There are many inexpensive AirPods on the market, but only a few of them have artificially smart features and practical functions. Chinese AI Mobvoi improved its position on the stemmed AirPod pair of rivals, TicPods Free, last year. The company could do it by using the new CES model: TicPods 2 Pro, a cheap pair of wireless Bluetooth earpieces. These Bluetooth earpieces come packed in a pint-sized packaging with voice, touch, and gesture controls. The TicPods Free of Mobvoi was a viable alternative and much affordable than Apple’s highly popular white stalks. The TicPods 2 and TicPods 2 Pro Mobvoi launched at CES based on a fresh piece of the famous pastry.
The TicPods 2 starts at $99, while the TicPods Pro is $139. You’ll have to determine whether the extra features are worth $40. We’ll begin by unboxing the TicPods 2 Pro and checking out their updated design. TicPods 2 comes in two versions. The one we are looking at is the TicPods 2 Pro that features dual-mic noise cancellation for phone calls, TicHear hands-free voice controls, and nod-gestures from TicMotion. The TicPods 2 does not have any of these features, but in size and appearance, they are similar.
Features Of Ticpods 2 Pro
- Matte-plastic build IPX4 dust with water resistance
- Size: Its Charging case is 24 x 32 x 71 mm; earbud: 16 x 17 x 40 mm
- Touch controls TicHear hands-free voice commands
- Dual-mic noise cancellation for phone calls
- Qualcomm aptX Audio
- In-ear detection
- TicMotion nod-gestures
- Bluetooth 5.0
- 13mm moving coil
- OTA updates
- Android: APTX/AAC/SBC; iOS: AAC
- Battery: Charging case: 390 mAh; TicPods: 30 mAh each
You’ll soon realize that you have a remarkable software with a set of ear-packs once you have matched your TicPods 2 Pro over Bluetooth. AI, which allows Mobvoi to use two new technologies, TicHear and TicMotion, is the principal function here.
TicHear needs voice control, as you probably noticed. You can use the wake phrase “Hi Tico” to trigger the regular voice assistant on your smartphone without any hesitation. Still, Mobvoi has taken it a step further, creating algorithms that enable’ Fast Commands’ to perform simple functions such as pausing a record, skipping a track, and merely asking the TicPods 2 Pro to do it–no wake-word required.
And it’s pretty handy when it works. During the experiments, though, I found that headphones often fail to recognize my orders. And, it is not so easy to monitor the music alone with your speech when the directions on the store line are not enough to make it work. The audio buds support only correct sentences too, so remember to say “play music” instead of only “play.” Then we’ve got TicMotion, which makes you either nodding or shake your head when it comes in or to refuse calls. And again, it is beneficial and fun when it functions, especially if it goes on the moves.
Design
Mobvoi changed the concept for the TicPods 2 entirely for some reason. As the stem remains, the silicon tips were replaced with a universal open-fit design similar to the AirPods Pro design. The speaker enables good sound, which gives a better sound. You will feel comfortable while listening to music. The TicPods 2 Pro personally didn’t fit my ears, and I felt like they could fall out anytime. It is even more troublesome because you need to press vigorously halfway down the stem to reach the touch controls for TicPods. It will probably not be a problem for you, so try before shopping if you can.
Battery Life
The TicPods 2 Pro capped at a single charge for 4 hours of use and has a charging case for a total of 20 hours. There are a few settings that affect battery life overall. TicHear needs still listening to the
when TicMotion fires up accelerometers in the ears. Disabling both could yield a slightly better battery life, but you’re better off buying the non-Pro TicPods 2 at that point. The TicPods 2 Pro lasted precisely three hours at around 60 percent capacity, with all the apps allowed, depleting around halfway around the 1:30h point. At lower volumes, you can expect higher battery life, and with certain functions switched off.
Audio Quality
Throughout my experience, the TicPods 2 sounds pretty good. For bass like the Huawei FreeBuds 3, they aren’t too overpowering and deliver a well-rounded mix of drums, mids, and trebles. Like many other tiny TWS earbuds, though, they sacrifice more than around 65 percent of the sound, and tinny mids and trebles block out the music. Stability failure is a common feature of TWS earbuds packed with tiny hardware. The earbuds are still bright enough, so you don’t have to use the above 60 percent capacity.
The TicPods 2 Pro works exceptionally well for phone calls. The dual-mic noise reduction made my caller hearing me from a loud coffee shop a lot easier. Nodding listening to the call worked fine, and I could understand my caller well. Also, remember that there is no active noise cancellation in these earbuds, and noisy sounds may destroy your acoustic experience.
Wrapping Up
The TicPods 2 Pro offers a lot of apps, a range of flexible device choices, and well-balanced music, but they’re not flawless. I wish they had been designed a little more for the ear canal since they didn’t seem to me to be as secure (but they may be convenient for you), they seem a little too snug.
If you don’t think you’re going to use the nod motions or voice commands, I might suggest that you go for the cheaper TicPods 2 $99. These are classified for marginally better battery life and are similar in every other respect to the TicPods 2 Pro. The TicPods 2 Pro Mobvoi crosses a lot of boxes, but a few major ones are lacking, such as active noise cancellation and a more comfortable fit.
