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SoundPEATS Sonic cheap out on build quality to make other areas shine.
Manufacturers take different approaches to budget true wireless earbuds.
Some focus more on aesthetics but compromise sound, while others sacrifice build quality and focus on audio quality.
The latter is what engineers at SoundPEATS made, giving Sonic an inviting, rumbly sound quality that should make most users happy.
Fortunately, it doesn’t end there. The true wireless earbuds provide an insane battery life of 15 hours on a single charge, beating even the most expensive competition.
Also, they can transfer audio via aptX and aptX Adaptive, while Bluetooth 5.2 keeps the wireless connection steady.
For the price of $50, there are many things to like about them. Read the SoundPEATS Sonic review to find out more.
- Great sound quality
- Amazing battery life (14h/charge)
- Comfortable fit
- Reliable Bluetooth 5.2 connection
- Support for aptX Adaptive
- Overly boosted sub-bass
- Cheap-feeling construction
What’s in the Box?
- SoundPEATS Sonic true wireless earbuds
- Charging case
- USB-C cable for charging
- 3 pairs of silicone ear tips (s, m, l)
- User manual
Comfort & Fit
The Sonic’s are comfortable to wear for long periods. They fit pretty well, although smiling can break the seal.
You’ll have no issues wearing SoundPEATS Sonic wireless earbuds for multiple hours. Comfort is excellent, with housing small enough to fit nicely in your ears.
Rubbery ear tips create a little bit of pressure, but it isn’t noticeable when wearing the earbuds. When inserting, you have to twist them upwards. Otherwise, you don’t hear a full bass response.
Physical buttons are okay to use as long as you push the earbud slightly backward. That way, you don’t press it directly into the ear canal.
Earbuds can endure everyday activities due to relatively secure fit. Outdoor walks or light running shouldn’t pose a problem.
However, smiling or making any exaggerated facial expression can result in loose fit. They don’t necessarily fall out of your ears, but the sound changes.
When this happens, you have to readjust the earbuds slightly to get a proper seal.
Noise Isolation
Passive isolation is impressive. Add a bit of music, and you should block every sound around you.
These earbuds prove you don’t need active noise cancellation to block outside noises.
The overall passive isolation is excellent with a combination of deeper fit and rounded ear tips that fully seal the ear canal.
You can still hear loud motorcycles passing by, but it’s still impressive what you can achieve with simple yet effective ear tip design.
If you want to enjoy your music in peace, SoundPEATS Sonic are great passive-isolating earbuds.
In contrast, if you care about safety and want to hear your surroundings a bit more, these aren’t for you.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.2 offers a wide connection range, easy pairing process, aptX Adaptive, mono mode, and no audio lag.
There is nothing to complain about in this category. In our distance test, the Bluetooth connection is strong and reaches beyond a second brick wall, where many other earbuds begin to stutter.
The pairing mode is simple and intuitive. When you pick the buds out from the case, they initiate pairing.
As long they aren’t paired with another device, they immediately appear in the Bluetooth menu.
SoundPEATS Sonic support mono mode as well, providing you with the option to use one bud at a time.
Multipoint?
No, they can’t pair with multiple devices at once. You have to reconnect them in the Bluetooth menu manually.
What Bluetooth Codecs They Use?
They have SBC, aptX, and aptX Adaptive Bluetooth codec.
The latter is the latest solution from Qualcomm, offering variable data speeds and improved latency. It essentially combines all aptX codecs (classic, Low Latency, and HD) into one.
However, your device has to support it, and as of right now, there aren’t many out there.
The only minus here is the lack of AAC codec, which would come in handy for Apple users.
Is There an Audio Lag?
None at all. Both YouTube videos and mobile gaming work spotlessly, with no visible lag whatsoever.
Triple press on the left earbud enables Game Mode, which further reduces latency when watching movies or playing games like Among Us.
Battery
Around 14 hours of battery life per charge (14 hours and 5 minutes in our test) in a small earbud is mind-blowing. They can also fast change in just 1.5 hours.
SoundPEATS didn’t made any compromises when it comes to battery capacity in Sonic true wireless earbuds.
They can play music for 14 hours straight, which is an outstanding duration. With it, they whipped out the competition, even premium models like Beats PowerBeats Pro.
What is even more impressive is that the charging case can charge the buds from 0 to 100% in just 1.5 hours. The case holds another 20 hours.
Despite SoundPEATS promises 15 hours (and we got 14), and the lacking Qi wireless charging, you really can’t complain about the overall long battery life of the Sonic.
Durability
The construction of both the charging case and earbuds feels cheap, but at least you get an IPX5 water resistance rating.
Build quality is where SoundPEATS cut many corners. The charging case feels the cheapest, with lightweight plastic and hollow sound.
The hinge doesn’t open as smoothly, and it’s a bit tighten up. It can be the very first thing that will break.
