Vivo TWS 2 ANC Review: Stylish looks but everything else is sub-par

With every new gadget launched in the market, there is something new to talk about. From affordable to expensive products, companies claim to provide the latest features in the gadgets. But, what matters the most is how they perform. Coming to the gadget in review here is the Vivo TWS 2, the latest addition to the earphone segment by Vivo. Offering the active noise cancellation (ANC) feature, Vivo TWS 2 is trying to compete with the brands like Oppo, Realme, Philips, Nothing, among others. Priced at Rs. 5,999, the Vivo TWS 2 ANC is press controlled, offers transparency mode, IP54, and other features. With so much to offer, does the earphone justify the price tag it is attached with? Let us find out here.

Vivo TWS 2 ANC Design

When it comes to earphones, there is not much you can expect with the design. However, some companies do experiment with the same. Like brands like Realme, Nothing, among others have opted for transparent lid to make the earphones look a bit fancy. But to make the Vivo TWS 2 ANC stand out among all, Vivo is offering the TWS 2 ANC in a pebble or oval-shaped case having a gradient look with a glossy finish. The earphone is being offered in two colour shades- one in basic White (Moonlight White), while the other in Starry Blue with a gradient look.

The build quality of the case is okayish and remained scratch-resistant during the review period. However, it does attract smudges and finger impressions. With the logo, a pairing button, a battery indicator in front, and a charging slot at the bottom, the case looks decent. The hinge quality also seemed fine. The device weighs 41.9 grams, is compact, and is easy to carry.

Coming to the stem-shaped earbuds, those are also comfortable to wear. I did not face any fit issues, nor any frequent adjustments were required to stop the earbuds from falling off the ears. Also, once paired, the earphones get connected with the smartphone automatically after opening the charging case, making it convenient and easy to use.

Vivo TWS 2 ANC Audio Quality

Earphones are meant to make your audio experience enjoyable. However, not every earphone matches the standards. My expectations with Vivo TWS 2 audio performance were high, given the price it is being offered at. However, I was not completely satisfied with the experience. Though while listening to the songs, there was clarity in the audio but compared to other earphones at this price range, it was a disappointment. The volume levels were not very loud. Highs are clear but as you bring the volume level below 50-40 percent, the struggle to listen to the audio starts! In short, the lows are not at all audible.

For the bass lovers, Vivo TWS 2 also provides an option of Mega Bass under sound effects, however, it was also not up to the mark. While coming to ANC, it did create a vacuum, however, not as per the expectations. Even with the depth noise cancellation enabled, you will be able to hear certain loud outer voices. I did not find a huge difference while switching from ANC mode to Transparency. With a latency rate of 88ms (minimum), the sound comes perfectly aligned with the actions while playing games, watching movies, youtube videos, etc.

The mic’s performance wasn’t as good either. While on calls, a lot of ambient noise was captured and even my voice was not clearly audible to the other person on call. However, it needs to be noted here that I have been using the Vivo TWS 2 earbuds with the Samsung Galaxy S22 and not a Vivo connected phone, which may also affect the performance of the earphone.

Vivo TWS 2 ANC Press Control

Instead of touch control, the Vivo TWS 2 ANC earbuds are pressure sensitive. You will have to use two fingers to apply pressure on the stem of the earbuds to control your audio, calls, switch among modes, etc. I did struggle to locate the exact area where the pressure works, however, once figured out, the feature works fine. You can even control volumes by swiping up or down on the stems of the earbuds. Also, as it is pressure-sensitive, a simple touch or adjustment of earbuds won't bother you by disconnecting the calls, or by playing/pausing the music!

The Vivo TWS 2 ANC also comes with a companion app from Vivo which can be used to easily operate the earbuds. From switching between modes to controlling sound effects, you can do it all from the app.

Vivo TWS 2 ANC Battery

Battery life on the Vivo TWS 2 ANC is impressive. It gave me around 5 days of battery life on a single charge on being used for around 3-4 hours daily, with most of the time ANC mode turned on. When completely discharged, the case took around 2 hours to refill itself.

Vivo TWS 2 ANC Verdict

Vivo TWS 2 ANC is a decent-looking pair of earphones with good battery life but seems a bit expensive at Rs. 5,999, especially for the audio performance it is offering. Though Vivo has tried to bring something new to the table with the pressure control, the overall performance fails to impress. If you are ready to spend a bit more and want a good audio performance you can consider Nothing ear (1), Philips TAT4506, among others. If you want to go for something less expensive, you may look for Realme Buds Air 3, Noise Air Buds Pro, etc.