Noise IntelliBuds Review: Smart Features Meet Uninspiring Sound
Noise has quickly become a household name for affordable gadgets in India, particularly in the smartwatch and true wireless earphone markets. Their latest offering, the Noise IntelliBuds, however, breaks the mold, aiming for a higher price point and promising a more premium experience. Developed in collaboration with Bragi, renowned for their pioneering work in true wireless earphones, the IntelliBuds boast smart features like head-gesture controls, hot voice commands, and customizability through a dedicated app. But does this combination of features and a relatively higher price tag translate to a truly exceptional experience? Let’s delve deeper to find out.
Design and Features: A Look Beyond the Basic
Priced at Rs. 4,999, the Noise IntelliBuds are positioned as a "smart" alternative, steering clear of the usual active noise cancellation (ANC) feature seen in competitors, and instead, focusing on intuitive user experiences. While this approach is commendable, the design itself doesn’t scream premium. The earpieces and charging case are larger than average, although not overly bulky.
The IntelliBuds sport a classic in-canal fit, with long stems and a flat touch-sensitive surface adorned with the Noise logo. Available in black and white, the earphones offer a comfortable, secure fit, thanks to the IPX5 water resistance rating and the secure in-canal design. The earpieces weigh 5.4g each, while the charging case clocks in at 45g, making it easily pocket-friendly.
Unlike many options in the Rs. 5,000 price range, the Noise IntelliBuds forgo ANC, but offer decent passive noise isolation due to the secure fit. A transparency mode is also available, allowing you to hear your surroundings without removing the earphones. The "smart" features, however, are what truly differentiate these earphones – hot voice commands, head tracking gestures, and an extensive app for personalized settings. This blend of smart features and traditional touch controls offers a flexible and adaptable user experience.
The Noise IntelliBuds App: A Powerhouse of Personalization
The IntelliBuds leverage "Bragi OS," which isn’t a full-fledged operating system in the traditional sense, but rather a platform that enables advanced smart functionality. This comes to life through the Noise IntelliBuds (NoiseFit smart) app, currently only available for Android.
The app is your gateway to customizing the IntelliBuds experience. You can calibrate head-gesture controls, configure touch controls, adjust equalizer settings, and even monitor battery levels. The app’s interface is well-organized and user-friendly, although some users might find the touch control configuration process a bit complex. Connectivity with the app, however, proved to be somewhat erratic during the review, with battery indication inconsistencies and occasional app loading issues.
Beyond app-driven personalization, the IntelliBuds feature 6mm dynamic drivers, Bluetooth 5 for seamless connectivity, support for SBC and AAC Bluetooth codecs, and a selection of silicone ear tips. The package also includes a short charging cable.
Performance and Battery Life: A Tale of Two Sides
While Noise has carved a niche in the budget audio segment, the IntelliBuds aim to challenge the expectations associated with this price range. The overall experience, however, reveals a mixed bag, with some key features failing to live up to their potential and audio performance feeling slightly underwhelming.
Smart Features: Hit and Miss
The Bragi-powered smart features – hot voice commands and head tracking gestures – offer a glimpse into the future of earphone interaction. Hot voice commands, allowing you to control playback, volume, transparency mode, and calls, worked surprisingly well, registering wake commands accurately and understanding most commands delivered after the wake phrase. This native functionality, working independently of an internet connection, is a welcome addition.
However, head tracking gestures, designed to respond to head movement, proved to be a major letdown. Despite multiple calibration attempts, even subtle head movement seemed to trigger unwanted actions, leading to unexpected volume adjustments and other inconsistencies. This feature felt undercooked and ultimately best avoided.
Sound Quality: Mediocre at Best
While the IntelliBuds offer a decent feature set at this price point, the sound quality falls short of expectations. While not unpleasant, the sound lacks the vibrancy and detail found in many competitors in the same price range. The audio felt restrained and underwhelming, even at high volumes.
Listening to "New To You" by Calvin Harris, the sound was comfortable but lacked any real energy or emotion. The violin riff and electronic beats felt dull and lacked impact. While the highs became slightly more pronounced later in the track, the bass remained underwhelming.
Testing "Tokyo Night Train (Claes Rosen Remix)" by The Midnight, a naturally lively track, yielded similar results, with the restrained sound signature diminishing the musical character. While there wasn’t anything particularly offensive about the sound, the lack of detail and depth hampered the listening experience, hindering the potential for a truly immersive auditory experience.
Battery Life: A Positive Point
Battery life, however, is a strong point for the IntelliBuds. The earpieces easily lasted around seven hours at moderate volume levels on a single charge, while the charging case provided three additional full charges, bringing the total run time to a respectable 28 hours per charge cycle. Fast charging is supported, with fully charged earpieces taking around 30 minutes within the case. However, fully charging both the case and earpieces took close to two hours.
Verdict: A Promising Path, But Not There Yet
The Noise IntelliBuds, while a departure from Noise’s budget-focused approach, ultimately fall short of their potential. The "smart" features, while innovative, suffer from execution issues, particularly with head tracking gestures. The sound quality, a crucial aspect of any earphone experience, is unremarkable and lacks the detail and energy found in competitors at this price point.
While the app offers a good level of customization, the inconsistent performance dampens the user experience. On the positive side, battery life is solid, giving the IntelliBuds a significant advantage in terms of endurance.
At Rs. 4,999, the Noise IntelliBuds feel like an unfinished product. Despite the intriguing approach to smart features, a more polished and refined experience is needed to justify the price tag. The overall experience, unfortunately, falls behind alternatives like the OnePlus Buds Z2 and Oppo Enco Air 2 Pro, making them the more compelling choices in this price range.
