SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 review: sporty, affordable earbuds that surprise

The SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 are SoundPEATS' budget earbuds. These wireless Bluetooth earbuds are inexpensive, but clearly better than the cheapest budget models. So what compromises did SoundPEATS make to keep the price this low? That's what we'll cover in this review.  

In this article

• 1. Specifications: SoundPEATS TrueFree 2
• 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 Charging case
• 2. Conclusion: our verdict
• 3. Alternatives

Pros and cons

Here are the pros and cons of the SoundPEATS TrueFree 2, so you can quickly see whether these earbuds are right for you. 

 

SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 specifications

• Price: €50
• Chipset: Realtek8763VHC
• Bluetooth: 5.0
• Range: 10m
• Case battery: 380 mAh
• Earbud battery: 43 mAh
• Cable: usb c
• Waterproof rating: ipx7

SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 sound quality

The SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 sound remarkably good for the price. To put that in perspective: these earbuds cost just €10 more than the average pair of QCY earbuds. And that extra €10 buys you a big upgrade in sound! 

Midrange in particular tends to fall short in earbuds at this price. These SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 don't fall short.

Sound quality score: 8

The bass, mids and highs (which SoundPEATS is known for) all come through beautifully. It's quite a feat at this price. 

A manufacturer has to cut costs somewhere when releasing budget earbuds. But SoundPEATS certainly hasn't cut corners on sound. 

They have cut costs on touch controls (by leaving them out), the chipset and the microphone. But we won't get into that in this section! Or did we just do that?  

Microphone: are the SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 good for calls?

Of course, you want your earbuds to work well for calls. Nothing is more annoying than finding out after buying them that nobody can hear you clearly. Especially when you actually have something interesting to say. It would be a shame if a poor microphone meant nobody caught any of it. 

No, we don't want that. That's why we thoroughly test the microphone on every pair of earbuds we review. 

So we tested the SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 too. Did SoundPEATS cut corners on the microphone to keep the TrueFree 2 affordable? Listen and judge for yourself:

The lower frequencies are harder to hear. They're the first to suffer with lower-quality microphones. The TrueFree 2 is no exception.

Microphone score: 6

People can still understand you on calls. Your voice may lack depth, but every word is clear enough. That's the minimum requirement, which explains this score. 

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

Planning to use these earbuds mainly for calls and video meetings? You're better off buying a different pair.  

Buy SoundPEATS TrueFree 2

For comparison, here's a recording from earbuds with a very good microphone: the Eardopes B6 Pro. 

That said, those earbuds cost €79 and have the best microphone we've tested in earbuds under €100. So yes, you pay for that quality.

Fit: how do the SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 feel?

The TrueFree have ear fins. These are fins (like a fish's fins) that tuck into your outer ear. It sounds uncomfortable, but the TrueFree 2 actually fit very comfortably. 

The fins hold the earbuds securely in your ears without pinching. With 2 points of contact, the ear tips inside your ear canal and the ear fins tucked into your outer ear, these earbuds aren't going anywhere. 

Fit: 8

Suitable for sports
That makes these earbuds particularly well suited to listening on the go and working out. They're good for running too. They really don't fall out of our ears. 

Of course, everyone's ears are shaped differently. Just because they fit securely in our ears doesn't guarantee they'll fit everyone. That said, our ears are fairly average. 

Earbud controls 

The short answer: the controls are poor.

The long answer: the TrueFree 2 have physical buttons. And let's be clear: buttons can work very well. Take the Jabra Elite 85t, which cost around €200. Those earbuds have buttons, and they work beautifully. 

The key is that buttons need to be easy to press. After all, the earbuds sit right in your ear canals. When you press an earbud, you're pushing something into your ear canal. 

The buttons on these SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 are incredibly hard to press. You have to push hard on the earbuds, and therefore on your ear canals, to make them respond. It's really annoying!

Controls score: 4

This is one area where SoundPEATS has cut costs. Touch controls cost more to produce. But they could so easily have made these buttons less stiff. Then there wouldn't have been a problem. As it is, this is just painful. 

Every time you want to turn the volume up or down, you have to press an earbud 2 times. You need so much force that you have to use your thumb. It's almost impossible with your index finger. And each time, you're pushing the earbud painfully deep into your ear canal. 

We stopped using the buttons. You're better off reaching for your phone to adjust the volume. 

How do the SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 touch controls work?

 

If you press hard enough, the button does go down. And then it works. With plenty of pain and effort. Mostly pain. OK, we'll stop complaining. 

How good is the SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 battery?

Each earbud has a 43 mAh battery. That isn't listed anywhere, not even on the SoundPEATS website. So we did our research and called SoundPEATS in China (seriously). 

And yes, 43mAh is fine. Nothing special. 

Battery score: 6

The charging case has a 380mAh battery. Again, nothing special. It seems that 380mAh batteries are made in huge quantities in China, because so many of these earbuds have exactly 380mAh in their charging cases. 

Charging case

While the more expensive SoundPEATS earbuds had matte charging cases, this TrueFree 2 pair comes with a smooth, hard plastic case. It feels a little cheaper in your hand. Still, it's a perfectly decent charging case. 

There are four battery indicator lights inside the case. They light up when you put the earbuds in, so you can see whether the earbuds are charged or empty. Handy.  

Verdict: are the SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 good?

 

The SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 are ideal if you want a step up from the cheapest earbuds on the market, such as those from QCY & Haylou. The sound is genuinely impressive for the price. The fit is good too, particularly for sports. 

Do the SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 have drawbacks? Absolutely. The controls are terrible. You have to press the buttons extremely hard, which hurts because you're pushing the earbud into your ear canal. You're better off controlling the earbuds from your phone. The microphone is below par, but that's understandable at this price. Microphones are often where budget earbuds cut costs. If you want a better microphone, choose a more expensive SoundPEATS pair or the Eardopes B6 Pro. 

Buy SoundPEATS TrueFree 2

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Alternatives

SoundPEATS TrueFree 2 vs. SoundPEATS Tuengine 3 SE

The Truengine 3 SE cost a little more, just over €10 extra. That gets you a step up in quality, especially in the chipset, microphone and touch controls. 

SoundPEATS Truengine 3 SE advantages at a glance:

• Touch controls. No annoying physical buttons that you have to push hard into your ears.
• Slightly better sound, though the difference isn't huge. 
• A slightly faster connection with dual drivers (both 3 SE earbuds connect to your device). With the TrueFree, 1 earbud acts as the relay between your device and the earbuds. That makes the 3 SE faster and a little more stable. 
• The microphone is a world apart. The Truengine 3 SE has one of the best microphones we've tested.  

 

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Others also viewed:

• Browse all our articles about wireless earbuds
• These are the best earbuds under €50
• See our in-depth article about QCY earbuds
• And see our article about AirPods alternatives
• Also see the 3 best earbuds for running
• Also see our hands-on look at the Eardopes B6 pro. They cost a little more, but the quality is worth it.