Soundpeats T3 Pro Review: Can $17 Earbuds Really Be This Good?

The Soundpeats T3 Pro is here to shake up the market of budget earbuds, and it’s doing so with a bang. These earbuds promise many features usually found in more expensive models, like Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), transparency mode, and app-based customization. With a price tag of just around $17, the T3 Pro has much to prove, but it seems ready to take on the challenge. For anyone looking for great sound, solid design, and modern tech features without spending a fortune, these might just be the perfect pick.

What makes the T3 Pro particularly interesting is how Soundpeats has borrowed technology from its flagship earbuds and packed it into this affordable option. From the leather-textured case that resists scratches to the impressive battery life and call quality, there’s a lot to unpack here. These earbuds even come with Bluetooth 5.4 for a stable connection and multipoint connectivity. So, by the end of this review, you’ll know if these budget earbuds are the right fit for you or if they’re just another pair that overpromises and underdelivers.

Design and Comfort

The Soundpeats T3 Pro themselves stick to a classic, minimalist design I can say that plays it safe but smart. They feature a sleek, polished finish with subtle branding on the touch-sensitive area. Despite their simplicity, they feel well-made and durable. Right out of the box, the T3 Pro gives off a good first impression, punching well above its weight in terms of aesthetics and build quality.

The earbuds have an AirPods Pro-inspired look, which is a tried-and-true shape for most people’s ears. The stems are short and unobtrusive, while the ear tips are soft silicone, ensuring a snug fit. The earbuds sit comfortably in the ear, and you can wear them for hours without any discomfort—a big win for long commutes or binge-watching sessions.

Comfort is another area where the T3 Pro excels. The lightweight design of the earbuds ensures they don’t feel bulky, and the variety of ear tips included in the box means you can find the perfect fit for your ears. A secure fit is especially important for maintaining sound quality and effective noise cancellation, and the T3 Pro delivers on both fronts. One standout feature is the IPX4 water-resistance rating.

The charging case deserves another mention here. It immediately catches the eye with its unique design with leather-textured that adds a premium touch and makes it practical. Unlike smooth plastic cases that show scratches and fingerprints, this case stays looking clean and classy over time. The hinge is firm yet smooth, snapping shut with a satisfying click. It also features a USB-C port for charging, which is always a plus in a market still plagued by micro-USB cases.

Connectivity and App Features

The Soundpeats T3 Pro comes equipped with Bluetooth 5.4, which provides a fast, stable, and reliable connection, that ensures low latency, minimal dropouts, and faster pairing speeds compared to older versions. Once paired, the connection remains stable, even at a reasonable distance from your device. During testing, the earbuds maintained a strong connection up to 10 meters (33 feet) in open spaces.

The T3 Pro also supports multipoint connectivity, which allows you to connect the earbuds to two devices simultaneously. This feature is a major convenience if you frequently switch between your phone and laptop, as it lets you seamlessly transition between calls, music, and other activities.

PeatsAudio App Integration

One of the standout features of the Soundpeats T3 Pro is its compatibility with the PeatsAudio app. This app enhances the user experience by offering customization options that let you tailor the earbuds to your preferences. The app displays the battery levels of both earbuds and the charging case, so you’re always aware of how much juice is left. While the lack of percentage values for the earbuds might be a minor inconvenience, the visual indicators are still helpful.

Through the app, you can toggle between ANC, transparency, and normal listening modes with ease. This is particularly handy if you frequently switch between environments requiring different levels of noise cancellation. The T3 Pro also includes a low-latency mode for gaming and video watching. This mode reduces audio delay to around 80 milliseconds, ensuring synchronized audio and video.

The app provides multiple preset EQ settings for various music genres and audio preferences. Additionally, there’s a customizable 8-band EQ for those who want finer control over their sound signature. The T3 Pro supports remapping of touch controls, allowing you to assign specific functions like play/pause, skip tracks, or activate ANC/transparency modes to your liking.

Also, The app keeps your earbuds future-proof by allowing for over-the-air firmware updates. This ensures that any performance improvements or bug fixes can be easily applied, extending the lifespan of your earbuds.

Audio Performance

The Soundpeats T3 Pro punches well above its weight class in audio performance, delivering sound quality that rivals earbuds costing two or even three times more. For a budget option, the audio tuning is impressive, showing that Soundpeats knows its way around crafting an enjoyable listening experience.

Let’s start with the bass, which is undeniably one of the highlights of the T3 Pro. Equipped with 12mm dynamic drivers, these earbuds deliver a bass response that’s deep, punchy, and satisfying without being overwhelming when listening to bass-heavy genres like EDM or hip-hop, the T3 Pro provides a thump that makes your music come alive. The sub-bass performance is particularly notable, with a rich rumble that feels immersive, especially at higher volumes.

Even at moderate listening levels, the mid-bass is well-controlled, avoiding the muddiness that’s often found in budget earbuds. This balance allows the bass to shine without bleeding into the mids, which is essential for maintaining clarity in more complex tracks.

The midrange on the T3 Pro is clean and clear, making vocals and instruments stand out nicely. Whether it’s a podcast, an acoustic track, or a pop song, the mids feel natural and uncolored. Vocals, in particular, are crisp and full-bodied, allowing singers to take center stage without competing with the other frequencies.

