Tronsmart Apollo Air Wireless Active Noise Cancelling BT 5.2 QCC3046 IP45 TWS
- Added by regancipher
- Create date
RC043
How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
Instagram: regancipher
YouTube: regancipher
Model: Tronsmart Apollo Air
Price: MSRP $69.99 - usually around $30 on AliExpress
Vendor Website: Tronsmart Apollo Air
Distributor: Geekbuying
Review Reference: RC043
Manufacturer Specification:
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
3 x Pair Silicone Tips
1 x User manual, warranty card
1 x Bag Silicone Gel (Random!)
Real Life Experience
Welcome to the Regancipher review of the first of four stem-based TWS offerings from our friends at @Tronsmart Official, hot on the heels of the Onyx Apex - which I reviewed here, but received first.
Tronsmart are now fully established as a mid to premium range earbud vendor, with their focus almost solely on audio products - mostly speakers and headphones. Founder Eric Cheng, a self-confessed geek, founded the company with his first paycheck (where was he working?!), building a lab to disassemble audio products with the aim to recreate them in his own vision at a cost-efficient price point. After bringing in ear-chewing trophy-winning footballer Luis Suarez as an ambassador, the company have gone from strength to strength, building a close relationship with Qualcomm, and bringing two of their chips to market first with the Apollo Bold, and this release, the Apollo Air, which uses the Qualcomm QCC3046. The only major difference between this and the QCC3040 is the support of an external quad-SPI peripheral, designed to make flash memory run faster and reduce bottlenecks.
Last month Tronsmart celebrated their 8th birthday, with a roll-out plan of four sets of buds - the Apollo Air, Apollo Air+, Onyx Apex and Battle. The Air+ are essentially the same, but feature in-ear detection and wireless charging.
The Unboxing - 8.5/10
The unboxing of the Q10, after redefining the expectations with the Apollo Bold, was a bit of a damp squib, but Tronsmart have returned to form with some key changes in their branding and marketing that push them above the average budget earbud.
The branding is sharp, bright and distinctive, with their orange and purple colour schema retained, and the key features clearly outlined on the front and back. The box is larger than the Onyx Apex.
As per the review of the Onyx Apex, the manual clearly demonstrates controls, charge indication, parameters, and provides easy to follow visual instruction on how to use the buds. Not only that, they've managed to retain consistency which I hope they keep up. Whilst the real-life diagrams are only accompanied by English text, the parameters and support details are in French, German, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.
That aside, you get the usual fare of spare tips, warranty card, charger cable and charge case, but it's up a notch from what I usually see - and that's definitely a good thing in this case. The tips are reasonable quality and shaped appropriately for the fit and form factor.
No vouchers for 5 star reviews here - always good to see a vendor stand behind their products without the need for bribes. The Apollo Air are available in black or white, with the 'Plus' version supporting wireless charging
The Case - 7/10 (Black), 7.5/10 (White)
The case is finished in a generic-looking matte black with the Tronsmart embossed into the top. The finish and build quality is evidently a step up from the Onyx Apex. The white case scores half a mark higher for looking a bit nicer- the finish seems more scratch resistant and the blue lighting scheme looks really nice against the color of the case!
The case is smaller than the Onyx Apex, and more akin to that of the SoundPEATS Sonic. The height and depth make it very portable.
This time, the four lights denoting charge have been replaced with a single light, which flashes blue three times if above 10%, and red three times if below. Whilst charging, the light is red until fully charged. This feels like a bit of a backward step from the Onyx Apex, and a red/amber/green scheme would definitely have been a better option. It doesn't help that in the app, you just get a bar for the remaining battery of the buds rather than a percentage, or any indication of what juice is left in the case. You do get a voice prompt telling you when battery is about to die, but by that point it's a it late.
Just as with the Onyx Apex, there is no lip for single handed use. There is a little more give in the hinge. The buds sit flat, as opposed to angular on the Onyx Apex, and the parameters are printed on the inside of the lid, rather than the bottom. Even so, using the case is quite enjoyable - I much prefer this style to cases that don't sit on the desk, so you can pop the buds back in with the case upright as well as seeing charge status. These facets make it a good case for sitting on your office desk (as opposed to dangling off the end of a USB cable which is often what happens when the USB socket is on the bottom)
Whilst the rear looks like there are large gaps, it is a shiny edge which runs all the way round the case to the hinge. Unlike the Apex, there is a pairing button on the back, but I found they went into pairing mode automatically anyway since they feature hall switch mode. Like the Apex, they are charged with USB-C, and the 500mA capacity is pretty large by case standards- as a result it takes a little longer than usual to charge the case and buds fully.
Weighing in at less than 39g fully loaded, this is without doubt one of the more portable cases around, almost 10g lighter than the Apex, and 15g lighter than the FIIL CC Pro so it is ideal for both inside and outside jacket pockets. This is almost the same weight as the SoundPEATS Mini, so Tronsmart have done extraordinarily well to keep the weight down.
The case charges slower than the Apex, and I struggled to get the full 500mA at 5v input, which is likely down to overcharge protection components, which will prolong the life of the product and are always a welcome feature.
Ergonomics - 8/10, Build quality - 8/10
From the front, there is only a marginal protrusion of the buds despite their alternative, hairdryer style shape.
