iQOO Buds review: a dependable choice under Rs 2,000

The iQOO Buds are among the brand’s most affordable audio products. Launched at Rs 1,899, the earbuds are aimed at everyday use and mobile gaming. These entry-level TWS skip extras like Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and in-ear wear detection in favour of key aspects such as long battery life, a lightweight design, flexible connectivity, low gaming latency, and a dependable sound output for all kinds of content and media. But how do they actually fare in real-world use? Find out in this review.

Design: nothing flashy

The earbuds use a conventional in-ear design with nominal-sized stems, giving them an understated look, especially with the all-black finish. The compact, pebble-shaped charging case weighs just 41g and also sports a matte black exterior, with iQOO branding and an LED light on the front, while the bottom features a Type-C port. When you open the lid, you find a yellow interior that matches iQOO’s branding. Unlike others in the segment, such as CMF Buds Neo, the iQOO Buds come in a single Flame Yellow colourway.

As for durability, the case has endured visible wear and tear from being taken in and out of jeans and bag pockets and occasionally placed on hard surfaces. The earbuds’ glossy finish hasn’t picked up any scuffs or scratches, though. This suggests the case needs careful handling if you want to keep the earbuds looking new for long. While we haven’t tested how the buds fare against liquid exposure, such as water and sweat, they’re IP64 rated to mitigate damage. Overall, the design is functional and portable, but the durability may not be the best in its class.

Comfort and fit: doesn’t leave you fatigued

The earbuds weigh just 3.8g and feature an ergonomic shape with silicone tips that create a secure yet pressure-free fit. During my use, I could wear the iQOO Buds for two to three hours straight without fatigue while watching shows or movies. Since the TWS doesn’t feature ANC, the passive isolation from the tips helps provide a proper seal, though loud sounds such as traffic horns and metro announcements were still audible.

Specifications and features: offers the essentials

The iQOO Buds support Bluetooth v6.1 with multipoint connection, meaning you can connect to two devices simultaneously and switch between them without disconnecting the other. In my experience, this feature worked flawlessly as I was able to instantly switch audio from my phone to my MacBook and resume media on either device.

As a brand that places heavy emphasis on performance and gaming, the iQOO Buds feature up to 42ms ultra-low latency mode for supported iQOO and Vivo smartphones, which should result in minimal audio delays in intensive games like BGMI and CODM.

For calls, the iQOO Buds automatically trigger AI Call Noise Reduction, letting users take calls in noisy environments by minimising wind interference, while the two microphones on each earbud prioritise vocals so the person on the other end can hear clearly. As for the actual calling experience, the iQOO Buds delivered clear, ample sound during calls.

iQOO has also added its own flair to the pop-up menu that appears on the phone’s screen when you open the buds’ lid. Exclusive to iQOO and Vivo smartphones, the battery pop-up menu can be customised using different pre-defined cat and dog themes. Users can furthermore customise this interface using their images and stickers.

Even though these are affordable earbuds, the iQOO Buds offer touch controls, such as double-tap, triple-tap, and touch-and-hold, to play and pause music, skip tracks, and take calls with a tap. You can tweak the touch controls, along with other settings and options, in the vEarphones companion app, available for Android phones and iPhones, while the app’s core functions are built into the system on iQOO and Vivo devices.

Speaking of which, the vEarphones app has a minimal, well-defined look, with menus and options that are easy to identify at a glance. Unlike competitors such as Realme’s Link app, it doesn’t prompt users to sign in to use its functions. Some of the key additions of the app and the iQOO Buds themselves include Find My iQOO Buds to locate the earbuds by sound, Remote Camera Control, and triggering assistants like Gemini on Android smartphones.

Sound experience: suitable for everyday use

The iQOO Buds feature 10mm drivers, AAC and SBC codecs, and a PU+PEEK polymer diaphragm, paired with DeepX 4.0 Sound Effects featuring multiple sound profiles. Per iQOO, the Vivo Golden Ears acoustics team developed these profiles using advanced audio algorithms.

As for sound quality and experience, the iQOO Buds, even in the ‘Standard’ sound profile, are bass-focused, which is generally the case with most budget TWS. While the trebles (highs) are clear and lively, I felt their impact could be improved. The mid-range frequencies are done well for the price, with the vocals sounding near-perfect and crisp. I noticed this across several Mitraz songs. You can also use a 10-band EQ by selecting the ‘Custom sound effect’ to tweak the frequencies to your taste and preference.

One key feature the iQOO Buds lack is ANC, which is available on the similarly priced CMF Buds Neo. Also, they don’t automatically pause or play music when you remove or insert the buds, which could be a deal breaker for some.

Battery and charging: lasts for days on a single charge

The company claims the buds can offer up to 12 hours of continuous playback on a single charge and up to 50 hours total with the charging case. During my time with the iQOO Buds, the case’s battery lasted for around a week when using the earbuds frequently during travels for one to two hours a day and watching movies or shows during the night.

To top up the battery, I used Vivo’s 90W adapter to juice up the iQOO Buds. Starting at 8 percent, the case’s battery reached 72 percent in just over an hour, giving it enough power to last for a couple of days on casual to medium usage.

Final verdict

The iQOO Buds do a great job of focusing on the essentials that matter the most under Rs 2,000. While the charging case may not be durable enough to avoid regular wear and tear, these TWS offer easy portability thanks to their compact size and lightweight design. The pair also impresses with its battery life, comfort and a secure fit, low latency for gaming, and, most importantly, well-tuned vocals. The lows and highs leave room for improvement, though.

The lack of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is a trade-off, for which you’ll have to spend an extra Rs 300 on the CMF Buds Neo. Nevertheless, the iQOO Buds are a strong pair of earphones for everyday use, such as commuting, workouts, gaming, and long listening sessions that don’t break the bank.

Editor’s rating: 8.6/10

Pros

• Compact and lightweight design.
• Comfortable to wear for long durations with a secure fit.
• Bass-forward with well-tuned vocals.
• Solid battery endurance.

Cons

• Charging case gets scuffed relatively easily.
• The low and high frequencies could be improved.
• Misses out on Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).