Accessories

Treblab X2 Hands-On: Give in-ear headphones a chance

For people done with wires getting magically tangled

Published

February 8, 2018

In-ear headphones aren’t exactly stylish and there’s always this fear that you’ll easily lose either one. I used the Treblab X2 for roughly three weeks and this is how it went.

Before we proceed, I need to get a few things out of the way. This is by no means an expert review; I’m nowhere near an audio expert; I’m just like a lot of you — a casual listener who enjoys a good tune or two. With that said, let’s go.

Design

When Apple’s AirPods were first announced, it wasn’t received warmly. Two small in-ear headphones sticking out your ear is not exactly a good look. It also didn’t look secure and appeared like one might fall off at any given moment.

These concerns remain true today, even for other in-ear headphones. I did a quick poll on Instagram stories to ask people if they dig the look of the Treblab X2. It was a landslide victory for the no votes.

While taking photos for this article, our Creative Director Chay even said, “It looks like there are tiny hammers sticking out of your ear.”

I have to admit, in the beginning, I shared this opinion. Not anymore.

Nope, that’s not Mjolnir in my ear

The Treblab X2’s hammer-like design actually helps in keeping the headphones inside your ear. It’s something our Lifestyle Editor Isa isn’t too fond off, but it doesn’t bother me.

I had these on while doing some light basketball shooting drills for a little over an hour and not once did it feel like they were going to fall off. Those drills involve a lot of running and jumping, but even then, the Treblab X2 stayed firmly in place.

It also has an IPX4 rating which means it can withstand body sweat and even a little rain.

Ballin’ with the Treblab X2

I did get weird looks from some people as I made my way to the basketball court. It went on as I was going through the drills. It may take a while before people are used to seeing in-ear headphones out and about.

Basics

Inside the box are, of course, the two in-ear headphones. Each one has two buttons and are labeled L and R at the bottom tip so you know which one goes where.

It also comes with a charging dock that doubles as a carrying case. The dock can provide one full charge for each earbud. There’s a carrying strap for the dock so it’s easier to grab.

The Treblab X2 looks nice if you ask me

You’ll also find three sizes of silicone eartips, three sizes of expandable foam eartips, and three sizes of X-Drop ear-fins so you can find the one that works best for you.

Pairing is a breeze. Turn on the right earbud first. When you turn the left one on, it should immediately connect to the right earbud.

Press and hold the power button for about four to five seconds. If you have them on, you should hear a voice prompt say “pairing.” Otherwise, there is an LED light indicator that should blink red and blue to indicate the device is ready for pairing.

The Treblab X2 is made of beryllium — it’s the same material used in other high-end sound devices. How exactly does it perform?

Performance

In a word: Fantastic.

I’ve had a rough go with previous wireless headphones. The previous two or three I used didn’t quite live up to their billing and would quickly disconnect from the device even if I’m about 10 or 15 feet away. That’s not the case with the Treblab X2.

It can be paired with two devices and has a range of 38 feet or roughly around 11.5 meters. Once turned on, it pairs to your preferred device right away. There were moments when I would wonder why no sound was coming from my phone. I didn’t realize they quickly connected to the Treblab, but that’s just me being stupid.

Pairing the Treblab X2 is a breeze

The pairing and quick connection is key for me since I’ve used Bluetooth headphones wherein the connection didn’t feel seamless. It’s a little detail that users should not have to worry about and Treblab does it well.

How about sound quality?

As mentioned earlier, I am by no means an audio expert. However, I do deal with audio a lot. I have been in the business of video production for roughly five to six years now (yikes, I’m old), so it’s imperative I always have a good pair of headphones with me to make sure audio is good for publishing.

I’ve edited several videos and some podcasts already with the Treblab X2, and I am more than satisfied.

It produces a clear and loud enough sound that I can maintain focus despite editing in a noisy environment. But it’s not too loud that it would hurt my ears.

