Wireless earbuds have over the years undergone significant improvements not only in terms of their hardware but also their designs. Many brands are now offering earbuds with great sound quality and attractive looks that go beyond the typical black-and-white options. And trust me, we’re not talking about cheap methods aimed at attracting merely the younger generation or lesser-informed consumers.
One such emerging brand in the TWS (true wireless stereo) market that has been making some significant noise is Acefast. This is all the more true about their newly launched Crystal (2) T8 wireless earbuds. Acefast is definitely grabbing attention with their eye-catching transparent design and six luminous color options.
Having used the Acefast Crystal (2) earbuds for several weeks now, I can say with confidence that they not only look great but also provide a significant punch in sound quality. Knowing its importance, I only hope Acefast will consider providing active noise cancellation (ANC) with these earbuds in their future models.
Unboxing and some specs
The process is pretty straightforward and nothing too complex. The Acefast Crystal (2) T8 earbuds are coupled with four pairs of ear tips coming in extra small, small, medium, and large size options. The silicon protective case is charged with a USB type C cable and comes with a rubber string. And while most people these days no longer read them (while they should), there is also a user manual that can provide important instructions for cocky users like me who think they know it all, and yet are proven to be wrong, time and again.
The Acefast Crystal (2) T8 earbuds offer a somewhat crystal-clear sound experience and a surprisingly high-definition bass. You will enjoy seven hours of battery life from the 11-gram earbuds and can add another whopping 30 hours with the case. That is plenty of juice for a casing that only weighs 47 grams.
As mentioned before, it is a shame that we can’t enjoy noise cancellation with these earbuds. The connectivity installed by Acefast is Bluetooth 5.3 augmented with EDR, or enhanced data rate. Finally, the IP rating for Acefast’s earbuds and charging case stands at IPX4, meaning they are resistant to water splashes from any direction. Please take into notice that these earbuds are NOT waterproof and don’t think you can shower with them like my nephew attempted to just a few days ago!
The Acefast Crystal (2) T8 wireless earbuds are priced at $99. However, they are currently available at a discounted price of $69.99. Those interested can purchase these buds through the official Acefast website. (You can also currently buy the T8 on Amazon at a discount.)
Good, quality sound with minor lags
Activating the Acefast Crystal (2) T8 earbuds is as easy as taking them out of their charging case. They automatically turn on and connect quickly via Bluetooth v5.3. I experienced generally good audio quality while the bass can be overpowering at times, which may not be ideal for all listeners. The mids and lows can be described as average, while the highs are decent. The T8 still delivers good sound despite lacking ANC, which definitely has a negative impact on one’s music-listening experience. And what I found extremely important was that during phone calls, the earbuds provide clear audio without any connectivity issues.
These earbuds are a good choice for those who enjoy bass-heavy music like rock or pop. They offer a deep and powerful listening experience due to the emphasis on lower bass frequencies. And by the way, you can use this feature to somewhat noise-out the “most darling” sounds, such as kids screaming and dogs barking when working from home.
During my testing, I experienced no connectivity issues, and the earbuds automatically enter pairing mode when removed from their charging case. However, another drawback (for some users) is that the T8s can only connect to one device at a time.
While not specifically designed for gaming, the Acefast Crystal (2) T8 earbuds deliver an attractive design and a gamer vibe due to the breathing light. You may notice some lag while playing certain games on your mobile devices. These earbuds I would not recommend for ideal gamers. However, the T8s are still a good option for casual gaming.
Firmly built with a sleek design
The Acefast Crystal (2) T8 case is made of hard plastic material that feels sturdy and provides a good grip. The earbuds have a solid build with a curved ergonomic design that offers a secure and comfortable in-ear fit. The weight of each earbud is 11g, but they don’t feel heavy even after a few hours. The case is compact and weighs just 47 grams, making it an easy feel in your pocket.
The T8s have a unique and eye-catching design that sets them apart from other earbuds in today’s market. Unlike most other brands, the Crystal T8’s transparent design allows you to see the circuits inside the case and earbuds. What I personally found very useful was the charging case having a digital battery indicator with a breathing light on top that displays the battery percentage of the case and separate battery bars for each bud.