Side view shows they actually protrude a fair bit more than the Apex and do require periodic re-adjustment to stop them sticking out a bit. Nothing major, but a side-effect of the shape.
First impressions of the Apollo Air are of another very well-finished earbud. The buds themselves are, once again far nicer than the case. Very glossy black can sometimes appear a little cheap, but it is clear that unlike some of the very budget buds (Haylou, etc.) care has been taken with the QC, with no rough edges or sharp lines. The white are also impressive, with the glossy finish and, again, consistent chamber sizes and finishes commensurate with the 'Apollo' branding.
The first thing to note is the shape. Now I no longer own the Dudios T8, but I reviewed them here, and that's probably the closest comparison I can find.
The 'hairdryer' design is definitely not the norm with earbuds, and I did fear for their fit on first glance, but actually it seems to work out OK - despite the lack of contouring, the shape still complements noise cancellation and isolation, and over a few hours use they still feel very comfortable. If you chop the top off the Boltune BT-BH024 I guess they are fairly similar, although feel less invasive due to a shorter neck.
Close-up comparisons of the Apollo Air and Onyx Apex show that the Apex are really relying on that solid seal for isolating sound, but the Apollo Air have little to no contour, albeit with a similar, oval driver protector. It is nigh-on impossible to capture, but the Apollo Air feature an additional feedback mic, on the outer edge at the top of the stem.
The differences with the Onyx Apex start to unfold when we flip the bud over. The 6 mic array is accommodated with a larger, hairdryer-style rectangle at the top, but Tronsmart have elongated the stem slightly and the voice mic is on the inside rather than within the base. The battery connectors are slightly beveled, and sit at the bottom on the inside. The bevel is not deep enough to circumvent contact with the skin, so they would not be ideal for those with nickel allergies - bear this in mind.
They are still shorter than average at just under 33mm stem length, and this is really highlighted when pictured alongside some other popular stem-based, in-ear models, where the average is around 37mm in length. Despite the stubbiness of the Tronsmart offerings, call quality does not suffer, which is testament to the implementation of the mic array.
At 4.19g they are heavier than the Apex, but still not heavy in the ears. Anything above 5g I find starts to wilt after a while without a fin, so despite the bulky middle section, they still fit comfortably and securely and add stability, which is needed given their bulky shoulders.
Like the 1More Comfobuds Pro and Huawei Freebuds Pro, they suffer a little bit with their form factor being really tip-dependant. Like the Comfobuds, to get good fit and performance you need to tip roll - but unlike the Comfobuds, the best bet is the Feaulle h370 latex tip. It improves the stability immeasurably. With the latex tips, the Apollo Air just stay sticky in your ears and feel great. It gives them a new dimension.
Overall Tronsmart have done a very decent job shaping an earbud for a very specific use case - good calls and good ANC, and whilst it may not look especially appealing at first glance, the Apollo Air looks good in your ears and the form factor is conducive to performance, whilst demonstrating a novel design that sets them apart from the crowd.
Audio Quality - 8/10 (for the price), 7/10 (raw score)
I tested the sound with a number of signature tracks in FLAC using the aptX codec, and above you can see the frequency response using SBC on Windows 11.
The sound profile is quite similar to the SoundPEATS Sonic. The bass is beefy and can feel a little bloated, even rumble, bordering on dark at times. 'So Sick' by Neyo is a simple track but on default setting the subbass is way too boosted for my liking out of the box. When you notch the subbass down in the EQ, it's a much more palatable experience, but this is unquestionably the fullest sounding earbud from Tronsmart since the Apollo Bold.
Tracks with plenty of high hats and snares like Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean' and 'Got To Have Your Love' by Mantronix benefit from the rolled off treble, giving a warmth to the sound that makes them pleasant, if a little unambitious listening. 'Outstanding' by Kenny Thomas separates out his vocals, piano and drums quite nicely, and although the sound feels constrained at times, this does come to life a bit on more complex tracks, which the Apollo Air deals with reasonably well.
Tracks which really push the boundaries in terms of soundstage, such as Crazy by Seal, the Apollo Air have trouble conveying the passion and intent of the production.
With a tweak of the subbass and an uplift of the high mids, you can achieve a nice enough sound signature from the Apollo Air. They won't be for everyone out of the box, but respond very well to EQ - if you favour a slightly more neutral, less consumer-focused signature, you'll appreciate the tuning here.
There is no LDAC or LHDC support, and with the competition releasing hybrid driver buds now, I feel like this is the next natural step for Tronsmart - they've eeked everything they can out of single driver buds now.
Call Quality - Indoors - 7/10, Outdoors - 7/10
With 6 mics, I expected calls to be good, and they did not disappoint. Just like the Comfobuds Pro, your voice sounds extremely natural, and simulated background noise indoors is practically eradicated completely. The only issue is on Teams, I got the occasional crackle. Otherwise this is market-leading stuff.
Outdoors the compression works so well that you start to think maybe cVc 8.0 was designed for 6 mics. Impressive stuff. Even in a very busy scene traffic was reduced to a minimum and your voice, whilst it gets a bit raspy, is perfectly discernible.
