Hakii is the audio department of the well-known Havit which is known for computer accessories. The Hakii Time is their newest pair of true wireless earbuds which has ANC capabilities. The Hakii Time retails for US$60 which is about S$83, making it one of the cheapest true wireless earbuds with an ANC feature.
Unboxing
Inside the box, you will be greeted by the following items:
- Hakii Time ANC earbuds
- Charging case
- Ear tips x3
- USB-C to USB-A cable
- Drawstring carrying pouch
- User manual
Tech specs
| Driver | 10.0 mm drivers |
| Frequency Response | 20 – 20,000 Hz |
| Battery Life | 4.5 hours per full charge 20 hours in charging case |
| Weight | Earbuds: 4.2g each Charging case: 60.4g |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Supported Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 |
Design, build quality and features
Hakii Time comes in two colours – black or white. The unit I have is in white. The charging case has a rounded pebble-like shape and is made completely from plastic with a matte finish. The build quality is decent – the hinge feels firm and tight, but the earbuds inside rattle slightly when I shake the case. However, the magnets are strong and keep the earbuds firmly in place.
The earbuds are also made from plastic and the overall build is decent as well. The design has a stem much like the Urbanista London, but it is shorter. Overall, it has a more low profile look. Hakii Time has an IPX4 water resistance rating so getting caught in the rain with these would not be an issue. Some of the edges on the earbuds would look better if it had a one-piece sealed look, but it does not affect performance.
Controls
Hakii Time uses touch controls and what you can do is limited to play/pause and ANC modes for media, and handling phone calls. You can’t change tracks or change the volume. The touch controls are responsive and reliable for daily use. I did noticed that switching between ANC modes and transparency mode really does require you to tap and hold for at least 3 seconds and release the tap for it to be activated. It does not automatically register it after 3 seconds of tap and holding, like other earbuds do.
Update: You can skip tracks via a triple tap
Transparency mode
Transparency mode allows external noises to enter the earbuds, and the effect of this pretty okay. It come sometimes enhance a little too much on the external sounds, giving you the effect of enhanced environmental volume.
Battery life
Hakii Time is rated to last 4.5 hours per full charge which isn’t the best. But from my experience of testing small ANC capable earbuds, this is kind of the average battery life you’ll be expecting. The charging case comes with another 20 hours, so the whole package should last you about 1-2 weeks – your mileage might vary.
The charging case is charged via USB-C which is great but unfortunately it does not support wireless charging.
Fit
The earbuds have somewhat of a 45º angle so that it slots in my ears nicely, giving a very snug and non-intrusive fit. The oval-shaped portion of the Hakii Time is also why it fits so nice and snug in my ears. As Hakii Time is also very lightweight, they are great for long hours of wearing. They are one of the more comfortable earbuds that I have tested so far.
Hakii supplied three pairs of ear tips, but I am not sure if they are three different sizes or just a spare of the stock size that came with the earbuds (ie. medium x2, large x1).
Sound quality
The sound profile of the Hakii Time is reminiscent of Audio-Technica’s ANC300TW, where it has an emphasis on treble. Bass on the Hakii Time is tight and compact, with just enough presence to for typical pop songs. There really isn’t much sub-bass response that you’ll feel the reverb on songs like on Belong to you by Sabrina Claudio.
Midrange sounds clean with decent separation in the overall mix. Treble is clear and the most forward frequency in the tuning. It can get a little sibilant at times. Soundstage is wider than average. If you’re someone who listens to songs which are heavy on vocals, Hakii Time would be an enjoyable listen.
ANC performance
The ANC does not really alter the EQ of Hakii Time which is great as other ANC earbuds tend to sound different once ANC is toggled on. ANC performance is just average. It is slightly on the weaker side of most of the ANC earbuds I have tested so far. It does a decent job in getting rid of some of low rumbling noise and can subdue noticeable MRT train whooshes. But the high pitches wind whooshes in MRT train tunnels are hard to snuff out. It does bring about some difference, but it definitely isn’t a wow factor. The ANC does not have any vacuum effect so that’s good.
Microphone quality
The microphone on the Hakii Time is pretty good, particularly due it stem design. It is able to pick up my voice quite clearly even when the TV is playing loudly in my living room. The microphone does not try to snuff out any external noises, so if you’re attending a meeting with TV in the background, it’s will pick it up. But in a quiet environment, my voice is clear is focused.
Pairing, connectivity, and latency
Hakii Time comes with Bluetooth 5.0 and connection is stable as expected. If you want to use a single earbud, you can use either earbud as the main earbud. Also, there is zero latency or lag from watching YouTube videos from the YouTube app on my iPhone 11.
Conclusion
Hakii Time is one of the more comfortable pair of true wireless earbuds I have tested. And if you are someone who likes treble focused audio tuning then the Hakii Time is for you. The ANC on these is fairly tame, but it does get rid of some of the low rumbling noise that is often present on public transportation. For under S$100, it’s hard to come across a wireless earbud with ANC feature.