The global true wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds market size was valued at USD 35.37 billion in 2021 and this is why most tech brands are jumping into this very profitable niche industry.
In this hands-on we take a closer look at Tecno’s budget true wireless stereo device the “True 1”.
The Tecno True 1 TWS earbuds have a smooth, pebble-like shape charging box with rounded edges. It only comes in a single dark grey color.
Opening the case is done by simply sliding up the cover to reveal the earbuds. In terms of shape, the earbuds have a nice, compact, and ergonomic design, with a rounded earpiece that fits into the ear canal, thanks to the included spare ear tips available in three different sizes: small, medium, and large.
The texture of the earbuds has a smooth, glossy chrome finish, giving them a sleek and polished appearance, while the earpiece part is made of a softer rubber material.
The great thing is, they are relatively small and lightweight, designed to be unobtrusive and comfortable for extended wear. They are about the size of a small coin or a bit larger than the tip of a thumb.
Pairing the earbuds to a smartphone is easy. Simply slide up the cover, and you’ll notice the case LED light will blink, indicating it is ready to pair. We used the Tecno Camon 30 Premier during our test.
Most of the features will be unlocked when you use a Tecno smartphone, but you’ll still be able to use this on any Android device, although you won’t have all the bells and whistles functionalities.
Once the phone detects the device, it will pop up an animated mini-window similar to pairing Apple AirPods on an iPhone. You’ll see “Found New TECNO True 1”; then simply connect the device, and that’s it!
It will now show the battery status of the earbuds and charging case. When you click the settings button, you’ll see all the advanced functionality.
It will prompt you to log in during the process. In the Gesture Controls, you can change the following settings:
During Call (One Tap and Double Tap)
Not During Calls (One Tap, Double Tap, Triple Tap)
All Scenes (Long Press)
There are various choices on each selection, like switching the music from previous to next, play and pause, and voice assistant.
The Tecno True 1 has Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) that can be set to Noise Cancellation, Off, or Transparency.
To activate this, you do it via the App settings or by simply tapping and holding the upper side part of the earbuds stem. This might be confusing at first since most TWS earbuds have the sensor button usually located at the bottom stem part.
Going to the settings menu, you’ll also be able to change the theme of the pop-up window and EQ Sound.
Speaking of EQ Sound, you can set it to the following:
- Preferred
- Bass Booster
- Treble Booster
- Voice Booster
The default settings are already decent, but if you want that extra punch of equalizer, at least you have those settings. However, it doesn’t have a manual mode like a slider to set each frequency for more advanced tweaking.
What I also loved about the Tecno True 1 is the deep integration into the ecosystem of Tecno devices. If you have a Tecno smartphone, you’ll notice in the toggle navigation screen a quick access menu, plus the battery indicator of each pair of buds.
The Tecno True 1 has an IPX5 water and dust resistance rating and is said to last up to 45 hours of battery life. So far, we are enjoying this device. We even tried pairing it with an iPhone, and the process was also seamless. Although the dedicated settings menu will not be available, the ANC feature is still present by just tapping the sensor on the side of the earbuds.
And there you have it, that is our hands-on of the Tecno True 1 TWS. However, at the time of this writing, this device is not yet available in the Philippines. The global price is less than $50 (~PHP 2.9K). If it arrives on our local shore with the same price, it will sell like pancakes for sure. Overall, I love the unique material and style, although I’m not a big fan of the chrome finish texture color, but I will still wear it since it is very comfortable and doesn’t cause ear fatigue even during long periods of use.
What’s in the Box:
2 pcs. Bluetooth Earbuds
Charging Box
Charging Cable (USB 2.0 to Type-C)
User Manual
6 pcs Ear tips (2 pcs each size, S, M, L)
Tecno True 1 (TU01) specs:
Bluetooth 5.2
780mAh Battery Case
55mAh each Earbud
Type-C
45dB Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation
Noise Cancellation
Micro-Velvet Painting Body
IPX5 water and dust resistance
Up to 45 Hours Battery Life
One-handed sliding cover design
