TOZO OpenBuds Review: One of the Best Sports Open Earbuds at $47!

The market of true wireless earbuds has seen a myriad of options, each boasting unique features and promises of unparalleled sound quality. In recent times, the spotlight has shifted to open-style earbuds, and among the multitude of options available, TOZO has introduced a standout contender – the TOZO OpenBuds, a set that caught our eye not only for its promising specifications but also for its distinct design and value for price.

The Open Buds are true wireless earbuds – The standout feature is evident. The term “Open Buds” introduces a novel dimension to the listening experience, emphasizing the importance of situational awareness. Unlike traditional earbuds that aim to isolate you from your surroundings, the TOZO OpenBuds let you enjoy your music while remaining attuned to the around you. This design caters to the needs of those who engage in activities like running or cycling in busy environments, where being aware of ambient sounds is crucial for safety.

As we shift our focus to the auditory realm, skepticism lingers. Can open-backed earbuds truly deliver sound quality, especially when compared to their closed counterparts? So, In this article, we unravel the intricacies of these earbuds, exploring their design, features, and listening experience to discover why the TOZO Open Buds are making waves in the market of wireless sound.

TOZO OpenBuds Features

Unboxing Experience:

The journey begins with the unboxing experience. The simplicity of the packaging doesn’t prepare you for the quality within. Upon opening, you’re greeted by an envelope proudly proclaiming, “Designed by TOZO in California,” The essentials are neatly presented – a charging USB-A to USB-C cable, and the star of the show, the charging case housing the TOZO OpenBuds.

Design and Comfort:

Earbud Design:

The TOZO OpenBuds excels in design and comfort. One of the first things you’ll notice about the headphones is their unique open-ear design with a matte finish on the exterior, coupled with a responsive touch surface, adding a premium feel. Unlike traditional in-ear or over-ear headphones, these earbuds are engineered to sit gently on your ears rather than snugly in your ear canals. Crafted with adjustable, skin-friendly silicone, it ensures you stay focused on your activities without any distractions.

First and foremost, the open-ear design ensures a level of comfort that’s often missing from conventional earbuds. If you’ve ever experienced discomfort or ear fatigue from wearing earphones for extended periods, you’ll appreciate the difference. With the TOZO OpenBuds, you’ll hardly notice you’re wearing them, even during long listening sessions, and it’s evident in their lightweight design. This featherweight construction, combined with their open ear fit, means you can wear them for hours without discomfort, headaches, or that uncomfortable “stuffed ear” feeling that can plague traditional in-ear headphones.

But comfort is just one part of the equation. The open-ear design also offers a crucial safety feature for those on the move. When you’re out and about, whether jogging, cycling, or commuting, it’s essential to remain aware of your surroundings. The TOZO OpenBuds allow you to do just that. You can enjoy your favorite music or podcasts while still hearing ambient sounds, such as traffic or conversations.

One notable feature that sets the TOZO OpenBuds apart is the bi-axle rotation arm. This innovative design element allows for a customizable and comfortable fit, a departure from the fixed arms found in many earbuds. It provides users with a 3D feeling, enabling them to adjust the fit to their liking with a seven-stage adjustment, offering a level of personalization not commonly found in competing products. Tailored for runners and athletes, the unique wing loop allows users to effortlessly adjust the earbuds to sit comfortably around the ears. Even for users wearing glasses, the OpenBuds offer a comfortable fit.

The TOZO OpenBuds don’t budge. The open-ear design contributed to their stability, making them a reliable choice for active individuals. Moreover, the durability of these headphones is worth noting. They are designed to withstand the rigors of physical activity, and their robust build quality ensures they can handle the occasional bump or drop. You won’t need to worry about delicate components or fragile ear tips. While the build quality doesn’t quite reach the standards of top-tier brands like Sony or Bose, it stands out as solid and sound quality-grade construction.

Touch-Sensitive Controls

The TOZO OpenBuds feature touch-sensitive controls, that are located on the outer surface of both earbuds and provide a seamless and responsive way to interact with your music and calls. The Tozo app offers a valuable feature by allowing users to remap touch controls, providing a customizable experience. A particularly noteworthy addition is the ability to assign volume controls to the long-press gesture, offering a convenient and welcome option for users.

