our feedback in its new earbud designs. Though they could have read our English article about the earlier TrueAir. Anyway, back to the fit.
Either way, the design change has made a big difference. Comfort has improved considerably. With the previous model, you constantly felt they might fall out. That's not the case with the SoundPEATS TrueAir2. Nicely done!
Fit: 7.5
Earbud controls
The SoundPEATS TrueAir2 has touch controls. Some other earbuds use buttons. Either option can work very well or very badly.
But the touch controls on these SoundPEATS TrueAir2 earbuds are good! That's something SoundPEATS is known for. They always work as they should. A light tap is all it takes to get the earbuds to do what you want. They respond immediately too. With some earbuds, you have to wait a second to find out whether your tap registered.
Controls: 8
How do the touch controls on the SoundPEATS TrueAir2 work?
| Left | Right | |
| 1x | Volume down | Volume up |
| 2x | Music: pause/play Calls: answer/hang up |
Music: pause/play Calls: answer/hang 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 |
A big advantage of the TrueAir2's touch controls is that it's very clear where to tap. There are 2 raised areas on the earbuds, each displaying the Superman-like SoundPEATS logo. They're easy to find with your fingers, which makes the controls much easier to use.
Battery: how long can you use the earbuds?
The TrueAir2's battery has shrunk. It's smaller than its predecessor's. The previous model had 600mAh in the charging case; this second version has 300mAh. That's half the capacity in mAh!
The earbuds themselves were less affected by the cutbacks. Their battery capacity dropped from 40mAh each to 30mAh.
But here's the thing. The Qualcomm QCC3040 chipset inside each earbud is extremely power-efficient. And that's while delivering better quality.
Conclusion: are the SoundPEATS TrueAir2 good?
| Score | |
| Sound | 7.5 |
| Microphone | 7 |
| Fit | 7.5 |
| Battery | 6 |
| Controls | 8 |
| Stability | 8 |
The sound is very good for half in-ear earbuds! The microphone is decent, but not as good as their bigger SoundPEATS sibling: the Truengine 3SE. The fit is a big improvement over the TrueAir. The angled design and matte plastic keep the earbuds securely in place. The controls are unchanged and very good. The flat areas give your finger a clear target, making them easy to use. Battery capacity has dropped, especially in the case. But that does make the charging case more compact, which is a plus. Each earbud has dropped from 40mAh to 30mAh. Thanks to the efficient chipset (QCC3040), though, we see no difference in battery life.
All in all, the SoundPEATS TrueAir2 are very enjoyable earbuds!
Overall: 7.5
That leaves one question: are we going to say it outright? Are we really going to do it? The answer is yes! These earbuds sound just as good as AirPods. We can't put it any other way.
Alternatives
SoundPEATS TrueAir vs. TrueAir2
The TrueAir2 sound even better than their predecessor, the TrueAir. The updated version also fits much better. The matte plastic and angled earbud design make for a much better fit in your ear. Is everything about the new version better? No. The TrueAir's microphone was slightly better than the latest version's. The charging case battery has also become a little smaller. But smaller can be a good thing too: the TrueAir2 is much easier to carry! Which of the 2 versions should you choose? That's easy for us. The latest version is simply better.
Others also viewed:
- Browse all our wireless earbud articles
- These are the best earbuds under €50
- These are the earbuds with the best microphone
- Check out our in-depth article about QCY earbuds
- And take a look at our article about AirPods alternatives
- Also check out 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 is worth it.
