The Aiwa AL1020 are ultra-cheap, truly wireless earbuds. They sit in the same bargain-bin class as the Vivitar TWE2-BLK, but the Aiwa have ANC as well as a charging case that doubles as a power bank. That said, there's still only one pair of ear tips included. We purchased these from Family Dollar in the United States.
Our Verdict
The Aiwa AL1020 are okay for sports and fitness. They're tiny and lightweight, and they stay put during light activities like a brisk walk. However, the one-size ear tips don't let you fine-tune the fit, and the buds can loosen or fall out during more intense activity. They also don't have an IP rating for water or dust resistance.
ANC reduces a decent amount of outside noise.
Very little sound leaks out to people nearby.
Charging case provides 15 extra charges and doubles as a power bank.
One-size ear tips limit comfort and stability.
Short 3.75-hour continuous battery life.
Poor build quality and no IP rating.
The Aiwa AL1020 are decent for travel. Their ANC cuts down a decent amount of background noise, so the sound of chatty passengers won't disturb you too much on your morning commute. That said, they don't block out much engine rumble at all. And the one-size ear tips won't fit everyone comfortably. Their 3.75-hour continuous battery life is also too short for longer trips. But on the plus side, the power bank case provides 15 extra charges.
ANC reduces a decent amount of outside noise.
Very little sound leaks out to people nearby.
Charging case provides 15 extra charges and doubles as a power bank.
One-size ear tips limit comfort and stability.
Short 3.75-hour continuous battery life.
Poor build quality and no IP rating.
The Aiwa AL1020 are okay for office work. Their ANC helps ensure the buds block out a decent amount office noise. They also leak very little audio, so coworkers nearby are unlikely to hear what you're listening to. That said, the one-size ear tips can become uncomfortable over longer sessions, and the mic isn't well-suited to meetings: your voice sounds hollow and distant, and louder background noise can cause parts of your speech to drop out.
ANC reduces a decent amount of outside noise.
Very little sound leaks out to people nearby.
Charging case provides 15 extra charges and doubles as a power bank.
One-size ear tips limit comfort and stability.
Short 3.75-hour continuous battery life.
Microphone struggles with background noise.
The Aiwa AL1020 are poor for wireless gaming. They only support Bluetooth and have no wireless dongle, and their 316 ms of SBC latency can cause noticeable lip-sync issues, although latency compensation varies by device and app.
The Aiwa AL1020 don't support wired audio at all.
The Aiwa AL1020 have okay audio reproduction accuracy. Their warm sound has plenty of upper-bass emphasis, but the heavily recessed treble makes vocals and instruments sound dull and lacking in detail. On the plus side, their left and right drivers are well matched, and harmonic distortion is very low.
The Aiwa AL1020 have decent noise isolation. Their ANC and in-ear seal reduce a satisfactory amount of ambient noise, especially mid-range sounds like office chit-chat. However, they don't block out much bassy engine rumble. Still, they're a decent choice for offices and indoor spaces, especially since they also leak very little audio to people nearby.
The Aiwa AL1020 have disappointing microphone performance. The integrated mic makes your voice sound hollow and distant, and it doesn't do a good job separating your voice from noise around you. Background voices can bleed through, and louder sounds like passing trains can cause parts of your speech to cut out.
The Aiwa AL1020 have very good frequency response consistency. Their sound changes only slightly between different wears. That said, you only get one tip size in the box, so if that tip doesn't work for you, getting consistent audio will be harder.
Performance Usages
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Aiwa AL1020 earbuds are available in 'Black' and 'White.' We bought and tested a 'Black' unit and took a photo of its label.
If you come across a different variant, let us know in the comments, and we'll add it to our review.
Popular Headphone Comparisons
The Aiwa AL1020 occupy the bargain-bin end of the truly wireless market, but they're more capable than some similarly basic options. Compared to the Vivitar TWE2-BLK, the Aiwa have better noise isolation since they come with active noise cancelling. The Aiwa also reproduce audio more accurately, and avoid the driving matching issues we ran into with the Vivitar. The Aiwa's large charging case also holds an unusually high number of extra charges. The catch is that the Aiwa's build quality is especially poor.
The Anker Soundcore P31i are a clear step above both those pairs if you can stretch the budget a little. They're more comfortable, better built, last much longer per charge, and have a much better microphone.
If you're shopping on a budget, check out our picks for the best budget wireless earbuds, the best earbuds under $50, and the best earbuds for phone calls.
The Anker Soundcore P31i are a much more complete pair of budget earbuds than the Aiwa AL1020. The Anker are more comfortable and stable, have sturdier IP55-rated construction, and last over seven hours continuously compared to under four hours for the Aiwa. They also have a far better microphone and a companion app that lets you customize their sound to taste. The Aiwa can still reduce a decent amount of outside noise, but you get virtually no control beyond switching ANC on and off. Their one standout advantage is the charging case: it doubles as a power bank and supplies 15 additional charges, although it's considerably bulkier and more fragile than the Anker's case.
The Aiwa AL1020 are better earbuds than the Vivitar TWE2-BLK. The Aiwa have ANC, so they do a better job blocking out noise, especially mid-range noise like commuter chatter. Like the Vivitar, the Aiwa's sound is quite dark, but their left and right drivers are much better matched, giving them a more coherent stereo image. The Aiwa's case also provides 15 extra charges compared to the Vivitar's three. Neither pair is particularly comfortable or secure because you only get one size of ear tip, and both feel cheaply made. The Vivitar do have the smaller, easier-to-carry case, while the Aiwa's bulky power-bank case is flimsy.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