Incidentally, whilst perfect on Zoom and Teams calls, I had instances of crackling on IOS cell calls. I contacted Tronsmart support and it turned out there was a minor issue with the way the ANC behaves when a call initiates. This will undoubtedly be fixed with a firmware update, but for reference, if you do experience this, then tapping the buds to switch ANC off is a workaround that quickly resolves the problem.
ANC - 8/10
Without question, ANC is very good on the Apollo Air. With some vendors now offering multiple modes, like wind reduction etc, there's an onus on Tronsmart to make sure high noise cancelling works well - and it doesn't disappoint.
There may only be three modes, but it outperforms the 1More Comfobuds Pro, notably in low frequency sounds, and only struggling a little with higher frequencies such as keyboard taps, but even they are still substantially muted. Using the hybrid (FF/FT) method, with a good seal you can achieve very good performance. I took the Apollo Air out on a run in the rain, and only splashes from cars hitting puddles were audible, even with my podcast on quite low volume.
Ambient mode works very well, although if you are in a very busy environment it can sound quite piercing. This is the benefit and the curse of 6 mics - when it lets all that noise back in it's quite a shock to the system!
In terms of strength, the Apollo Air is not quite on the level of the market-leading Edifier NeoBuds Pro, but for this form factor, it's the best I've tested so far. It is quite fit-dependent, like always with TWS, so ensure you have the right tips. I used the Feaulle h240 latex tips, and they do the job really well.
Connectivity, Controls and Other Features - 7.5/10
So first things first, Tronsmart have a pretty nice app on both IOS and Android, which supports a lot of their products- the Apollo Air, Apollo Bold, Studio, Spunky Beat Pro, Q10 and their forthcoming release are all supported. Having this single source app is really nice, and there are no nasty permission settings or requirements, it's really simple.
Selecting the model is quite straightforward - you scroll from left to right on the main screen and press select and then it scans for the Bluetooth connection and takes you into the control page. On IOS, when the Apollo Air were first released I had some trouble getting the app to recognize the buds even though they were connected. This has sorted itself out over time - sometimes it takes a couple of attempts, but it's generally very reliable and polished by TWS standards.
The app doesn't do a great deal, but what it does, it does well. You can check the battery, adjust ANC, use the EQ which has numerous presets (I use wavelet anyway) update the firmware and read the manual,.
However the best feature of the app is button configuration - you can customise practically every button touch, including single touch, which is a big benefit if you're set in your ways and don't like the Tronsmart control scheme. Not only that, it gives you a really clear explanation of every change. This puts them ahead of brands like 1More and Edifier, who allow some customisation, but not all.
The buds do not advertise aptX-adaptive, but they default to it on Android. On Windows, it's aptX, and latency is practically lip-sync - very good latency of around 180Ms (source+destination). AAC is also well-scoped, with a capped max variable bitrate of just under CD-quality. There is no circumventing- chopping out MPEG2, like FIIL et al did. YouTube and other video sources show little to no lag, although gamers will notice the usual slight delay. There's no gaming mode to reduce the sound quality and speed up the delivery- you'll need the Battle for that.
Controls are really intuitive and accurate. I posted above the default control scheme, but this can be adjusted in the app as per the above explanation. Touch controls are really easy and reliable due to the fingertip-shaped notch.
Voice prompts are delivered in both ears and in a English-speaking female voice - the same as previous Tronsmart releases, and a welcome escape from random beeps (Haylou) or Chinese (FIIL) or Chinglish (KZ) prompts! (no offence meant, of course). It's professional and enhances the user experience. Well, it does if you speak English like I do anyway!
One of the really nice features which Tronsmart don't really talk about much is the 'regenerative braking'-style pause, which slowly stops your music, rather than grinding it to a sudden halt. This really improves the audio experience - once you've experienced it, not having it is a real nause!
Like every QCC304X chip earbud I've tested so far, they do not always connect to each other when you take them out of the case. Just holding the guilty bud down will power it on, so make sure not to change that button setting! Either that or put them back in the case. This is evidently a 'Qualcomm thing', not a 'Tronsmart thing', and may even be source-specific...i.e. it requires a certain version of one of the connection protocols to be implemented and enabled. I noticed Scarbir mentioned it in his review of the Apollo Air, and spoke to him briefly about it and how it seems to be a feature of the chip rather than the bud. I will reach out to the wider earbud review community and see what they have experienced, and hopefully a fix can be found- it certainly isn't a deal breaker.
Otherwise connectivity is very good - they retain stability much longer than the other QCC304X buds I tested lately, similar to the Haylou Moripods - over 10m LOS is impressive. I've noticed with Qualcomm's chip shortage many vendors have turned to BES and Airoha in their product designs, and I've found whilst these SoC's have their merits, retaining strong, consistent connectivity over distance isn't one of them, so Tronsmart's loyalty to Qualcomm has paid dividends in that respect.
Aside from that, there's no wireless charging or ear detection - you need the plus version for that, and I kinda feel like Tronsmart should've bundled that in and released one version of the product.
Battery Life - 7/10
5 hours from a single use was pretty accurate. I got 4 with volume around 60% and ANC on - volume is loud on these by default. This is just shy of where the majority of the market are, but Tronsmart close the gap by being much closer to the advertised number than some of their competitors.
