Poco Pods Review: A Budget-Friendly Entry Into the True Wireless World
Smartphone brands are increasingly venturing into the world of accessories, and the true wireless earphone market has become a battleground. The latest entrant is Poco, Xiaomi’s sub-brand known for its mid-range smartphones, introducing its first audio product: the Poco Pods. At Rs. 1,199, the Poco Pods are a barebones offering that aims to provide an affordable entry point into the true wireless experience. But are they truly worth the price, or just another generic headset in a crowded market? Let’s dive in.
Design, Features, and Specifications
The Poco Pods boast a generic design reminiscent of the Redmi Buds 4 Active. Their light weight and in-canal fit with a stem design offer a straightforward and comfortable experience. While the black and yellow colorway is Poco’s signature, it may not appeal to everyone. The charging case, entirely black with a prominent Poco logo, is a bit on the large side.
Control is handled through touch-sensitive areas on the earpieces, offering a fixed, non-customizable setup. Double-tapping answers calls or controls playback, while triple tapping manages calls or skips tracks. Unfortunately, backward track skipping is not available, requiring you to use your phone for this function. A long press on both earpieces activates or deactivates the low-latency mode. While pairing mode and factory reset have dedicated gestures, they can easily be triggered by simply disconnecting other devices.
The charging case features a small indicator light and a USB Type-C port. The earpieces provide a decent fit and include environmental noise cancellation, promising better call clarity. The package comes with three pairs of silicone ear tips but no charging cable.
While the lack of app support might be seen as a drawback by some, it’s understandable considering the price point. However, essential features like USB Type-C charging, environmental noise cancellation, and 60ms low-latency for gaming are present.
Key Specifications:
- Drivers: 12mm dynamic drivers
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.3
- Codec: SBC only
- Battery Life: 5 hours (earpieces), 22-23 hours (with case)
- Features: Environmental noise cancellation, low-latency mode, touch controls
Performance and Battery Life
Going into this review, expectations for sound quality on budget true wireless earphones are usually tempered. After all, the price reflects the focus on form factor and basic functionality. The Poco Pods largely deliver on this promise, offering a straightforward experience. However, the sound quality falls short of expectations, even considering the price.
The SBC codec’s limitations are evident, as the sound can feel unrefined at times. This is particularly noticeable in detail and clarity, although it doesn’t reach the point of becoming unpleasant even at high volumes. It’s listenable considering the price point, and suitable for basic listening or tuning out surroundings.
Testing the Poco Pods with David Guetta’s "Stay (Don’t Go Away)" revealed a noticeable muffling effect during heavier sections, indicating the codec’s limitations in handling dynamic tracks. While some listeners might appreciate the increased bass levels, certain genres require more subtlety and definition.
Croatia Squad’s tracks, with their more beat-driven and less detailed structure, proved to be a better fit for the Poco Pods. The progressive and straightforward attack of "Make Your Move" showcased the earphones’ ability to handle specific genres well, despite the lack of overall detail.
Call quality is acceptable for indoor and outdoor use. The microphone performs reasonably well in quiet environments. However, outdoor usage suffers, even with ENC. The low-latency mode had a minimal impact on audio latency during basic mobile gaming.
Battery life is a strong point. The earpieces provided around five hours of playback on a single charge. The charging case offered three full additional charges, resulting in a total run time of around 22-23 hours. This falls slightly short of the advertised 30 hours, but is still respectable given the limited codec support and other features.
Verdict
The Poco Pods deliver a basic, budget-friendly true wireless experience. They are ideally suited for casual listening, especially outdoors, where their decent passive noise isolation comes in handy. Battery life is another strong point. However, their lack of detail and clarity, mainly attributed to the limiting SBC codec, will likely disappoint more discerning listeners.
The Poco Pods face fierce competition in this price segment. While not breaking any ground, they are a solid first effort from Poco in the true wireless audio market. If you have a tight budget and are looking for simple, functional earphones, the Poco Pods are worth considering. However, audiophiles or those seeking a feature-rich experience may want to look elsewhere.
