TWS true wireless earphones - under $100
4.5 STARS - Convincing ANC active noise cancellation, perfect Ambient Mode, and as of October, great app support: if you're in for a warm and bassy sound, the Tronsmart Apollo Bold is an excellent buy.
The same applies to the 233621 ZEN ANC, which is basically the same model… with worse touch controls.
Specs of the Tronsmart Apollo Bold/ 233621 ZEN ANC:
Bluetooth 5.0 with Qualcomm QCC5124 chipset and AptX codec
IPX45 waterproof (sweat, light rain and splash proof)
4-9 hours listening on a full charge (ANC on/ off)
Charging case can charge earpieces fully 3 times
Comes with 3 sizes ear tips and USB-C cable
Tronsmart Apollo Bold - buy on Amazon US, Amazon Germany or other Amazon stores
233621 ZEN ANC - buy on GeekBuying
The Tronsmart Apollo Bold is also available as the ZEN ANC 233621 TWS, although this model differs in color (all-black) and control scheme and call quality - see these parts of this review. This then is also a ZEN ANC 233621 review.
Below this Tronsmart Apollo Bold review, you will find comparisons of Tronsmart Apollo Bold vs 20Decebel ANC/ Tozo NC9, Boltune ANC BT-BH023, and Mpow X3.
Updated October 2: Now with app support - added an app review and comparison vs Oppo Enco W51.
All reviews on Scarbir.com are 100% unsponsored and honest. Please support my research by buying via the links on this site. You can also support me via PayPal. <3
Design, comfort and battery life
The Tronsmart Apollo Bold is a much-anticipated model for two reasons: it's the first model of Tronsmart bearing the Qualcomm QCC5124 chipset with on-board ANC, that could be the standard for many wireless earphones. The other reason is that Tronsmart already has a long track-record of good wireless earphones, such as the cheap Onyx Neo and Onyx Free, which deliver outstanding call quality, and sporty models like the Tronsmart Spunky Pro and Spunky Buds - which already kind of had the shape from the Bold.
The Apollo Bold consists of two round shapes. The smaller part goes into your ears. It feels comfortable and provides a sturdy fit: it's unlikely the Bold buds fall out of your ears. The bigger outside circle looks premium with a rosé-gold ring around the touch panels, and the Tronsmart logo on the sides. These outer rings stick out of your ears a bit and pick up a bit of wind when you're running or cycling, but they're still much more compact than the Spunky Buds or Edifier TWS NB.
The best part of the earpieces is the battery life between 4 hours (highest volume, ANC on) and 9 hours (below-average volume and ANC off). This huge difference appears new to this chipset, but the latter is an incredible score.
The earpieces are stored in a round USB-C powered charging case, which can fully recharge the earpieces three times. It's just about compact enough to slide in a jeans pocket.
Now, the Tronsmart Apollo Bold isn't the only brand to boast these noise cancelling earbuds: the ZEN ANC 233621 TWS is pretty much the same offering. It has the same sound and specs, and the same shape as well. The biggest difference in the control scheme (more on that later), and the looks: the ZEN ANC is black.
Connectivity and controls
Connectivity on the Apollo Bold and its sister are stellar. The Bluetooth 5.0 connection holds stable up to ten meters, even with thin walls in between.
The sound automatically pauses when you take an earpiece out, and it's possible to switch between mono and stereo mode flawlessly - meaning you can charge one earbud while listening to the other, pick up the charged earpiece and instantly listen in stereo again.
There are differences when it comes to controls, though:
Controls on the Tronsmart Apollo Bold:
The control scheme is where the Tronsmart Apollo Bold wins from the 233621 ANC TWS. Because it has a lot of controls straight on the earpieces, it may take a little while to get adjusted to them, but the scheme is convenient after a while.
A double-tap on an earpiece will pause/ play the music.
Single-tap the right earbud to increase volume; tap the left side to decrease it.
With a long press on the right side, you advance a song, by doing so on the left bud, you return a track.
With three taps on either of the buds, you cycle between Ambient Mode, ANC off, and Active Noise Cancelling on. When putting them in, ANC is on automatically.
Activating the voice assistant is also possible, by single-tapping and then holding a side.
With the Tronsmart app (now for iPhone, soon for Android), you can setup all controls manually!
Controls on the 233621 ZEN ANC:
Switching over to the 233621 ANC clarifies how good the Tronsmart control scheme is. On this model:
A single-tap cycles between the Ambient Mode, ANC off and ANC on - ANC is on by default.
Double-tap to change tracks; twice on the right to skip a song, twice on the left bud to return a track.
Hold a bud to activate the voice assistant on your phone.