20 hours juice with the charge case is a little lower than the Apex, but about right for Qualcomm buds, although Qualcomm will need to keep pace, as the BES-and Airoha- based buds are offering double that now, with the caveat that ANC reduces the charge level sizeably. It has less of a difference with the Apollo Air, which is good if you use ANC a lot, not so good if you're an infrequent user.
To compound this, the charge time is long (over 2 hours) and there's no quick charge support. The charge case has one of the largest capacities on the market, so Tronsmart have not skimmed on components - it's simply a sign that this chipset is powerful and requires a lot of juice. Even so, warp charge has become so common you do actually miss it when it's not there, but 20 hours should get you through the day anyway.
Recommended Tips
For the Apollo Air, to ensure maximum comfort around the massive nozzle, the Tanchjim T-APB 300T Medium are the ideal tip. The inner nozzle is wide enough at 5.4mm, and reinforced, providing a comfortable barrier between your ear canal and the hard plastic edge. They are relatively short at 8.5mm, the 11mm width is sufficient to provide a comfortable fit and optimise hybrid ANC, but the constricted yet thickened nozzle also takes some of the flabbiness out of the bass and allows cymbals and high-hats to shine.
Another option is the Feaulle h370. These latex tips hold the buds in your ear really nicely, and work very well at optimising ANC on this model. I've settled on these, as they provide extra stability and are really comfy. Whilst ANC isn't quite as strong as with the Tanchjim, it is still very good and has transformed the Apollo Air into one of my daily drivers.
Final Comments
The Apollo Air are a really solid release from Tronsmart, that are clear front runners in the mid-budget ANC market, especially if you prefer your buds stem-based.
The sound is good, without hitting the heights of the new BA releases - namely the Edifier NeoBuds Pro and SoundPEATS H1 - but their solid call quality makes them a good option for the commuter or anyone working from home, adding practicality where the others are unsuited, at a stupidly low price.
The ANC is very underrated on this model. I rarely hear it mentioned in the same breath as the 1More Comfobuds Pro, for example, despite it clearly outperforming it.
Tronsmart have a really nice portfolio of products now, but the slow pace of their TWS releases means they have to take risks, such as new chips, to stay relevant - a challenge when you develop products across multiple segments. Tronsmart were once again the first to the market with the new Qualcomm chip, and had some early challenges. It's testament to them as a brand that so many bugs in early releases are fixed quickly and quietly. with Soundcore, for example, it often feels like one step forward, two steps back. However, fixing most of the issues, the ones that remain: calls 'sounding lispy' at your end with ANC on, and occasional failure to connect to the app, will put some off, and it's a shame Tronsmart didn't really follow through and resolve them all with this release in the way that they did with the Apollo Bold.
By spreading their design resource across both speakers and earbuds, their releases sometimes feel a little 'me too' these days - I'd love to see them take an even bigger risk with future releases, just as they did with the one that brought them to my attention, the Apollo Bold.
Nevertheless, it is a welcome return to form from Tronsmart, with two excellent sets of buds hitting the market and addressing different needs at different price points. Over time I have to say the Apollo Air have really grown on me to become a firm favourite - at this price point. They offer far greater bang for buck than the 1More Comfobuds Pro, and give you a feature set and performance that wouldn't look out of place at double the price. If you're looking for ANC and great calls at a mid-tier price, and can overlook the minor quibbles, look no further.
Price Weighted Score: 80%
Raw Score: 73%
instagram: regancipher
Tronsmart Review Inventory:
Tronsmart Studio
Tronsmart Apollo Air
Tronsmart Battle
Tronsmart Onyx Apex
Tronsmart Apollo Q10
Tronsmart Onyx Free
Tronsmart Apollo Bold
About Tronsmart:
Tronsmart are now fully established as a mid to premium range earbud vendor, with their focus almost solely on audio products - mostly speakers and headphones. Founder Eric Cheng, a self-confessed geek, founded the company with his first paycheck (where was he working?!), building a lab to disassemble audio products with the aim to recreate them in his own vision at a cost-efficient price point.
After bringing in ear-chewing, trophy-winning Uruguayan international footballer Luis Suarez as a brand ambassador, the company have gone from strength to strength, building a close relationship with Qualcomm, and bringing two of their chips to market first with the Apollo Bold, and then the Apollo Air, which uses the Qualcomm QCC3046 - still not yet seen in the TWS world.
Also manufacturing speakers, the range is now almost as extensive as their earbuds, ranging from 7, 10 and 15w mini speakers through to the 60w Force Pro and Mega Pro.
Tronsmart remain one of my favourite mid-tier vendors, outrunning their budget competitors by releasing flagship products alongside the run-of-the-mill releases, and demonstrating transparency and commitment to quality and innovation with every release.
