TWS true wireless earphones - under $50
4.5 STARS - The Fiil T1 Lite are among the best sounding wireless earbuds on the entire market. These are phenomenal performers at an incredible price.
Fiil T1 Lite specs and features:
Bluetooth 5.2 with AAC codec
IPX7 waterproof rating (heavy rain, shower and sweat resistant)
6 hours listening on a full charge
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 4 times
Comes with 4 sizes ear tips and USB-C cable
$35 on AliExpress (possibly cheaper here)
Below this Fiil T1 Lite review, you will find comparisons between the Fiil T1 Lite vs Fiil T1 Pro, Fiil T1XS, Earfun Free Pro, SoundPEATS TrueDot, Samsung Galaxy Buds+ and QCY T5.
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Design, comfort and battery life
The Fiil T1 Lite doesn't differ much from the Fiil T1 Pro (or the rebadged Earfun Free Pro) in the looks department. It has the same delightfully compact charging case with a USB-C charging port in the back and a single LED-light to indicate the charging status on the front. The case is now matte black instead of dark grey with a shiny lid - but looks just as good. It's simple but effective.
One of the biggest changes to the Fiil T1 Lite is the removal of the sport-wings; the rubber rings on top of the earbuds that give you extra grip during workouts. It's still safe to run with the T1 Lite, happily: the earbuds come with relatively big rubber ear-tips that provide grip in your ears. It may take some time, but the T1 Lite is comfortable when you are accustomed to the fit. The plastic part of the earpieces is compact and rounded enough to stay pleasantly in your ears, even for longer periods.
Compared to the T1 Pro, the earbuds are coloured just a bit lighter grey. Because the T1 Lite doesn't have the same disappointing noise-canceling functionality as the Pro, there is no extra microphone on the top of the earbuds, which boosts the waterproof rating up to IPX7. You should be able to take these under the shower, and they probably still function after you drop them in the bath.
The battery life is great for the price category: the Fiil T1 Lite has around 6 hours of playtime on a single charge. With the case, you can recharge them four times fully before the case needs a recharge itself. This can't be done wirelessly like on the T1 Pro, but does works fast via USB-C: 10 minutes recharging should grant you 1,5 hours of playtime.
Connectivity and controls
The T1 Lite has solid connectivity. The Bluetooth 5.2 signal holds up to ten meters away from your device, and the earpieces pair and connect fast when you take them out.
You can also continue listening to one earbud after putting the other in the case. When you take the charged bud out again, you'll hear a startup melody, and the earphones continue playing in stereo immediately.
The standard controls of the Fiil T1 Lite are only the bare minimum. Happily, with the free Fiil app, you can activate the Full Control mode, which improve things a lot:
Tap L or R twice to play/ pause
Tap R once to skip to the next track
Tap R three times to return a song
Tap L once to increase the volume
Tap L three times to decrease volume
Hold L or R 2 seconds to activate the voice assistant
Hold an earpiece +-5 seconds to shut it down manually, or turn it on again
With the app support and the added controls, the T1 Lite offers all important controls from the earbuds itself. The control scheme does take some getting used to, however.
If you want to activate the low-latency mode for gaming, you can't do it via the earbuds and you should do it via the app manually.
Calling and watching movies
Watching videos with the Fiil T1 Lite is convenient. There's perfect audio-video synchronization on Android phones, including the challenging YouTube-app. YouTube-videos on iPhone are now almost in lipsync as well - there are wireless earbuds that perform even better, but you won't notice an annoying delay in the audio to the video anymore. It's now enjoyable to watch YouTube videos on iPhone, one thing that Fiil set straight from earlier, more expensive wireless earphones.
There is a noticeable delay in sound effects when playing games, which is the case on almost all wireless earbuds. You can reduce the delay by activating the low-latency mode from the app, however.
Calling is doable in quiet or indoor places only. Your voice is clear and loud enough, but you can be hard to hear other than indoor circumstances. When you're outside, surrounding traffic and wind noise are transferred into crackles and beeps on the line, and your voice has trouble competing with these.
Microsoft Teams, Zoom meetings and other video calls are doable with the T1 Lite, again, if you're in a quiet environment. Your voice is clear and loud enough, but there are some crackles on the line.
Fiil T1 Lite app support
This section of the review has been updated in November 2021 - because, as of late 2021, the Fiil T1 Lite is supported by the global Fiil app for Android and iPhone. That's great news.
