Category: Reviews

Key Highlights

• Snug-fit design
• One-touch voice assistant
• HD mic for clear calls
• Massive 13mm audio driver
• Passive noise isolation

Ever wondered what it feels like to be truly engrossed in your favorite tunes? Today, we’re diving into the Inbase Free Buds Neo TWS to uncover the answer. Can these earbuds deliver a listening experience that not only meets but exceeds your expectations? Inbase sent us the review units of their Free Buds Neo TWS, and here’s what we think about it. Here, we unravel the features, sound quality, and overall performance of the newly launched Inbase Free Buds Neo TWS. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of whether these earbuds are worth the investment or if you should keep searching for the perfect audio companion. Also Read | Audio- Technica ATH-SQ1TW TWS Review: Tiny Beasts

What’s Inside The Box?

• Free Buds Neo TWS
• USB to USB-C charging cable
• 2 Extra Silicon tips
• User manual

Design

The Free Buds Neo TWS arrives in a compact and stylish case featuring a flip-style design that easily fits into your pocket. The case, adorned in sleek black with a red border on the opening, boasts a small square shape. Upon opening, a red interior design holds the pair of earbuds, held securely in place by magnetic placements. Plucking out and placing the buds back into the case is quite easy, and the case remains partially open once you put them back in the case.

The case’s front showcases Inbase branding, an LED indicator that indicates charging and stops once it is fully charged, and a USB-C port at the bottom. There are tiny LEDs on each earbud that glow when they are put inside the case. Available in various colors, including Black & Yellow, Blossom Pink, and Navy Blue, we have the Black variant provided by Inbase which looks premium and has an elegant charm.

The earbuds, with their secure in-ear design, offer a perfect fit without any issues during activities like listening to music, taking calls, or strolling. Even during vigorous activities like running, the earbuds stay firmly in place. The semi-in-ear style, featuring hard plastic in the inner part, may cause discomfort for some users during extended use. But, in my experience of using the Free Buds Neo for two to three hours at a stretch, they remained comfortable most probably because of they are light in weight. The earbuds are also IPX5 water-resistant, protecting against sweat and some water exposure.

Also Read | MIVI Duopods K1 Budget TWS Review: Basic Yet Practical

Connectivity and Touch Controls

Connecting the Inbase Free Buds Neo TWS is super easy. Remove the earbuds from the charging case, switch on the Bluetooth on your device, and pair them with ‘Free Buds Neo’. Once paired, the earbuds will automatically connect every time you take them out of the charging case.

Coming to the touch sensors, the TWS allows you to manage essential features effortlessly. Each earbud has different touch functions; a single tap on either bud plays or pauses the music and answers calls. Tapping thrice dials the last number you called. While the company mentions additional controls, my experience revealed only these two functions being responsive with the touch sensors. Here’s a complete list of touch functions that you can find in the TWS:

Audio Experience and Call Quality

The Free Buds Neo comes with 13mm audio drivers, but even when you put the volume on the highest, it might not feel very loud. People end up using the highest setting to hear better. However, it gives a clear sound without any distortion, and the bass is pretty good too. The earbuds have a feature to block out some outside noise. However, when it comes to making calls, the experience is not great and is just okay. The call quality on the Free Buds Neo is not as good as it could be.

Battery

According to Inbase, the Free Buds Neo provides approximately 5-6 hours of playback time and boasts an impressive standby time of up to 400 hours. It took me around an hour to fully charge the Free Buds Neo TWS. A good thing is that it comes equipped with a USB-C port for charging it conveniently. Over nearly a month of usage, I’ve found the need to charge the TWS only a few times, highlighting its commendable battery performance.

Giznext Verdict

If don’t have a big budget or simply prefer not to spend much on earbuds, the Inbase Free Buds Neo is the perfect solution that will meet and exceed your expectations. Priced at Rs. 8,99, it stands out as one of the top earbud options in the market. Offering decent bass, large battery life, easy connectivity, and more, it caters to all your requirements without burdening your wallet. In my opinion, it’s a great choice that delivers value for its affordable price.