How I review: (See Previous Reviews)
Instagram: regancipher
YouTube: regancipher
Model: Tronsmart Apollo Air
Price: MSRP $69.99 - usually around $30 on AliExpress
Vendor Website: Tronsmart Apollo Air
Distributor: Geekbuying
Review Reference: RC043
Manufacturer Specification:
- Brand: Tronsmart
- Model: Apollo Air
- Driver: 10mm Customised Graphene Drivers
- Chipset: Qualcomm QCC3046
- Impedence: 32 Ohm
- Mic: 6, cVc 8.0
- ANC: Yes, 35dB
- Volume Control: Yes
- Codecs: AptX adaptive, AAC, SBC
- Earbud Weight: 4.19g
- Earbud Dimensions: 25.6mm wide, neck approx. 17.9mm, 32.7mm stem length
- Gross Case & Buds Weight: 39g
- Case Dimensions: 62mm (width) x 32mm (depth) x 37mm (height)
- Case Charge Capacity: 500mAh
- Full Charge Time: 150 minutes
- Quick Charge: No
- Wireless Charging: No (Only on Air+)
- Input: 5V 1A
- Single Use Playtime: Up to 5 hours
- Playtime with Charge Case: Up to 20 hours
- App Support: Yes, but not fully, and issues on IOS
- Bluetooth Range: 10m advertised
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth® 5.2
- Bluetooth Protocols: BLE/ HSP/ HFP/ A2DP/ AVRCP
- Water Resistance: IPX45
1 x Pair Wireless Earbuds
1 x USB Type-C Charge Case
1 x USB Type-C Charge Cable
3 x Pair Silicone Tips
1 x User manual, warranty card
1 x Bag Silicone Gel (Random!)
Real Life Experience
Welcome to the Regancipher review of the first of four stem-based TWS offerings from our friends at @Tronsmart Official, hot on the heels of the Onyx Apex - which I reviewed here, but received first.
Tronsmart are now fully established as a mid to premium range earbud vendor, with their focus almost solely on audio products - mostly speakers and headphones. Founder Eric Cheng, a self-confessed geek, founded the company with his first paycheck (where was he working?!), building a lab to disassemble audio products with the aim to recreate them in his own vision at a cost-efficient price point. After bringing in ear-chewing trophy-winning footballer Luis Suarez as an ambassador, the company have gone from strength to strength, building a close relationship with Qualcomm, and bringing two of their chips to market first with the Apollo Bold, and this release, the Apollo Air, which uses the Qualcomm QCC3046. The only major difference between this and the QCC3040 is the support of an external quad-SPI peripheral, designed to make flash memory run faster and reduce bottlenecks.
Last month Tronsmart celebrated their 8th birthday, with a roll-out plan of four sets of buds - the Apollo Air, Apollo Air+, Onyx Apex and Battle. The Air+ are essentially the same, but feature in-ear detection and wireless charging.
The Unboxing - 8.5/10
The unboxing of the Q10, after redefining the expectations with the Apollo Bold, was a bit of a damp squib, but Tronsmart have returned to form with some key changes in their branding and marketing that push them above the average budget earbud.
The branding is sharp, bright and distinctive, with their orange and purple colour schema retained, and the key features clearly outlined on the front and back. The box is larger than the Onyx Apex.
As per the review of the Onyx Apex, the manual clearly demonstrates controls, charge indication, parameters, and provides easy to follow visual instruction on how to use the buds. Not only that, they've managed to retain consistency which I hope they keep up. Whilst the real-life diagrams are only accompanied by English text, the parameters and support details are in French, German, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.
That aside, you get the usual fare of spare tips, warranty card, charger cable and charge case, but it's up a notch from what I usually see - and that's definitely a good thing in this case. The tips are reasonable quality and shaped appropriately for the fit and form factor.
No vouchers for 5 star reviews here - always good to see a vendor stand behind their products without the need for bribes. The Apollo Air are available in black or white, with the 'Plus' version supporting wireless charging
The Case - 7/10 (Black), 7.5/10 (White)
The case is finished in a generic-looking matte black with the Tronsmart embossed into the top. The finish and build quality is evidently a step up from the Onyx Apex. The white case scores half a mark higher for looking a bit nicer- the finish seems more scratch resistant and the blue lighting scheme looks really nice against the color of the case!
The case is smaller than the Onyx Apex, and more akin to that of the SoundPEATS Sonic. The height and depth make it very portable.
This time, the four lights denoting charge have been replaced with a single light, which flashes blue three times if above 10%, and red three times if below. Whilst charging, the light is red until fully charged. This feels like a bit of a backward step from the Onyx Apex, and a red/amber/green scheme would definitely have been a better option. It doesn't help that in the app, you just get a bar for the remaining battery of the buds rather than a percentage, or any indication of what juice is left in the case. You do get a voice prompt telling you when battery is about to die, but by that point it's a it late.
Just as with the Onyx Apex, there is no lip for single handed use. There is a little more give in the hinge. The buds sit flat, as opposed to angular on the Onyx Apex, and the parameters are printed on the inside of the lid, rather than the bottom. Even so, using the case is quite enjoyable - I much prefer this style to cases that don't sit on the desk, so you can pop the buds back in with the case upright as well as seeing charge status. These facets make it a good case for sitting on your office desk (as opposed to dangling off the end of a USB cable which is often what happens when the USB socket is on the bottom)
Whilst the rear looks like there are large gaps, it is a shiny edge which runs all the way round the case to the hinge. Unlike the Apex, there is a pairing button on the back, but I found they went into pairing mode automatically anyway since they feature hall switch mode. Like the Apex, they are charged with USB-C, and the 500mA capacity is pretty large by case standards- as a result it takes a little longer than usual to charge the case and buds fully.
