Affordable wireless earbuds: what you get and what to check
What really matters
With affordable earbuds, four things are worth checking: how many hours they last with the case, what sweat protection they have, which Bluetooth version they use and how many tip sizes come in the box. All four are in the product specs.
TESNA Buds4: simple, every day
The Buds4 connect by themselves when you open the case, after the first pairing. They last 7 hours per charge plus 21 from the case, weigh 4.2 g a bud, are IPX4 and come with three tip sizes.
TESNA GTA02: for music and games
The GTA02 have warm bass that suits pop, hip-hop and podcasts, and a game mode with about 60 ms latency. They last 9 hours plus 27 from the case.
TESNA GOJ05: for sport
If you run, the GOJ05 are open-ear hook buds at 8.1 g each, IPX4, with 8 hours per charge plus 24 from the case. They leave the ear open so you hear traffic.
Where cheap earbuds save money
At a low price, the maker has to give something up. Usually the savings come from active noise cancelling, the microphones, the case and the app. Less often, but worse, they come from the battery, the connection's stability and sweat resistance.
The first gaps you can live with: if you listen at home or on the street, you do not need ANC. The last three, though, you feel every day: a bud that drops its connection in your pocket, or a battery that fades after a few months, is no saving.
When you compare, look at three figures: hours per charge, hours including the case, and the IP code. Everything else comes after.
What you get with each TESNA model
The Buds4 are the everyday pair: 10 mm drivers, 4.2 g a bud, 7 hours per charge plus 21 with the case, IPX4. They connect by themselves when you open the case and come with three tip sizes in the box.
The GTA02 adds fuller sound, with 12 mm drivers, a bigger battery, 9 hours plus 27 with the case, and a game mode with a latency of about 60 ms.
The GOJ05 is the pick for sport: a hook, 8.1 g a bud, 8 hours plus 24 with the case, IPX4, and your ear stays open so you can hear the traffic.
Pitfalls to avoid
Beware of figures that sound too good: "100 hours of music" with no word on how long the bud lasts on its own, not with the case, or "waterproof" with no IP code. Without a code you do not know what it resists.
Look for a seller who gives you an invoice, a warranty and a right of return. With very cheap buds from no official distributor, a fault after two months usually means throwing them away.
And check what is in the box: several tip sizes and a charging cable are signs the maker thought about you.
How to make them last
An earbud's battery is small and ages like any battery. To make it last, do not leave the case flat for weeks, do not leave it in a car in the sun, and put the buds in the case when you are not using them.
Clean the tips and the charging contacts once a week with a dry cloth. Many "broken earbuds" are really just dirty contacts that no longer charge.
Spare tips
Tips are the part that wears fastest and the easiest to lose. The Buds4 come with three tip sizes in the box, and spare tips are sold separately, so you do not have to replace the buds over a lost tip.
Change the tips when they lose their shape or no longer seal: the bass drops and the buds fall out more easily. A new set costs far less than a new pair of earbuds.
Every model is in the shop, under true wireless earbuds.