Also Read | Jabra Elite Active 8 TWS Review: Premium And Solid Sports Earbuds

Pros

• Comfortable snug fit design
• Rich sound stage and powerfull bass
• Smudge-resistant and rugged design

Cons

• Basic case design
• Noise cancellation could have been more refined

Jabra is a seasoned player in the audio segment and has been showing its expertise with the wireless audio products globally. The Elite Active series is Jabra’s premium audio product lineup which is refreshed frequently with new and advanced models. Catering to the fitness enthusiasts is the latest model from the brand called the Jabra Elite Active 8.

An upgraded version of the Elite Active 7, this new TWS comes at a price of Rs. 15,999 in India and is amongst the most premium TWS earbuds in the market. That said, the TWS market has evolved exponentially and we have numerous options with ANC and other advanced features available at a cost lower than the Elite Active 8. So what makes it worth a buy despite a higher price range?

At Giznext, we got the Jabra Elite Active 8 for review and after fiddling with the unit for long, we are sharing our feedback. Whether or not this TWS earbud stands out from the crowd and offers all the punch an audiophile needs? Here’s what we think:

Retail Box Contents

• Main TWS charging case
• Earbuds
• Extra eartips
• USB Type-C to USB Typ-A cable
• User manual and warranty cards

Design

Jabra has stick to the basics with the Elite 8 Active TWS earbuds’ design. Nothing’s overdone to make it look funky. In fact, the straightforward design looks subtle yet premium at the same time. The Elite Active 8’s design highlight is its ergonomic and rugged build that makes it the perfect sports TWS earbuds.

Both charging case and the TWS earbuds have a soft silicone grip that adds to the overall grip and also a luxurious feel to touch. The durability is enhanced with the IP68 certifications which safeguards the pair from dust, sweat, and water. Additionally, this TWS earbuds is said to drop-proof by up to 1 m.

This is what makes the Jabra Elite Active 8 the best pair for workouts and other extensive outdoor activities where you need your music along. Jabra is touting this pair to be the “world’s toughest earbuds” and they couldn’t be wrong here.

What impresses us about the design is the snug fit design that is not just comfortable but also enhances the noise cancellation. The earbuds also ships with additional eartips that you can use depending on the comfort levels.

The Jabra Elite Active 8’s earbuds feature physical controls for music and audio levels. The manual controls ensures that there are no accidental song change or audio adjustments which generally is the case with touch sensitive earbuds available in the market.

Besides, audio and playback control using the physical keys is a decent experience. The clicks are soft and precise and doesn’t feel flimsy at all. The set of controls offered by each earbud are mentioned below:

Left Earbud Controls

• Single Tap: Toggle on/ off ANC and Hear Through mode
• Single Tap During Calls: Answer, mute/ unmute call
• Double Tap: Summon voice assistant
• Double Tap During Calls: Disconnect or reject call
• Triple Tap: Can be configured with the supported Jabra app to set new function
• Press and Hold: Volume reduce

Right Earbuds Controls

• Single Tap: Play/ pause audio
• Single Tap During Calls: Answer, mute, and unmute
• Double Tap: Play next song
• Double Tap During Calls: Reject and disconnect an ongoing call
• Triple Tap: Restart playback
• Press and Hold: Volume increase

Also Read: Audio- Technica ATH-SQ1TW TWS Review: Tiny Beasts

Audio And ANC Performance

Jabra has loaded the Elite Active 8 with 6mm drivers. Despite being tiny in size, these earbuds can easily please any audiophile. The soundstage is rich and you’ll start grooving as soon as you put the pair on. Throughout our music listening sessions, these earbuds performed extremely well. Sound clarity is high and you wouldn’t hear any muffles or white noise when the volume levels are tuned to max.