Video editing with the Treblab X2

The bass doesn’t come at you with full force. Using the Treblab X2 feels more like watching a low-key gig at a bar than being in a jam-packed coliseum concert.

Its passive noise cancellation is great for when you still want to hear what’s going on around you despite having the headphones on. That’s perfect since I also use them while walking to and from work.

I still need to hear if there’s anything coming my way despite “Sugar We’re Going Down” by Fall Out Boy blasting in my ear.

In case you were wondering, I like listening to upbeat tracks while walking so I can keep my pace up. Here’s my playlist if you want to give a try.

Final thoughts

Its battery is supposed to last for up to 10 hours. During my test, it actually felt like it lasted longer. I’ve gone two days without charging and I usually use it for roughly six hours per day.

I don’t recommend having it on for longer than four hours. Make sure you let your ears breathe after two or three hours of use. That goes for any in-ear headphones.

Take the earbuds off every two or three hours

Will I use it even after completing this hands-on review? The answer is yes. It does everything I need it to do and accompanies me while playing ball or walking home.

The Treblab X2 performs probably better than you would expect from any wireless in-ear headphones. The look might put some people off, but if you’re after headphones you can use while working out, this is a solid option.

If, like me, you’re fed up with wires magically getting tangled inside your pocket, I would give the Treblab X2 a chance.

Accessories

2025 Black Friday Sale Gift Guide

Our Top Gift Picks With HUGE Savings!

Published

November 24, 2025

GadgetMatch and Michael Josh Villanueva

In the annual BLACK FRIDAY SALE, we’ve compiled and rounded-up our best picks with the best value you can get right now!

🧹 Get 50% off Dreame X50 Ultra on Amazon or click here on their website | Use code SAKITECH15 (5% off ’til Dec 1)

💧 Stay hydrated and get up to 30% off on the LARQ PureVis 2 here.

💡 Level up with Govee TV Backlight T2 or Govee Sync Box AI Kit 2.

> Samsung The Frame 65”

> Samsung The Frame Pro 75”

> Samsung The Frame Pro 85”

> Hisense C2

> Hisense C2 Pro

> Hisense C2 Ultra

> M4 MacBook Air

> M4 Mac mini

> Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

> Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

> Nomad Universal Cable for Apple Watch

> Nomad Tracking Card

> Nomad Base One Max

> Statik TireHero

> Samsung T7 Shield Portable SSD

> Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

> Coffee Check Matte Black

Accessories

Unboxing EVERY Color of the very exclusive iPhone Pocket

And why it got sold out instantly!

Published

November 24, 2025

GadgetMatch and Michael Josh Villanueva

In this video, we’re unboxing the iPhone Pocket in ALL ITS COLORS!

Also, it gives us a glimpse of Apple’s shared history with ISSEY MIYAKE.

Lastly, THE Michael Josh will show you what fits and how to style it.

Here’s our first look at this very exclusive accessory, the iPhone Pocket.

Accessories

BOYA mini 2: A step-up for content creators, more

Sub-US$ 60 package where audio quality, convenience, and portability align

Published

November 24, 2025

Manila Connoisseur

In today’s vertical-first, voice-over-heavy social media world, audio isn’t just important; it’s the dealbreaker. Better audio sets the tone instantly.

Content creators know this, especially that production for social media consumption has changed dramatically over the past half decade.

It’s only vital for creators to resonate with audiences clearly, as the latter are all ears aside from eyes on videos.

That’s where the BOYA mini 2 can come in and upgrade that aspect of content creation — mine included.

Portable, lightweight, easy to use

These thumb-sized, 5-gram transmitters are portable, long-lasting, and can give you a quick and easy workflow to finish whatever you’re working on.

Scour quickly on BOYA’s retail website and you’ll find plenty of sets to choose from. You can start with just a charging case and one transmitter and receiver, but you can also opt for two transmitters and both a Lightning or USB-C receiver.