The Fiil Global app is free to download for both phone systems. You don't need an account to make it work, and you'll get some neat extra features:
Activate the Full Control mode (see Control section)
Check the battery status of the left and right earbud, and the charging case
Read an instruction manual with the controls
Update the firmware
Activate/deactivate the low-latency mode for gaming
Restore default settings
Choose from three equalizers: Original, Bass, and Treble
The Bass and Treble EQ's are variations on the original sound profile. The Treble EQ doesn't increase the highs, but reduces the bass and lower tones to make the highs take up a more prominent place in the music.
The Bass EQ is a great addition for anyone looking for a thick, thumping bass. While still offering plenty of treble, it adds body to the sub-bass (which rumbles easier and deeper), punchiness to the mid-bass, and more weight to the lower-mids, colouring music a bit darker - but also adding energy to the sound.
The Fiil T1 Lite is an even better wireless earphone with the Fiil Global app support.
Also read: The best wireless earbuds under $50
Sound quality of Fiil T1 Lite: Phenomenal
Rich bass, clear vocals, and a staggering amount of detail: the Fiil T1 Lite is not just the cheapest Fiil to date - it's the best sounding one!
One of the biggest wow-factors from the Fiil T1 Lite is its bass. The T1 Lite has a strong mid-bass thump that packs a proper punch but doesn't force itself in songs where it doesn't belong. The underlying sub-bass (the bass you can feel as much as hear) can give a lovely rumble and reaches the darkest and deepest tones without any effort. Don't expect these earphones to be all about the bass - it's quality over quantity here. The bass hasn't become much bigger from previous Fiil models, but it sounds deeper and more cleaned-up, ultimately giving the bass more authority in songs.
The Fiil T1 Lite has a slight boost in the lower-mid tones. Drums have an impact, and instruments like the cello and darker guitars sound powerful while maintaining a natural character. Darker electronic tones enjoy a bit of emphasis and provide modern genres like electronic pop, dance, and techno their flow.
The lower tones don't overrule the music, however. Both male and female vocals take center stage in the music. They sound forward, clear, and brim with detail. In higher-quality recordings or specifically vocal genres like blues or jazz, vocals appear lively and rich. Instruments like guitars, piano, and violins have incredible tonality as well. Both instruments and vocals get room to shine: the Fiil shows a solid soundstage with excellent left-right separation and good instrument placement. The details you can hear around you can be downright impressive.
Next to the bass, Fiil tweaked another minor yet important thing from their already excellent Fiil T1 Pro. They've reduced the treble peak that gave the T1 Pro extra 'airiness' in vocals, but at the cost of some highs sounding too hot sometimes. Cymbals, high-hats, and bells could appear piercing on the T1 Pro. Now, the T1 Lite doesn't totally rule this out. Claps can still sound louder than average, and this is more noticeable on Android-phones, which often handle the AAC-codec worse than iPhones. However, it has become much more of a rarity. Highs are more controlled, while vocals high-pitched instruments are still presented wonderfully.
The Fiil T1 Lite has an amazing, rich, and detailed sound quality from the bass to the highs - from a soothing bed-proof volume to extremely loud levels. It's an absolute gem - among the best wireless earbuds no matter the price.
Fiil T1 Lite comparisons
Fiil T1 Lite vs Fiil T1 Pro
A brilliant trio: Fiil T1XS (white), T1 Lite (middle) and T1 Pro (right)
The Fiil T1 Lite is only half the price of the Fiil T1 Pro: $35 against $65. For this price, it loses the sport-wings and the disappointing active noise-canceling of the T1 Pro. You'll give in a bit on call quality as well, as the T1 Pro reduces surrounding noise better. The T1 Lite counters this with better video playback on the YouTube-app on iPhone and a higher waterproof rating. Most surprisingly: the T1 Lite sounds even better. It takes the brilliant basis of the T1 Pro but reduces the rough edge of cymbals, bells, and high-hats - it has better-controlled highs than the T1 Pro, while also displaying a deeper-diving sub-bass that performs steadier in crowded music pieces. If you don't mind using the Chinese Android app, the Fiil T1 Pro offers more equalizers and the option to make a custom equalizer yourself. If you don't need these functions, you could just save some money and go with the T1 Lite.
Fiil T1 Lite vs Fiil T1Xs
The $50 Fiil T1XS has the same size charging case as the Fiil T1 Lite, but its earbuds are bigger - staying tighter in your ears while working out, but less comfortable. The T1 Lite refines the already great sound of the T1XS. The T1 Lite bass has more definition in the lowest tones, and it remains more present in crowded musical pieces, improving on the dynamics in the sound. Vocals sound fuller and richer on the Lite - switch directly, and the T1XS sounds a bit nasal! - and the T1 Lite has more space in between instruments while controlling its highs better. As video synchronization and its waterproof-rating are better too, the cheaper T1 Lite has some advantages. The T1XS does have support from the Fiil+ Global-app, however, adding track and volume controls, equalizers, and a Gaming Mode - making it a complete package.
