Lava Probuds 22 review: Lava has officially launched its True Wireless Stereo (TWS) buds called Lava Probuds 22 on Thursday, September 21. Priced at just Rs 1,399, it can be a good deal for people looking for decent buds in this price range. However, there are a few snags with the buds that cannot be sidelined, and one might get better deals elsewhere by adding a few more bucks to their budget. Let us dive right into the details —

Probuds 22 Review: Build and Design

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The buds come in a decent case with two colour variants: Frost White and Space Black, and have a matte finish. The case feels like it is on the cheaper side of the build, and if dropped (by mistake), it makes some rattling sounds, but stays shut. This is compensated by the case's minimal design and compactness. There is a USB-C charging port located at the back of the device.  

The lid has a hinge that is just sturdy enough, and it feels like it could come apart if opened with a little force. But coming to the buds, they are very sturdy and lightweight and have a snug fit to them. They can withstand slight jerks while jogging, but need to be adjusted as they loosen up while running or brisk cycling. These are IPX4 water resistance rated and can withstand mild splashes.

Probuds 22 Review: Bluetooth v5.3 and Connectivity

The device comes with Bluetooth v.5.3, which enables a stable and quick connection. The 75 ms low latency does work well, and there is no lag in audio and video. The buds do not have the Google Fast Pair feature, but its Snap-connect Technology does the work well after it gets paired for the first time. Both Android and iPhone users have to follow the usual pairing procedure to connect the device.

Probuds 22 Review: Noise Cancellation

The device does have an environmental noise cancellation (ENC) of 60 dB and suppresses a lot of the surrounding noise, but it could have been better.

Probuds 22 Review: Sound and Microphone

Talking about the sound, the buds are really loud, and the sound quality is really decent at this price point. The sound compensates for the frugalities of the ENC. 
The first song that I heard on the buds was "Boombastic" by Shaggy on Spotify, and the 12 mm Dynamic Driver did a fairly good job. The bass was decent, but not excessive. However, when I heard some metal and rock, the audio was slightly harsh at higher volumes. I have never encountered such an issue with any other buds at this price point.

The quad mic's ENC is not up to the mark, and the audio is audible, but suppressed. However, there is a small amount of noise that filters in.

Probuds 22 Review: Battery and Charging

The Probuds 22 comes with a 500mAh case battery capacity. Even after using it regularly for the last couple of days — for almost two to three hours daily — they still haven't run out of juice. 

The company claims that the buds have a 50-hour total playtime and a 7-hour buds playtime on a single charge. The Type-C port enables fast charging, which gives a 2-hour playback after 10 minutes of charging. 

Probuds 22 Review: Touch Controls

According to the user manual, a single tap on either side of the buds can be used to play or pause music, as well as answer and hang up calls. One can skip to the next track by tapping twice on the right bud, and go to the previous track by tapping twice on the left. By tapping and holding either side of the buds for a few seconds, one can enable the voice assistant feature. One can also decline an incoming call with a long tap on either side of the buds.

Probuds 22 Review: Final Verdict

At just Rs 1,399, the buds are loud and decent, but anyone can get a better deal by adding a few more bucks to their budget. There is no denying that it is a good effort from Lava, and with a few tweaks, the Probuds 22 can surely be a good deal.

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