GTA02, Buds4 or GTA18: which true wireless earbuds to choose
In short
All three are in-ear true wireless buds, with no wire at all, a charging case and IPX4. The difference is in what they do on top. The GTA02 have a gaming mode with a latency of about 60 ms and warm bass. The Buds4 are the simplest: they connect by themselves when you open the case. The GTA18 have a Qi wireless charging case and show the battery right on the case.
For games and bassy music: the GTA02. For someone who wants something that just works: the Buds4. For anyone who already has a wireless pad: the GTA18.
For games
In phone games, sound delay matters: a footstep or gunshot that arrives too late puts you at a disadvantage. The GTA02 have a gaming mode with a latency of about 60 ms, so the sound arrives with the picture.
The Buds4 and GTA18 work well for films and series, where apps compensate for the delay, but for competitive games the GTA02 are the right choice. Our guide to earbuds for phone games explains it in full.
Simplicity
The Buds4 are made for people who do not want to think about settings: after the first pairing, they connect by themselves when you open the case. Three tip sizes come in the box, so you can find one that sits firmly without pressing.
They are also the lightest of the three, 4.2 g a bud, so you soon forget them. As a gift for someone who does not get on easily with technology, they are the safest choice.
Wireless charging
The GTA18 have a Qi wireless charging case: you put it on the same pad as your phone, with no cable. The battery shows right on the case, so you know at a glance whether to charge them before you leave.
If you already have a wireless pad on your bedside table or desk, the GTA18 fit naturally into your routine. Our guide to Qi wireless charging explains the differences from cable charging.
Battery
The GTA18 last longest: 10 hours on a charge and 40 hours with the case. The GTA02 last 9 hours and 36 with the case. The Buds4 last 7 hours and 28 with the case.
For an ordinary day, with breaks in the case, all three are enough. The difference shows on long trips and for people who listen for many hours in a row.
Sound and weight
The GTA02 have a 12 mm driver and warm bass, suited to pop, hip-hop and games. The GTA18 have a 13 mm driver and the Buds4 10 mm. On in-ear buds, tip fit matters more than driver size: a well-chosen tip gives full bass on any model.
Weight: Buds4 4.2 g, GTA02 4.6 g, GTA18 4.8 g a bud. All are light and comfortable for hours.
What they share
All three are IPX4, meaning they handle sweat and splashes, so they go to the gym and out in light rain. They connect to iPhone and Android and use the SBC and AAC codecs. The GTA02 and Buds4 have Bluetooth 5.3, the GTA18 Bluetooth 5.4.
None has active noise cancelling. If you want quiet on the metro or a plane, look at the ANC models.
What to choose
The GTA02 if you play on your phone and like bass. The Buds4 if you want the simplest, lightest buds. The GTA18 if you want a big battery and wireless charging.
On a small budget, our guide to budget wireless earbuds says what really matters and what you can leave out.
Choosing by habit
Look at what you do with your phone every day. If you play for an hour in the evening, the GTA02's low latency is noticeable at once. If you just want to take the buds out of your pocket and have them work, with no settings, the Buds4 spare you any trouble. If you charge your phone on a wireless pad, the GTA18 charge on the same one and you stop looking for the cable.
For long journeys, look at the battery: the GTA18 last longest. For people who lose things, the Buds4's small, simple case is easy to keep in a pocket. And whichever you choose, try every tip in the box: the fit in the ear changes the sound more than the model.
Every model is in the shop, under true wireless earbuds.