Indian audio innovator BOULT recently launched their latest product, the Astra Neo TWS earbuds, designed specifically for gamers. These true wireless stereo earbuds are engineered to enhance the gaming experience by offering an impressive 70 hours of playback and an ultra-low latency of just 40 ms, tackling common gaming issues such as frequent charging and audio delays. We played with them for over 2 weeks and this is our in-depth BOULT Astra Neo Review.
In This Article
BOULT Astra Neo Review: Design
The BOULT Astra Neo has a distinct appearance compared to other standard earphones on the market. The company’s logo is engraved on the top lid. It has a unique look thanks to cutouts and a comfortable grip design. The case’s patterns provide a nice, secure grip that prevents slipping from your hand. A large LED indicator is on the front, and a USB charging connector is provided on the rear. For the price point, the quality of the plastic you will receive is excellent. In the dark, its visual components were breathtaking.
You will notice the earbuds tugged into their respective compartments as soon as you open the case. The earphones have also adopted the same textured comfort grip. These earphones come with an in-ear design that is good. Additionally, the earbuds’ LED lights will produce a breathing effect. The case LED indicator blinks for three seconds, then steadies and turns off. The stem is kept relatively short to keep the weight low.
We’re not particularly impressed by its magnetic grip, though. Although it is easy to open with one hand, this feature makes the whole thing feel a bit flimsy. The magnets are not as powerful as we had anticipated, particularly around the case. The casing opens up when you pick it up, and in the unlikely event, the earphones might slip out, which is extremely risky in our opinion. Although the hinges are well-made, the lid must be forced closed due to the weak magnets.
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We would have appreciated softer ear tips, too. After about an hour of use, the slightly thick ear tips provided may begin to cause discomfort.
BOULT Astra Neo Review: Performance
The highly dependable Bluetooth Version 5.4, with a range of up to 10 metres, is accessible here. Here, you experience a solid connection without any distortion or frequency-related problems. 13mm dynamic drivers, and support for MSBC, SBC, and AAC codecs are also some of the top features of the Astra Neo.
At volumes above 70%, the earbuds exhibit noticeable distortion and audio leakage. However, bass enthusiasts will likely appreciate their sound profile. Despite these issues, the overall sound quality remains excellent, ensuring a satisfying listening experience.
Because these are meant for gamers, you get to see an exclusive gaming mode here. Tapping on the earbuds four times will quickly activate combat gaming mode. Furthermore, the gadget can synchronise audio and visuals if you’re watching films or sports.
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The 40 ms low latency of the BOULT Astra Neo is helpful for gaming. While gaming, we had no audio lag. For incredibly clear calls, a quad mic configuration, environment noise cancellation, and AEC are available. We tested them outside, and even with a lot of background noise, they produced high-quality resonance.
Talking about touch controls, these earphones are very sensitive, for sure. The touch area (Multi-Functional Touch Panel) is located in the upper part of the earbuds handle. Control has been kept super easy here.
You can tap the MFB once to start or stop playing. Double-tap the right MFB to get to the Next Track; double-tap the left MFB to go to the Previous Track. Triple-tap the right MFB to turn up the volume, and triple-touch the left MFB to turn down the volume. Hold down the MFB button for three seconds to activate the voice assistant. By hitting the MFB twice, you can reject or end the call. hitting the MFB once will answer the call. Tap the MFB four times to enter the Game/Music Mode.
In addition to an ambient breathing light for gaming aesthetics, the casing features an LED indication that illuminates when it is attached to a charger. After the charging process is finished, the front LEDs breathe frequently until becoming steady. LEDs will blink three times to signal low battery life. Take a gap of 1 second and repeat this three times.
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Regarding battery life, you can expect an astounding 70 hours of playback. On the other hand, it can operate for 100 minutes after just 10 minutes of quick charging. The duration needed to charge from 0% to 100% is about 60 minutes.
Verdict
As music enthusiasts, we’re always tuned in during our free time. The BOULT Astra Neo delivers exceptional sound quality. Switching to combat mode noticeably reduces latency, making these earbuds a perfect choice. For less than Rs 1,100, you get an aesthetically pleasing design combined with seamless gaming and a superb audio experience.
BOULT Astra Neo Pros
- Unique design
- Textured non-slippery finish
- No lags during gaming
- Boosted Bass
BOULT Astra Neo-Cons
- Weak magnets
- Audio leaks at full volume