What’s especially impressive is how well the mids hold up in busy tracks with a lot of instruments. Even when the earbuds are running on the SBC codec, which is a lower bitrate streaming option, the mids don’t lose their clarity. For budget earbuds, this is a significant achievement, showing that Soundpeats has fine-tuned the T3 Pro for versatility.

The treble on the T3 Pro is bright and well-defined without venturing into harsh or sibilant territory. Cymbals, strings, and other high-frequency elements are rendered with enough detail to make the listening experience enjoyable, though they don’t have the same sparkle or resolution you might find in higher-end models.

The highs are slightly understated compared to the bass and mids, which could be a deliberate choice to ensure the sound signature remains balanced and non-fatiguing. This tuning makes the T3 Pro an excellent option for extended listening sessions, as there’s no risk of ear fatigue even at higher volumes.

For in-ear earbuds, the soundstage is surprisingly spacious. While it doesn’t rival over-ear headphones or premium IEMs, the T3 Pro creates a sense of depth and width that makes you feel immersed in your music. Instruments are well-separated, and you can easily pick out different elements in a track. Imaging is accurate, with clear placement of sounds across the stereo field.

While the audio performance is stellar for the price, there are a couple of limitations to note. The lack of support for higher-quality codecs like aptX or AAC means you’re stuck with SBC, which may not fully unlock the earbuds’ potential for audiophiles. That said, the excellent tuning compensates for this to a great extent, making it a minor drawback for most of us.

Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode

For a budget pair of earbuds, the Soundpeats T3 Pro handles noise cancellation surprisingly well. While it doesn’t promise the same level of ANC as premium models, it more than holds its own in this price range. The ANC on the T3 Pro is rated at up to -35dB, which is more than enough to cancel out low-frequency ambient noises like air conditioning hum, road noise, or the background drone of an airplane cabin. During real testing, it managed to reduce around 80–85% of these types of noises when playing music at moderate volumes.

Where the ANC does struggle a bit is with higher-frequency sounds, such as nearby conversations or sharp noises like keyboard clicks. While it softens these sounds, it doesn’t eliminate them. That said, this level of performance is still impressive for earbuds in the $17 range.

Transparency mode on the T3 Pro is another handy feature, allowing you to stay aware of your surroundings without taking the earbuds out. The mode amplifies ambient sounds effectively, and conversations or announcements are easy to hear. While it’s not as natural-sounding as the transparency mode on premium earbuds like the AirPods Pro, it’s functional and gets the job done. There is a slight amplification of wind noise in this mode, which can be distracting outdoors, but it’s not a deal-breaker.

One area where the ANC could use some improvement is wind noise suppression. In breezy conditions, the earbuds struggle to filter out the wind’s buffeting sounds, which can be distracting, especially during calls or when listening at lower volumes. This is a common challenge for budget earbuds, but it’s something to keep in mind if you frequently use your earbuds outdoors.

Call Quality

The earbuds are equipped with four microphones and utilize AI-enhanced Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) to ensure your voice comes through clearly, even in noisy environments. In quiet settings, the T3 Pro delivers crystal-clear audio during calls. Voices are natural and detailed, with minimal distortion.

The real test for any earbuds’ call quality is how they handle noisy environments, and the T3 Pro doesn’t disappoint. Background noises like chatter, keyboard typing, or even light traffic are effectively minimized. In particularly noisy settings, such as a bustling coffee shop or while walking near heavy traffic, the ENC does a decent job of suppressing the background noise. While it doesn’t completely eliminate all distractions, the AI algorithms ensure that your voice stays clear and understandable to the person on the other end of the call.

The microphones on the T3 Pro are sensitive enough to pick up soft voices without requiring you to raise your volume. However, they do prioritize your voice over background sounds, which can occasionally make your voice sound slightly processed in very noisy settings. While this doesn’t affect the overall clarity much, it’s worth noting if you’re in exceptionally loud environments.

Battery Life

The Soundpeats T3 Pro excels in battery life, offering performance that easily competes with higher-priced earbuds. This is especially impressive considering its budget-friendly price point. On a single charge, the earbuds deliver up to 7 hours of playtime with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) turned off. Even with ANC enabled, you can still expect around 5 hours of continuous use. So, this translates to a full day of typical use without needing to recharge.

The charging case adds an additional 21 hours of playtime with ANC off or 15 hours with ANC on, bringing the total battery life to a solid 28 hours under optimal conditions.

The case charges via USB-C, which is a welcome feature in this price range. While there’s no support for wireless charging—a feature often reserved for premium earbuds—the USB-C port ensures fast and efficient recharging. A full charge for the earbuds and case takes about 2 hours, but a quick 10-minute top-up can provide roughly an hour of playback.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

The Soundpeats T3 Pro is an impressive pair of budget earbuds that deliver far more than their price tag suggests. With excellent sound quality, reliable ANC, clear call performance, and a wealth of features accessible through the app, these earbuds are a no-brainer for anyone seeking value-packed audio gear.

While there are minor compromises, like the lack of higher-quality audio codecs and wireless charging, these are forgivable considering the $17 price. The combination of long battery life, stable connectivity, and solid build quality makes the T3 Pro an easy recommendation for anyone looking for great performance on a budget. At just $17, the Soundpeats T3 Pro offers features and performance that punch way above their price, proving that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get a great pair of wireless earbuds.