Being a tech reviewer, I’ve heard this question countless times: Which are the best headphones I can buy around Rs 5,000? As truly wireless earphones in this price range have gained popularity over the last three years, there are many who have ditched their headphones and opted for TWS instead. I won’t blame these people, as good headphones have been getting expensive, and in this price range, you often have to make compromises in terms of sound and build quality, battery life, and other factors.
This is not to say there aren’t any good options in this price bracket. For less than Rs 5,000, you can buy JBL Tune 770NC, which is an excellent choice for those who want long battery life. You can also go for Sony’s WH-CH520, which delivers good sound quality. However, there is a clear gap that even these products have not been able to fill till now, as they don’t offer novelty on any front.
Promate, a Taiwanese consumer electronics brand, has identified this gap and introduced its VuTune headphones in India. This audio product comes with a detachable display that can be used to control the headphones. When I first got my hands on these headphones, admittedly, I was a bit apprehensive about how useful the detachable controller would be in real-world scenarios. Now that I have spent more than a week with the VuTune, I’m ready to share my thoughts on this unique product. Without further ado, let’s dive deep into the full review.
Table of Contents
Design
I won’t describe Promate VuTune’s design as modular because there is only one component here that could make it seem so. The touchscreen controller, located on the outer side of the right ear cup, comes with magnetic pogo pins that help it attach seamlessly to the headphones. This detachable controller module comes with its own power button and a Type-C charging port. This module has a 2.01-inch 240 x 296 pixels LCD display with thick bezels all around. Although the display size is not that large, it doesn’t need to be either (more on this and the functionality later). The controller module is quite lightweight and easy to place back into the headphones, even without taking them off your head.
The headphones come with a metallic headband, which surprisingly doesn’t add too much weight. The cushioning on the head is pretty decent despite not being noticeably thick. The build quality offered by the VuTune is impressive, considering its price range. On top of it, it comes with the best carrying case that you’ll find with any other headphones under Rs 15,000.
Promate VuTune has been designed keeping comfort in mind, as these headphones do not make you feel uncomfortable even if you wear them for hours at a stretch. Be it the clamp force or the lightweight design, the VuTune gets it just right. Just a heads up, these headphones catch everyone’s attention in the room. So if you’re buying, be prepared to answer a whole lot of questions from curious heads.
Features
The VuTune comes with support for Bluetooth V5.3, which means that it offers a stable connection. I didn’t face any random disconnects with the headphones, which is always a crucial aspect when it comes to wearables. The headphones come with a frequency range of 20Hz-20kHz. These headphones come with a speaker diameter of 40mm and offer up to 35dB of active noise cancellation. The 600mAh battery inside promises to last up to 50 hours. Meanwhile, the LCD touchscreen controller has its own 200mAh battery unit.
Talking about the touchscreen controller, there is a lot to unpack here. At first, I thought it would just offer a convenient way to access the same controls that you get via the physical buttons on the headphones. However, there is much more on offer.
Let’s start with the basic controls. You can play/pause music and jump to the previous/next song directly from this controller. You can increase or decrease the volume and see the volume levels too (something you can’t do with the physical buttons). You can also adjust the noise reduction levels from this controller. In addition to these, you can choose the equaliser setting, set alarm, adjust brightness, switch language, change wallpaper theme, use the display as a flashlight (turning the screen white, which might be handy in some scenario), see date and time, like the current song, and even click a picture from the paired smartphone using the camera control.
While using other headphones, I have often faced frustration with touch controls. To this date, I end up unintentionally activating the Speak to Chat feature on my Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones every now and then. Although I won’t say I have always wanted a controller to operate my headphones, this unique solution doesn’t take long to get used to. The convenience of pulling out the interactive display and casually changing the songs became so intuitive that I started missing this feature on my daily drivers eventually. I don’t like the swipe touch gestures on the Sony headphones, and that might be the primary reason for me enjoying this feature. If you’ve faced similar frustration, you’ll appreciate the detachable controller too.
However, I want to highlight that this implementation’s impact is only felt when you keep your phone tucked away. For example, this controller can be helpful when you’re trying to avoid your phone but still want to enjoy music. It can also remove the hassle of taking out your phone from your pocket while on a run outside. However, if you have your phone in your hand when you’re listening to your music, your phone can do everything that this touchscreen controller can do, and more. Surprisingly, unlike most other headphones on the market, there is no dedicated app from Promate that can be used to fine-tune the headphones’ functionality to your liking.
Sound quality, ANC and battery life
While most of the limelight around these headphones would be hogged by the detachable touchscreen controller, the sound quality is the primary reason I would recommend these headphones. The Promate VuTune delivers a balanced sound signature that impresses in this price range, making it ideal for both casual listeners and budget-conscious audiophiles.
When it comes to bass, the 40mm drivers produce deep, punchy bass without overwhelming the mix. Tracks like Kendrick Lamar’s ‘HUMBLE’ showcase how the VuTune handles sub-bass with control. Unlike many budget headphones that go over the top with the bass, the VuTune keeps it tight.
Finally, the treble is crisp without harshness. The highs come through clearly, with a lot of detail but without sounding excessively sharp. What sets VuTune apart is its neutral, balanced tuning. While other budget models boost bass excessively, VuTune maintains clarity across lows, mids, and highs. It sounds cleaner and more refined by comparison. Whether you’re into hip-hop, acoustic, pop, or classical, the VuTune delivers clear, exciting audio without distortion or imbalance.
One aspect where the VuTune let me down was noise cancellation. Now, I didn’t compare the noise cancellation offered by these headphones with the premium segment products. Even then, I felt like the noise reduction left a lot to be desired. While some light noises were subdued, most of the loud ones managed to seep through these headphones, despite a snug fit.
As far as battery life is concerned, VuTune turned out to be really solid. While I was not able to test the 50-hour claim, I can safely say that if you’re a moderate user, you will not need to charge your headphones for 5-6 days after charging them fully. For frequent travellers, this could be a great option.
Verdict
Promate VuTune is an interesting product, and while some might find the detachable controller to be a bit gimmicky, I’ve found it to be useful when I wanted to avoid distractions from my phone. But this is not why I would recommend the VuTune to most people. I would recommend it because it offers good sound quality and excellent battery life. However, if you want headphones with good active noise cancellation, the VuTune fails to impress. Currently, Promate VuTune can be bought for as low as Rs 4,699. At this price, it is incredible that you get a product that doesn’t just offer good value for its category, but also brings along the novelty factor.
Editor’s rating: 8.0 / 10
Pros:
- Balanced sound signature
- Excellent battery life
- Detachable touchscreen controller is handy
- Comfortable lightweight design
Cons:
- ANC is average
- Lack of a dedicated app
