Infinix XE27 TWS Review: Budget Buds with a Few Bumps

Infinix has built a reputation in India for delivering budget-friendly smartphones, and now the company is venturing into the audio space with the Infinix XE27 TWS earbuds.

Priced at around ₹2,000, these earbuds are packed with features like Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC), and a low-latency gaming mode. But do these features make the XE27 worth your money? Let's dive into the details.

PROS

• Affordable price point
• Bass-heavy sound, ideal for bass lovers
• Comfortable fit with extra ear tips
• IPX4 rating for sweat and rain resistance
• Decent battery life with quick charging

CONS

• Glossy plastic case attracts fingerprints and scratches easily
• Average build quality compared to competitors
• Underwhelming ANC performance
• Muffled call quality with noticeable external noise
• No dedicated app for sound customization

Design and Build Quality: A Mixed Bag

The Infinix XE27 TWS buds feature a straightforward design with a lightweight, plastic construction. The charging case comes in two colors: Royal Blue and Imperial White. I reviewed the Royal Blue variant, which has a glossy finish that easily attracts fingerprints and scratches.

In my experience, the case became covered in scratches within just a few days of use. While the build quality is generally solid-the case closes with a satisfying click-the overall quality of the plastic feels somewhat underwhelming. This is especially noticeable when compared to competitors like the Redmi Buds 5C, which offer a more robust build at a similar price point.

The earbuds come with additional ear tips, allowing for a better fit. During workouts, the buds stayed securely in place, and their lightweight design made them comfortable to wear for extended periods. With an IPX4 rating, they are also resistant to sweat and light rain, which adds to their practicality. However, the touch controls on the earbuds were a bit finicky, requiring multiple attempts to register inputs. This was frustrating, especially since there's no dedicated app to customize the controls.

Sound Quality and ANC: Not Quite There

The sound quality of the Infinix XE27 buds is a mixed bag. Powered by 10mm dynamic drivers, the earbuds deliver a bass-heavy sound profile. If you're a bass enthusiast, you might appreciate this emphasis, but it comes at the cost of clarity in the treble and vocals, which often feel overshadowed.
The absence of an app to tweak the equalizer settings is a noticeable drawback, especially for users who prefer a more balanced sound profile.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is one of the highlighted features of the XE27, but in practice, it's underwhelming. While it's commendable that Infinix included ANC at this price point, the performance leaves much to be desired. The ANC slightly reduces ambient noise, but it's not powerful enough to make a significant difference in noisy environments.

The Transparency Mode, which is supposed to allow external sounds to filter through, felt more like a marketing gimmick than a functional feature. It barely made a difference when turned on, leading me to stick to toggling ANC on or off.

Call Quality: Average, at Best

Call quality on the XE27 is passable, but far from impressive. During a lengthy call with my mother, she reported that external noises were more prominent than my voice, and at times, my voice sounded muffled. While you can make calls with these earbuds, the person on the other end might have to deal with considerable background noise, especially if you're outdoors.

Battery Life and Connectivity: Solid Performance

On the battery front, the Infinix XE27 TWS Buds deliver a respectable performance. Infinix claims 4.5 hours of playback with ANC enabled, and my experience was close to this figure. The charging case extends the total battery life to around 26-28 hours, which is impressive for the price. A quick 10-minute charge can give you an hour of playback, which is a handy feature for those on the go. The case itself takes about two hours to fully charge.

Connectivity is reliable, thanks to Bluetooth 5.0. The earbuds paired quickly with my smartphone, and the connection remained stable within a 10-meter range.

Should You Buy the Infinix XE27 TWS Buds?

The Infinix XE27 TWS buds are a decent attempt at offering budget-friendly true wireless earbuds with features like ANC and a bass-heavy sound profile. However, they fall short in several areas, including build quality, sound clarity, and the effectiveness of their noise cancellation. While they might seem attractive for the price, better options are available.

The Redmi Buds 5C (review), for example, offers superior build quality, better sound customization through a dedicated app, and a more effective ANC. Plus, with frequent discounts, the Redmi Buds 5C can be found for as low as ₹1,800, making them a better deal overall.