The Cowin Apex Elite Truly Wireless are comfortable in-ears that come with a portable charging case. While they come with an ANC feature, it offers mediocre performance overall, so you can still hear bass-heavy background noises like bus or plane engines as well as higher-frequency ambient sound like the hum of an AC unit. Also, they have a boomy, uneven sound profile that adds a lot of extra punch to your audio, which can be overwhelming for some listeners. That said, they're stable enough to wear to the gym, which is nice.
Our Verdict
The Cowin Apex Elite are mediocre for neutral sound. They have a boomy, uneven sound profile that adds a lot of extra thump and punch to your audio, which can be overwhelming for fans of more neutral sound. Vocals and lead instruments can be a bit weak and distant, while sibilants like S and T sounds are sharp and piercing. Unfortunately, they lack an EQ for sound customization.
- Consistent audio delivery across different users.
- No sound customization features.
The Cowin Apex Elite are satisfactory for commute and travel. They're comfortable enough to wear during long flights, and their portable design makes it easy to carry them in your pocket. Their continuous battery life may not last through long international flights, but you can recharge them using their portable case. Unfortunately, they really struggle to block out bass-heavy background noises like bus and plane engines, which can be distracting.
- Comfortable, stable fit.
- Mediocre noise isolation performance.
The Cowin Apex Elite are impressive for sports and fitness. These in-ears have a comfortable, stable fit, so they shouldn't fall out of your ears during your workout. Thanks to their truly wireless design, they don't make you sweat more than usual, and you don't have to worry about snagging any cords on exercise equipment. Unfortunately, you can't use their touch-sensitive controls to skip tracks or adjust the volume, which can be inconvenient if you're out on a run.
- Comfortable, stable fit.
- Breathable design.
- Plasticky build.
The Cowin Apex Elite are alright for office use. These comfortable headphones don't leak a lot of noise, so you can listen to audio at loud volumes without really bothering those around you. They last for just over seven hours off of a single charge, which may not last through your 9-5 workday, but their portable charging case offers around three extra charges so you can power up on-the-go. Unfortunately, their ANC feature offers a mediocre performance, so you may be distracted by sounds like the hum of AC units.
- Comfortable, stable fit.
- Mediocre noise isolation performance.
The Cowin Apex Elite are compatible with Bluetooth-enabled PCs, but their latency is likely too high to be suitable for gaming, even with their Game Mode turned on. They also aren't compatible with PlayStation or Xbox consoles.
The Cowin Apex Elite are wireless-only headphones that can't be used wired, so they aren't suitable for wired gaming.
The Cowin Apex Elite are passable for phone calls. Their integrated microphone has a mediocre recording quality, so while whoever's on the other end of the line can understand you, your voice may also sound thin and muffled. The mic also struggles to separate your voice from background noises, and these headphones offer mediocre noise isolation, so they're better suited for taking phone calls in quiet settings.
- Integrated microphone.
- Mediocre noise isolation performance.
Changelog
- Updated Feb 22, 2022: Retested 'Weight' in Comfort.
- Updated Jan 18, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
- Updated Mar 16, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Mar 11, 2021: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Cowin Apex Elite Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds are an upgraded version of the Cowin Apex Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Wireless Earbuds. They're advertised to have an improved ANC performance and a different design with a long stem that's more comfortable for long listening sessions. They're available in 'Black' and 'White'. We tested the Black variant, but we expect the other color variants to perform similarly.
If you come across another version, let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Cowin Apex Elite are budget-friendly truly wireless headphones that offer an active noise cancelling feature. They're advertised to have a more comfortable fit and a better ANC performance compared to the Cowin Apex Truly Wireless. However, their ANC feature offers a mediocre overall performance, and their boomy, uneven sound profile can be overwhelming for some listeners.
See also our recommendations for the best wireless Bluetooth earbuds under $100, the best noise cancelling earbuds, and the best noise cancelling headphones under $100.
The Mpow X3 Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Cowin Apex Elite Truly Wireless. The Mpow are better-built, more stable, and offer a more neutral sound profile. However, the Cowin's ANC feature isolates against more background noise, though its overall performance isn't that impressive.
The ENACFIRE E60 Truly Wireless are better than the Cowin Apex Elite Truly Wireless. The ENACFIRE are better-built, and even though they lack an ANC feature, they have better noise isolation. They also leak less audio, and have a more neutral sound, especially in the mid-range. However, the Cowin have a better mic performance, which is more suited for making phone calls.
The TOZO NC9 Truly Wireless are better headphones than the Cowin Apex Elite Truly Wireless. The TOZO are better-built, and they offer a more balanced mid-range. Also, their ANC feature isolates against more background noise, and they leak less audio. That said, the Cowin are more comfortable.
The Apple AirPods Pro are better headphones than the Cowin Apex Elite Truly Wireless. The Apple are better built and have a more balanced sound profile. Also, their ANC feature performs much better than the Cowin's. That said, the Cowin's mic has a better recording quality.
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.
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