Those like me who have seen their bud batteries die while at the gym know what I mean. And by the way, the T8s aren’t designed for running but ideal for ordinary and static weightlifting routines. Also, the earbuds attach to the sides of the case via magnets, making them easily accessible and convenient.
Acefast offers six attractive color options for the Crystal (2) T8 earbuds, each with the same transparent design and a small LED light in their respective colors. The unboxing experience is also impressive, with Acefast providing several accessories that are usually not included by most manufacturers.
Up to 30 hours of juice!
Battery life is I believe one of the more important factors when choosing earbuds, as longer battery life means more uninterrupted listening time. The Acefast Crystal (2) T8 earbuds claim to offer up to 7 hours of battery life on a single charge at 70% volume, with the charging case providing an additional 30 hours of battery life. And if you want my advice, always keep your earbuds volume at below 50% to prevent long-term ear disorders.
Each earbud has a 45mAh battery, while the charging case has a 480mAh battery that can recharge the earbuds up to four times. The earbuds also support fast charging, with just ten minutes of charging providing up to two hours of playback time. However, don’t make it a habit of using fast charging as it will definitely reduce your long-term battery life.
In my own testing, I found that the earbuds provided just below seven hours of playback time on a single charge, which is honestly close to what Acefast claims. However, what really impressed me was being able to use the T8s for about a week without a single case recharge! It’s worth noting that these earbuds do not support wireless charging, can only be charged via a USB Type C cable, and the case takes up to 90 minutes to fully charge. Hopefully Acefast will consider enhancing their future models to support wireless charging as it is fast becoming the new norm.
A few shortcomings
The Acefast Crystal (2) T8 earbuds may not have all the features you would expect from $99 earbuds. However, each earbud has a 10mm driver with an aluminum moving coil and a 6mm dome tweeter to provide an immersive sound experience. The earbuds use Bluetooth v5.3 + Enhance Data Rate (EDR) with support for AAC and SBC audio codecs, but do not support Hi-Res audio. Each earbud has dual microphones for excellent call quality and ENC support for noise reduction during calls, but the earbuds do not have Active Noise Cancellation—something I still don’t quite understand, honestly.
The earbuds and case are IPX4 waterproof, making them resistant to splashes of water for a short period of time. I say again, do not think about enjoying music with the T8s while taking a shower. My friend tried swimming with them. Not a good idea.
The earbuds have a Laser Direct Structuring (LDS) antenna design for stable signals and strong anti-interference. Another disappointment is the fact that Acefast does not offer a smartphone app enabling you to create custom audio profiles or managing equalizers, and there is no fast pair or multi-point pairing support.
Unfortunately, the earbuds do not have in-ear or wear detection, which would automatically pause and resume media playback. Additionally, there are no physical buttons on the case to check the battery status of the case or earbuds. The earbuds do have touch controls for volume, media playback, and track change, yet they are not customizable and may at times be unresponsive. While touch controls may be more convenient for some, they may not work perfectly for everyone.
Pros
- Reliable, high-speed Bluetooth connectivity
- Audio performance is adequate
- Call noise reduction provided with ENC
- Powerful battery delivers 30+ hours of playback
Cons
- No active noise cancellation, becoming a must these days
- Touch controls need improvements to respond better
- Lacking fast pair and multi-point support
Final thoughts
The Acefast Crystal (2) T8 wireless earbuds are a good choice for listening to music and playing casual games. Providing a unique transparent design with a mesmerizing breathing LED light displaying the remaining battery life of the charging case and earbuds, the T8s sound good, have deep bass, and deliver crystal-clear audio. However, lacking Active Noise Cancellation is a significant downside for me, and no high-bitrate codec support could cause issues for some users as supporting only AAC and SBC codecs may no longer be sufficient in today’s differentiating audio world.
On the positive side, the battery life is great, providing up to 30 hours of playback time on a single charge, meaning one to two weeks of playback time for casual users. However, there are other brands out there, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 2 and Sony’s WF-C500, that while reaching deeper into your pocket, offer more advanced features like ANC, better codec support, wear detection, and Fast Pair support.
The Crystal T8 earbuds are priced at $100, which is considered high while lacking advanced features. Their battery life and look will attract the attention of certain users, especially since there are some places that are providing significant discounts. Have fun hunting for your suitable earbuds and do keep the Crystal T8s in mind.