Bass produced has ample punch and you wouldn’t be left disappointed here anyhow. Besides, the Elite Active 8 includes several advanced sensors and features that helps it to offer the best-in-class audio. Well, the biggest competitor of the Elite Active 8 is the Sony’s top-of-the-line WF-1000XM5 TWS earbuds. And with the premium sound experience, the former establishes itself amongst the top spot.

All the audio aspects are at point which includes balanced lows, mids, and high. No overlapping with the vocals and instruments. Audio delivery here is crisp and you’ll be able to clearly distinguish the vocals from background music. Its the enhanced dialogue delivery that enhances the overall high-res video playback.

As for the ANC, it does a good job overall to silence the ambient or surrounding noises that can hamper the listening experience. We have been using the ANC mode during commutes in noisy public transport and have been impressed by its performance. You hardly get to listen to any of the chaos when you toggle on the ANC.

In addition to the music listening experience, the Jabra Elite Active 8 is a delight to listen when binging on shows and movies. In fact, the sound quality is so refined that even if you are streaming videos from OTT platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime videos, the audio response is of high quality.

Pairing, Calling, And Companion App

Besides, you can additionally refine the audio by using the equalizer from the Jabra companion app. Apart from the default set of equalizer, you can also customize the EQ as per your requirements. Enabling the Dolby Spatial Sound feature is also an option using the supported app.

Notably, you can easily download the Jabra Sound Plus app on both Android and iOS devices. Some of the preset music equalizers include Neutral, Bass Boost, Treble Boost, Smooth, and Energize.

Pairing experience is also smooth and the connections takes place in a jiffy. You would simply need to take out and wear the earbuds and press and hold the control keys once to activate the pairing mode.

Speaking of the calling experience, the Jabra Active 8 offers a hassle free and crisp calling experience. It is integrated with in-line microphone that allows it to deliver a clear and crisp calling experience.

Also Read: OPPO Enco Air3 Pro TWS Earbuds Review: Takes The Top Spot?

Battery Backup

Battery backup claimed by Jabra for the Elite Active 8 is up to 8 hours. This backup is for the earbuds without the charging case. At higher audio levels, the backup is a bit lower than the claimed time. However, with moderate audio levels the earbuds do last close to 8 hours. Additional backup is provided by the charging case which saves hassle of a plug reconnect.

Also Read: OPPO Enco Buds2 Budget TWS Earbuds Review: Is It The Perfect Buy?

Final Take

The Jabra Elite Active 8 is a premium option for audiophiles; specifically for the fitness freaks who can’t compromise on the audio quality during workouts or other sports activities . It has a plethora of advanced features and allows it to deliver the best-in-class audio performance and also the wearing comfort despite usage with extensive outdoor activities. The rich and realistic sound stage offered by the Jabra Elite Active 8 makes it worth a purchase.

Audio-Technica is a known name in the audio accessory industry. The Japanese firm has created a strong portfolio with a wide range of audio products and has also started marking its presence across the TWS segment. The ATH-SQ1TW TWS earbuds is brand bet in the sub Rs. 10,000 price bracket in India. Now, this segment is fairly populated and we have multiple options loaded with different set of technologies.

The Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW carries an MRP of Rs. 8,710 but can be purchased at Rs. 7,490 via online retailing stores. Advanced features like Google Fast Pair and fast charging are included with the ATH-SQ1TW earbuds. But does this pair makes for a good buy? How is the audio and overall user experience with the ATH-SQ1TW earbuds? At Giznext, we got the pair for review and below is our feedback.

Pros:

• Subtle and sturdy case design
• Good wearing comfort with daily and outdoor use
• Google Fast pair allows seamless and easy pairing with compatible devices
• Good audio signature

Cons

• Case comes void of wireless charging support
• No ANC (Active Noise Cancellation)
• No dedicated app support for further tuning

Audio Technica ATH-SQ1TW TWS Earbuds: Design Review

The Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW TWS earbuds ship inside a cube-shaped case. The charging case isn’t bulky and can easily fit into cramped spaces inside your bag or pockets. The earbuds shape is also different from the usual stem-shaped buds. This pair features square-shaped earbuds with a tiny fins bulging outwards.

