UGreen builds on the success of the HiTune X6 and hits us again with a new pair of in-ear headphones, the Ugreen HiTune T3. With the predecessor, the HiTune T2, Ugreen copied a lot from the bitten apple. However, since Ugreen has realized that they can also build excellent headphones themselves without copying the big brands, this time, they are again supplying an entirely own product. Here are the highlights in brief: BT 5.2, IPX5, ANC, and a mighty long playing time of up to 24 hours. New this time is an ambient mode.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Comfortable and secure fit | ANC could be stronger |
| Good ambient mode | No volume control buttons |
| Responsive touch controls | No wireless charging |
| Long battery life | |
| IPX5 Water Resistance |
Specification
| UGREEN HiTune T3 ANC Earbuds | |
|---|---|
| Brand | UGREEN |
| Bluetooth | 5.2 |
| ANC Range | -25dB |
| Driver | 10mm Wool Dynamic |
| 3 EQ Modes | ANC, Ambient, Normal |
| Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Water Resistance | IPX5 |
| USB Port | USB Type-C |
| Battery Type | Li-Po |
| Battery Usage | 7 Hours / 24 Hours W/ Case |
| Profiles | HSP, HFP, AVRCP, A2DP |
| Features | Touch controls, Ambient Mode |
As we are used to from UGreen, everything is super packed, stable, and visually flawless. The first impression before you hold the product in your hand is positive, and the holders for the rubber tips are great again, which doesn’t make the packaging unusable at first glance. The charging cradle with headphones weighs 45 grams, of which 11 grams are for the two headphones. All in all, again, satisfactory.
Design
When it comes to design, the high-gloss, smooth, fingerprint-free plastic housing looks chic and is flawlessly processed. We have 2 colors available here, white or black. There are 3 white LEDs on the front, which discreetly indicate the charge status of the shell in 3 stages.
The pulsating light is a successful feature and reflects the attention to detail here. That gives hope for more. The pairing button and USB-C charging port are located on the underside.
The headphones are also made of smooth, high-gloss plastic and again have a handle design like the HiTune T2 predecessor. Personally, it never ceases to amaze me how something functional can be accommodated in so little space, but still on topic. Thanks to the magnetic holder, the headphones fit perfectly into the charging cradle and close without edges. However, it can get sporty if you try to put the headphones back in the right position in the dark. That has challenged me a bit at times.
Pairing
As already mentioned above, you will find a small but easy-to-press button on the charging box to enable pairing (0.5cm diameter). With this you can also throw out devices that have already been paired and connect to another host device without any problems. The connection was always stable for me, and I can confirm the specified range of 10m – if nobody intervenes. Both codecs – AAC & SBC run fine . The Bluetooth protocols used are HFP, AVRCP, and A2DP.
The operation takes place via the touch surface on the headphone bridge. The controls work well and are confirmed with a soft click in the ear. However, thanks to the acoustic feedback, you know immediately whether you hit the target or not. It is a pity, however, that the control only works to a limited extent with a few apps. For example, here is the Teams app, in which you cannot switch between the different sound modes ANC / Ambient or Normal. However, what is positive about the HiTune T3 is that the tap function is not as overloaded here as it is on the HiTune X6.
Overall, the controls look very clear:
The one-way mode control is a bit unfortunate, for example, if you want to “back” from ANC mode to normal mode. You must inevitably go through the ambient mode until you end up back in normal mode afterwards. Again, an app would be the optimal solution.
Comfort
Wearing the HiTune T3 is surprisingly comfortable. Otherwise, I would use the foam tips immediately, as experience has shown that they boost the wearing comfort and sound a little, but the silicone plugs supplied are great here. The headphones sit comfortably in the ear, not too deep, but deep enough to significantly reduce outside noise. You can also wear the headphones comfortably when lying down.
During sports, the headphones are bomb-proof and protected against splash water, according to IPX5, which means that they can be used in bad weather without hesitation. As always, the protection does not apply to the charging box.
Sound
And now we finally come to the most important topic for most of you. The UGreen HiTune T3 really surprised me in a positive way, right from the start. The sound is pleasant and has nothing disturbing. The bass is a little pumped up, but you’re used to that by now. The sound is provided by the 10mm PU+wool compound driver, which has a flawless sound. In most cases, waterproof according to IPX5 and clean sound go hand in hand, but they work properly here, even if the details in the treble range logically fall by the wayside. But I also have to honestly say that these are headphones that are supposed to be fun. For sports and when used with loud ambient noise, I think the tuning is really ok.“Unfortunately” we don’t have an EQ with different sound patterns here.
In ANC mode, we have a slightly lowered sound level, with the bass being boosted a little. The sound appears warmer and is designed more for fun than to shine in the depth of detail. In summary, I have to say that the sound for listening to music on the go is pleasant and offers me no real leverage here for criticism. It should be clear to everyone by now that we are not up there with studio headphones and also that the HiTune T3 cannot be compared with them. Compared to its peers, however, this is really a tremendous achievement from UGreen and they have done a lot better here than they did with the HiTune X6.
Some might of course, miss aptX here, but let’s be honest for a moment: We have a waterproof cotton membrane here and are talking about BT (=sound loss) headphones, which generally cost around $30, with a strong tendency towards $20 in special offers. With aptX, the “lossless” transmission would probably be slightly better on the data sheet, and thus perhaps at most, a measurably better sound could be achieved. If this really bothers you or you notice it at all, you are welcome to use other headphones. I can’t imagine doing anything more positive here in practice.
ANC
As with the HiTune X6, I divide this section again separately. The ANC is again super implemented here – unbelievable at a price. I find the ANC even a bit better than the HiTune X6. Even the north wind from Hamburg didn’t push the ANC of the Ugreen HiTune T3 to the limit, which is an achievement. Main road noise is strongly attenuated, and continuous hum or hiss is filtered almost completely. In combination with music, these noises are then hardly perceptible. All in all, a perfectly implemented technique.
Ambient mode is new territory for UGreen this time, making it possible to answer questions when paying at the checkout without forego the important live transmission that runs in parallel. Or, in short: make ambient noises “natural” audible again, as if you weren’t wearing headphones. The UGreen HiTune T3 do this without hesitation.
Call quality
I was satisfied with the call quality of the HiTune X6. Ugreen is now equipping the HiTune T3 with high-resolution microphones that filter out ambient noise, which suggests a quiet environment for the conversation partner. That’s a point that has improved. You can still have a good phone call even in a busy shopping street.
Frequency analysis
The microphone also resolves up to almost 20kHz here, which is excellent. HD telephony at its finest.
Battery life
The specified battery life is again decent. 7 hours without ANC + 17 hours with case ( 60% volume with AAC in the UGreen laboratory ) and 6 hours with ANC + 15 hours with the point you then make a total of 24 hours without and 21 hours with ANC.
Conclusion!
The Ugreen HiTune T3 is a super all-rounder that shines with the best possible technology and sound during sports, in noisy surroundings, and when making calls. The ANC works excellently, if not at the top level, and the voice quality when making calls is first class. The battery life is also suitable for everyday use.
Regarding sound quality, be aware that you’re not getting HiFi TWS headphones here. The Ugreen HiTune T3 has slight sonic weaknesses in terms of clarity but offers a lot of fun in the low-frequency range, which was also the focus of development. Considering the low price, the sound is above average. I recommend these headphones without any problems because the price is fair even without an offer.
