I didn’t think I’d get on with these ultra-cheap earbuds – but they truly surpassed my expectations
Are you looking to buy some flashy new wireless earbuds, but you’re on a budget? Well, I’ve got some good news for you. See, in 2025, there are so many fantastic options to consider, with many models offering impressive audio, a comfortable fit, and yes – active noise cancellation.
I’ve been lucky enough to try some of the best budget earbuds around, but I’m always looking for that next exciting thing. So I called in the Tozo NC9 – a set of buds that aims to deliver “precise audio clarity”, “crystal-clear” calling, and distraction-free noise cancelling. Doesn’t sound too bad, considering they’re regularly available for less than $30 / £40 / AU$45, does it?
So I spent a week using the Tozo NC9 at my desk, when out and about, and at home. And look, I didn’t go in with particularly high expectations. Sure, I’ve tried out some awesome cheap models here at TechRadar, but you can bet I’ve come across some weak ones too – the type that subject you to harsh audio and terrible build quality. Luckily, though, these buds truly outdid my expectations. Wanna know how and why? Here’s the breakdown.
Going above and beyond
Straight off the bat, there are a few things that these ultra-affordable earbuds knock out of the park.
Firstly, they’re IPX8-rated, and although that means there’s no dustproof rating, they still have phenomenal waterproofing. An IPX8 rating indicates that the NC9 can survive continuous immersion in water deeper than 1m. That’s very impressive, given that a lot of buds from major brands like Sony rarely stretch that far.
Something else that surprised me is that the charging case has a small display that indicates the battery life of each bud as well as its own charge. That’s pretty handy if you want quick, easy access to accurate playtime monitoring. Speaking of playtime, you get a solid 10 hours with ANC on, 14 hours with it off, and a maximum of 59 hours of playtime with the charging case.
But wait… there’s more! I mean, it’s already great to see ANC on buds this cheap – but the NC9’s noise cancelling capabilities are also customizable. Yes, just hop into the Tozo app and you can cycle between a ton of modes, including: Noise Cancellation, Transparency, Reduce Wind Noise, Leisure (light ANC), Normal (no ANC), and Custom. Again, that level of tailoring is something that a lot of expensive flagship models won’t serve up.
Is the ANC on the NC9 anything special? Well, it’s not going to blow you away – but it’s certainly decent, especially for the price. When working in the office, the clicking of my keyboard wasn’t audible at all at 50% volume, and the sound of my colleagues chatting was dampened significantly. Yes, a few sounds, especially louder ones, did creep in – you’re not going to get Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) of course. But still – I was pleased with the level of noise-nixing available.
Sonically solid, but with a low-price that doesn’t come without sacrifice
So, it’s safe to say that the NC9 have a stand-out feature-set in the realm of cheap wireless earbuds. But the one area I expected the NC9 to fall flat in was sound quality. Funnily enough, though, these are surprisingly capable in that department too!
When listening to AAAAA by Kiefer, the smothering low-end came through with impressive weight – even compared to the JLab Go Pop ANC in their bass boost EQ mode. And with a track like Black Eye by Allie X, vocals remained clear, even with the bounding bass pumping through the backdrop, while crashing percussion didn’t sound harsh.
Of course, you won’t get amazingly neutral quality – the emphasis on bass helps to deliver impact, but it can sound overstated. In addition, there aren’t any ‘hi-res’ Bluetooth codecs – like LDAC – and tracks generally lose their softer, broader, more discreet details. But for a bass-heavy, entertaining, energetic and fairly clear listening experience, the NC9 have you covered.
That said, despite performing decently given their price, you are still going to make some sacrifices by buying wireless buds in this price range. Tozo says that the NC9 offer “crystal-clear” calling, remember? Well, they don’t. When calling my colleague, she reported that I sounded fairly distant, and there was a slightly muffled quality to my speech. When listening to a voice recording, that distant quality was massively apparent – especially when I did a comparison with the Anker Soundcore Liberty 5.
Finally, the NC9 aren’t the most beautiful or small looking model in-ear. Their slightly chunky build wasn’t as appealing as the JLab JBuds Mini, for example. But even so, I did find them pretty comfortable – and after several consecutive hours of listening, I didn’t feel the need to take them out for a break. Pair that with the inclusion of multiple-sized eartips, and there’s a lot to like about the NC9.
So, yes, all in all the Tozo NC9 punch well above their weight. Do they make good on all of their promises? Well, technically no, but their sonic capabilities, IPX8 waterproofing, and adjustable ANC make them a worthy budget buy. Sure, they won’t replace my LG Tone Free T90S, which remain some of the best wireless earbuds in my book, but if you want some competent buds for less than $30, these would be one of my top recommendations.
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