Earbuds are slightly better but not by much. They use the same plastic as the case and come with an IPX5 rating. Strangely, SoundPEATS doesn’t put that info on the box or in the manual, yet it is on their website.
That rating means you can easily take them for a sweaty workout. They will even survive rain and splashes of water. Just stay away from complete submersion.
All in all, SoundPEATS cheap out on materials to cut the cost down. Durability is still doable, but you have to be a bit more careful when using them.
Features
Physical buttons give you complete control over playback and are okay to use. You also get an aptX Adaptive, but you require a device to support it.
SoundPEATS Sonic earbuds are basic when it comes to their features. The most notable thing is a wide range of commands. Button controls are hidden underneath the SoundPEATS logo.
While you can’t remap them, they’re quite intuitive and easy to learn. With them, you can control pretty much everything.
Apart from that, there’s USB type C fast charging, aptX, and aptX Adaptive. The latter is a new codec that aims to improve the connection’s quality.
However, your transmitting device needs to support aptX Adaptive codec. Otherwise, you can’t use it.
There’s no app to control SoundPEATS Sonic settings. But for under $50, that’s to be expected.
Microphone Quality
SoundPEATS Sonic TWS earbuds prove to be a reliable pair for making phone calls. Call quality isn’t crystal clear, but at least they do a decent job keeping your voice understandable.
Performance in both quiet and noisy environment is comparable. You shouldn’t hasitate to answer a call, no matter where you are.
Sound
The sound quality could be so much better if there wouldn’t be a considerable sub-bass boost. While it doesn’t overtake the rest of the mix, it can make the sound feel congested.
Hear the sound quality:
Learn how we make and how to understand sound comparisons.
Overall audio performance depends on which music genre you prefer. As long as the song doesn’t rely too much on sub-bass, you will like these.
Bass
Starting with the bass, there’s a massive boost in lower frequencies. That’s where the punchiness is, and SoundPEATS Sonic are indeed very punchy.
Since the upper bass is relatively flat, it doesn’t bleed too much into the lower mids. That makes it perfect for old rock, “Eye of a Tiger” by Survivor sounds fantastic and energetic.
However, playing something more modern, like “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish, and your ears will shake due to the amount of low-end.
Some might find this type of tuning fun, but it can also create a vacuum in your ears when listening to super bassy tracks.
Midrange
Moving to the mids, they are slightly recessed but pleasant. Instruments sound good, with electric guitars displaying the “angriness” you want to hear.
Vocals sound ever so slightly dry and are pushed forward in the sound stage.
Treble
The treble has shimmery characteristics. It sounds very nice, especially on well-produced songs like “You and Your Friend” by Dire Straits.
The soundstage is big enough so that the music doesn’t feel trapped in your head. There’s slightly more depth than width.
Imaging, accompanied by good instrument separation, is accurate and without significant blind spots.
SoundPEATS was very close to creating audiophile-grade earbuds with dynamic sound for under $50. Sadly, they boosted the bass through the roof.
Again, some might enjoy this type of sound. I have to admit, using them outdoors was a pleasant experience since the bass gets slightly weaker.
However, SoundPEATS Sonic headphones are far from balanced. And without an app and custom EQ, these are suitable for more casual listeners than serious audio fanatics.
Should You Buy SoundPEATS Sonic?
There’s a lot to like about these wireless earbuds. They’re comfortable, isolate well, and have exceptional battery life.
Also, they have great sound, albeit unnatural at times. And with a massive hump in the bass, they’re great if you’re a bass head.
The only complaint is overall build quality. Holding cheap plastic does take away a little from experience, but it’s something you have to expect from a budget product.
What are the alternatives?
Competition in this price range is strong, especially if you look for something more durable and with a better fit.
Skullcandy Dime are a far superior and cheaper pick if you want better sound, albeit you sacrifice a lot of battery life.
On the other hand, if you want well-built, stable TWS earbuds for the same price, take a look at TaoTronics Soundliberty 97 or Aukey EP-T32.
Specifications
| Type: | True wireless |
| Connection: | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Back design: | Closed-back |
| Drivers: | n/a |
| Frequency range: | n/a |
| Impedance: | n/a |
| Weight: | 11g (both buds) |
| Mic & Controls: | Yes |
| Water resistance: | IPX5 |
| Battery life: | 15h, 20h in case |
| Charging time: | 1.5h + quick charge – USB-C |
| Active noise cancelling: | No |
| Bluetooth codecs: | SBC, aptX, aptX Adaptive |
| Wireless range: | 33ft (10m) |
| Microphone: | Yes |
From a childhood fascination with sound, Peter’s passion has evolved into a relentless pursuit of the finest headphones. He’s an audio expert with over 5 years of experience in testing both audiophile and consumer-grade headphones. Quote: “After many years, I can confidently tell which headphones are good and which are terrible.” Find his honest opinion in his reviews.