Durability and Water Resistance

While durability is crucial, the ability to withstand the elements is equally important. The TOZO OpenBuds are designed to withstand daily wear and tear. They come with an IPX6 rating, which means they’re resistant to sweat and light splashes of water. This level of water resistance makes them suitable for workouts or outdoor activities, even if you encounter unexpected rain, these headphones can handle it without missing a beat. While they may not be submersible like some higher-rated devices, they’re more than capable of handling the rigors of daily life, especially in active and outdoor settings.

Charging Case:

Priced at approximately $47, the TOZO OpenBuds enter the open-style earbuds scene with a promise of distinctiveness. Following the conventional formula of hook-style or headband-style earbuds, these come with a sizable case designed for convenient portability. The case, while basic, showcases a sturdy build with a scratch-resistant plastic exterior. Also, it’s crafted with a streamlined and ergonomic design, making it comfortable to hold and easy to slip into your pocket or bag. Its compact size means you can carry it with you wherever you go without feeling burdened. This portability is a crucial aspect. The case’s front boasts LED indicators for battery status, and the brand’s logo is elegantly displayed on the lid’s reverse side.

As you open the case, you’re greeted by a pair of neatly nestled TOZO OpenBuds. The earbuds are secured in place with magnetic connectors, ensuring they stay in position and are always ready for use. This magnetic mechanism simplifies the process of storing and retrieving your headphones. Simply place them back in the case, and they snap into position effortlessly.

The magnets serve a dual purpose. In addition to keeping the earbuds secure, they also initiate the charging process as soon as you place the earbuds in the case. This intelligent design ensures that your headphones are always charged and ready to provide you with music or calls. Beyond its functionality, the TOZO OpenBuds case is designed to protect your valuable headphones. The sturdy construction of the case shields your earbuds from dust, debris, and minor impacts.

For connectivity options, the TOZO OpenBuds case delivers with a USB-C port. The USB-C connection ensures faster and more efficient charging for both the case and the earbuds.

Bluetooth Connectivity

TOZO OpenBuds have harnessed the full potential of wireless connectivity. One of the standout features of Bluetooth 5.3 is its significantly faster connection speed. It allows your headphones to pair swiftly with your devices. Also, extends the range of wireless connections, minimizing the risk of dropouts or signal interruptions.

A seamless audio experience is essential, especially when you’re using wireless headphones for music, calls, or workouts. BT 5.3 minimizes lags and disruptions, allowing you to enjoy your content without frustrating interruptions. With supporting SBC and AAC codecs. SBC, while not touted as an HD option, is present in any device without a specific audio codec specification. The codec AC, on the other hand, is commonly used in iPhones, but its performance on Android devices might vary due to differences in system optimization. Lacking support for high-resolution codecs like aptX or LDAC. While competitors may share similar limitations, it’s an area where improvements could enhance the listening experience.

The Tozo companion app, compatible with both Android and iOS devices, stands out as a well-executed implementation. We found its clean layout and valuable customization features to be particularly appealing, mirroring our positive experience highlighted in our Tozo Golden X1 review. The TOZO APP with 5 Preset EQs lets you tailor your sound experience to your liking, whether that’s ramping up the powerful bass or enjoying balanced musical tones. However, it’s worth mentioning that, unlike the flagship Tozo Golden X1, the app lacks the ability to further fine-tune EQ profiles.

Multipoint

One standout feature of the TOZO OpenBuds is its multi-point connectivity capability. This feature enables you to connect the earbuds to two devices simultaneously, such as a smartphone and a laptop, and easily switch between them without the hassle of repairing them. Whether you’re listening to music on your phone or taking a conference call on your computer, the transition is seamless and lag-free.

Audio Performance

The earbuds have a unique design with silicone earpieces that are flexible and different from the conventional in-ear design. They don’t have ear tips that go into the ear canal; instead, they rely on open sound transmission. So, Sound quality is paramount. A pair of headphones can look sleek, feel comfortable, and offer a plethora of features, but if the sound quality doesn’t meet expectations, all other aspects become secondary. This is where the TOZO OpenBuds step in, delivering an auditory experience that’s nothing short of exceptional.

But, when it comes to sound quality, it’s important to set appropriate expectations for open-ear earbuds. The OpenBuds rely on the direction of sound rather than delivering it directly into your ear canal, which means it won’t match the sound quality of earbuds with traditional ear tips. Additionally, it won’t quite reach the audio levels of normal earbuds. However, considering its open-ear design, it offers a remarkable audio experience.

