Buzz
DESIGN, COMFORT, AND BATTERY LIFE
Let SoundPEATS present their affordable earbuds in compact cases that you can take with you anywhere. The Mini Pro has an oval-shaped case, slightly smaller than the previous SoundPEATS Mini, and this time it's a bit – just a bit! – glossier and hazier instead of shiny or textured. It's a tad smaller than the cheaper SoundPEATS Free2 Classic, with a textured shell.
The Mini Pro case isn't made from premium materials and it attracts fingerprints and scratches like crazy – a downside for a case you want to throw in your pocket because it's very light and pocketable. But it covers the basics well, with multicolored LED lights on the front indicating the remaining battery and a USB-C port on the back.
These are in-ear headphones! They're among the smallest noise-canceling earbuds on the market. They consist of two interconnected circles: the outer circle is visible in your ear (and looks a bit special), the inner circle is the part that goes into your ear, providing an extremely light and comfortable feel when worn. They don't have the most secure fit, but they stay easily in the ear (medium size) with quick vibration tests. If you dare to take them out for a run or workout, the IPX5 water resistance rating will protect them from rain and sweat.
For those seeking ANC headphones for slumbering sideways, be aware that you might still need to rest your head on your arm for maximum comfort. Additionally, the Mini Pro in-ear buds illuminate LED lights when not playing music – a major inconvenience for bedroom or dorm use. Realme Buds Air 2 Neo holds the upper hand in this aspect. Let's hope SoundPEATS addresses this issue with an option in their future app updates.
Despite its sizable dimensions, the Mini Pro boasts a battery sufficient for daily use. The earbuds offer up to 5 hours of playtime with ANC on; around 7 hours with the feature turned off. The case can recharge them fully twice before needing a new power source. These are standard scores for noise-canceling earphones, but not commonly seen in these compact in-ear buds.
CONTROLS AND CONNECTIVITY
SoundPEATS consistently provides comprehensive control diagrams on their headphones, and the SoundPEATS Mini Pro is no exception. The only thing missing is the option to rewind a track:
- Double-tap L or R to play/pause music
- Press R to increase volume
- Press L to decrease it
- Hold R to skip to the next track
- Hold L to switch between ANC on, Transparency mode, and ANC off
- Triple-tap R to activate voice assistant
- Triple-tap L to (de)activate Gaming Mode
The control scheme feels surprisingly intuitive in a short amount of time, although precision could be slightly improved. For instance, you might have to triple-tap more than once to activate Gaming Mode. You might also be triggering a function when pulling the earbuds out of the case.
The connection of the Mini Pro is rock-solid. Bluetooth 5.2 signals remain stable up to 9-10 meters away, and the buds connect and pair swiftly once taken out of the case.
CALLS, MOVIES, AND GAMING
Making phone calls or video calls with the SoundPEATS Mini Pro is incredibly convenient. Your voice comes through richly, and more importantly, it's loud and clear – though there might be a hint of background noise. Sound effects during calls may occur, but noises like wind, door creaks, and traffic aren't overly intrusive: your voice rises above the noise.
However, the combination of wind noise and ambient sound effects can compromise the clarity of your voice. It might make you sound muffled – even difficult to hear. This is a feature observed in many reasonably priced wireless earbuds.
Watching videos with the Mini Pro is effortless with perfect audio-video synchronization. The dedicated Gaming Mode also aids in synchronizing sound effects while playing games like Call of Duty on your mobile. Because it's easy to pinpoint the location of gunshots and actions around you, these in-ear headphones are excellent for gaming.
SUPPORT FOR THE SOUNDPEATS MINI PRO APP
The SoundPEATS Mini Pro is supposed to have app support from the SoundPEATS app on both iPhone and Android, but it wasn't functional during the testing period – around two months after the earphones were released. Since user reviews of the app are crucial, don't get your hopes up too much.
ANC TESTING THE NOISE CANCELLATION OF THE MINI PRO
Nowadays, active noise cancellation on $55 headphones isn't exceptional anymore, but the ANC on the Mini Pro is a robust performer in its segment.
ANC Quality: At its finest moments, the Mini Pro's ANC manages to filter out all ambient sounds around you – leaving you only with the sound of your own breath! Background noises in low, mid, and high frequencies can disappear completely.
Of course, you'll have sounds closer more frequently. In this case, mundane and regular sounds like electronic buzzing are filtered out uniquely; Dimming brighter and uneven sounds like talking, water splashing, or radio broadcasts but still audible. Note to you: they fall short in clarity compared to many cheaper and pricier ANC headphones.
However, there's a small caveat. Sometimes, it might feel like the wind is pressuring the ANC, making its effect less effective. ANC might even emit short bursts of bass to handle this. Thankfully, it doesn't occur as easily as on the SoundPEATS T2, and it's less discomforting. Give the earphones a slight twist, and you're back on track. These perform as average ANC implementers.
Transparency Mode Quality: The Transparency Mode – referred to as Pass Through here, lets ambient sound pass through when needed. It's not limited to the highest frequencies for messages and accessibility; it also enhances darker tones – while keeping quiet sounds serene. This effect imparts a natural feel on the Mini Pro, and even when listening to music at moderate volume, you can still discern the traffic around you.
Wind Noise Reduction: Due to the earbuds protruding slightly from your ears, there might be some wind noise when walking or cycling with these headphones. Fortunately, you can simply turn off ANC directly from the earbuds to reduce the loudest wind noise that ANC mode and especially Transparency mode emit.
SOUND QUALITY OF SOUNDPEATS MINI PRO
In addition to comfort and Active Noise Cancellation features, the SoundPEATS Mini Pro also has some noteworthy aspects in the audio department.
The Mini Pro exhibits the most natural bass rendition among all SoundPEATS models. That says something considering the numerous headphones the brand has released – including the highly praised SoundPEATS H1.
Instruments like violins and higher-pitched female and male vocals stand out and clear, but at the same time, they are slightly pushed back compared to the cheapest model of SoundPEATS, the Free2 Classic. It's a good thing – now the high tones sound more balanced with lower instruments. While especially female singers might sound a bit cool and bright on the Free2 Classic, on the Mini Pro, there's a gentle, subtle warmth in the bass. However, the midrange has a hint of metallic edge.
Furthermore, the Mini Pro achieves a harmonious tonal balance. Center-mid instruments like guitar and piano sound natural without a tendency to go too high or too low. The lower mid-tones have ample space, but darker electronic tones don't dominate the music.
Clearer Bass: The Mini Pro features enhanced mid-bass, delivering quick punches and sufficient noise, but it can be a bit bloated. Feels somewhat uncomfortable. Sub-bass (the lowest bass you can feel the most when listening) is handled similarly: it may not be overly deep, but the sub-bass is tight and fast.
When it comes to details, the Mini Pro holds up well. Vocals, both male and female, form the central element of the music and usually project straight ahead, while instruments like drums might slightly lean left and right. There's clear separation between the instruments.
Unfortunately, the SoundPEATS Mini Pro loses some quality at higher volumes. This is where distortion and clap noise can become a bit harsh, the white noise of a recording might show, and higher notes could fade a bit.
You don't get a pair of perfect-sounding headphones, but this is a crisp, budget-friendly musical presentation.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The SoundPEATS Mini Pro stands out as an excellent wireless earbud, combining comfort, strong active noise cancellation, acceptable call quality, and great sound at an affordable price of just 1.3 million VND.
