Apart from the entry level offerings in its TWS1 and TWS2, SonicGear also has three more models in its Earpump series of true wireless earbuds which are in ascending order – TWS3+. TWS5 Pro, and the TWS7. They retail for S$79.90, S$89.90, and S$109.90 respectively.
Unboxing
- TWS 3+ earbuds
- Micro-USB cable
- User manual
- TWS 5 Pro earbuds
- Micro-USB cable
- Ear tips x3 (S, M, L)
- User manual
- TWS 7 earbuds
- USB-C to USB-A cable
- Ear tips x3 (S, M, L)
- User manual
Tech specs
| TWS 3+ | TWS 5 Pro | TWS 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | 10mm | 6mm | 6mm Dual Drivers |
| Frequency response | 20Hz – 20KHz | 20Hz – 20KHz | 20Hz – 20KHz |
| Impedance | 16Ω ± 15% | 16Ω ± 15% | 16Ω ± 15% |
| Battery life | 6 hours per full charge 18 hours in case | 8 hours per full charge 24 hours in case | 8 hours per full charge 24 hours in case |
| Bluetooth version | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Water resistance | None | IPX5 | None |
| Charging port | Micro-USB | Micro-USB | USB-C |
Build quality and design
TWS 3+
The charging case comes in a glossy finish which I’m personally not a fan of, but the case is super slim and makes it pocketable without a noticeable bulge in your pocket. The hinge of the case however, suffers from the same issues as the TWS 1, where it feels a little flimsy. As for the earbuds, they are open-fit as they are designed like the AirPods. The TWS 3+ is shaped very similarly to the TWS 1, but it now comes in a glossy finish.
TWS 5 Pro
The charging case has a matte finish to it and the shape is something like a capsule. It is a compact sized case but it is also quite thick. The hinge has good tension and closes well. Moving on to the TWS 5 Pro earbuds, they are designed with a stem like the AirPods, but they come with a silicon ear tip end, something like the Urbanista London and Sudio Ett. The earbuds has a matte finish and a nice texture to it.
TWS 7
The charging case also has a matte finish to it and the size is the largest. The size of the charging case is on the large side and comes close to that of Creative Outlier Air. The hinge is sturdy but the tension is slightly lacking as it tends to close easily on its own if you open the lid with too much force. As for the earbuds, the dual driver elements give it a pretty unique look and design. The drivers are visible as they are enclosed in a transparent housing.
Overall, the build quality of all three earbuds are fairly decent. There are some plastic edges which could have been sealed together a little better, but it is mainly aesthetic and does not affect performance.
Controls
All three earbuds share the same touch controls:
- Play/Pause: Tap on either earbud
- Forward/Backward: Triple tap (left = back, right = forward)
- Volume up/down: Double tap left to decrease, double tap right to increase
- Voice Assistant: Tap and hold 3 seconds on either earbud
As touch controls are employed, I find that when using the TWS 7, I find myself accidentally triggering some controls when I am just adjusting the fit of the earbuds in my ears. Having said that, the touch controls are quite responsive to what I want them to do. As the TWS 3+ and TWS 5 Pro has stems, the touch controls generally do not interfere when I’m fitting the earbuds.
Battery life
All three earbuds have battery life that range from 6 hours to 8 hours per full charge, which is good enough to last a week of music playback while commuting. Only the TWS 7 charges via USB-C while the other two charges via micro-USB which is quite surprising. The charging cases is able provide many hours of charges, of which the TWS 5 Pro and the TWS 7 can provide up to 24 hours more of play time which is quite impressive.
Fit
TWS 3+
The fit of the TWS 3+ is almost the same as what I got with the TWS 1. Like AirPods, the fit depends on the shape of your ears. For me, I felt the fit isn’t as secure as the AirPods which could be due to the thicker stem, but it still stays well in my ears.
TWS 5 Pro
The TWS 5 Pro fits really well. It fits like a sock in my ear canal thanks to its long oval angled ear tip which is able to create a snug and comfortable seal. Also, as they are lightweight they remain comfortable in my ears for extended usage.
TWS 7
The TWS 7 fit is quite good, and has a portion which will rest along the grooves of your ear despite the large size. I found the large size to fit the best for me, while the medium size feel a little hard. There is a little knob of silicon at the side of the earbuds to provide for support along the inner grooves of your ear. It does help with keep the earbuds secure in my ears, but I do wish the silicon used was softer. It does not cause discomfort, but I believe the comfort would be better if it were softer.
You won’t get the snug kind of fitting with the TWS 7 as the earbuds is on the larger side, but surprisingly the combination of the ear tips and the little silicon knob is able to achieve a secure fit.
Sound quality
Before I get into the sound quality, one complain I have with all three earbuds is that when it is connected successfully with your phone, they unleash a very loud and high pitched chime. So if you’re gonna get one of these, perhaps wait for the earbuds to be connected before putting them in your ears.
All three earbuds get loud on the lowest volume setting. Perhaps that’s why they are called ‘Earpump’. Let’s start with the TWS 3+ and TWS 5 Pro. Even though both earbuds vary in their type of fit, they share similar sound signature. Both have a very strong emphasis on bass, and is generally a warm sounding profile. You can expect boomy and energetic bass beats, even on neutral songs you will be able to hear some reverb. Midrange and treble are warm, and have almost enough to support the overall mix. For people who are sensitive to sparkles in high frequencies, the TWS 3+ and TWS 5 Pro can be a comfortable pair to listen to due to the warm and mellow tuning.
The TWS 7 presents a large step up in terms of audio performance compared to the other two. Bass is not overpowering and instead it is nice and tight. There is still weighty sub-bass response but it does not cloud the other frequencies. For comparison, the sub-bass is just slightly lower than that of the Creative Outlier Air. As for midrange, it is more forward than the TWS 3+ and TWS 5 Pro and offer more detail. Treble is warm and has good presence in the overall mix for an energetic sound. The dual drivers on the TWS 7 is able to bring out layers more distinctly, while soundstage is cosy and tight.
Conclusion
The SonicGear TWS 3+ and TWS 5 Pro gives you the similar warm and bass heavy sound that the cheaper TWS 1 and TWS 2 offers. The SonicGear TWS 7 on the other hand, changes the script and offers a better audio experience in a dual-driver configuration that brings good balance to all frequencies and improved layering in the audio mix. If you are looking between these three earbuds, I would recommend the TWS 7.
If you are interested in purchasing the TWS 3+, TWS 5 Pro or TWS 7, you can purchase them from multiple places on Lazada, Shopee, Qoo10 and Leapfroglobal.