These days, it’s difficult to find a bad pair of wireless earphones. The market has come a long way since the early days of truly wireless earbuds when consumers had to put up with poor music quality and unpredictable performance just to avoid having to deal with wires. Things have changed dramatically since then. Companies like Sony, Apple, Samsung, and others are producing their most remarkable earbuds yet, following several product generations of learned lessons.

Nokia, on the other hand, has made significant investments in the wireless earphones industry. It’s worth noting that their current product line is both performance and price-wise remarkable.

This Nokia P3600 True Wireless Earbuds review should help you decide whether or not these earbuds are worth your money. The good news is that they are, and the sound quality amazed me overall if you are on a budget and want to save a little money by getting a Galaxy Buds 2. These are, in fact, among the best wireless earbuds below PHP6,000. But let’s squeeze in more details to help you decide better.

What are true wireless (TWS) earbuds?

True wireless earbuds, for those unfamiliar with the term, are earphones that have no cables between them – neither to connect them to your music streaming device nor to connect them to each other. Each bud is a self-contained unit that communicates with its counterpart without the use of wires.

Nokia P3600 Unboxing

A premium box filled with goodies

The case, with its shiny metallic silver finish, is very sturdy. It looks a bit reminiscent Nokia 8800 phone. The shiny coating, on the other hand, attracts fingerprints and smudges. RichGo, on the other hand, has added a little pouch to keep the case safe when you’re on the go.

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The USB C charging connector is located at the back of the case, while the front features a single white LED indication. 

Nokia P3600 Design and Ergonomics

The earphones have a different design than the Nokia E3101 that we previously reviewed. They’re made of a mix of matte and glossy plastic, with the latter closely resembling glass. The earbuds’ design should be pleasant for lengthy periods of usage, but we found this to be highly subjective. Some office coworkers complained of discomfort after several hours of use, while others had no such issues.

That will always be the case because everyone’s ear canals are different, and the fit will always be varied. The Nokia P3600 is, however, a little on the heavier side, which will make them even more uncomfortable for individuals who don’t fit well.

Despite the fact that the fits aren’t standard, the packaging includes two sets of extra ear tips. For me, the little ones work best. The good news is that these silicone rubber ear tips are universal, so you can also replace them with any other brand.

But take note, if you use too small tips, the music will sound dull and the bass will be almost non-existent. However, with the ones that are properly fitted, you get far better soundstage.

I used them for everything: I listened to music while jogging, I did a couple of treadmills, and I used them throughout the day. They didn’t fall out once and stayed solidly in my ear. That’s impressive given how many times I’ve come close to losing a bud from other brands, especially while exercising.

The Nokia P3600 earbuds are also IPX4 water and sweat-resistant, which is very useful for outdoor activities. It will perform excellently in adverse weather situations during training.

Smart Controls

A single tap on either of the buds pauses the current track, a double tap on the right one skips to the next track, and a double-tap on the left one returns to the previous track.

Nokia P3600 Performance and Audio Quality

The Nokia P3600 earbuds’ combination of Knowles balanced armature and an 8mm dynamic driver is one of their most impressive features. The dynamic drivers cover the whole frequency spectrum, resulting in improved bass and a more natural, unified sound. And meanwhile, the balanced armature drivers provide superior sound isolation and consume less power.

Rich Audio Quality

In my experience, they are well-tuned in terms of sound quality. Most kinds of music sound balanced, with deep bass and clear treble – though I would argue they distort the music slightly at times, especially on the high end. Unfortunately, there are no equalizer options to manually modify the sound, like an app that you can find with the Galaxy earbuds but at this price range, you wouldn’t expect there to be.

We put it to the test by performing Pharell Williams’ “Happy,” a 2011 Soul/Pop song known for its Block chord style, which was performed by synths and drums. The audio experience was well-balanced, with deep bass and a clean treble – though I would say the music was a little distorted at times, especially at near maximum volume. Of course, you wouldn’t want to reach those levels in the first place.

Even Justin Bieber’s 2020 hit song “Stay” fits in well. The lower frequencies and vocals were not artificially boosted. The neutrality provides a pure sound experience and can adapt to any music you want to listen to.

The sound quality is noticeably better than that of competitors like Samsung’s Galaxy Buds.