The earbuds might feel a bit bulky at the first glance but the added fin allows for a secure and comfortable grip throughout. You do get additional pair of eartips; so, select the one that is apt for your ear size.

No discomforts with its usage throughout even while using the pair with outdoor activities which is impressive. For controls, you’ll have to rely on the touch controls of the earbuds. You just need a few taps for playback and audio controls. The control functions are fixed which we have listed below.

• Single tap on the right earbud: Play/ Pause
• Single tap on the left earbud: Volume up
• Double tap on the right earbud: Play forward
• Double tap on the left earbud: Volume down
• Triple tap on the right earbud: Play previous track
• Press and hold right earbud: Hear-through mode
• Press and hold left earbud: Activate Low latency mode

Audio Technica ATH-SQ1TW: Audio Performance

Audio Technica has shown its ingenuity with the ATH-SQ1TW TWS earbuds. The reason we say this is due to the fact that despite coming void of ANC (Active Noise Cancellation), this pair provides a rich soundstage. There’s hardly any compromise when it comes to the overall sound quality delivered by this tiny pair.

This pair will please all the bass-heads and audiophiles who demand a premium listening experience. The ATH-SQ1TW audio performance isn’t solely apt for media playback; you’ll get a top notch experience while gaming too.

What impressed us is the vocal/ dialogues didn’t get muffled which is a common issue with standard TWS earbuds. Despite the missing ANC, this pair surprisingly does a good job with noise blockage passively. This allows you to get an ANC like experience where you don’t get disturbed with surrounding noises and can seamlessly enjoy your music on-the-go.

This isn’t any shrill sounding TWS, rather you get to listen a balanced soundstage where the lows, mids, and highs don’t overlap. Besides, the thumping bass without any equalizer tweak is a delight to listen. Speaking of which, the Audio Technica doesn’t feature any dedicated app compatibility. All the settings with sound profiles and audio formats are default. But you can change the equalizer settings of the media player that you are using for music playback.

Also Read: Sony WF-1000XM5 TWS Earbuds With ANC, Up to 8 Hours Battery Life Launched In India: Features, Price

Audio Technica ATH-SQ1TW Review: Audio Formats, Pairing, Calling Experience

Pairing is an easy process with the Audio Technica ATH-SQ1TW earbuds. It uses Bluetooth 5.0 technology for quick pairing with Android and Apple devices. Now, this might be a bummer for some users considering the pairing is priced over Rs. 5,000 and has just one audio profile supported. As for the calling experience, the ATH-SQ1TW earbuds does a good job overall. The voice quality is clear on both caller’s and receiver’s end.

Also Read: MIVI Duopods K1 Budget TWS Review: Basic Yet Practical

Audio Technica ATH-SQ1TW Earbuds: Battery Backup

The Audio Technica ATH-SQ1TW earbuds offers a good battery backup. With continuous playback, this pair can easily last over six hours. But this is when the audio levels are set at 60- 70 percent. At the loudest audio levels, the ATH-SQ1TW earbuds delivers a slightly lower backup. Thanks to the fast charging support, this pair gets 60 minutes of backup within just 5 minutes.

Also Read: OPPO Enco Air3 Pro TWS Earbuds Review: Takes The Top Spot?

Audio Technica ATH-SQ1TW Review: Final Verdict

Those who can’t compromise on the audio experience, the Audio Technica ATH-SQ1TW earbuds is an apt pair. This is specifically when considering the fact there isn’t any ANC support or additional audio profiles that can refine the listening experience. The ATH-SQ1TW can be the daily driver for all your music listening sessions.

Also Read: OPPO Enco Buds2 Budget TWS Earbuds Review: Is It The Perfect Buy?