I had the set that had everything, and this entire package costs just US$ 54.99 (PhP 3,290). There’s Matte Black and Lunar Silver color options as well.

The charging case is likewise small and portable, and having it is as if you’re just carrying earbuds along. It fits pockets, pouches, sling bags, handbags, and more. No extra baggage needed.

Plug and use

What you’ll love with the BOYA mini 2 is that it works right out of the box. The package I have had both the lightning and USB-C receivers.

Just plug which one is compatible with your phone and you’re ready to go. The default audio quality is already leagues ahead of muffled clip-ons and built-in phone mics.

Each mic lets you record up to 48Khz-24 bit quality audio, giving voices clarity with minimal distortion.

But of course, if you’re big on tailor-fitting the audio for what you’re about to produce, you can just download the BOYA Central app to make changes in several settings.

There is a 6-level gain, so you can have the transmitter absorb louder audio. You can also switch between mono and stereo recording if you have two transmitters turned on.

In addition, there are preset EQ modes, but you’re free to customize your own mix as well. My go-to is the Vocal Boost mode which amplifies whatever I say on record.

Speaker mode, meanwhile, allows you to review recorded audio or video immediately afterwards. This is helpful especially if you’re just recording with a phone.

Do note that the app needs internet connection to work, but other than that, you’re all set.

Noise Cancellation: A big help

Moreover, the 3rd-generation AI-powered Noise Cancellation feature works wonders. It blocks off unwanted noise (-21dB to -40dB) to a certain degree.

BOYA trained this with over 700,000 real-world noise samples. In practice, it shows.

There are times I recorded in crowded areas or had a cooling fan behind me for a food review, but I couldn’t hear them whenever I played such videos on my phone.

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Conversely, if your area is already quiet enough, the audio stands out even better.

View this post on Instagram

Obviously, if you have more high-end headphones, you’ll be able to hear more layers of sound, but considering the target audiences of creators who’ll likely play content from their phones, it’s all good.

And such feature is helpful for interviews, stand-uppers (i.e., talking-head shots), and more scenarios.

I can imagine traditional media leveraging this and the wireless nature of the mini 2 for packed media scrums where you can’t be in front of the guest/s.

A step-up for vloggers, content creators, more

In my case, I started making vlogs again back in 2023. Before that, I had a YouTube channel that lasted from 2018 to 2021 that focused mainly on Korean BBQ restaurant reviews back when the samgyup hype was at an all-time high.

My videos had the regular 16:9 aspect ratio and lasted about 5 to 10 minutes long. But those days are well behind us.

Nowadays, it’s all about vertical short-form videos with voice-overs. I was well aware of this and had to figure out how to keep up with this generation’s way of making vlogs.

While I’ve always trusted my skills and my midrange smartphones to deliver the visual part, the voice recording side was the one that’s tricky. I used to just record my voice inside my wardrobe closet to block off noise and absorb echo.

At some point, our ever generous managing editor did give me a condenser mic before, but using it also involved a lot of steps in the workflow. I had to use a laptop to start recording and then transfer the audio file to my phone.

Simpler process

This is where the BOYA mini 2 changed the game for me. The product’s versatility allows for a more simplified and seamless production flow.

My partner, on the other hand, was also able to use the system for her makeup product reviews with front camera shots.

She even leveraged the transmitters for livestreaming sessions so that she could use both arms for swatching different lipstick shades and focusing on Shopee or TikTok’s livestream controls.

A little patience goes a long way

As you’re not paying a fortune per se with the BOYA mini 2, don’t expect perfection either.

The one hurdle we had to deal with was whenever we switched from the Lightning to USB-C receiver, you will have to reconnect the transmitters again.

It takes a while to figure it out. Without reading the manual, I just double-pressed the button on the transmitter until it turned green after blinking steadily. You will also have to do the same with the mics, which restart several times before finally syncing again.

Other than that, there weren’t much problems encountered.