Wings Techno review: Are these earbuds worth Rs 3,999?

Wings Techno review: The True wireless stereo (TWS) segment in India truly exploded in the second quarter of 2020 with a growth of 656 per cent. This growth can be attributed to the fact that most people were forced to work from home, needing an audio device for video calls and team meets. This coincided with several players launching affordable products in the segment. Home-grown brands boAt (10% market share) and pTron (6% market share) now occupy spots in top five.  

Another Indian brand which is constantly taking big strides is Wings – launching audio products across segments – Techno TWS being the latest. Launched earlier this month, Wings Techno are priced at Rs 3,999 and compete in a highly crowded price point. It’s time to find out where they stand against competition.  

Wings Techno review: Design 

Wings Tehno feature a familiar but minimalist design. You get a compact, square-ish charging case that flaunts Wings branding on the front along with three LED lights that indicate the battery life. The plastic used on the case seems cheap when compared to other TWS in this price segment. The matte texture, though, makes it look fine. 

On the right side of the case, you get a micro-USB charging port, which is also the first major let down. A number of earbuds in the same range or less come with Type-C USB charging port.  

The lid on the charge case is not the best. It tends to get stuck while opening the case. 

The earbuds feature a slightly different version of the stem-like design used on the Apple AirPods and several other TWS. What gives Techno an edge here is that you get an in-ear design with silicone buds which ensures a tight fit. The back of the earcups has sensors which can be used for controlling music playback and handsfree calling. 

Fit-wise the Wings Techno are fine and you don’t really feel any discomfort during use. They lock in well in your ears and don’t come off easily. There is also IPX5 water resistance rating, which means they should be able to deal with sweat and water splashes. 

Wings Techno review: Audio Performance  

Talking about features, you get touch controls for music playback - single tap pauses/plays music, double tap on the right bud skips a track while double tap on the left bud goes to the previous track, and tapping and holding the right or left bud increases or decreases the volume. The sensors are not as sensitive as seen on some of the premium earbuds but do their job.  

There is also support for Voice Assistants. This helps you get a more hands-free experience.  

The Wings Techno use Bluetooth 5.0 for connectivity and support AAC audio codec and the standard SBC codec. The Bluetooth connection is stable but the range isn’t that impressive. I could feel distortions in audio soon after moving to the adjacent room.  

The earbuds use 5.8mm graphene drivers for audio production. And, this is also one thing you need to consider before buying. There are other TWS in this segment that offer 12mm drivers as well. Now, while that doesn’t guarantee better audio, the difference is noticeable.  

The audio performance is okayish to say the least. Wings Techno have decent bass with very less loss in details in the mid-highs and highs. However, the vocals get muddled as you increase the volume.  

Also, as the volume starts to cross 80 per cent levels, it starts sounding slightly unpleasant. This is very noticeable while listening to Ritviz’s ‘Thandi Hawa’.  

I found the Wings Techno more comforting while listening to podcasts than music. I watched an episodes each of ‘Honestly by Tanmay Bhatt’ and ’22 Yarns by Gaurav Kapur’ – both of which sounded pleasant to ears.  

The battery life is what gives the Wings Techno a slight advantage over competitors. You get a total of 6 hours of playtime on the buds with additional 18 hours on the charging case. This is rare at this price point.  

Wings Techno review: Should You Buy? 

The Wings Techno are a decent pair of TWS that get few things right – a compact design, good fit and 24-hour battery life. What’s mediocre though is the audio performance. 

They aren’t too expensive at Rs 3,999 but the pricing could have been more aggressive, given that some other products in this segment offer superior features. Having, said that they can be considered by those looking for a pair of earbuds on tight budget.