Pros

• Easy installation
• Comes with necessary kit for installation
• Provides additional safety from scams and phishing attacks too

Cons

• Limited range for monitoring
• Only 6 month free subscription

Internet has become the backbone of our fast paced modern lifestyle. Its difficult now to imagine a single day without an active internet connection. We now have the fastest and reliable internet speeds for both smartphones and computing gadgets. And not just fixed line services, mobile internet services have also become more reliable with the onset of 4G and 5G tech.

It goes without saying that internet today is readily available to all age groups and users. In fact, the younger generation is getting more reliable on internet to not only source information, but also entertainment. But with all the perks comes certain cons as well. Keeping young children protected from age inappropriate content has become a challenge. Specifically, if parents have a hectic working schedule.

The solution for this comes in the form of Happinetz internet box which is designed to keep kids protected from any inappropriate content and also various phishing and scam attacks. This internet safety box can be purchased at Rs. 4,299 in the country. But is it worth an investment and does it offer complete safety to kids as advertised? We at Giznext got a chance to review the Happinetz internet safety box and here’s our take on it:

Happinetz Box: What’s In The Package?

• Happinetz Box main unit
• One ethernet cable
• One Power Adapter
• Happinetz Reward Cardz
• Installation Guide

Happinetz Boz Setup: How To Install?

You wouldn’t require any professional hep to install the Happinetz box. The process is rather simple and can be done by following the steps below.

Step 1: Check the installation manual that ships with the retail box

Step 2: Follow the steps mentioned in the instruction manual to install the Happinetz box

Step 3: Use the ethernet cable for wired connection with the router

Step 4: On your Android or iOS smartphone download the Happinetz app

Step 5: Complete the registration to activate and access all the service

Step 6: You will need to toggle off MAC Randomization on smartphones and tablets to access Happinetz WiFi services

Step 7: Launch the compatible app once the installation is complete

Step 8: Select the apt mode to use the features and services accordingly. You will get the option to select from Kids, Teens, and Parent.

Also Read: Vivo V29e Review: The Smartphone’s Camera Steals The Show

Happinetz Box User Experience: Reliability With Daily Internet Monitoring?

Happinetz Box comes as a modern solution for the consumers to monitor the type of content there kids are consuming on a daily basis when being online. This comes as a savior for parents who have a tight schedule to keep a constant check on their kids online activities.

While it’s certainly difficult to keep kids away from internet, the option to monitor all the websites they are visiting is a solution we all have been demanding. Once you are done with the installation and pairing, you would simply need to add the device that your kids are using to the list on the Happinetz ap for monitoring.

As mentioned above, you get to chose Kids, Teens, and Parents modes. Just for reference, the basic functionality of the Happinetz box is to create a separate Wi-Fi network to which the devices that your kids are using can be connected.

Now, this is different than the primary Wi-Fi network where no such restriction on content is created. Rather, you’ll be able to use your primary Wi-Fi internet network for web browsing. What we liked about the Happinetz Box is that it not just solely blocks the age-restricted websites, but also filters content from popular streaming portals such as YouTube.

In fact, it also provides safety from inappropriate content from different social media portals and apps. Since the Happinetz Box uses a distinct platform to restrict inappropriate content it still works to block age-restrictive content irrespective of the use account on these social media and OTT platforms.

Besides, the option to make customization depending on age, time duration, and also type of content makes it practical and reliable. It is capable of tracking over 110 million websites to block all the invasive activities such as phishing and scam attacks.

Also Read: Tecno Camon 20 Pro 5G Review: Budget 5G Handset Worth All Hype?

Happinetz Box Review: Final Verdict

The Happinetz Box is undeniably a modern safety solution that every parent has ever demanded to keep children safe while internet browsing. Its easy installation and usage adds to the convenience with monitoring kids’ activities online while having the least worries of their children coming across age-restrictive content.

Also Read: Noise NoiseFit Crew Pro Bluetooth Calling Smartwatch Review: Ideal Feature-Packed Daily Wear