When we hear the word ‘Nokia‘, it reminds us of the Finnish giant’s dominance in the feature phone and Windows Phone space. That goes hand-in-hand with durability and robustness.

Up until the Nokia brand was sold, things have changed. From offering budget to midrange Android smartphones, they also have tablets, smart TVs, and wireless earbuds in the lineup.

To be very specific, Nokia’s audio product line come from RichGo Technology while smartphones are under HMD Global. Their TVs (only sold in India) belong to Flipkart.

And take it as a good thing. Without Nokia branching out from a highly-competitive phone market, they would barely last long. But I’m pretty sure that these wireless earbuds I have for quite a while last longer than expected.

Minimal packaging

For a wireless earbuds this cheap, don’t expect anything grand. But if you want to legit check your (future) purchase, the pair comes with an outside sleeve showing the lifestyle photo of the product. Removing it reveals a less fancy white box.

Opening the box furthermore shows the product as well as the paperwork.

First, there’s the pair of wireless earbuds as well as its case in a flimsy plastic packaging.

And if you’ll flip it, there’s a USB-C cable wrapped in plastic that’s also taped beneath. Not the most fancy packaging ever but still does the job.

Easy to pair

Thanks to Bluetooth 5.1, pairing it to any smartphone is actually faster than sending Bluetooth files between two Android smartphones. All you have to do is to press the button behind the case, lights will show, and the device will instantly appear on your phone’s Bluetooth devices list.

I tried pairing it to my iPhone too and it was a breeze. It’s safe to say that these wireless buds will work regardless of how new or old your device is as long as your device has Bluetooth.

Pocketable and featherweight

First thing I noticed when I held this is that, it’s small and light. As you can see in my big hands, the Nokia E3101 looked small compared to other TWS buds offerings in the market.

If we talk about material, its entirely made out of plastic — from the case to its buds. But the differentiating factor has got to be the matte texture of the case versus the glossy plastic wireless earbuds inside.

Despite the material used, I gotta commend Nokia for that idea of combining two different finishes for that elegant touch of design.

When you remove and put the earbuds inside your ear, it feels like its almost non-existent. But mind you, I still felt it dropped when I fell asleep inside the bus. You just have to make sure that each bud fit inside your ears well.

Decent buds for its price

I’m not a 101 perecemt audiophile but for someone who loves listening to various musical genres, I have my list on what to check in any pair of wireless earbuds — especially the bass and clarity. I own an Apple AirPods, as well as the Samsung’s Galaxy Buds+ and Galaxy Buds Live. But for the Nokia E3101’s affordable price tag, I have to lower down my expectations.

Upon first usage, I wasn’t expecting anything grand but I’m surprised that it offers good sound quality. Bass could’ve been better but I have to remind myself this is a sub-PhP 2K pair of TWS earbuds. Clarity-wise, it’s enough for everyone with vocals that are audible. I’m pretty sure dialogues in films, series, or even calls all sound clear for anyone’s liking.

If you play more with your phone’s EQ or have some third-party apps like Boom 3D, you’ll totally be amazed with what these TWS earbuds have to offer. Not that it’s a big deal but the lack of wear detection means music will still play if you remove it from your ears. It even plays music even when I placed them inside the case.

There’s also a touch sensor for playing, pausing, or skipping tracks. As I’ve mentioned earlier that the buds work for both Android and Apple devices, Google Assistant and Alexa can be summoned with just that single press.

If you’re into long walks, running, or gym workouts, the Nokia E3101 is IP44-rated. That means it can withstand water splashes or sweat so you don’t have to worry that much in such situations. My regular pair of AirPods don’t even have this feature.

People who are eyeing to buy this would care less about the codec it supports. But if you’re that curious enough, it has SBC which is the default codec for all Bluetooth earphones.

Besides, would you expect Qualcomm’s aptX or Sony’s LDAC audio codecs at this price point? A thing I can guarantee is that, this isn’t marketed towards hardcore audiophiles so you shouldn’t expect anything monumental.

Long-lasting battery

Another thing I love about this pair is its battery life. On a single charge, both buds lasts for up to 4-5 hours depending on usage. That’s enough battery to get you in a video call meeting via Zoom or GMeet.

I also used it when I went out for work. Its battery capacity lasted more than enough taking into account how I got stuck in traffic for three hours. So whether it’s for playing music, making calls, streaming videos, or even playing games, the Nokia E3101 will surely last long for almost a full-day of use.

While not totally similar with the 150-hour-touting Nokia Power Earbuds, the case of the Nokia E3101 will give you a total of around 20 hours before you actually hook the USB-C port in its case once it gets drained. Fully charging both the earbuds and the case take around two hours — not ideal for people who are always in the hurry.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

If you’re that type of budget-conscious user who can’t wait to switch from your old wired earphones to a new pair of wireless earbuds, the Nokia E3101 might just be your GadgetMatch. With an SRP of just PhP 1,999, you can easily transition to a wireless ecosystem without breaking the bank.

The buds are available in Shopee, Lazada, and Nokia’s Facebook store. Other than the black colorway that I have, it’s also available in blue and white variations.

You can also check out other offerings from Nokia such as the cheaper Nokia E3100 and a more pricey Nokia E3500.