Fastrack FPods FZ100 review: Best TWS under Rs 2,000?
Fastrack FPods FZ100 TWS earphones come with up to 50 hours battery life and 11mm bass drivers.
Fastrack, a brand primarily recognised for its watches, recently launched its latest lineup of TWS earphones in the Indian market. The series comprises three models: FS100, FX100, and FZ100, all priced under Rs 2,000. I had the opportunity to try out the Fastrack FPods FZ100, which is the top-tier TWS model in the range. Here’s my take on the earbuds after using them for the better part of a week:
Table of Contents
Fastrack FPods FZ100 design and features
- Design-wise, there isn’t much to expect from the budget-centric Fastrack FPods FZ100 TWS earphones. They have a rather standard plastic design with a matte finish which hides fingerprints and minor scratches really well. The earbuds themselves look quite typical. As for the case, it’s compact and easily fits into pockets. The case’s lid has a satisfactory clasp that securely holds the earbuds inside. It features small LED lights to indicate battery status and a USB Type-C port for charging. However, there is no pairing button on the device.
- The Fastrack FPods FZ100 earbuds pair with your phone seamlessly as long as you are not planning to use them on more than one device, which is fine considering its price point. To initiate pairing, make sure that the earbuds are fully charged and are in the case. Then, open the lid of the case lid and navigate to the Bluetooth settings on your device. Once connected with a smartphone or laptop/ PC, you can’t pair the earbuds with any other device unless you reset them by tapping either bud at least five times. Be that as it may, the earbuds feature Bluetooth v5.3, which provides reliable and stable connectivity up to 10 meters of range.
- Speaking of the Fastrack FPods FZ100 buds, they are feather-light and comfortable to wear all day long. They have a sturdy build and are certified with IPX5 sweat and water resistance. The earbuds are designed to fit snugly into most ear canals, thanks to the included replaceable ear tips. You will find three different types of ear tips in the box: small, medium, and large.
- The outer shell of the earbuds has touch controls that accept double tap, triple tap, and five times tap for functions like changing track, answering/rejecting calls, and resetting the device. You can also slide your fingers on the buds vertically to increase or decrease volume. While the controls are fairly easy to understand, you can’t customise them since there is no app support for the earbuds. Additionally, the Fastrack FPods FZ100 lacks wear detection that automatically pauses the music when the buds are removed from the ear.
Fastrack FPods FZ100 audio and call quality
- The Fastrack FPods FZ100 earbuds are equipped with 11mm bass drivers that perform well at 70-80 percent volume levels, keeping you engaged with the pulsating beats of the music. While the mids may feel slightly unbalanced, they effectively highlight the vocals even in bass-heavy songs. However, the treble appears to be on the higher side, and the lack of control over the equaliser settings is a drawback. Despite that, the Fastrack FPods FZ100 delivers respectable sound quality for its price.
- The call quality of the earbuds is decent too. The FZ100 boasts as many as four microphones – two on each bud, along with environment noise cancellation (ENC), which effectively eliminates background noise, ensuring clear communication during calls. I was audible to the person on the other end of the line, even with a noisy fan running in the background.
Fastrack FPods FZ100 battery life
- The overall battery life of the Fastrack FPods FZ100 is quite impressive. Combined with the charging case, the earbuds lasted me at least a week with 3-4 hours of playtime per day. The company promises up to 50 hours of playtime between charges. Additionally, the earbuds are said to feature Nitrofast technology, which adds 200 minutes of playback time with just 10 minutes of charge.
Verdict
Given the price, it is understandable that the Fastrack FPods FZ100 come with some compromises. The earbuds are selling in India for Rs 1,695. The Fastrack FPods FZ100 lack convenient features such as wear detection, multi-device pairing, and app support, which is often the case with many TWS earphones in this segment.
That said, the sound quality of the Fastrack FPods FZ100 earbuds is acceptable. They are certainly not the best, with the treble on the higher side and slightly unbalanced mids. However, considering their budget-friendly nature, one cannot expect more from these earbuds. Additionally, the buds offer decent call quality and impressive battery life. For all this, I give a thumbs-up to the Fastrack FPods FZ100.
Editor’s rating: 3.5 / 5
Pros
- Impressive battery life
- Sounds good for the price
- Call quality is decent
Cons
- Lacks wear detection
- No app support