Weighing in at less than 39g fully loaded, this is without doubt one of the more portable cases around, almost 10g lighter than the Apex, and 15g lighter than the FIIL CC Pro so it is ideal for both inside and outside jacket pockets. This is almost the same weight as the SoundPEATS Mini, so Tronsmart have done extraordinarily well to keep the weight down.
The case charges slower than the Apex, and I struggled to get the full 500mA at 5v input, which is likely down to overcharge protection components, which will prolong the life of the product and are always a welcome feature.
Ergonomics - 8/10, Build quality - 8/10
From the front, there is only a marginal protrusion of the buds despite their alternative, hairdryer style shape.
Side view shows they actually protrude a fair bit more than the Apex and do require periodic re-adjustment to stop them sticking out a bit. Nothing major, but a side-effect of the shape.
First impressions of the Apollo Air are of another very well-finished earbud. The buds themselves are, once again far nicer than the case. Very glossy black can sometimes appear a little cheap, but it is clear that unlike some of the very budget buds (Haylou, etc.) care has been taken with the QC, with no rough edges or sharp lines. The white are also impressive, with the glossy finish and, again, consistent chamber sizes and finishes commensurate with the 'Apollo' branding.
The first thing to note is the shape. Now I no longer own the Dudios T8, but I reviewed them here, and that's probably the closest comparison I can find.
The 'hairdryer' design is definitely not the norm with earbuds, and I did fear for their fit on first glance, but actually it seems to work out OK - despite the lack of contouring, the shape still complements noise cancellation and isolation, and over a few hours use they still feel very comfortable. If you chop the top off the Boltune BT-BH024 I guess they are fairly similar, although feel less invasive due to a shorter neck.
Close-up comparisons of the Apollo Air and Onyx Apex show that the Apex are really relying on that solid seal for isolating sound, but the Apollo Air have little to no contour, albeit with a similar, oval driver protector. It is nigh-on impossible to capture, but the Apollo Air feature an additional feedback mic, on the outer edge at the top of the stem.
The differences with the Onyx Apex start to unfold when we flip the bud over. The 6 mic array is accommodated with a larger, hairdryer-style rectangle at the top, but Tronsmart have elongated the stem slightly and the voice mic is on the inside rather than within the base. The battery connectors are slightly beveled, and sit at the bottom on the inside. The bevel is not deep enough to circumvent contact with the skin, so they would not be ideal for those with nickel allergies - bear this in mind.
They are still shorter than average at just under 33mm stem length, and this is really highlighted when pictured alongside some other popular stem-based, in-ear models, where the average is around 37mm in length. Despite the stubbiness of the Tronsmart offerings, call quality does not suffer, which is testament to the implementation of the mic array.
At 4.19g they are heavier than the Apex, but still not heavy in the ears. Anything above 5g I find starts to wilt after a while without a fin, so despite the bulky middle section, they still fit comfortably and securely and add stability, which is needed given their bulky shoulders.
Like the 1More Comfobuds Pro and Huawei Freebuds Pro, they suffer a little bit with their form factor being really tip-dependant. Like the Comfobuds, to get good fit and performance you need to tip roll - but unlike the Comfobuds, the best bet is the Feaulle h370 latex tip. It improves the stability immeasurably. With the latex tips, the Apollo Air just stay sticky in your ears and feel great. It gives them a new dimension.
Overall Tronsmart have done a very decent job shaping an earbud for a very specific use case - good calls and good ANC, and whilst it may not look especially appealing at first glance, the Apollo Air looks good in your ears and the form factor is conducive to performance, whilst demonstrating a novel design that sets them apart from the crowd.
Audio Quality - 8/10 (for the price), 7/10 (raw score)
I tested the sound with a number of signature tracks in FLAC using the aptX codec, and above you can see the frequency response using SBC on Windows 11.
The sound profile is quite similar to the SoundPEATS Sonic. The bass is beefy and can feel a little bloated, even rumble, bordering on dark at times. 'So Sick' by Neyo is a simple track but on default setting the subbass is way too boosted for my liking out of the box. When you notch the subbass down in the EQ, it's a much more palatable experience, but this is unquestionably the fullest sounding earbud from Tronsmart since the Apollo Bold.
Tracks with plenty of high hats and snares like Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean' and 'Got To Have Your Love' by Mantronix benefit from the rolled off treble, giving a warmth to the sound that makes them pleasant, if a little unambitious listening. 'Outstanding' by Kenny Thomas separates out his vocals, piano and drums quite nicely, and although the sound feels constrained at times, this does come to life a bit on more complex tracks, which the Apollo Air deals with reasonably well.
Tracks which really push the boundaries in terms of soundstage, such as Crazy by Seal, the Apollo Air have trouble conveying the passion and intent of the production.
With a tweak of the subbass and an uplift of the high mids, you can achieve a nice enough sound signature from the Apollo Air. They won't be for everyone out of the box, but respond very well to EQ - if you favour a slightly more neutral, less consumer-focused signature, you'll appreciate the tuning here.
There is no LDAC or LHDC support, and with the competition releasing hybrid driver buds now, I feel like this is the next natural step for Tronsmart - they've eeked everything they can out of single driver buds now.
