Review: Nokia Essential E3103 True Wireless Earbuds

Most people associated Nokia with mobile phones, but did you that they also produce true wireless earbuds as well. Today, we will be taking a look at the E3103 earbuds, which is part of their Essential series of true wireless earbuds. The Nokia E3103 earbuds retail for S$79, but they are now heavily discounted on Harvey Norman at just S$38.

Unboxing

Here’s what you’ll find in the box:

• Nokia Essential E3103 True Wireless Earbuds
• Charging case
• USB-A to USB-C cable
• User manual

Tech specs

Build quality and features

The Nokia E3103 earbuds comes in four colours – (1) Pink, (2) Blue, (3) White, and (4) Black. The unit I have is the black variant. The case has a slight matte finish to it, and its size and hinge mechanism are reminiscent of AirPods. On the other hand, the earbuds have a glossy finish to them, and the design follows that of the Apple’s AirPods, being an open-fit style of earbuds.

The overall build quality is quite good. The hinge on the case feels more sturdy and snappy than Sudio Nio for comparison. The plastic used on the case feels of better quality than the Sudio Nio as well. I like the case of the Nokia E3103 earbuds is really small. You can easily keep them in your jeans pocket without having an uncomfortable bulge.

Comparing the Nokia E3103 earbuds to the Sudio Nio, you can see that the Nokia E3103 earbuds is smaller than the Sudio Nio in both aspects of case and earbuds size. The Nokia E3103 earbuds has a shorter stem and is easier to carry around due to the smaller case.

The Nokia E3103 earbuds have an IPX4 water-resistance rating so it would be able to handle sudden rain if you’re out and about. The Nokia E3103 earbuds utilises touch controls.

Controls

You can control the main media functions such as play/pause, volume, and forward/backward from single to triple taps as seen below:

The touch controls which are located at the top of the earbuds, are responsive and surprisingly don’t really get accidentally triggered when I am adjusting the fit in my ears.

Battery life

You can get up to 7 hours of playtime on a full charge, which is pretty impressive for a pair of true wireless earbuds of this size. Do note this is more than the 5.5 hours offered by Sudio Nio. The charging case offers another 18 hours of charge, giving you a total of 25 hours.

Nokia E3103 earbuds is charged via a wired option via USB-C only.

Fit and comfort

The fit of the Nokia E3103 earbuds will be like any other pair open-fit earbuds – highly dependent on the shape of your ears. Initially, I was expecting a similar fit to the Sudio Nio. However, the fit of the Nokia E3103 earbuds is slightly different. To me, the Nokia E3103 earbuds sits a little looser in my ears than the Sudio Nio. This is because the “bulb” looking portion of the earbuds is actually slightly smaller than that of Sudio Nio‘s. As such, it does not fill my ear as well as the Sudio Nio.

Having said that, the Nokia E3103 earbuds still does stay well in my ear. I find that the Nokia E3103 earbuds will offer a better fit for individuals with smaller ears. Comfort is definitely its strong suit as the earbuds are very lightweight at just 3.3g each.

Pairing, connectivity, and latency

Nokia E3103 earbuds is equipped with Bluetooth 5.1 and pairs to my phone as a single unit. During my time of testing, the Bluetooth connection was stable and I did not encounter any latency or audio 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

The sound quality of an open-fit earbuds may differ from individual to individual depending on the fit one achieve with the earbuds. As the fit of the Nokia E3103 earbuds doesn’t feel as tight in my ears, it will likely offer a thinner sound compared to someone who manages to get a tighter seal with the earbuds.

The sound signature of the Nokia E3103 earbuds to me is one that is airy and clean. Bass is sharp and punchy, without much presence in the sub-bass department so you will be lacking reverb and deep thumps. Midrange is clear and forward, with vocals having good clarity. Treble is bright but has the tendency to sound thin and a little harsh.

When compared to Sudio Nio, the Nokia E3103 earbuds sounds comparatively thinner and brighter as given the stronger bass response of the Sudio Nio helps to provide a warmer sound. If you’re someone who has a preference for bass, then the Nokia E3103 earbuds would lack in that aspect. But then again, not many open-fit can offer impactful bass without mids sounding muddy.

Microphone quality

The microphone of the Nokia E3103 earbuds is fairly average. Voice pickup is clear but does sound thinner than I would have liked. Also, my voice does sound a little distant which could be due to the shorter stem design. Sudio Nio, on the other hand, offers a warmer and fuller sound. In a noisy environment, the Nokia E3103 earbuds actually does quite well in isolating my voice and cancelling majority of noise to ensure my voice remains clear.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a pair of open-fi style of true wireless earbuds without spending much, the Nokia E3103 earbuds at its current promo price of S$38 is a really great bargain. It may not offer much bass but it provides a clean sound that can last up to 7 hours on a full charge. I especially like how pocketable the Nokia E3103 earbuds is as well.