To achieve this remarkable sound quality, TOZO OpenBuds employs a 14.2mm Dynamic driver with TOZO’s ORIGX acoustic technology is designed to elevate your audio experience by ensuring unparalleled sound isolation, effectively preventing any unwanted leakage. Also, the larger driver size contributes to the earbuds’ ability to deliver a robust and well-defined audio experience. The open transmission design results in distinct sound frequencies, creating a characteristic sound profile with an experience that’s rich, deep, and incredibly detailed. The Dynamic driver ensures that every nuance of the music is faithfully reproduced, making it ideal for audiophiles and music enthusiasts.

While the OpenBuds provide clear audio, it’s advisable to increase the volume for optimal performance. As anticipated, there is noticeable sound leakage, particularly in quieter settings, allowing those around you to hear your audio. The listening experience with the Open Buds differs from traditional in-ear buds that create a seal in your ear, resulting in a more immersive sound. However, with the open-ear design, the music lacks a sense of immersion, and the bass is notably subdued.

This open-ear characteristic can be advantageous for activities such as running or biking in urban environments, which is a key selling point. Although the Bass+ EQ preset enhances bass levels, it falls short of replicating the experience offered by traditional in-ear buds. The midrange is well-defined, accurately reproducing vocals and musical instruments, while the upper range is somewhat recessed.

It’s essential to remember that open-ear earbuds prioritize ambient sound awareness over complete audio isolation. Consequently, bass levels may vary depending on your listening volume. Lower volumes typically yield more pronounced bass, while higher volumes might reduce bass output to prevent distortion.

Call Quality and Latency

Given their open-fit design, Tozo Open Buds do not incorporate active noise cancellation. However, they feature DSP call noise cancellation, utilizing dual microphones on each earbud to effectively mitigate ambient sounds such as wind and other disturbances during voice calls, but it’s commendable in relatively quiet environments, offering clear and discernible audio.

However, there is a slight dip in performance when introduced to background noise, a common challenge faced by many earbuds in this category. The microphone effectively captured my voice during calls in the majority of instances. However, some feedback suggests that incoming car traffic and wind occasionally dampen the clarity of my voice for those on the other end of the phone.

The latency, while not top-notch, is acceptable for general use. It is important to note that dedicated gamers might find the absence of a dedicated gaming mode disappointing, as it impacts the earbuds’ performance in this specific use case.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery life is a crucial factor when it comes to choosing the right pair of headphones. That’s where the TOZO OpenBuds step in, with their remarkable battery performance that’s bound to leave you impressed, with 70mAh battery capacity for 12 hours of playback time on a single charge with average volume levels, equivalent to about a week of one to one-and-a-half-hour workouts, its sets them apart from many competitors in the market. The 650 mAh case offers an additional three charges, totaling an extra 35 hours.

Despite the absence of quick charging, the earbuds take a reasonable 1.5 to 2 hours for a full charge. It’s worth noting that the lack of wireless charging might be a drawback for some users, but the overall performance and extended battery life compensate for this limitation.

Conclusion: Why You Should Consider the TOZO OpenBuds

If you’re on the hunt for affordable wireless earbuds that offer great value without sacrificing quality, the TOZO OpenBuds stands out as a remarkable value proposition in a market filled with a plethora of audio options and unique open-ear design with swiveling ear hooks that adapt to just about every type of ear shape and size. Their combination of comfort, sound quality, advanced technology, and battery life makes them a must-have for anyone seeking the best in audio gear. These headphones prove that you don’t need to break the bank to experience premium audio quality and functionality.

They offer a level of performance, comfort, and versatility that rivals, and often surpasses, headphones with significantly higher price tags. These headphones prove that you don’t have to break the bank to enjoy exceptional sound quality and a premium user experience. The open-ear design may require a period of adjustment, and it’s worth noting that there is noticeable sound leakage. The immersive experience with the Open Buds is somewhat compromised due to their design, which results in a lack of bass and a flat high-frequency response, impacting the overall musical experience.

They not only provide outstanding value for money but also set a new standard for what consumers can expect from their headphones. Don’t miss the chance to own a pair of these remarkable headphones. I highly recommend giving the TOZO OpenBuds a try and Saying goodbye to the days of sacrificing quality for affordability – with these earbuds, you can have it all.

Notably, the TOZO OpenBuds affordability, even at its original launch price, undercuts most competitors, providing excellent value in the open-ear audio market. At their regular price of $46.42 on Amazon and on the Official Website, the OpenBuds offer excellent value.