After AirPods, the panorama of True Wireless headphones and earphones has completely exploded. There are so many exponents in this genre, and now the range of choices allows you to get a couple at any price. It starts with negligible figures, even if to get quality comparable to Apple earphones you have to spend a lot more. Not too much, though, and the Tronsmart Apollo Bold are an example.
Let's start by saying that these are not extremely cheap earphones. They tend to be below the figure of 100 euros on Amazon, especially in this period of discounts. That's why we believe these Tronsmart Apollo Bold to be a real cheaper alternative to the AirPods Pro.
How they are made
When it comes to true wireless earphones, at least three different form factors come to mind. Those semi in ear, AriPods style, the real AirPods Pro style in ear with elongated shape, and the in ear button. Tronsmart Apollo Bold belong to the latter category. They offer a simple but refined design, with a small copper-colored border, which embellishes them, while the Tronsmart logo is present on the small external pavilion. You immediately perceive a quality in the materials and in the assembly, and as soon as you take them in your hand you realize that you are in front of a pair of definitely medium-high range earphones.
Inside the pack, in itself well-finished, they are presented in a refined way even if there is a bit of over-packing (nothing to do with Apple's minimalism). In addition to the earphones and the charging case, the package also includes 2 sets of rubber inserts for the ear cable, in addition to the one already installed on the earphones, so that in all there will be three different sizes to choose from.
The earphones are very light and small; these are not the smallest true wireless earphones on the market, but they are really discreet and, above all, they are worn comfortably and on time, remaining fixed inside the cavity, thanks to a shape that is treated from all points of view. They are probably not the most suitable for running, because they do not have silicone fins, but they are earphones that can certainly be worn while walking or on public transport, or behind a desk, without worrying about them falling out of the ear. .
aren't smaller AirPods we've got to handle recently. The case is also very small even if it does not compete with that of the Airpods.
As for the materials we find the usual opaque plastic, but with an appearance that differs slightly from the rest of the competition: whether you like them or not, they certainly have a more refined design.
Ergonomics and controls
From an ergonomic point of view, when opening the package, we were a little worried. This rather pronounced button shape on the inside, heralded a certain inconvenience. After wearing them, however, we definitely changed our minds. The ear fits perfectly, also thanks to a detail that should not be underestimated: on the lower part there is a square shape, which will serve as a guide to wear them on the first try. After inserting them into the ear cable, simply rotate them until this square part finds space downwards. This detail immediately makes the user understand the angle, location and direction when they are put on. Difficult that they can fall and equally difficult that they can cause discomfort or discomfort in keeping them worn for a long time.
The control system relies on two soft touch buttons, positioned on the entire “large” surface of the ear. It is really comfortable, and above all unwanted touches are almost impossible. With a triple tap it activates and deactivates the Ambient Mode / ANC which we will talk about shortly, while with a double tap it starts play / pause. With a double tap, the second of which is prolonged, the voice assistants are called up. The touch system works optimally.
How they sound
The strong point of these earphones is certainly the sound quality. Once you have found the right earplug you get good soundproofing, excellent definition, excellent separation. From the first listen you will have the feeling of wearing higher-end headphones than most of the competition. The sound coming from the earphones is precise, punchy, deep, warm, and even “thrilling”. Absolutely present the bass, which enrich the listening, without disturbing it.
Tronsmart Apollo Bold is certainly one of the best pairs of true wireless earphones tested in this price range, and which can even compete with AirPods Pro, due to the presence of ANC. Already, these earphones enjoy active noise cancellation. It works? Yes. Activating it you immediately perceive an increase in isolation, and a reduction of the surrounding sounds. The most striking example we noticed when writing this review with a very noisy blue key mechanical keyboard. With ANC deactivated, the pressure of the keys on the keyboard was perfectly audible; activating the ANC it disappeared almost completely. Similarly, the sounds coming from the street, whether it was a noisy motorcycle, or the washing machine in the next room, disappeared completely after the ANC was activated.
The Ambient Mode is also absolutely perceptible, although not always functional. And in fact, due to excellent soundproofing, even with ambient mode active it will be difficult to hear the words of a person a few meters away. This is when listening to music, which actually covers the voice of our interlocutor in front of us, if the volume is set to maximum. Different speech, however, if you listen to a presentation or make a video call: in these circumstances the Ambient Mode works perfectly and allows us to hear both the interlocutor in headphones and the one present in the same room.
And here are some technical characteristics declared by the manufacturer:
Still, speaking of music reproduction, we must highlight a perfect stability in the connection of the earphones both with mobile devices and with Mac. Even from a high distance, about ten meters, it is difficult to lose the connection for a few moments.
Battery and phone calls
The claimed battery life is amazing. We are talking about 10 hours, much more than what any other competitor in this price range is able to do. In reality, we have reached about 8 hours of playback, although with the charging case the life of these earphones multiplies, thus being fully promoted to survive long times in the absence of recharging.
As for the telephone function, the volume of both the caller and the called one is satisfactory even the voice arrives in a crystalline way to the interlocutor, in a way equal to what happens with AirPods.
In conclusion
This Tronsmart Apollo Bold with ANC are the best choice for those who want a low-cost competitor of AirPods Pro. They are not cheap, but they will certainly save you over 50% compared to the Apple competitor, giving you a certainly not negligible quality, with a sound performance that will not disappoint you. Excellent ergonomics, as well as connectivity and autonomy. Good and perceptible ANC, as well as Ambient Mode in some specific listening circumstances.
PRO
AGAINST
Price and availability
Tronsmart Apollo Bold can be purchased for about 94 euros on Amazon, but depending on the discounts currently in place, they can also cost 80 euros. Price at which you shouldn't miss it.
Click here to buy.