With its Clear Voice Capture technology, RICHGO guarantees crystal-clear conversations. We tried the buds on a Zoom call as well as a regular voice call. The call quality, to our delight, was excellent. Even if you are in a noisy area, the caller can clearly hear you. Indoors, the microphone performed admirably.

Don’t forget that Qualcomm’s aptX adaptive sound is included in these tiny earbuds. Qualcomm’s patented audio compression technology delivers seamless wireless technology, a dynamic low latency mode to decrease audio/lip-synchronization concerns, glitch-free audio with adjustable bit rate, and HD audio quality, which is ideal for gaming.

Here are my own impressions of the overall audio quality of the P3600:

• The overall tone of the P3600 is vibrant, making it ideal for listening to pop music.
• The treble is clear and performs well in terms of detail, but it isn’t excessively sharp or scratchy. The addition of the Knowles balanced armature has made a significant difference in the overall audio output quality.
• The midrange is somewhat neutral, with a hint of richness, and singers and wind instruments can be reproduced well.
• The P3600’s bass is a tad stronger and has a greater sense of depth. 

Made for Gamers!

The unique “Gaming Mode” feature on the P3600 excites me because it lowers delay and delivers sound in sync while in-game. We used the Samsung S20+ to play Mobile Legends: BangBang, Genshin Impact, and Call of Duty, and we didn’t notice any audio delay.

Long-lasting battery

These earbuds are perfect if you want long battery life. The buds last about 6 hours on a single charge, with the case providing an extra 24 hours. They are some of the best affordable true wireless earbuds for battery life, giving you extra 4 full charges.

On a daily basis, we discovered that with typical usage, you can easily get more than a couple of weeks of use away from the charger because the case supplies all the power you need.

Verdict

RichGo did right to these Nokia-branded TWS earbuds by packing them with value-added features, a long battery life, and a high price tag, according to our review of the Nokia E3101. On the other hand, the Nokia P3600 continues to deliver on its promise. Ambient mode, aptX support, and excellent battery life are just a few of the amazing features. I was a little concerned about the fitting at first, but I got used to it.

The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 (PHP6,990) are available if you’re ready to stretch your budget a little further. They sound amazing, have active noise cancellation, and are comfortable to wear. However, it will set you back more than a thousand dollars, despite the fact that it only includes IPX2 and no Gaming Mode.

They may be more expensive, but you get your money’s worth with the Nokia P3600, which has a similar soundstage and better features.

Where can I buy these from?

The Nokia P3600 wireless earbuds were originally priced at PHP 5,999, now for only PHP 5,699. You can get these earphones at Nokia’s Personal Audio by RichGo online stores on Lazada, Shopee, and Facebook.

In the past, Nokia was a smartphone market leader. Not only that, but they’ve also helped launch a number of audio accessories and teamed with companies like JBL and Coloud. And they aren’t newcomers when it comes to wireless headsets and earphones. Do you recall the Nokia Luna Headset or the Nokia Purity Headphones? Those were just amazing back then.

Since leaving the initial camp of smartphones, Nokia has begun to make efforts in the audio industry, specifically wireless earphones.

Wireless earbuds are a popular choice among individuals who want to take their music with them wherever they go, whether it’s a quick stroll to the coffee shop or a daily jog around the block. There are plenty to choose from these days, and you may easily choose a pair that matches your personality.

With so many headphones to pick from, it’s difficult to know which are the best true wireless earbuds for you. It’s even more difficult if you’re on a budget because even the best inexpensive headphones won’t have AirPods-quality audio or top-tier smart capabilities if their price is too low – yet you still want to know you’re getting the most bang for your buck.

The Nokia E3101 TWS is the successor to the E3100, which was released in February. It is designed to be tiny and portable without sacrificing sound quality. Nokia RichGo stated that it was designed with signature acoustics to let customers hear the music “just” as musicians and artists intended. It is currently selling online via Shopee, Lazada, and RichGo Facebook shop for only 1,990 PHP.

Let’s see if the Nokia E3101 lives up to our expectations.

What are true wireless (TWS) earbuds?

True wireless earbuds, for those unfamiliar with the term, are earphones that have no cables between them – neither to connect them to your music streaming device nor to connect them to each other. Each bud is a self-contained unit that communicates with its counterpart without the use of wires.

