The Poco brand entered the Indian TWS (True Wireless Stereo) earphones market for the first time with the release of Poco Pods at the end of the previous month. These earphones stand out due to their surprisingly low price of Rs 1,199 (about $14), which makes them a desirable option for those on a tight budget. Here’s a look at our first impressions of the Poco Pods, which are only available on Flipkart. We had the chance to test them out. Before continuing, let’s take a quick look at a few of the brand’s key selling points: up to 30 hours of playback duration, 12mm Xtra Bass drivers, 60ms low-latency for gaming, Bluetooth 5.3, Google Fast Pair, ENC, and IPX4-rated splash and perspiration resistance.
What’s inside the Poco Pods TWS box?
The Poco Pods’ retail box’s contents are shown below:
- earbuds with a charging case for Poco Pods TWS
- (Small and Large) Eartips
- User Guide
Both style and comfort
The Poco Pods are a well-built product with a small overall footprint. The matte plastic body of the oval-shaped charging case includes a glossy band running along the sides. On the front, it has yellow Poco branding, giving it the brand’s recognisable dual-tone colouring. Only the Midnight Groover colour is offered.
A USB-C charging connector and a charge indicator are located on the bottom of the case. Although the overall construction is solid, it doesn’t feel high-end. For inexpensive TWS earphones, the design is adequate. The earbuds already have medium-sized ear tips in place, but more sizes are provided in the box for a more personalised fit. Each earbud has yellow eartips and is black in colour. The left and right earbuds are identified by the letters L and R. A microphone and an LED indication are also included in each earphone. A charging cable is not included in the retail package.
The Poco Pods are incredibly lightweight, weighing only 3.6 grammes apiece for the earphones and 41 grammes for the charging case. During vigorous activities like jogging, working out, and cycling, the in-ear design with silicone tips offers a cosy fit. Even when engaging in strenuous activity, the buds and stem are cleverly constructed and remain safely in the ears. The IPX4 grade for perspiration and splash resistance provides durability while exercising.
Controls and connectivity
The Google Fast Pair feature and the most recent Bluetooth 5.3 connection are also included in the Poco Pods. It is easy to pair the Pods with any Bluetooth device. Simply open the Poco Pods case and turn on Bluetooth on your device. A prompt for connecting the Pods for the first time will display on your device and the LED indicator (located on the bottom of the case) will begin to blink. The Pods will immediately connect to the device once Bluetooth is enabled and the case is opened. Subsequent connections are automatic. By removing the Pods from the charging case, putting them on, and triple-tapping on the left and right ear contact points, you can also connect the headphones. Open Bluetooth after that.Connect to the Poco Pods using the settings on your phone.
The Poco Pods’ touch controls are simple to use and intuitive. You can play/pause music and answer/end calls with a double-tap on either earpiece. You can reject an incoming call or switch to the next track by triple-tapping on either side of the earbuds. You must use your smartphone to return to the previous song or change the volume.
| Controls | Functions |
| Long press on right / left on an incoming call | Reject call |
| Double press on right / left earbud | Play / Pause | Answer / End call |
| Triple press on right / left earbud | Next Song | Reject call |
The Xiaomi Earbuds app for Android and iPhone does support the Poco Pods, although it has a small feature set. You can activate the low latency gaming mode and examine the battery level. Unfortunately, the app’s settings cannot be changed. The lack of app compatibility makes controls fixed and uncustomizable, and touch control gestures cannot be changed. Despite this drawback, the touch controls are user-friendly and provide respectable precision.
Call Quality, Battery Life, and Sound Output
The audio quality of the 12mm drivers in the Poco Pods TWS earbuds is excellent for the price range, especially for customers who want a bass-driven and pounding sound profile. This is perfect for genres like party tunes and contemporary pop because the lower frequencies are noticeably increased. The mid-range and high-frequency sounds are slightly muddled by the output’s powerful bass, losing some of the mix’s subtleties.
While the overall sound quality is pleasing, the concentration on bass may make some components of the mix less distinct. There is no way for users to adjust the audio output to their tastes because an equaliser is not supported. However, this can be altered by using the equaliser on the music player. The SBC audio codec, which is widely used, is supported by the Poco Pods despite having compression methods that could degrade audio quality. The overall concentration on creating a pounding and forceful sound character remains a notable quality, even though this may cause a slight loss of subtleties in some genres with complex layers and arrangements.
experience for both inside and outdoor use. It goes without saying that indoor calls provide a superior experience to outside calls with Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC). In less-than-ideal circumstances, such as noisy or windy settings, the ENC capability helps to filter out background noise, making the user’s voice more apparent and enhancing call quality. While using the Poco Pods while engaging in outdoor sports like cycling or running, wind noise may still have an impact on call quality. Although the ENC feature aids in better call clarity, active noise cancellation (ANC), which can more effectively reduce undesirable background noise, should still be used instead.
In addition to a 34mAh battery in each earpiece, the Poco Pods have a 440mAh battery in the case. The pods can provide up to 30 hours of combined playback time with the case and 5 to 6 hours of standalone playback time on a single charge, according to the firm. The battery lasted for about 4 days in actual use when the case and combined usage were used. A 10-minute charge for the earphones provides about 70 to 80 minutes of listening time, while charging the case takes about 100 minutes. The battery life may provide a respectable length of playtime on a single charge and is generally sufficient for daily use.
Verdict
There are numerous options for earbuds costing around Rs 1200 on the TWS earbuds market in India. It can be challenging to pick a trustworthy set of TWS earbuds because there are so many regional players on the market with conflicting products. In such a congested market, a dependable company like Poco has just one TWS earbuds option, giving customers looking for high-quality audio and functionality at a reasonable price a simple and reliable option.
Cost and accessibility
Buy Poco Pods TWS earbuds @ Flipkart
The Poco Pods is available for purchase in India on Flipkart for Rs 1,199, or roughly $14. Additionally, it can be purchased from local offline retailers.
Disclaimer: This Poco Pods TWS earphones review contains only my personal opinions based on my own experiences. Poco hasn’t provided any editorial input.
TWS earbuds provide a comfortable and immersive listening experience, but it’s crucial to use caution when wearing headphones for an extended amount of time. Long-term exposure to loud noises may eventually cause hearing damage. We advise following safe listening procedures, which include keeping the volume at a reasonable level and taking frequent breaks to give your hearing a break. Your hearing health is crucial. So always prioritise good listening practises.
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