Introduction
In 2016, Apple introduced the first-generation AirPods to solve the problem they created on the iPhone 7 — no audio jack. Even though the AirPods received mockings and critics, it is currently Apple’s best-selling product. Since then, many manufacturers launched products with the same concept. Ugreen, a company that makes great accessories and cables, recently reached out to us mentioning that the company has new true wireless earbuds. Without further ado, this is the Ugreen True Wireless Earbuds (CM338) review!
Unboxing
The earbuds come in a pretty simple white packaging. The box contains the earbuds in the charging case, MicroUSB cable, user guide, and extra ear tips.
Design
The earbuds have a pretty glossy black charging case, more rounded than the AirPods one. There’s an LED indicator at the front of the case, which will illuminate when charging. The case has a magnetic cover, opening up you’ll see the earbuds that take up pretty much most of the space. Inside there are charging connectors so that when you put the earbuds in it’ll automatically charge.
The bottom of the cover houses the MicroUSB port, which is quite disappointing as I was expecting a USB-C port. Overall, the case is quite convenient to use, though I would have preferred a less glossy finishing.
Unlike the AirPods, the earbuds have an oblong-shaped design with an LED indicator on each one. The matte piece is actually a touch panel, more about it later.
User Experience
As mentioned earlier, there are touch panels on both sides of the earbuds. Ugreen did a great job to implement a few functions by just tapping the touch panel, as shown below:
| Left | Right | |
| Double-tap | Play/Pause | Play/Pause |
| Hold for 1 second | Previous Song | Next Song |
| Double-tap during calls | Answer/Hang Up | Answer/Hang Up |
| Hold for 2 seconds during calls | Reject Call | Reject Call |
| Triple-tap while on standby | Voice Assistant | Voice Assistant |
This is actually quite unexpected since the earbuds are actually quite affordable. Additionally, they are actually truly independent earbuds, meaning you can actually just use one earbud while the other one keeps in the case. The transition between left and right is just seamless and quick.
Audio Quality
Compared to AirPods, I actually kinda prefer the way the Ugreen True Wireless Earbuds (CM338) fit in my ears. As for the audio quality, the earbuds have great bass and mids, but the highs are a little bit lacking behind. When listening to vocals with high pitches, somewhat I find that there are some distortions, it’s like there’s phlegm in the throat. However, you won’t really notice it on a daily basis, just need to really sit down quietly and listen carefully. There’s one problem, though. When I set it to minimum volume, one of the earbuds tends to have a lower volume than another one.
Battery Life
The battery life of the earbuds is actually quite okay with around 3.5 hours of listening time at a comfortable volume. Once you are not using the earbuds, you can just put back to the case and it’ll charge the earbuds automatically. During my review period, I only charge the case a couple of times.
When charging the earbuds, the LED indicators on earbuds will light up in orange color. The LED indicator on the case will light up in red too, and blue when the case is fully charged.
Final Words
Retailing at just RM119.99 (original RM199.99), the Ugreen True Wireless Earbuds actually surprised me. Since this is the first earbuds the company made, we can’t really expect too much. For sure the audio quality won’t be as good as other earbuds like the AirPods and Galaxy Buds, but I’m sure average consumers will be satisfied with how the earbuds sound. If you are looking to get earbuds, I can easily recommend this one.