• Source:JND

JE Technology Desk: The budget TWS market in India is bloated with options. But what if I say - I just tried one of the best from that lot? I am talking about the Oraimo FreePods 4. The company recently unveiled this wireless solution, and I have been straining it for a while now. It offers Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) up to 30dB, five EQ (equaliser) modes, Find My Device, a dedicated app for added customisations and last but not the least, a good sound.

If you plan to buy a wireless solution for your ears, you can not miss this detailed review of the FreePods 4. But this solid competitor also comes with one compromise. Read on as I share my complete opinion.

Also Read: Nothing Phone (2) Review: iPhone Of Android World Back With 'Lighting' Superpowers, Reliable Camera And Striking Design

Design and Fit:

FreePods 4 is wrapped in a stunning box package (with all the essentials you would expect) that delivers a premium unboxing experience. And the goodness does not end here. The slide-to-open mechanism refreshed those retro sliding keypad phones in my memory. But make it a point to educate your friends about this unique touch, or you might end up living without that Oraimo badged opening disc.

The product has a plastic build, but I find the quality of the buds to be top-notch. However, the case is prone to scratches. Plus, the top lid may get loose with prolonged use. As for the in-ear fit, it is comfortable, and I went on to use it for hours without any discomfort. It sticks to the ears even during rigorous physical exercise.

Oraimo FreePods 4 Sound Quality and ANC:

Moving to the backbone of any audio product, the sound, I embraced the sound signature Oraimo has adopted for the 10mm drivers. No muddy bass or scratchy treble, just soothing sound that you can chime in for hours. It will impress the purists who crave unheard details in the music.

Stereo separation is incredible. The vocals are clear and treble tones are good with adequate loudness. This TWS delivers tight competition to my daily driver Sony earphones when configured with 'Jazz' mode via the app. To conclude this segment, I enjoyed my time with the FreePods 4.

The quad mic setup with "AI Deep Neural Network algorithm" ensured clear calls indoors. But outdoors, in crowded streets, the person on the other end did sometimes complain of poor quality. As for noise cancellation, the FrePods 4 do suppress fan noise and wind blasts. But do not expect a serene backdrop like Apple AirPods.

Gaming and Latency:

With Game mode on, I did not notice significant lags while playing games. But this is not a gaming-centric TWS. There are other options you can consider at this price. For general YouTube videos and movies, lip-sync is up to the mark.

Also Read: Truke BTG Neo Review: Segment-First Features And Low Latency Make This TWS A Good Gaming Companion

Connectivity and Controls:

Coming to pairing, Google Fast Pair and Bluetooth 5.2 enable seamless connection without glitches. The touch controls were slightly on the complicated side. Even after a month of usage, I do not remember what the right (or left) bud triggers after multiple beeps. As an alternative to this, I permanently moved to the app. Oraimo Sound offers the essentials to switch equaliser modes, toggle Transparency and ANC modes and more operations.

It also comes with Find My Device feature. You can play an alarm on a lost bud to locate it in your close premises or trace the last connected location. However, due to low volume, it is audible in complete silence only.

Battery Life:

The buds offered over six hours of backup with ANC enabled in one go with 80-90 per cent volume during my testing. With the case, this scales to slightly more than 20 hours. In short, you can easily cross past a week with one full charge.

Scope of Improvement:

Apart from the bag of positives, Oraimo can reconsider the touch controls in the upcoming products and optimise the texts within the app for the Indian audience. For instance, the option to unpair the device reads 'Unbind', and the initial tutorials also have slightly less-suited words.

Verdict: Should You Buy The Oraimo FreePods 4?

Well, we have a winner in the Rs 2,000 category. If you are in the bursting market to buy a TWS on that budget, this pole star shines bright and is topping my list of budget-friendly TWS'. Be it good sound or app customisations, Oraimo FreePods 4 delivers an incredible listening experience without mining a hole in your pocket.

Update: Flipkart and O-club Store state that the TWS come with a two-year warranty.