Mpow Flame Lite TWS review

Introduction

Not the first brand that comes to mind when you think of audio products, Mpow has built a solid backing across Amazon with its diverse set of aggressively priced headphones in all shapes and sizes. Today we bring you the Mpow Flame Lite which are the brand’s latest sports-oriented TWS earphones.

As someone who’s struggled finding a well fitting pair of earphones, the Mpow Flame Lite bring a snug and secure fit which goes a long way when you’re using them for sports and outdoor activities.

The Flame Lites cost €33.99/£34.99/$37.98 as of writing this review and boast an impressive 4 out of 5-star rating across over 2,000 customer reviews on Amazon. This and the fact that I needed a decent pair of earbuds that would stay in my ears pushed me to give them a try and here are my findings.

Design and build quality

Both the Flame Lites and their charging case come with a matte black finish which hides smudges quite well. The earphones are IPX7 waterproof and feel solidly built. The ear-hooks are pretty flexible which adds to the overall comfort and fit. Snug is just the word that comes to mind - the fit is really good provided you use the right ear tips which come in three sizes inside the retail box.

The charging/carrying case is substantial though a large part of that has to be attributed to the size of the actual earphones and their hooks. It’s not the best-built case out there but it does what it’s supposed to: charge and transport your earphones. The top cover closes via magnets but it feels flimsy. That being said, the case is nicely curved and feels good to the touch. It features a nice concave opening in the middle where you can slide your finger to open up the case.

The inside of the case features a large cradle where the earphones attach securely via the magnetic pins. Putting the Flame Lites on is a straight forward approach. You take them out of the case, raise the hooks over your ear and plug the silicone tips in your ear. Once inserted it’s recommended to twist the earphones upwards to ensure an optimal fit. The backside of the hooks features a ridged design that helps them stay in your ears without moving around. The Flame Lites feel nice and secure in your ears and the hooks are quite flexible so you don’t feel any discomfort even after several hours of usage.

Looks are a subjective matter but I personally like the stealthy matte black design and minimal branding. Once on your ear the Flame Lites do stick out a bit due to their sheer size but I didn’t encounter any issues in everyday scenarios while wearing glasses or during workouts.

The combined weight of the earphones with the case comes out to 45 grams while the listed dimensions of the case are 104.9 x 115 x 47 mm. This is not a pant pocket-friendly package but it should fit just fine in your bag or jacket pockets.

Features

Let’s get the specs out the way. The Mpow Flame Lite come with 14.2mm drivers, SBC and AAC audio codex support and no active noise cancellation. They pair over Bluetooth 5.0 and bring a multi-point connection with up to 2 devices at once. There’s left/right mono audio output meaning you can use either earbud independently. We also have two microphones all wrapped in an IPX7 water and sweat-proof package.

Box contents include a short USB-C cable for charging, three pairs of replacement tips ranging from XS to L with size M tips pre-installed as well as the usual array of manual, warranty card and pairing instructions pamphlet.

Pairing is straightforward, you open the case and turn on Bluetooth and you’re all set to go. I had no issues with connectivity at up to 20-meter distances. I also did not notice any audio lag or bitrate drops in my testing.

Touch controls come with a learning curve. They work for the most part but require you to tap the touch surface with the bottom of your fingertip instead of a light tap with the very tip below your fingernail. In my experience, the touch controls work in 2 out of every 3 tries.

Single taps play/pause your music, double taps on the right earbud skips to the next song while the left brings back the previous one. Triple taps summon your voice assistant of choice. There’s also a tap and hold gesture which raises the volume if performed on the right earbud or lowers it from the left.

Sound quality

Sound quality is alright for the most part though the Flame Lites don’t excel in any one area. I was expecting a bass-heavy experience but was rather disappointed to find it was lacking. The earphones performed subpar in the upper sound ranges and featured hollow mids.

Vocals were clear and I personally enjoyed my time with the earphones bumping music during workouts and listening to podcasts. Still with their affordable price in mind I can say they perform adequate and get the job done. They get plenty loud too which is nice given the lack of noise cancellation.

Call quality was underwhelming with a constant hissing sound and people on the other side complaining I sounded muffled. Still, even in noisier environments, the microphones picked up my voice and did its job.

Battery life

Mpow advertises 5 hours of playback on the earphones alone and up to 30 hours with the charging case. In my 1 week of testing with the earphones I spent at least 2 hours per day at work and had three 1 hour workouts as well as several 30 minutes podcast sessions before bedtime. After a full week, the case was sitting at just below 50% of its capacity which is on par with the numbers Mpow claims. A full charge takes 2 hours and there’s no fast charging option, the Flame Lites top up at 5W speeds.

The case has a neat LED indicator that flashes white three times when the battery is between 75 and 100%. It then switches between red and white when the battery is between 35 and 75% and goes to 3 red flashes when the battery is below 35% charge. You can also check the battery status of the earphones from your phone's Bluetooth menu.

Verdict

The Mpow Flame Lite are an affordable, easy to use and most importantly durable pair of TWS earphones that stay in your ears in all scenarios. They won’t win any sound quality competitions but they offer decent output which gets plenty loud. Like I said earlier they could use some more bass and call quality is just average but at the end of the day we’re talking about an affordable pair of sports-oriented TWS earbuds.

The design, fit and comfort on these is excellent in my book and battery life is pretty great too. The USB-C charging port, IPX7 waterproof design and clean look are also great additions.

If sound quality is your top priority then you should look elsewhere but if you’re like me and want a durable pair of earphones that stay in your ear during workouts and don’t break the bank then you should definitely check the Mpow Flame Lites. They give you the TWS experience with excellent build quality, solid battery endurance and superb fit - all factors that make them quite handy to have around in your gym bag.

Pros

• Well-built with IPX7 rating
• Comfortable design that stays in your ears
• Great price
• USB-C charging
• Solid battery endurance

Cons

• Underwhelming bass
• Sound lacks mid-range detail
• Charging case is huge