The Nokia Power Earbuds Lite: A Solid Budget Choice for True Wireless Audio Enjoyment
In the competitive world of affordable true wireless earphones, it can be challenging to stand out. While brands like Realme and Redmi dominate the budget segment, Nokia has quietly carved out its own space with its well-equipped audio products. The Nokia Power Earbuds Lite, priced at a very reasonable Rs. 3,599, aims to deliver a compelling audio experience without breaking the bank. With its IPX7 water resistance and promise of impressive battery life, the Nokia Power Earbuds Lite certainly piques interest. But is it truly the best option for budget-conscious audiophiles? Let’s delve into this review and find out.
A Practical Design with Functional Touches
While high-end true wireless earphones often boast sophisticated features and sleek designs, the Nokia Power Earbuds Lite sticks to the basics, reflecting its budget-friendly price point. The earpieces sport a stalk-less design, making them noticeably larger than some of their competitors like the OnePlus Buds Z. Despite this, the earphones provide a secure in-ear fit, though the included ear tips might feel slightly too small for some users. While not particularly stylish, the Nokia Power Earbuds Lite embraces a functional aesthetic with clear Nokia branding, indicator lights, and microphones positioned on the bottom of each earpiece.
Responsive Touch Controls and Secure Connection
The Nokia Power Earbuds Lite features touch controls that are conveniently located across the entire outer surface of each unit. With a simple tap, you can play or pause music, answer calls, adjust the volume, and navigate through your playlist. This intuitive control scheme makes for a seamless user experience.
The charging case complements the earpieces with its matte black finish and features a familiar Nokia logo on the front. It is equipped with a USB Type-C port for charging and houses four indicator lights that illuminate when the earpieces are placed inside, providing a helpful visual indication of the case’s battery level. Magnetic latches keep the earpieces securely in place within the case, ensuring a snug and reliable connection.
In terms of connectivity, the Nokia Power Earbuds Lite leverages Bluetooth 5, but unfortunately, only supports the SBC codec, omitting support for even AAC. This is a slight disappointment, particularly considering the growing popularity of more advanced codecs. The earpieces are powered by 6mm dynamic drivers and boast an impressive IPX7 water resistance rating. This makes them suitable for use in various environments, including outdoor activities and workouts, offering peace of mind.
Impressively Long Battery Life
Battery life is a key consideration for any true wireless earphones, and the Nokia Power Earbuds Lite performs remarkably well in this regard. The earpieces deliver approximately 4 hours of playtime on a single charge, while the charging case provides an additional six charges, resulting in an impressive total listening time of around 28 hours. This makes the Nokia Power Earbuds Lite stand out from the competition, particularly when it comes to budget options.
Delivering Clean and Well-Tuned Sound
Sound quality is often a make or break factor for budget true wireless earphones, but the Nokia Power Earbuds Lite impresses with its clean and well-tuned audio across various genres. The earphones demonstrate a surprising capability even without support for advanced codecs like AAC. This speaks volumes about the quality of the drivers and the meticulous tuning process.
The Nokia Power Earbuds Lite strikes a delicate balance between a bass-forward sound (as seen in the OnePlus Buds Z) and a more neutral and detailed profile (like the JVC HA-A10T). This ensures a well-rounded listening experience that delivers both impactful bass and clarity in the mid-range. The sound signature is further complemented by a good amount of driver attack, enhancing the overall punch and energy of the audio.
Testing the earphones with tracks like "Strandbar" by Todd Terje revealed an excellent interplay between the low and high frequencies, with tight and impactful percussion dominating the energy of this lively track. The highs are sharp enough to provide clarity without being overly piercing, while the detail in the mid range shines through capably. The earphones effortlessly capture a sense of depth and realism in the sound, including elements like the audience clapping and cheering, which adds an extra layer of immersion to the listening experience.
Further analysis with tracks like "Jaago" by Lifafa showcased the Nokia Power Earbuds Lite’s ability to deliver both detail and impactful bass. While the soulful vocals of Suryakant Sawhney shine through in the first half, the earphones truly come alive when the powerful bass kicks in during the second half. This ability to balance different sonic elements is a testament to the well-tuned nature of the Nokia Power Earbuds Lite.
Overall, the Nokia Power Earbuds Lite delivers a clean, consistent and enjoyable listening experience, offering excellent value for its price point. While it may lack the edge and refinement of premium true wireless earphones, the Nokia Power Earbuds Lite consistently delivers the qualities that matter most in the budget segment.
Reliable Calling and Connectivity
The Nokia Power Earbuds Lite also performs well in terms of call quality, providing clear and understandable audio in quiet environments. While the microphone quality isn’t exceptional, it does a decent job for everyday calls. Connectivity is reliable indoors, maintaining a stable connection over distances of up to 10 feet from the paired smartphone.
Final Verdict: A Solid Budget Choice
The Nokia Power Earbuds Lite excels in its simplicity and effectiveness. This is a capable pair of true wireless earphones that delivers on its promises. It is a reliable and affordable option that offers clean, well-tuned audio, a comfortable fit, impressive battery life, and IPX7 water resistance.
While the OnePlus Buds Z might offer a slightly more feature-rich experience, the Nokia Power Earbuds Lite delivers a more detailed and refined sound. At under Rs. 4,000, these earphones are a fantastic value proposition. However, if you are willing to spend a bit more, you can explore options like the Oppo Enco W51 and Lypertek Levi which offer even more impressive features and audio quality.
Ultimately, for those seeking a dependable and budget-friendly pair of true wireless earphones with excellent sound, the Nokia Power Earbuds Lite is a great choice that delivers on its promises without any unnecessary frills.