Swipe up or down for the volume controls. This seems great and high-tech, but it will activate other controls as well. You will likely cycle the ANC modes time and time again, instead of changing the volume.
The Tronsmart operates much more convenient, less frustrating.
Calling and watching movies
The Tronsmart Apollo Bold/ 233621 ZEN handles video playback great, with flawless audio-video synchronization on both Android and iPhone. Even on the ever-challenging YouTube-app on iPhone, these earbuds deliver near-perfect lipsync.
There is a noticeable delay in sound effects when you're playing games, as is the case on almost all wireless earbuds.
It's convenient to take a phone call or video call with the Apollo Bold. Except for wind, it reduces the noise from your surroundings successfully. Traffic sounds, engines, metal clanks from construction sites: they barely reach your phone call. The Apollo Bold reduces sounds so heavily, it does seem like you're talking into a pillow a bit, but don't let it stop you from taking a call.
The 233621 ZEN ANC makes your voice sound clearer, but in return surrounding noises also come through louder. It's a fair tradeoff - the ZEN and Tronsmart are both good for phone calls.
Also read: The best $100 wireless earbuds with ANC
Apollo Bold/ 233621 ZEN ANC quality
The ANC active noise cancellation on the Tronsmart Apollo Bold and 233621 ZEN ANC is good, although that has to be seen in the light of wireless earbuds. They don't block out as much noise as top-tier headphones like the Bose 700 or Sony WH-1000XM3, or even the brilliant budget headphone OneAudio A9.
What they do: reduce the volume from most sounds around you. Distant traffic, electronic humming (like fridges and air conditioners), and engines sound softer than they normally do. Darker tones are ruled out the best, but the Apollo and ZEN also managed to deplete the noise of a large construction site - including loud metal clanks. Voices are harder to hear too, although you can still hear colleagues or other people talking. Kids shouts in the distance also find their way to your ears.
These are the scores when not listening to music. You don't need a lot of volume to completely forget your surroundings.
Besides the noise cancelling, the Ambient Mode works perfectly. It lets in a lot of higher-pitched sounds from your surroundings, and voices and traffic are immediately audible again.
Switching between noise cancelling on (standard), Ambient Mode and ANC off is easy: three taps on the Tronsmart, a single tap on the ZEN.
One thing: if you're walking or cycling, make sure to turn the ANC off. Both models catch a lot of wind with ANC activated.
Looking for the best noise cancelling audio on a budget? Try the OneAudio A9 headphone.
App review of Tronsmart Apollo Bold
As of October 2020, the Tronsmart Apollo Bold has app support. The free Tronsmart app now supports the Apollo Bold on iPhone; an update to the Android-app will follow later.
The easy-to-understand and control app comes with some great functions, improving the Tronsmart Apollo Bold. You don't need an account to use these functions:
Update firmware: In the settings, you can update the firmware. You have to do this twice: once with the left earbud in the case, once with the right earbud in the case. This could be more clear, but it's well worth upgrading as it unlocks the control options.
Battery status: On its intro screen, you can see a battery indication of the earbuds, and which ANC mode is activated.
Equalizer: A terrific addition. Next to the default sound, you can now opt for a Classical, Jazz, Rock and Pop equalizer. The latter is especially recommended - it reduces the bass boom and bit of warmth, and livens up the mid-tones and highs while removing its white-noise blanket, making the earphone sound more balanced.
Controller: It's now possible to change ALL controls of the Apollo Bold, completely to your liking. You don't even have to link the left and right controls to each other, making it possible to give both earbuds the same controls, or completely different ones.
As usual with apps, these settings are saved after you quit the app. The addition of the app makes the Tronsmart Apollo Bold more versatile and better sounding.
Sound quality of Apollo Bold/ 233621 ANC
The Apollo Bold/ 233621 ANC TWS has a warm, somewhat dark sound, with a big boosted bass.
The mid-bass has a big fat thump on these models. Modern genres like dance, pop, and hip-hop come with a heavy bass-blast, but that's only one part of the story. The lower-mids, like the darkest male voices and drums, intertwine with the bass, and when the rumbling sub-bass comes into play as well, the bass section can become downright boomy.
While this bass amount will have its fans, it can be too much sometimes. In hip-hop and electronic songs boasting the bass out of themselves, prepare to have a tuned car-subwoofer intensity in your ears. The bass shakes, but also comes with a crackle. It's quantity over quality here.
The bass isn't the only reason the sound of the Apollo Bold/ 233621 ANC sounds warm. Both female vocalists and higher-pitched male vocals just about get enough room to shine, but other than that, upper-mid and higher tones are toned-down. You can hear violins, guitars and cymbals with a slight white noise over them, but they don't take a prominent role in the music.
