Boat Nirvana IVY review: can these budget earbuds with head tracking & ANC Impress?

A feature typically found in premium TWS earbuds, head tracking, is now available at an affordable price. Boat has launched the Nirvana IVY, which promises interesting features like 360-degree Spatial Sound with head tracking, ANC, in-ear detection, and more, all for just Rs 3,299. Let’s dive into the tech used in these earbuds and see how they perform.

Table of Contents

Design & Comfort

The Nirvana IVY comes in a rectangular case featuring a Type-C port on the right side. “Nirvana by Boat” branding is etched on top, and the matte finish helps prevent fingerprints and smudges, giving it a smooth feel. You’ll need both hands to open the clamshell-designed case. The case feels slightly bulky and heavy at 45g. A small LED indicator on the front of the case provides battery, pairing, and charging status. The Nirvana IVY is rated IPX5 for protection against splashes and sweat.


The design of these earbuds is a bit flashy. There is a silver accent on the top half of the stem, which houses the touch sensors. The earbuds fit snugly in the ears and are likely to stay put even if you actively move your head. In the box, you will also get three extra pairs of silicone tips in different sizes to help you pick the one that fits the best. I used the standard silicone tips, which fit comfortably in my ears, even during extended use.

App Support and Features

The touch control area features a unique design that’s easy to locate and highly responsive for seamless operation. You can customise the touch controls via the Boat Hearable app (available on both iOS and Android), allowing single and double taps to be set separately for each earbud. The in-ear detection feature works well, and it offers Bluetooth 5.3 and Google Fast Pair for seamless connectivity, including the ability to connect with two devices simultaneously.
However, the Boat Hearable app feels limited, providing only Adaptive EQ, touch control customization, device diagnostics, and software updates. The UI feels outdated compared to the companion apps of some of the competitors. Fortunately, most features can be used without the app. You can activate 360 Spatial Audio and head tracking with a long press on the left earbud, toggle ANC and Ambient Mode, or turn ANC off with a long press on the right earbud.

I do wish there was a Beast Mode toggle in the app for quick activation, as activating it for low-latency gaming (60ms) requires customizing the touch controls first. When I tested this mode with Call of Duty: Mobile, there was a noticeable improvement in latency, so it worked as intended.

Sound Quality, ANC & Spatial Audio

The 11mm drivers in the Nirvana IVY slightly favour bass, which can overpower the mids and highs. When listening to Manja (a song by Amit Trivedi and Mohan Kanan), the instrument sounds were somewhat unclear, and the vocals were not crisp. Compared to similarly priced products like the Realme Buds Air 6, the Nirvana IVY’s sound lacks richness and definition. You don’t have many options to adjust the sound in the app’s Adaptive EQ feature. The earbuds support SBC and AAC codecs.


The 50dB ANC works as expected. When no music is playing, some sounds may seep through, but overall, the noise cancellation is impressive, and you can use ANC for long periods without feeling pressure in your ears. Ambient Mode works well, making it feel like you aren’t wearing anything, although it does amplify surrounding sounds a bit.

The highlight of the Nirvana IVY is its 360-degree spatial audio with head tracking. This feature works smoothly and creates an immersive environment around your head. For someone who hasn’t experienced this feature before, it will be a delightful experience. Boat has done a commendable job bringing this feature to an affordable price point, and since it works without the app, even less tech-savvy users can enjoy it.

Call Quality & Battery

The call quality is acceptable in quiet environments. While the Nirvana IVY features four mics, two on each earbud, and uses AI-powered ENC, it struggles to cancel background noise in moderately loud environments. On the receiver’s end, the voice can sound slightly muffled but is usually clear enough to understand.
Boat claims the Nirvana IVY can last up to 11 hours with ANC off and Spatial Audio on and 7 hours with ANC on at 60 percent volume. The total playback time, including the case, is up to 50 hours, meaning you can get about a week of moderate use. The quick charge feature provides up to 240 minutes of playback with just 10 minutes of charging. A Type-C USB cable and a string for attaching the case are included.

Verdict

The Nirvana IVY by Boat is priced at Rs 3,299 and offers great value with its 360-degree spatial audio and head tracking, especially for users who have never experienced these features. The sound quality is decent, and the build quality is solid, though the case feels bulky. The earbuds itself are comfortable for long-term wear. The IPX5 resistance is a plus, and both ANC and Ambient Mode are impressive. However, the call quality could be improved, but the earbuds do offer good battery life.

The Nirvana IVY is ideal for budget users who want to experience 360-degree spatial audio with head tracking. However, if sound quality is a priority, you may want to consider the Realme Buds Air 6 or OnePlus Nord Buds 3 Pro, which are in the same price bracket.

Editor’s Rating: 7 / 10

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