A few years ago, fully wireless headphones looked like something out of a science fiction movie. However, gradually the concept of True Wireless Stereo (TWS) has firmly established itself in the segment of audio playback devices and has become almost a standard in it. Today there are many models of this kind on the market, and not all of them are expensive. Yes, the same Apple continues to release fully wireless headphones at a price much more expensive than 10 thousand rubles. But there are much more affordable models. For example, CaseGuru CGPods Lite, which we will consider in this review. They cost 3,500 rubles (three times cheaper than Apple's AirPods) and at the same time offer a set of unique options that are not even in the "fruit" models. This, for example, protection from water and a miniature case, everything else tactilely reminiscent of sea pebbles. Also among the features of the model is a 20-hour reserve of work away from outlets and connection according to the modern Bluetooth 5.0 standard.
CaseGuru is a Russian (Tyumen, to be more precise) company that develops and supplies electronics and accessories for mobile devices.In the headphone segment, it has achieved considerable success - this becomes clear after reading articles like "top 10 wireless headphones" (CaseGuru is almost always mentioned in them) and reviews on CGPods. Positive ones prevail among them, while the share of neutral and negative ones is extremely small. And in general, users agree that these are one of the best wireless headphones on the market. If not the best. But let's test. Suddenly some pitfalls will come out.
Characteristics of CGPods Lite
Color Options | White and black |
Operating time away from the outlet | 20 hours |
Moisture protection | IPX6 |
Microphone | There is |
Control | Hardware buttons on the earbuds |
Headphone type | Inserts |
Compound | bluetooth 5.0 |
Operating range | 10 meters |
Work profiles | Handsfree, A2DP, Headset, AVRCP |
Battery capacity | Headphones - 50 mAh, case - 550 mAh |
Equipment
Together with the Bluetooth headphones, the box contains:
- case for carrying and charging;
- three sets of silicone nozzles of different sizes;
- instruction in Russian;
- warranty card (warranty - 12 months);
- USB cable for recharging.
Of particular note are the interchangeable ear tips that allow you to most accurately fit the headphones to the shape of the user's ear canal in order to provide the best sound and noise isolation.Numerous reviews of TWS headphones available on the Internet allow us to conclude that not all models priced under 5 thousand rubles are equipped with nozzles of different sizes. Against this background, CGPods Lite look unambiguously advantageous. In reviews of this CaseGuru model, this point is often mentioned, so it is important to the people.
Headphone features: ergonomics, dimensions, sound, battery life
CGPods Lite has several important features. In this subsection of the review of these wireless headphones, we will consider exactly the “ears”, that is, the part of the device that is inserted into human ears (we will talk about the case below).
CGPods Lite turned out to be small and light, and they are almost not felt in the ears. It is not surprising: each of the headphones weighs less than 4 grams, this is the minimum for completely wireless models (often such headphones weigh 6-7 grams each). At the same time, they are held securely in the “organs of hearing”. Although not as reliable as possible: nevertheless, there are no silicone spacers that rest against the auricle in the Lite model. If you need such spacers, welcome to the older model of the CGPods 5.0 line, headphones priced at 4,500 rubles. However, we repeat: CGPods Lite is also very difficult to shake out of your ear. And if you are not going to participate in a rodeo and jump on a pissed-off bull, then accidental losses will most likely be avoided.
It should also be noted that CGPods Lite do not cause discomfort. They do not press, do not interfere - you do not feel them at all. You can listen to music all day without discomfort.
Management is the most thoughtful. You can switch tracks, pause music, adjust the volume, redial the last dialed number and answer calls directly from the headphones.This is quite unexpected: the vast majority of TWS earphones provide only the pause and call function. For everything else, you have to turn to your smartphone. CGPods Lite, on the other hand, allow you to forget about it altogether - and leave your smartphone in your pocket or bag. For inexpensive models, this is an extremely unusual (and positive) experience. Only the best wireless headphones have such an advanced control system. Pass-through models, which are the majority, only allow you to pause tracks - and no switching songs, no volume control.
Not touch buttons are intended for control, as in many completely wireless models, but hardware buttons with a clear move. They exclude the possibility of accidental pressing.