Fiil T1 Lite vs Earfun Free Pro
The T1 Lite isn't the first adaptation of the Fiil T1 Pro. Earfun took the same basis and released the $65 Earfun Free Pro, still offering the sub-par ANC active noise canceling and sport-wings from the T1 Pro. It cuts the app-support and gives more control options on the earbuds, including changing volume and activating a low latency-mode for games. Both the T1 Lite and Free Pro build upon the Fiil T1 Pro sound, but the Free Pro changes it way more. It strongly boosts the bass to fat levels, elevates the lower-mids, and tones down the highs, reducing the sound's air. The T1 Lite controls the bass better. It only adds a bit of sub-bass to the T1 Pro-sound and gives the bass better representation in crowded pieces, but its sound isn't solely about the bass, and Fiil's details in the highs are preserved better than on the Earfun. The Earfun is more versatile with more control options and geared more towards bass fun; the T1 Lite sounds more balanced and detailed.
Fiil T1 Lite vs Edifier X3
At $20 to $35, the Edifier X3 is still the most all-around wireless earphone you can get. It has the same battery life, an even more compact charging case, and the X3 call quality is a bit better than the Fiil, as surrounding noise is handled better. When it comes to sound, the Fiil has an advantage. The T1 Lite has a more dynamic sound on both Android and iPhone, with more extended and deeper-sounding sub-bass, more textured mid-bass, and more detail in the mid-tones. The same goes for the treble: both have clear upper highs and forward vocals, yet the T1 Lite resolves more detail. The Fiil-soundstage is wider too, with instruments and effects sounding more clearly on your left and right. As both have great battery life and a compact charging case, it's a choice between call quality (Edifier) or sound quality - the T1 Lite.
Edifier X3 review (also read: Edifier X3 TO-U review)
Fiil T1 Lite vs SoundPEATS TrueDot
It's nearly impossible to buy anymore, but the Fiil T1 Lite seems like a logical successor to the former $25 SoundPEATS TrueDot. The T1 Lite has the same vivid sound, along with a sweet soundstage with great placement and detail - but the Fill is more refined. The Fiil has a less fat, more textured bass, reduces the harsh high notes of the TrueDot, and resolves more detail in mid-instruments like guitars, drums, and claps. The case and earbuds are comparably compact, but the T1 Lite reaches up to 6 hours of playtime against TrueDot's 3 hours. It can go much louder as well.
Fiil T1 Lite vs QCY T5
As the most popular wireless earphone under $25, the QCY T5 now sees stiff competition from the T1 Lite. The T5 still convinces with its balanced sound signature with deep bass-notes and airy vocals, but the T1 Lite is a step up in detail retrieval. Instruments anywhere in the mids - from drums to trumpets and violins - show more texture and nuance and are easier to place around you. Vocals sound more dynamic and lifelike, too. The T5 offers a smoother ride for 3 hours of playtime per charge; the T1 Lite has a more technical, rich approach playing 6 hours per charge.
Fiil T1 Lite vs Samsung Galaxy Buds+
The much-beloved Samsung Galaxy Buds+ can be had at around $90 regularly and competes with the $35 Fiil T1 Lite in sound quality. There's a noticeable white noise under the music because of it, but the Samsung presents its mids with more clarity. They have more room around them, and for example guitars and cymbals sound more natural. While this emphasis on mids works wonderfully for acoustic music, it can make the Buds Plus sound flat on more modern and electronic genres. The T1 Lite has a better representation of lows, with fuller lower-mids and more bass strength - a stronger mid-bass thump and way deeper sub-bass notes.
No Samsung Galaxy Buds+ review, buy on Amazon US, Amazon Germany or other Amazon stores
Verdict
At only 35 dollars, the Fiil T1 Lite are among the best sounding wireless earbuds on the entire market. These are phenomenal performers at an incredible price - further improved by their English app support added late 2021.
4.5 stars - Great
Buy Fiil T1 Lite/ check price:
Buy Fiil T1 Lite on AliExpress (possibly cheaper link)
I bought the Fiil T1 Lite myself to test and review myself. My reviews are 100% independent and non-commercial. I test and review all audio products equally honest - read about it here.
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