Call Quality - Indoors - 7/10, Outdoors - 7/10
With 6 mics, I expected calls to be good, and they did not disappoint. Just like the Comfobuds Pro, your voice sounds extremely natural, and simulated background noise indoors is practically eradicated completely. The only issue is on Teams, I got the occasional crackle. Otherwise this is market-leading stuff.
Outdoors the compression works so well that you start to think maybe cVc 8.0 was designed for 6 mics. Impressive stuff. Even in a very busy scene traffic was reduced to a minimum and your voice, whilst it gets a bit raspy, is perfectly discernible.
Incidentally, whilst perfect on Zoom and Teams calls, I had instances of crackling on IOS cell calls. I contacted Tronsmart support and it turned out there was a minor issue with the way the ANC behaves when a call initiates. This will undoubtedly be fixed with a firmware update, but for reference, if you do experience this, then tapping the buds to switch ANC off is a workaround that quickly resolves the problem.
ANC - 8/10
Without question, ANC is very good on the Apollo Air. With some vendors now offering multiple modes, like wind reduction etc, there's an onus on Tronsmart to make sure high noise cancelling works well - and it doesn't disappoint.
There may only be three modes, but it outperforms the 1More Comfobuds Pro, notably in low frequency sounds, and only struggling a little with higher frequencies such as keyboard taps, but even they are still substantially muted. Using the hybrid (FF/FT) method, with a good seal you can achieve very good performance. I took the Apollo Air out on a run in the rain, and only splashes from cars hitting puddles were audible, even with my podcast on quite low volume.
Ambient mode works very well, although if you are in a very busy environment it can sound quite piercing. This is the benefit and the curse of 6 mics - when it lets all that noise back in it's quite a shock to the system!
In terms of strength, the Apollo Air is not quite on the level of the market-leading Edifier NeoBuds Pro, but for this form factor, it's the best I've tested so far. It is quite fit-dependent, like always with TWS, so ensure you have the right tips. I used the Feaulle h240 latex tips, and they do the job really well.
Connectivity, Controls and Other Features - 7.5/10
So first things first, Tronsmart have a pretty nice app on both IOS and Android, which supports a lot of their products- the Apollo Air, Apollo Bold, Studio, Spunky Beat Pro, Q10 and their forthcoming release are all supported. Having this single source app is really nice, and there are no nasty permission settings or requirements, it's really simple.
Selecting the model is quite straightforward - you scroll from left to right on the main screen and press select and then it scans for the Bluetooth connection and takes you into the control page. On IOS, when the Apollo Air were first released I had some trouble getting the app to recognize the buds even though they were connected. This has sorted itself out over time - sometimes it takes a couple of attempts, but it's generally very reliable and polished by TWS standards.
The app doesn't do a great deal, but what it does, it does well. You can check the battery, adjust ANC, use the EQ which has numerous presets (I use wavelet anyway) update the firmware and read the manual,.
However the best feature of the app is button configuration - you can customise practically every button touch, including single touch, which is a big benefit if you're set in your ways and don't like the Tronsmart control scheme. Not only that, it gives you a really clear explanation of every change. This puts them ahead of brands like 1More and Edifier, who allow some customisation, but not all.
The buds do not advertise aptX-adaptive, but they default to it on Android. On Windows, it's aptX, and latency is practically lip-sync - very good latency of around 180Ms (source+destination). AAC is also well-scoped, with a capped max variable bitrate of just under CD-quality. There is no circumventing- chopping out MPEG2, like FIIL et al did. YouTube and other video sources show little to no lag, although gamers will notice the usual slight delay. There's no gaming mode to reduce the sound quality and speed up the delivery- you'll need the Battle for that.
Controls are really intuitive and accurate. I posted above the default control scheme, but this can be adjusted in the app as per the above explanation. Touch controls are really easy and reliable due to the fingertip-shaped notch.
Voice prompts are delivered in both ears and in a English-speaking female voice - the same as previous Tronsmart releases, and a welcome escape from random beeps (Haylou) or Chinese (FIIL) or Chinglish (KZ) prompts! (no offence meant, of course). It's professional and enhances the user experience. Well, it does if you speak English like I do anyway!
One of the really nice features which Tronsmart don't really talk about much is the 'regenerative braking'-style pause, which slowly stops your music, rather than grinding it to a sudden halt. This really improves the audio experience - once you've experienced it, not having it is a real nause!
Like every QCC304X chip earbud I've tested so far, they do not always connect to each other when you take them out of the case. Just holding the guilty bud down will power it on, so make sure not to change that button setting! Either that or put them back in the case. This is evidently a 'Qualcomm thing', not a 'Tronsmart thing', and may even be source-specific...i.e. it requires a certain version of one of the connection protocols to be implemented and enabled. I noticed Scarbir mentioned it in his review of the Apollo Air, and spoke to him briefly about it and how it seems to be a feature of the chip rather than the bud. I will reach out to the wider earbud review community and see what they have experienced, and hopefully a fix can be found- it certainly isn't a deal breaker.
Otherwise connectivity is very good - they retain stability much longer than the other QCC304X buds I tested lately, similar to the Haylou Moripods - over 10m LOS is impressive. I've noticed with Qualcomm's chip shortage many vendors have turned to BES and Airoha in their product designs, and I've found whilst these SoC's have their merits, retaining strong, consistent connectivity over distance isn't one of them, so Tronsmart's loyalty to Qualcomm has paid dividends in that respect.
