The XG-17 TWS Bluetooth stereo headset’s box does not give it away as a well-featured, highly capable device. It is a plain white box with no fancy graphics. It is when you look closer at the box and its contents that you realise you have a very up-to-date pair of earbuds in front of you.
Allow me to introduce the XG-17 TWS Bluetooth 5.0 Headset to you: it is a pair of Bluetooth earbuds with an IPX5 nano-coating to make it sweat-proof. It supports all four of the Bluetooth profiles that you want and use – HFP, HSP, A2DP, and AVRCP. And because it is a True Wireless Stereo device, it can transmit the L channel (left) and the R channel (right) separately.
If that isn’t impressive enough, then wait till I dive into the details of real life usage and performance.
XG-17 TWS Bluetooth 5.0 Stereo Headphone Specs
- Transmission distance: 10m
- Speaker Type: 8-inch copper ring
- Impedance: 16 ohms
- Sensitivity: 98db
- Frequency response: 20Hz ~ 20KHz
- Battery capacity: 50mAh
- Rated power: 3mw
- Battery voltage: 32-4.2v
- Supported Bluetooth Profiles: HFP/HSP/A2DP/AVRCP
- IPX5 waterproof nano-coating
- Colour: Black
- Release Date: 2019
In The Box
- 2x Headphones
- 1x Charging stand
- 1x pack containing two extra pairs of soft tips
- 1x user guide
Charging The XG-17 TWS Bluetooth 5.0 Stereo Headset
Charging up the earbuds is a pretty straightforward process. Place them in the supplied charging stand and plug the stand into a USB port. It took about 30 minutes to get a full charge on my set. The battery capacity is 50mAh. The charging stand is magnetic, so the headphones stay attached without the need to plug, push, or clip.
Pairing The XG-17 TWS Bluetooth 5.0 Stereo Headset
I took the first earbud out, pressed the power button till it came on, and then found it on my phone and paired it. It was a textbook procedure. I then powered on the second earbud and in a few moments, it connected to its mate and was online too.
XG-17 TWS Bluetooth Headset: Audio Quality & Performance In Use
There is a good level of bass when used in stereo/binaural mode i.e. both earphones used together for music playback. It isn’t as deep or as loud as what my wired headphones or the Oraimo necklace deliver.
The manufacturer’s specs say that the XG-17 earbuds have 4 hours of music playback time. The first time I listened to music on mine for about an hour and had 70% battery left.
The manufacturer also says that the XG-17 TWS Bluetooth headphones have an IPX5 waterproof nano-coating for protecting them from sweat and water projected from a low-pressure nozzle for 3 minutes (see A Quick Guide To Water And Dust Resistance). This makes the earbuds suitable for sporting activities and for use in environments with high humidity.
I am happy to see all four (4) Bluetooth profiles supported, meaning that the headphones work with mobile phones for calls, plays back high quality stereo music, has the ability to control playback, and works with Bluetooth hands-free car kits. You can read more about Bluetooth profiles.
What is call quality like? Callers at the other end say audio is clear though it isn’t sharp. At this end of the earbuds, sound from the speakers is clear with good bass, though mildly boxy.
One key feature I love about True Wireless Steereo headphones is the ability to choose to wear only one piece at a time if I so desire. For most tasks and situations, using one piece serves me well, as it allows me to free one ear up. When it comes to really enjoying music though, plugging both ears delivers the richest audio experience. Full blast stereo.
In addition, being able to connect the earphones to two smartphones at the same time is an added bonus. Pairing the second smartphone was easy too. I disconnected the primary phone and then searched for the headphones on the secondary, and they popped up. Two taps, and pairing with the second phone was done.
Conclusion
The XG-17 TWS Bluetooth headphones are very pocket-friendly Bluetooth in-ear headphones. They are decently comfortable and feel reasonably stable in the ear. Battery life is good too. My opinion is that while it is an average headphone, it shines better at listening to music than at telephone calls. There are more powerful wireless headphones with more advanced features out there, if you want more than “good”.
As for the question of durability, I will update this review page with how that goes weeks and months down the line. The XG-17 Blutooth headphones cost $10 on Amazon and other e-commerce stores. You will find it for between ₦5,000 and ₦9,000 in stores in Nigeria, including on sites like Jumia and Konga.
Good if you like it, i don’t like earbuds, always discomforting, nice article though