Best TWS Earbuds Launched 2022 India Premium Buy Now Year Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Sony LinkBuds S Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 Oppo Enco X2
The True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earphone market has grown by leaps and bounds in India in the past few quarters, thanks to launches in the budget price segment (Rs 1,000-Rs 2,000) and increasing popularity as TWS buds are convenient to use. Homegrown companies in the country have also played a key role in boosting the popularity of TWS earbuds. However, Premium TWS buds offer a better and richer experience than the budget options and obviously cost more. It’s become almost difficult to buy a bad pair of wireless buds these days, thanks to the rich sound output, noise cancellation and long battery life.
Some of the popular manufacturers of premium TWS earbuds include names like Apple, Samsung, Sony, Sennheiser, and Oppo, among others. Many smartphone manufacturers also make their buds work best with their own products and handsets through exclusive functionality and features, in an effort to expand their ecosystem. As the end of 2022 approaches, we list the best TWS earbuds in the premium category from the likes of Samsung, Sony, Sennheiser and more that are good for consumers willing to spend on a pair of wireless headphones.
Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro – Best TWS buds from Samsung yet
This pair of earbuds also has a more compact ergonomic design compared to its predecessor and 40 percent improved noise cancellation. The earbuds themselves are IPX7 rated for water resistance, but the charging case is not. Active noise cancellation (ANC), 360 Audio with direct multi-channel and 24bit Hi-Fi, among others, are some of the features that the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro comes packed with. The knobs are available in three colors: Bora Purple, Graphite and White. The earbuds come with significant improvements compared to the Galaxy Buds Pro. Though the drawer looks similar to its predecessor, this time it has a scratch-resistant matte finish. The buds offer a good battery backup of up to five hours and the total backup is up to 18 hours of play time with ANC on and up to eight hours and a total of up to 29 hours of play time with ANC off. The Galaxy Buds 2 Pro is currently available for Rs 12,499 on Samsung India’s official online store, which is quite a deal.
Sony LinkBuds S – Compact design, excellent battery life
Sony LinkBuds S (WF-LS900N) is the successor to the Sony LinkBuds (WF-1000XM4), but comes at a lower price point as it is placed below the flagship LinkBuds earbuds. While the Sony LinkBuds is one of the top unique devices launched this year, the LinkBuds S has been touted as an offering with an “all day wear” feature. The buds weigh 4.8 grams and have a compact form factor. The LinkBuds S can easily be worn for 4-5 hours straight, but may not be suitable for all-day wear as Sony suggests. Some of the key highlights of the LinkBuds S are active noise cancellation (ANC), touch controls through the outer surface of each bud and IPX4 rating for water resistance. Battery life is pretty close to advertised, nearly six hours of playtime and the charging case adds two full charges as well. The case itself is lightweight and has a beautiful matte design that saves it from scratches and stains.
Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 – looks classy, sounds great
Sennheiser is a household name in the audio game and has been around for ages. Sennheiser’s Momentum series has been very successful for the company, courtesy of clean design and excellent sound output. Last year’s Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2 got a warm response in the market and this year’s Momentum True Wireless 3 has better sound output and a cut down form factor. A key highlight of the Momentum True Wireless 3 is the outer dust cover on the charging case, which makes it stand out and look sophisticated. The case has an LED indicator light and unlike most charging cases, this one houses a charging port on the front, next to the notification light. The earbuds themselves weigh 5.8 grams each, making them lightweight and comfortable for extended use. The buttons have active noise cancellation (ANC), which is somewhat better than what Sony’s TWS buttons offer in certain situations. Battery life on the Momentum True Wireless 3 is good and the earbuds lasted six hours on a single charge, while the case added three additional full charges.
Oppo Enco X2 – Forget the AirPods
Similar to last year’s Oppo Enco X earbuds, the Oppo Enco X2 looks exactly like Apple AirPods, courtesy of a short stem and in-ear design with rubber ear tips. The chest of drawers stands out with a sleek pebbled glossy design. The casing carries small Oppo branding along with a prominent Dynaudio logo, highlighting Oppo’s partnership with the Danish speaker manufacturer. The Enco X2 comes feature-packed with Bluetooth codec support for AAC, LHDC, LDAC and SBC, apart from dual device connectivity, active noise cancellation (ANC), personal transparency mode, wireless charging and squeeze controls, among others. The Enco X2 also features an 11-mm dynamic driver + 6-mm planar diaphragm driver with a SuperDBEE coaxial dual-driver sound system, created in collaboration with Dynaudio. The earbuds come in white and black color options and the white variant is more classy. There are EQ modes to choose from such as Dynaudio Simple and Clear, Dynaudio Punchy, Dynaudio Real and Enco X Classic. Golden Sound lets the user customize the listening experience based on hearing characteristics and ear canal. The Enco X2 currently retails for Rs 10,999. Prospective buyers may get bank offers if they try to buy the buds through e-commerce platforms.
Anker Soundcore Life Note 3 – Cheap but great sounding
Anker Soundcore may not be a household name in the world of TWS earbuds, which is quite crowded. TWS earbuds have to be exceptional to stand out these days and Anker Soundcore Life Note 3 does just that, without costing a bomb. The buttons have 11mm drivers, which is a good size and therefore results in excellent sound output. Like several other brands these days, this pair of buds also comes with an accompanying app that has an equalizer as well as “Soundcore signature sound” that promises pounding bass, which will appeal to most users. The buds have a short stem, similar to the AirPods, but not identically similar. The charging case is a bit bulky compared to most TWS cases with a textured design language that uses curved lines spread across the entire case. The earphones in black color have a shiny but metallic finish. The battery life is exceptional for the price and they can function for up to five hours on a single charge with ANC on. This pair of TWS buds is currently selling for Rs 4,499 on Flipkart and it may come with bank offers to bring the price down further.