Nokia E3101 Unboxing experience

The Nokia E3101 is packaged in a straightforward manner. The earphones, charging case, and USB-C charger are all included in the E3101 box, however, no power adapter is included. We tested the device in black, which has a matte case and glossy earbuds that seem akin to other brands on the market.

Underneath the plastic packaging is the product instructions and charging wire. The USB to Type-C data cable is around 30cm long and contains a USB connector. It may be charged by plugging it into laptops, desktop computers, charging ports, power banks, and other devices.

Familiar design, listen comfortably

The Nokia E3101 has a similar form to the Apple AirPods, except the headphone handle is shorter. It’s easier to slip the flat charging case into your handbag or pocket.

The Nokia E3101 has an IP44 splash-proof construction, so rain or sweat won’t stop you from listening to music, making calls, or working out. One of the earphones is accidentally dropped in flowing water, but it still works. Don’t forget to wipe it down afterward.

Music control with just a tap

Pausing, playing, and switching tracks were all quite smooth and easy to do with light taps. With the touch controls on the Nokia E3101 earphones, you may go forward or backward in your playlist while listening to music. To pause, tap once on either earpiece, twice on the right earbud to go to the next song, and once on the left earbud to play the previous song.

Additionally, if you press three times, Google Assistant and Siri will activate, allowing you to obtain directions, check your calendar, or make a call without having to pull your device out of your pocket.

Share it!

Dual hosts are supported by the Nokia E3101 handset. Regardless of the primary and secondary headphones, the left and right earphones can be used. You can share your music with a friend while walking apart or just wear one earbud at a time.

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Well balanced sound

Engineered with signature acoustics

The Nokia E3101 features signature acoustics to ensure that music is delivered precisely as expected. The size of the driver does affect audio quality; the larger the driver, the greater the bass. However, this isn’t always the case. The ideal size for an earphone driver is between 8mm and 15mm in diameter, and the E3101 falls just in the middle at 13mm.

We were thrilled to see that the E3101 remained as sharp and balanced at the highest volume setting as it did at lesser settings. Most modern pop songs and acoustic recordings, as well as genres with more intense or instrument-laden sounds like pop, trance, country, or whatever musical genre fits your boat, will be no problem.

Fortunately, even at the highest level, we never experienced any cracking or artifacts. In terms of stereo sound quality, we put it to the test by playing LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem” a 2011 Electronic Pop track famed for its mix Bb Instruments. We noticed that, given the price range, the separation and balance between left and right earphones worked quite well. Even in slow and strong ballads like Adele’s “Easy on Me” or Taylor Swift’s “Cardigan”, the Nokia E3101 does not disappoint, with every word coming through crystal clear.

Even if it isn’t perfect, the Nokia E3101 TWS produces a clear, balanced sound. Though the audio is clear, it lacks the depth and dynamic range that a more expensive model would provide. There’s no denying that spending a little more on Samsung Galaxy Buds2 will bring you better sound, but when you consider that they’re also more expensive than the Nokia E3101, the Nokia E3101 becomes an attractive option.

Microphone works great for normal calls and audio recordings

On both phone calls and video calls, the Nokia E3101 provides fairly clean audio input and output. Each of the buds has a single mic that does not enable ambient mode or active noise cancellation. This may be a difficulty for individuals making calls in noisy environments, but you can be assured that your speech will not have any grainy sound.

We were pleasantly impressed by the quality of the earphones for audio recordings: they were better than we expected, especially for this price range.

Earbuds on the go

The earbuds are rated to last 5 hours of continuous use, with the charging case allowing for an additional 3 charges, for a total of 20 hours of listening time in theory. Based on our tests, the Nokia E3101 delivered on its battery life guarantee.

Verdict

The Nokia E3101 Wireless Earbuds are not the best choice for audiophiles who pay close attention to every nuance of sound. They’re also not the best tools for musicians who need to be able to hear every vocal and instrumental nuance in a song.

The Nokia E3101 is primarily designed for users on a budget who want more. Despite the low price, it delivers more than it’s worth. The device is great for people who don’t want to spend a lot of money on headphones but still want a decent audio experience. They’re a good choice for casual listeners looking for a balanced, consistent sound on their favorite music.

Other TWS earbuds, such as those from Xiaomi, Realme, or Huawei, are available, but you can trust Nokia’s quality and reputation. Given its price range and all of the essentials, the Nokia E3101 is easy to recommend.