Acer True Wireless Earphones (GAHR010) Review: A Budget Option That Falls Flat
Acer, known for its computer hardware, has ventured into the world of personal audio with the Acer True Wireless Earphones (GAHR010). Priced at Rs. 2,499 in India, these earphones promise a simple, affordable true wireless listening experience. While the charging case boasts some unique features, such as a digital battery level display and a fixed charging cable, the Acer True Wireless Earphones ultimately fall short when it comes to sound quality.
Even at this price point, the competition offers far more compelling true wireless options. The Acer True Wireless Earphones struggle to stand out in a crowded market, failing to impress with their rather rough sonic performance.
Design and Features: A Mixed Bag of Simplicity and Convenience
The Acer True Wireless Earphones adopt a minimalistic design, featuring plain plastic earpieces with a secure in-canal fit that promises good passive noise isolation. These earphones lack the fancy stalks common in many true wireless options and instead have narrow openings for the microphones and indicator lights. While comfortable for extended use, the lack of additional ear tip sizes is a letdown for users with different ear shapes.
The control scheme, however, proves to be more troublesome than straightforward. The single physical button on each earpiece, while firm, makes it difficult to press without affecting the fit. Moreover, the button functions are oddly reversed: the left earpiece controls "next track," while the right earpiece handles "previous track," leading to confusion and frustration. The double-press action, meant to activate the last recent call, is too easily triggered, resulting in unwanted calls.
The charging case is a standout feature of these earphones. It houses a digital display that shows the case’s charge level, a welcome addition in this price segment. However, rather than a standard charging port, the case comes with a fixed USB Type-A cable for charging. This makes it inconvenient to connect directly to a wall adapter but is handy for charging with a laptop. The fixed cable does, however, make the case unnecessarily bulky.
Unfortunately, the case’s design is marred by a poorly secured, easily detachable lid. This poses a major risk of losing the lid, leading to a potentially frustrating and expensive situation.
Sound Quality: Rough, Booming, and Lacking in Detail
The Acer True Wireless Earphones are powered by 8mm dynamic drivers and support SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs. Their battery life is decent, providing about three hours of playtime on a single charge, with the case offering three additional charges. This totals to around 12 hours of total battery life per charge cycle, which is quite average for the price.
However, the earphones’ sound quality falls short. While the bass-heavy tuning is common in budget options, the Acer True Wireless Earphones lack refinement and balance. The bass is overemphasized, resulting in a boomy, muddy sound that masks the mid-range and highs.
This sonic signature is often unpleasant, masking detail and making the overall listening experience feel flat and unimpressive. The lack of detail and soundstage further detracts from the listening experience, even on upbeat tracks. The music simply lacks energy and vibrancy.
While podcasts and short voice calls are acceptable due to the lack of overly booming bass, the Acer True Wireless Earphones struggle to deliver a satisfying audio experience overall.
Verdict: Fall Short of the Competition
The Acer True Wireless Earphones, while modestly priced, fail to justify their purchase. Their shortcomings in sound quality, inconvenient controls, and a poorly designed charging case outweigh the benefits of features such as the digital battery level display and the fixed charging cable.
In a competitive market, these earphones simply don’t hold up against the better-sounding and more refined options available at similar price points, like the OnePlus Buds Z. Consumers seeking a worthwhile true wireless purchase within this budget should look elsewhere.
