ANC is becoming must-have feature for any flagship true wireless earbuds in 2021. SonicGear has also joined the hype and have released their new SonicGear EarPump TWS 12 ANC true wireless earbuds to offer consumers the ANC functionality, but at an affordable price of just S$69.90.
Unboxing
In the box, you will receive the following items:
- SonicGear TWS 12 ANC True Wireless Earbuds
- Charging case
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- Silicon ear tips x3 pairs (S, M , L)
- User manual
Tech specs
| Driver | 13mm Dynamic |
| Battery Life | 6.5 hours per full charge (5.5 hours with ANC) 32.5 hours total with charging case (27.5 hours with ANC) |
| Weight | Earbuds: 4.6g each Charging case: 40.5g |
| Bluetooth version | 5.0 |
| Charging port | USB-C |
Build quality and features
The SonicGear EarPump TWS 12 ANC is very much inspired by the AirPods Pro. The charging case has a similar shape though it is slightly larger but remains pocketable. Its is made from a matte plastic material that feels decent, fitting of its sub-$100 price point. There is a LED indicator at the front.
As for the earbuds, the SonicGear EarPump TWS 12 ANC has the AirPods Pro’s design language of flat edges but it has a slightly longer stem. Even the ear tips used are oval shaped compared to regular round shaped we see on the market. Like its case, the earbuds are made from the same lightweight matte plastic and come in at just 4.6g. It also has a water-resistance rating of IPX4 meaning it is protecting for splashing water so rain shouldn’t be an issue.
Controls
SonicGear EarPump TWS 12 ANC employs touch controls. They don’t use the squeezing mechanism like the AirPods, instead the touch sensors are located on the round part of the earbuds. You are able to control media playback of play/pause and skipping of tracks only. Volume is not adjustable via the touch controls.
The touch controls are easy to use, but has a very slight input lag. Since the earbuds have a stem, mis-touches are kept to a minimum. The sound effects when cycling through ANC, transparency, and normal mode follows the same sound that AirPods Pro have.
Transparency mode
Transparency mode allows external sounds to come into the earbuds. The effect is largely decent and reliable if you want to know what is going around our surroundings. However, do not that the surrounding will sound slightly amplified and a little processed.
Battery life
The SonicGear EarPump TWS 12 ANC is expected to last up to 6.5 hours of play time on single charge and 5.5 hours if you use ANC. With the charging case, it should last you between 27 to 32 hours in total – good enough to last most individuals for a week or more.
Charging is done via USB-C at the back of the case. Unfortunately, wireless charging is not supported.
Fit
The SonicGear EarPump TWS 12 ANC offers a light and non-intrusive fit. The earbuds have well designed contours to rest nicely in my ear. The ear tips will be the one that determines the noise isolation or seal you get. For me, it gave me a light and relaxing fit whereby the earbuds kind of just rest comfortably in my ears.
The ear tips being oval-shaped, fit my ears rather well and they do provide a good enough seal to for good passive noise isolation.
Pairing, connectivity, and latency
SonicGear EarPump TWS 12 ANC is powered by Bluetooth 5.0 and pairs to my smartphone as a single unit. Connection was largely stable and pairing was fast enough. I did notice a slight latency or lag when watching YouTube videos from the YouTube app on my iPhone 11. If you want to use just one earbud, you can use either the left or right earbud.
Sound quality
SonicGear EarPump TWS 12 ANC has a dark and warm sound, similar to their TWS 5 Pro. This sound signature is not for everyone and likely caters more towards bass lovers. There is a strong sub-bass presence which offers a deep thump. Bass is bloated which causes the midrange to sound recessed.
Vocals and instruments are warm and comfortable to listen to, but those who are used to more shine will likely seek more forwardness from the mids. Treble is warm with decent presence, but is unable to push through the bass bloat for sparkle. Overall, the audio tuning is warm and comfortable that is good for extending listening.
ANC performance
The SonicGear EarPump TWS 12 ANC has surprisingly good implementation of ANC for its price of S$69.90. It actually is able to eliminate more noise than more expensive Sudio T2. Low rumbling noises can be removed to a large extent, in fact slightly better than the Creative Outlier Air V3. On the other hand, higher pitched sounds do seep in now and then but they have slight presence when ANC is turned on. Audio tuning does not alter much when ANC is toggled on.
Microphone quality
Microphone on the SonicGear EarPump TWS 12 ANC is average at best. In quiet surroundings, the microphone can pickup my voice accurately. Words are clear and distinguishable but the volume isn’t the loudest. When noise was introduced, the microphone wasn’t able to cancel out much of the noise. So I can only say the the SonicGear EarPump TWS 12 ANC is best used in a quiet place if you wish to handle calls.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a cheap pair of ANC earbuds that does more than a subtle removal of background noise then the SonicGear EarPump TWS 12 ANC does punch above its weight. Audio tuning is comfortably warm and has more emphasis towards bass. For S$69.90, If this suits your listening preference, it should be a good deal for your likes and needs.