Nokia, a name that brings a lot of nostalgia. It is the brand that strikes fear and admiration in the early 2000 just like the iPhone in 2010. Today, Nokia has licensed its brand to RichGo Technology to sell earphones and mobile accessories. It remains a very strong brand that people continues to trust and support, and that is what the licensee is banking on.
The Essential True Wireless Earphones E3103, as the name suggests, is designed as an essential audio product for the common people. The open-fit design resembles the Apple EarPods, a design that never runs out of fashion. With a 13mm dynamic driver, the audio balance depends entirely on how close you push the grilles into the ear canals. If you leave it loose, then the bass would be feeble while the treble will sound bright. Push the earbuds towards the ear canals and the bass sounds stronger and overpowers the treble. This seal is temporary unless you stay still, for instance, when stationary. Once you are on the move, the buds will shift sine there is no silicone to keep the buds sealed.
The call quality is not outstanding. The voice sounded distant and muffled, and it got better if I held the earbud in front of my mouth, like a lavalier mic. I would not recommend it for zoom calls.
Personally, I am not a fan of open-fit earbuds, but it has its benefits. I can wear them the whole day without discomfort and I can still hear the surrounding ambient noises. So I tend to use such earbuds when I want to listen to audio casually, for instance, connecting to the laptop so that I can hear the audio prompts or videos on the web. Using them outdoors where it is full of noise, I would not be able to appreciate the musical details especially the bass and midrange. But upper midrange onwards is fine, which is why these open-fit earbuds are good for listening dialogues.
Pairing the earbuds are fuss-free: when the earbuds are not connected to any device, it goes to pairing mode automatically. Alternatively, press-hold the button next to the USB-C port for a factory reset. Single tap to play-pause, double tap to change tracks, tap-hold to adjust volume.
The earbuds last 7 hours in a single charge, and the charging case an charge about three more times, totalling 25 hours. The earbuds are IPX4 water rated, so you are safe to use it in mildly damp conditions like rain and sweat.
Verdict
A lot of people are surprised – many delighted – to see Nokia-branded earphones and audio accessories. It certainly triggers a sense of nostalgia where Nokia is the king of mobile phones. While the hey-days are over, the legacy lives on, giving customers an assurance of quality and reliability.
Visit the official product website for product details and warranty support. Purchase the E3103 from the Official Nokia Audio online store at Lazada for S$79.90, or other electronic stores where promotion offers may vary. The last I browsed, it can be purchased as low as $32.
