As I continue my never-ending search for quality earbuds, I find myself with the TOZO Open Buds. While my love for big, chunky headphones remains undying since I reviewed the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2, I will admit earbuds have started to grow on me. I probably never fully appreciated their utility until I started travelling and working out regularly, but they really do have a unique form and function that headphones can’t quite match.
I can’t help but feel, much like with my JBL Quantum 800 review, that the bar was set a little too high with the Galaxy Buds 2, and now any other earbuds will just seem inferior. That’s not to say the Open Buds are bad by any stretch, but they certainly felt like a step down from what I was used to.
I wasn’t super keen on the Open Buds when I first cracked them open. I didn’t know how I would feel about the Open Bud’s design, as they don’t insert into the ear like most buds and instead rest atop the tragus and within the concha.
And while I’ll admit, they do sit pretty comfortably on your ear, eliminating that inner-ear irritation that can occur with traditional buds, the arms can conflict a bit with glasses—if you happen to wear them. This is somewhat mitigated by the Open Buds dual-axis design, which allows for a lot of flexibility in adjustment.
“Even sitting outside the ear, the Open Buds offer impressive sound quality.”
The adjustable arm makes the Open Buds incredibly versatile, particularly for more active use. You may recall me saying that an issue I had with the Galaxy Buds 2, despite its solid design, was that I “did start to notice them slipping out as my ears began to get a bit sweaty.” Thankfully, this isn’t a problem with the Open Buds, as the adjustable arms not only keep them in place but also position themselves during more intense activities like running.
Even sitting outside the ear, the Open Buds offer impressive sound quality. Featuring a 14.2 mm large dynamic driver unit with a 20Hz – 20kHz frequency response range and an AAC/SBC Audio codec, the Open Buds produces incredibly crisp audio. I was generally surprised when I threw on .44 Caliber Love Letter—somewhat by accident since it’s the first song on my list—and was presented with impeccable clarity. This also extends to prolonged YouTube viewing as the comfort and quality made them my go-to for long streams.
Furthermore, with the TOZO app, the Open Buds allows users to adjust the sound profile from five preset EQs for different, more precise listening experiences. On top of that, the Open Buds offer an impressive 12 hours of battery life, while the case can hold up to 30 hours. However, unlike the Galaxy Buds 2, the Open Buds don’t appear to have a fast-charge function, so users will have to wait a good 1.5 hours for a full charge.
“The adjustable arm makes the Open Buds incredibly versatile, particularly for more active use.”
Despite being solid earbuds, like I said, they are a bit of a step-down. Touch functionality is a bit finicky since, unlike the Galaxy Buds 2, the Open Buds aren’t touch-sensitive across the entire bud—instead, relegating it to a specific button on the left and right ear. Furthermore, while touch features are relegated to each bud—holding the left button will increase the volume, while the right will decrease, and double tapping the left will go to the previous track, while the right will skip forward.
It never really seemed like I could utilize the touch functions with a degree of reliability since if you don’t touch/hold the button exactly, then nothing will happen. Furthermore, holding the button to lower the volume takes a few seconds to activate and usually increases/decreases by a few points. Compared to tapping the sides of the Galaxy Buds 2—which wasn’t perfect but mostly worked—this is usually more hassle than it’s worth.
Also, being open-ear buds means there is no potential for ANC, which can be a bit of an issue if you want to take the Open Buds to somewhere that will have a lot of noise, like the gym. While sometimes this can be beneficial—like if you’re wearing them around the house and need to hear people—it can dampen the sound of your audio and be a bit distracting. However, despite these minor annoyances, you’ll definitely find yourself with a solid pair of entry-level earbuds. For an affordable price tag of $69.99, you’ll definitely be getting a lot for great value.
- 【Dual-Axis Design & Multi-angle Adjustment】The TOZO Open Buds feature a unique dual-axis design that allows for both horizontal and vertical adjustment, providing multiple angles for a customized fit to accommodate different ear shapes and sizes. With this design, you can adjust the ear cups to your preferred position, ensuring a comfortable and secure fit for extended listening sessions.
