Mobvoi's latest true wireless earbuds get smart

Mobvoi’s betting on artificial intelligence (AI) at CES 2020 with its TicPods 2 Pro and TicPods 2 true wireless earphones. The Pro model employs TicMotion and TicHear, the former of which uses head controls to accept or reject calls while the latter permits basic voice commands without the need for a wake-up word. This way, users can just say, “play music,” rather than, “Hey Google, play music.”

The TicPods 2 Pro is a more advanced version of the TicPods 2. However, both pairs of earbuds share features such as on-board touch controls via either earbud stem, which is reminiscent of the Apple AirPods. These controls make it easy to adjust the volume, skip tracks, and access your preferred virtual assistant (e.g. Google Assistant or Siri). Both the TicPods 2 Pro and TicPods 2 also support AAC and aptX for high-quality streaming regardless of your operating system, something the original Mobvoi TicPods Free lacked.

No matter which model you get, you’re afforded Bluetooth 5.0 firmware and IPX4 water-resistant earbuds with quick-pairing capabilities. By removing one earbud, media playback automatically pauses and resumes when the earbud is re-inserted.

What’s more, both support quick charging, meaning just five minutes in the case provides one hour of listening; this is great since the listed four-hour playtime leaves a lot to be desired. Both charging cases charge via USB-C and are easily pocketable, taking up little room in a bag or jacket.

Differences between the Mobvoi TicPods 2 Pro and Mobvoi TicPods 2

The TicPods 2 Pro feature a more advanced chipset as compared to the TicPods 2: the Qualcomm QCC5121 for the former and the Qualcomm QCC3026 for the latter. The more powerful chipset enables support for AI features and head gestures.

A dual-microphone array is included with the TicPods 2 Pro while the standard TicPods 2 features a single-mic array. Both units benefit from microphone noise cancellation, though. The TicPods 2 charging case affords a bit more playback time, granting listeners an additional three hours of on-the-go listening compared to the Pro version.

If you value novel features and enjoy being on the cutting edge of AI, the TicPods 2 Pro are a great option. For most listeners, though, the TicPods 2 will prove the better value. The TicPods 2 Pro and TicPods 2 are available now for $139 and $99, respectively. Mobvoi is running a limited-time 10% discount through January 15 for listeners who purchase either model.