These true wireless earbuds are only $12. Can they possibly be any good? – CNET

If you read my recent story about the $37 Soundpeats earbuds and thought, “Too rich for my blood!” here’s good news. You can now buy a set of true wireless ‘buds for 12 bucks. Twelve dollars. $12.

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The last time I wrote about impossibly cheap earbuds, they were $14.49 — and surprisingly decent. How much lower can these things possibly go? $10? Less?

For now, here’s the deal: For a limited time, and while supplies last, Amazon seller Zooson has the Yochos Bluetooth 5.0 true wireless earbuds for $11.99 when you clip the on-page 15%-off coupon and then apply promo code KKM9KNSN at checkout. At this writing, the seller tells me there are 800 units available, and the coupon and code will be available until supplies run out.

Full disclosure: I haven’t tried these myself, so I can’t speak to fit, audio quality or the like. But I’ve tested countless similar earbuds, and most of them (like the aforementioned) have been pretty good. For what it’s worth, the nearly 400 user ratings here average out to 4.7 stars. But as is often the case, ratings-vetters Fakespot and ReviewMeta disagree on the legitimacy of those numbers.

On paper, it’s all good: Bluetooth 5.0, IPX6 water-resistant, five hours of play time on a charge and up to six recharges from the case. Speaking of which, it has a digital readout to show you how much power is remaining — a nice little perk. You can use the earbuds in stereo or mono mode (meaning just one at a time, often preferable for calls).

Don’t expect wireless charging here or even USB-C; the case relies on old-fashioned Micro-USB. And don’t expect great call quality, either; cheapie earbuds are almost always mediocre in that department.

Do remember that nearly all earbuds like these require a good seal inside your ears — not just for fit, but also for outside-noise reduction and optimal audio quality. That can seem weird at first for anyone accustomed to over-the-ear headphones or plastic earbuds like AirPods.

Whether you need an inexpensive gift for someone or just want some super-affordable earbuds for listening to podcasts, walking the dog, working around the house or whatever, this is one of the best deals on record.

Your thoughts?

Read more: The best cheap earbuds for 2020

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Trying the best cheap wireless earbuds under $40

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