Aside from that, there's no wireless charging or ear detection - you need the plus version for that, and I kinda feel like Tronsmart should've bundled that in and released one version of the product.
Battery Life - 7/10
5 hours from a single use was pretty accurate. I got 4 with volume around 60% and ANC on - volume is loud on these by default. This is just shy of where the majority of the market are, but Tronsmart close the gap by being much closer to the advertised number than some of their competitors.
20 hours juice with the charge case is a little lower than the Apex, but about right for Qualcomm buds, although Qualcomm will need to keep pace, as the BES-and Airoha- based buds are offering double that now, with the caveat that ANC reduces the charge level sizeably. It has less of a difference with the Apollo Air, which is good if you use ANC a lot, not so good if you're an infrequent user.
To compound this, the charge time is long (over 2 hours) and there's no quick charge support. The charge case has one of the largest capacities on the market, so Tronsmart have not skimmed on components - it's simply a sign that this chipset is powerful and requires a lot of juice. Even so, warp charge has become so common you do actually miss it when it's not there, but 20 hours should get you through the day anyway.
Recommended Tips
For the Apollo Air, to ensure maximum comfort around the massive nozzle, the Tanchjim T-APB 300T Medium are the ideal tip. The inner nozzle is wide enough at 5.4mm, and reinforced, providing a comfortable barrier between your ear canal and the hard plastic edge. They are relatively short at 8.5mm, the 11mm width is sufficient to provide a comfortable fit and optimise hybrid ANC, but the constricted yet thickened nozzle also takes some of the flabbiness out of the bass and allows cymbals and high-hats to shine.
Another option is the Feaulle h370. These latex tips hold the buds in your ear really nicely, and work very well at optimising ANC on this model. I've settled on these, as they provide extra stability and are really comfy. Whilst ANC isn't quite as strong as with the Tanchjim, it is still very good and has transformed the Apollo Air into one of my daily drivers.
Final Comments
The Apollo Air are a really solid release from Tronsmart, that are clear front runners in the mid-budget ANC market, especially if you prefer your buds stem-based.
The sound is good, without hitting the heights of the new BA releases - namely the Edifier NeoBuds Pro and SoundPEATS H1 - but their solid call quality makes them a good option for the commuter or anyone working from home, adding practicality where the others are unsuited, at a stupidly low price.
The ANC is very underrated on this model. I rarely hear it mentioned in the same breath as the 1More Comfobuds Pro, for example, despite it clearly outperforming it.
Tronsmart have a really nice portfolio of products now, but the slow pace of their TWS releases means they have to take risks, such as new chips, to stay relevant - a challenge when you develop products across multiple segments. Tronsmart were once again the first to the market with the new Qualcomm chip, and had some early challenges. It's testament to them as a brand that so many bugs in early releases are fixed quickly and quietly. with Soundcore, for example, it often feels like one step forward, two steps back. However, fixing most of the issues, the ones that remain: calls 'sounding lispy' at your end with ANC on, and occasional failure to connect to the app, will put some off, and it's a shame Tronsmart didn't really follow through and resolve them all with this release in the way that they did with the Apollo Bold.
By spreading their design resource across both speakers and earbuds, their releases sometimes feel a little 'me too' these days - I'd love to see them take an even bigger risk with future releases, just as they did with the one that brought them to my attention, the Apollo Bold.
Nevertheless, it is a welcome return to form from Tronsmart, with two excellent sets of buds hitting the market and addressing different needs at different price points. Over time I have to say the Apollo Air have really grown on me to become a firm favourite - at this price point. They offer far greater bang for buck than the 1More Comfobuds Pro, and give you a feature set and performance that wouldn't look out of place at double the price. If you're looking for ANC and great calls at a mid-tier price, and can overlook the minor quibbles, look no further.
Price Weighted Score: 80%
Raw Score: 73%
instagram: regancipher
Tronsmart Review Inventory:
Tronsmart Studio
Tronsmart Apollo Air
Tronsmart Battle
Tronsmart Onyx Apex
Tronsmart Apollo Q10
Tronsmart Onyx Free
Tronsmart Apollo Bold
About Tronsmart:
Tronsmart are now fully established as a mid to premium range earbud vendor, with their focus almost solely on audio products - mostly speakers and headphones. Founder Eric Cheng, a self-confessed geek, founded the company with his first paycheck (where was he working?!), building a lab to disassemble audio products with the aim to recreate them in his own vision at a cost-efficient price point.
After bringing in ear-chewing, trophy-winning Uruguayan international footballer Luis Suarez as a brand ambassador, the company have gone from strength to strength, building a close relationship with Qualcomm, and bringing two of their chips to market first with the Apollo Bold, and then the Apollo Air, which uses the Qualcomm QCC3046 - still not yet seen in the TWS world.
Also manufacturing speakers, the range is now almost as extensive as their earbuds, ranging from 7, 10 and 15w mini speakers through to the 60w Force Pro and Mega Pro.
Tronsmart remain one of my favourite mid-tier vendors, outrunning their budget competitors by releasing flagship products alongside the run-of-the-mill releases, and demonstrating transparency and commitment to quality and innovation with every release.