The moisture protection option is also a serious plus for CGPods Lite headphones. For the user, IPX6 compliance means being able to play sports or listen to music while walking in the rain. You can even take a shower with CGPods Lite. Yes, and washing them under the tap is also not forbidden. In reviews on CGPods, they often write directly like this: they say that all dust, dirt, earwax are easily washed off CaseGuru headphones with plain water. By the way, Apple's "ears" still do not have moisture protection. This means that at a price of about 12-13 thousand rubles, apple headphones cannot be cleaned with water from earwax and dirt.
As for the sound, the CGPods Lite turned out to be unexpectedly loud - you notice it literally right away. There is no need to turn the volume up to 100%, in most situations, with most genres of music, 70-80% is enough. The quality did not let us down either: the sound is not of an audiophile level, not at all! But for most users it is quite sufficient. There are basses, the middle is clearly visible, the tops are not very distinct.In principle, everything is like most good TWS headphones, and more expensive ones - in terms of sound quality, CGPods Lite “overtake” their price. That is, in other words, the sound here is like that of higher-class headphones - at the cost of thousands of 8 rubles.
Stability is also fine: thanks to Bluetooth 5.0 support, there are no micro-lags that annoyed us so much in previous generations of TWS models. In general, by the way, if you read reviews of headphones in 2020, then there is almost always no mention of such jambs with stability in them - Bluetooth version 5.0 solved the problem.
Case features: dimensions, design, coating, battery
Case-antistress becomes a nice addition to the headphones. The CGPods Lite case is reminiscent of sea pebbles: small (moreover: generally the smallest among TWS headphones!) And smooth, with a soft-touch coating that protects against scratches and damage. This case just begs to be held.
The case is pleasant to twirl with your fingers and click the magnetic lid. This, in fact, allows us to call the case “anti-stress”: the listed actions have a relaxing effect on the brain. There is no such unusual “option” in any of the top headphones of 2020, not to mention inexpensive models.
Meanwhile, the convenient shape of the “seats” for the headphones makes it easy to clean them (seats) from dust and dirt. For example, using a handkerchief or napkin.
The fixation of the cover of the case and the headphones in it are carried out using magnets, which eliminates accidental opening and loss of the "ears".
The case has a built-in battery that gives the headphones approximately 16 hours of battery life. We consider: the CGPods Lite set themselves work for 4 hours, plus four more recharges from the battery in the case. The total is 20 hours of work.The result for headphones for 3,500 rubles is very worthy. Models similar in price, as a rule, work for 10 hours. So, in the rating of headphones in terms of operating time, CGPods Lite are in the TOP.
To understand how much charge is left in the case, LEDs will help. There are four of them, and each implies about 25% of the charge. For example, if three diodes are on, then the charge is 75%.
The only downside to this small and handy box is the outdated MicroUSB port. This is not to say that this moment is annoying and can make you refuse to buy CGPods Lite. But still. I would like to see a more modern and relevant MicroUSB here.
Reviews for CGPods Lite
Negative ratings of CGPods (as well as reviews of CaseGuru headphones in general) usually come down to complaints about the use of an outdated microUSB port in them. And also - a small number of color options. And it's true: CGPods are only available in white and black, but the company does not offer any bright colors.
Positive reviews relate to sound quality, convenient control, water protection and a small "cute" case. But the main thing is the price that is asked for the set of features described above. The reason for such a low price (and, remember, it is 3,500 rubles) is simple: CaseGuru headphones are sold only and exclusively online - directly from the manufacturer to the buyer. That is, without retail stores and their added value. Therefore, the price is this - 3,500 rubles for headphones that would cost at least 6-7 thousand rubles in an offline retail network (if they were sold there!) In other words, CGPods Lite offer the same level of options and quality as almost twice as expensive headphones.
Conclusion
CGPods Lite are extremely interesting wireless earbuds of 2020.The disadvantages of this model are not critical, while it has more than enough positive aspects. And this model is definitely included in the top TWS wireless headphones, regardless of price. We even dare to say that these are the best wireless headphones that you can buy up to 7 thousand rubles. Although CGPods Lite, we recall, are estimated at only 3,500 rubles. The main advantages of the model are a small and pleasant to the touch anti-stress case, high-quality sound, small size and convenience for the ears. Plus - 20 hours of autonomy and a convenient control system, almost never found in analogues. A similar scheme, by the way, is also used in other models of the brand - and it is also often mentioned in reviews on CaseGuru, that is, for all the “ears” of this breed without exception.
