Over the last couple of years, entry-level wireless earbuds have made tremendous strides in audio quality, design, and build quality. A few years back you would have to splurge around Rs 2,000 for a TWS with a passable soundstage and sturdy build. Entry-level TWS had a reputation for being non-durable and flimsy. Audio tech outfits like Boult, Truke, and Mivi have carved out a new niche for themselves by offering products that punch well beyond their weight. The newly launched Boult K10 is representative of the rapidly progressing entry-level TWS segment. We used this pair of wireless earbuds for a week, primarily for music streaming and gaming. Here is our in-depth review of the Boult K10 TWS.
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Boult K10 TWS Review: Design
Here’s what you get inside Boult K10’s retail box:
- Charging case with earbuds inside
- USB Type-A to Type-C cable
- S & L silicone eartips
- User manual
Boult K10’s charging case follows the standard ‘lunchbox’ design. Its square-ish shape and compact form factor make it easy to slip inside pockets. The case is slightly thicker than an average TWS but it does not hamper the portability of the device. The plastic used for the charging is not flimsy and does not flex upon being pressed. The hinge feels like it can withstand rough use over a long period of time.
The matte finish on the plastic exterior of the case lends it a nice in-hand feel. We’re also happy to report that the case does not attract any fingerprints or smudges. The top of the lid has the ‘Boult’ branding engraved on it. A sleek notch makes it easy to flip the lid with one finger. Right below this notch lies a small LED notification light. The USB Type-C port is positioned below the hinge.
The plastic inlay contains two cutouts for the earbuds along with a pairing button. It is quite uncommon to see a dedicated pairing button on entry-level earbuds, so its inclusion here is very welcome. The inlay has a grey colour scheme which offers a nice contrast to the black exterior. In line with the dual-tone theme, the black earbuds have grey eartips.
The Boult K10 earbuds follow the traditional in-ear design. The exterior panel of the buds has a matte finish while the inner section that goes into the ear is glossy. The stem houses a mic and a mini LED light along with the Boult branding. The upper section of the earbuds is a little bulky and slightly hampers the fit. Users with small ears may find it challenging to fit these earbuds. They are designed for the average ear size but the seal could have been tighter had Boult decided to shrink the upper section by a small factor.
The touch panels on the two earbuds are tuned nicely and keep accidental triggers to a minimum. Since there is no app support for this TWS, you are stuck with the default touch controls. The good news is that these controls are intuitive and easy to get used to.
Boult K10 has an IPX5 rating, making it immune to minor water splashes. We wore the earbuds while working out and did not face any issues with their performance when things got sweaty. However, the glossy interior of the earbuds got a little slippery when it came in contact with sweat.
Boult K10 TWS Review: Performance
The Boult K10 wireless earbuds are equipped with 13mm dynamic drivers with BoomX technology. The TWS supports SBC and AAC codecs. There’s Bluetooth 5.4 onboard for seamless pairing to any device.
Boult K10’s soundstage is very rich for the price bracket it belongs to. The audio output is detailed and lush. The low-range frequencies are boosted and the bass elements in the mix are quite thumpy. The mids and the lows suffer as a result. While the vocals come through without any disturbance, the subtle hits of the clapper often get lost in the mix. Having said that, bass heads will enjoy the audio output produced by these earbuds. We played a range of genres including classic rock, heavy metal, and pop on these earbuds. Overall, our listening experience was quite satisfactory.
Apart from delivering a good music listening experience, the Boult K10 has something for gaming enthusiasts as well. Tapping either earbud four times enables the gaming mode. In this mode, the audio latency of the TWS drops down to 45ms. We played Call of Duty Mobile with the K10 on and did not face any latency issues. The game visuals perfectly matched the audio relayed by the earbuds.
Boult K10 uses quad-mic ENC for voice and video calls. The earbuds pick up the voice of the speaker and suppress the indoor ambient noises quite easily. The call quality is crystal clear in an indoor setting. However, in loud outdoor conditions, the surrounding noise seeps in, bringing down the call quality. The speaker’s voice sounds a little boxy and rough.
Boult promises a total playtime of 50 hours on these earbuds. This includes the charge stored in the case. During the review period, we used the Boult K10 for music streaming, calling, and gaming for an average of 4-5 hours every day. By the end of the week, the case still had some charge left. Since the K10 is not compatible with Boult’s TWS app, there is no way to tell the level of charge left in the case. A quick 10-minute charge offers a playtime of 2 hours.
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Verdict
The Boult K10 make a fine pair of wireless earbuds at Rs 899. The TWS gets the essentials right. The build quality of the case and earbuds is better than anything we’ve seen in this price bracket. The soundstage lays special emphasis on the bass, curating an enjoyable listening experience. The handy low-latency mode ensures that you don’t lag behind while playing games on your smartphone. We also like that the TWS doesn’t skimp out on battery life and offers a respectable 50-hour playtime on a full charge. However, the lack of a companion app means that there is no way to customise the touch controls and equaliser.
Boult K10 TWS: Pros
- Minimal design
- Strong build quality
- Bass-oriented audio output
- Low latency mode
- Affordable
Boult K10 TWS: Cons
- Lacks companion app support
English (US) ·