- By Vikas Yadav
- Sun, 10 Mar 2024 10:32 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
When you head out to buy a value-packed TWS in the entry-level price range, Boult is among the leading brands to consider. One of the company's highly successful offerings is the Boult Z40, which sold over 1.2 million units. On the heels of this success, the business launched its successor - Boult Z40 Ultra. The brand has managed to fuse in Active Noise Cancellation and EQ modes with a pinch of AI in exchange for a Rs 2,000 note.
From Sonic Core Dynamics to Prism Voice PLC, Boult has puffed many technologies into its budget-friendly earbuds. But do these complex tech terms make a significant impact in real-world usage? I will try to answer this in this review. Starting with the design, here is a comprehensive look at the TWS to help you decide whether the product is a worthy pick.
Z40 Ultra Design and Fit
Almost identical to the brand's Curve Buds Pro's design, Boult has adopted a sophisticated feel for its costliest TWS. It comes in a combo of matte and shiny outer shell (on the 'Black' variant) with a beige-coloured rim that adds to its sophistication. Clear demarcation for touch controls and a shiny rim on the TWS is a welcome touch.
Z40 Ultra ships with beige accents around the case's rim and the buds. (Image:Vikas Yadav/JE)
While it is an attention stealer, you must use the buds with care to ensure the paint stays shiny in the long run. As for the in-ear fit, the buds come with silicone tips to rest in your ears comfortably. Be it sports activity or mild running, these do not fall from the ears if you have configured them with the right ear tips.
Plus, they do not cause any discomfort (in my case) even with prolonged usage. In short, the design will not disappoint unless you are looking for some gaming jazz of flashy LEDs. If not Black, you can check out the Beige and Metallic shades.
Sound
As for sound, the buds ship with 10mm BoomX drivers (supports SBC and AAC codecs) and three EQ modes. The company chants praises in favour of bass on its website. So, let's examine that first. Once you tap the right buds four times and switch to the 'Bass Boost' mode, it pushes the low-frequency sounds at the front without supremely killing the vocals and high notes.
The earbuds come with pairing LED indicators. (Image:Vikas Yadav/JE)
Beyond this, you can get the right blend of vocals and instruments with bass complementing the experience in 'Rock' mode (personal favourite). The third mode, 'HiFi', serves audio cravings best when watching movies with rich background noise and ambient sounds. However, the difference between the last two modes is subtle and not significantly noticeable.
Speaking of the audio experience, it is good considering the price. You get crisp vocals, decent instrument separation and sufficient bass, provided you select HiFi or Rock mode. Plus, the buds are adequately loud (but not as screamy as Boult's 13mm offerings). By long-pressing the right buds, it is now time to address the hero claim - 32dB ANC.
ANC and Calls
While the difference between ANC and Transparent mode is noticeable, the experience is average, which is acceptable considering the price. Z40 Ultra tends to cut noise frequencies, but do not expect an extraordinary distinction. In Transparent mode, it tends to boost ambient noise. But, the difference is absolutely minor.
The device is among the few TWS to offer ANC in the sub-Rs 2,000 price bracket. (Image:Vikas Yadav/JE)
While I believe you can get the Z40 Ultra for sound, ANC should not be a key decision-maker in your purchase and only serve as a nominal positive. I say this because the Oraimo FreePods 4 offers better ANC implementation. You can check out that budget TWS for app support and better ANC, but they do not match the loudness of the Z40 Ultra.
The TWS comes with a quad-mic ENC setup for calling. Boult advertises Sound Core Dynamics and Prism Voice PLC for enhanced noise cancellation and voice. In real world, I did not encounter any significant complaints during calls from the other end indoors or on streets with mild noises. However, on busy roads, the call quality was occasionally affected. Despite this, the earbuds are suitable for calling.
Gaming
As for gaming, the brand advertises 45ms latency ratings in Gaming mode (after tapping four times on the left earbud). The experience was fine with gunshots in first-person shooters and activating nitro in racing games. But hardcore gamers can choose Boult's gaming offerings (such as the Boult Astra or Astra Neo) for a better experience. For casual fans, this will suffice.
The Z40 Ultra's case offers green LED indicators to indicate the remaining battery. (Image:Vikas Yadav/JE)
Battery and Connectivity
Boult claims a battery life of up to 100 hours with the case (ANC off). In my case, the battery backup of the case was decent enough to last roughly 10 days with casual usage (5-6 hours daily with ANC and 85-90 per cent volume). The workflow comprised a mix of long calls, extended music listening and video watching.
As for connectivity, the IPX5-rated TWS gets dual-device connectivity (aided by Dual Stream DSP) based on the audio requirement of a user on two devices. It also ships with Bluetooth 5.3 for a stable connection. I had no problems with connectivity as the pairing was fast, and the range was adequate. The touch controls were also flawless in operations such as changing tracks, toggling ANC, switching EQ modes, and more.
You can recharge these buds via the USB Type-C port on the case. (Image:Vikas Yadav/JE)
Scope Of Improvements
While the buds offer killer value, it does have some shortcomings. First, I would have preferred an app to complement the listening experience. It gets clumsy sometimes to remember which earbud to tap to perform operations like toggling ANC, entering gaming mode and more.
Secondly, Boult can further inflate the difference between the three modes to help users bifurcate across these modes better. Thirdly, it might sound like a nitpick but I would have preferred if Boult skipped the golden rims design treatment on both buds. They are prone to scratches and may fade away or get discoloured with prolonged use.
Boult Z40 Ultra: Should You Buy?
Boult Z40 Ultra is available on Flipkart, Amazon and Boult's official website. (Image:Boult)
In a sentence, if you are out in the market looking for a balanced TWS that offers good sound quality, attractive looks and insane battery life with complementary features such as ANC and audio profiles (that refine the experience to a slight extent), you can check out the Z40 Ultra. On the other hand, if you are among those who crave app-based customisation and a purely gaming-focused TWS, keep your search engine running.