Why four stars?
Within its dark signature, the Apollo Bold and 233621 ZEN still manage to reproduce a fair amount of detail. Sound effects and instruments come from your left and right, and separation between them is convincing, even though the lower-mids hug the bass.
The other reason is that this dark sound signature works great for what you might buy a TWS for ANC for. The restricted highs make the sound dark and warm, but also smooth. You will never be distracted by a sharp cymbal, a sudden volume peak, or any other harsh or bright sounds.
As of October, the free Tronsmart app lets you choose between different equalizers, of which the Pop equalizer reduces the bass quantity and a bit of warmth. It livens up the mid-tones and highs, while removing the white noise-blanket over them. It's well worth trying out.
The Tronsmart Apollo Bold and 233621 ANC TWS have the comfort, battery life, and active noise cancelling to accommodate you an entire work or school day. The sound signature just walks in line with them.
Tronsmart Apollo Bold comparisons
Tronsmart Apollo Bold vs Oppo Enco W51
The Tronsmart Apollo Bold is challenged by the Oppo, which reduces slightly more traffic sounds, and does so with a less noticeable white noise than the Tronsmart. However, the Tronsmart has a solid Ambient Mode, putting through voices and traffic around you the moments you need it. Battery life is better than the Oppo as well - up to twice as long.
The new Pop equalizer of the Apollo Bold tones down the heavy-hitting bass and livens up the mid-tones and highs, improving the sound. Yet, the Oppo still represents mid-tones better, with more detail and more accurate tonality - for example, in drums, guitars, and vocals. The Oppo has a more balanced sound, highs extended better and the bass is more well-behaved, which may or may not be to your liking. The Oppo soundstage is bigger; the Tronsmart bass is more pronounced.
Tronsmart Apollo Bold vs Tozo NC9/ 20Decebel ANC
The 20Decebel ANC/ Tozo NC9/ SoundLiberty 94 had the title of best wireless earbuds with ANC under $100 on Scarbir.com, and is around $30 cheaper than Tronsmarts offering. It doesn't filter out noise as well, though.
While the Ambient Mode is comparable and the Tozo trio has better passive noise isolation, ANC active noise cancellation on the Tronsmart Apollo Bold is stronger. It shows a white noise effect when putting them in, but it reduces traffic sounds, people talking and other background noise better than the Tozo, 20Decebel and SoundLiberty.
Both competitors have a warm, dark sound with a strong boosted bass. The 20Decebel/ Tozo NC9 controls its bass better, whereas the Apollo/ 233621 can be boomier in the lows. The 20Decebel sound is more engaging; the bass is quicker and upper-mids sound more forward and comes with more detail, giving vocals more room and energy in the sound. The Apollo Bold/ 633621 sounds more laidback, with more distant vocals and more recessed mids. However, with the support of the Tronsmart app October 2020, the Pop equalizer makes the sound more balanced and more vivid than the Tozo trio, with more opened-up mids and highs.
With the app as an added bonus, the Tronsmart Apollo Bold is a better all-round active noise cancelling earphone than the Tozo NC9, 20Decebel ANC, and SoundLiberty 94.
Tronsmart Apollo Bold vs Mpow X3
Mpow's active noise cancelling model X3 has a stem-design and delivers 5,5 hours of battery life with ANC activated, but Tronsmart Apollo Bold has noticeable better noise cancellation, ruling out more high-pitched sounds and traffic and engines from your surroundings. The ANC is more of a bonus on the Mpow X3, which further delivers a very engaging sound with boosted bass and highs and excellent call quality.
Tronsmart Apollo Bold vs Boltune BT-BH023
The Boltune ANC BT-BH023 plays a tradeoff with the Mpow X3. It has a fuller sound, emphasizing lower-mids and a stronger bass, which can be as boomy as the one on the Apollo Bold. The upper-mids and highs are more embodied and energizing on the Boltune, compared to the Tronsmart. Other than sound quality, the Tronsmart wins. Its ANC rules out more dark and high sounds from your surroundings, and battery life (with ANC off) is much better.
Verdict
Convincing ANC active noise cancellation, perfect Ambient Mode, and excellent free app support: if you're in for a warm and bassy sound, the Tronsmart Apollo Bold is an excellent buy.
And yes - the same goes for the 233621 ZEN ANC, even with its more challenging controls.
4.5 stars - Great
Buy Tronsmart Apollo Bold/ 233621 ZEN ANC:
I received the Tronsmart Apollo Bold for testing and reviewing purposes. The 233621 ZEN ANC I bought myself from GeekBuying. 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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