Tozo Crystal Pods Review: The Affordable Earbuds That Surprised Me

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When I first got my hands on the Tozo Crystal Pods, I’ll be honest—I wasn’t expecting much. A pair of earbuds under £35 (around $40 in the US, and often on sale for even less) doesn’t exactly scream “premium audio experience.” The packaging looked nice enough, but my first thought was: okay, just another generic budget pair of earbuds.

But then I did what I always do—I checked what other people thought. And to my surprise, the Crystal Pods had a flood of positive reviews online, especially on Amazon. That made me pause. Could these affordable little earbuds actually be that good?

So I decided to approach this review a little differently. I ignored the price tag, I ignored the brand, and I tried them as if they were a birthday present someone gave me—no expectations, just open ears. And that’s when things got interesting.

Design

Let’s start with the packaging. It’s fine—nothing special, nothing that makes you go wow—but it does the job. Where things get interesting is the design choice Tozo made with the Crystal Pods themselves. I have the black model, and the first thing that stood out to me was the charging case. The top is completely transparent, so you can actually see your earbuds sitting inside. It’s such a simple idea, but in a market where most cases look the same, it feels refreshing.

Now, the case itself doesn’t feel particularly premium—it’s light and a bit on the cheap side—but it’s functional, and it charges via USB-C which is always a plus.

The earbuds follow the same design language. At first glance, they look very similar in size and shape to Apple’s AirPods Pro, but Tozo added a twist: a semi-transparent finish. It gives them a unique look that actually feels cool and modern. They’re lightweight, easy to wear, and while they don’t scream luxury, they certainly don’t look or feel like a $20–$40 pair of earbuds either.

From a design perspective, I have to give Tozo credit here. The Crystal Pods stand out in a crowded budget market, and I really like what they’ve done.

Features

Here’s where things get really interesting. On paper, the Tozo Crystal Pods look far more like a “Pro” model than a budget-friendly pair of earbuds. Tozo has packed in just about everything they could think of:

• Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling up to -38db

• Call noise cancellation for clearer conversations

• Up to 35 hours of battery life with the case

• Fast charging that gives you 2 hours of playtime in just 10 minutes

• Bluetooth 5.4 for a stable and efficient connection

• IPX5 waterproofing, so a bit of sweat or rain won’t be an issue

• Low latency mode for gaming or watching videos without annoying lag

It’s the kind of spec sheet you’d expect from earbuds costing double—or even triple—the price. Tozo clearly wanted to make sure the Crystal Pods didn’t feel stripped down or basic, and on paper, they’ve absolutely nailed it.

At this price range, it’s honestly hard to find another pair that packs in this many features.

Sound Quality & Performance

Pairing the earbuds with my iPhone couldn’t have been easier. In less than 30 seconds, I was already listening to my Spotify playlist. And that’s when the shock came. I thought this review would be quick and predictable—budget earbuds, average sound, end of story. Well, I was wrong.

The sound is actually really good. The bass, boosted with Tozo’s Bass+ technology, packs a proper punch, and for this price range I’d even say it’s fantastic. The highs are decent—could be a touch sharper—but overall, the sound quality blew me away considering how little these buds cost. Honestly, I have no idea how Tozo managed to squeeze this much quality into such an affordable package.

The active noise cancellation also deserves a mention. Of course, it’s not industry-leading like what you get from Bose or Sony, but for everyday use—commuting, walking the dog, or working at home—it works really well. I usually keep ANC on by default, and the Crystal Pods handle it without making the music feel flat.

If there’s one thing I wasn’t too keen on, it’s the touch controls. Don’t get me wrong—the buds are responsive—but the system feels a bit overcomplicated. Double tap left for previous track, double tap right for next, single tap for play/pause, long hold to reject a call, triple tap to switch modes… it’s a lot to remember, and I doubt most people will. Thankfully, Tozo has an app that makes things easier, including access to up to 32 equalizer settings—a huge bonus at this price.

As for battery life, to me it’s not the most important factor—I value fast charging more since I only use earbuds a few hours a day. But it’s worth noting that with USB-C charging, you can get an extra 2 hours of playtime in just 10 minutes, which is brilliant. Tozo claims up to 32–35 hours of battery in total, and while I haven’t drained them fully to test that, they definitely feel strong and reliable in daily use.

Comfort-wise, they hit the mark. They’re small, light, and I can wear them for long stretches without any discomfort. Paired with the punchy sound and decent ANC, they’ve been an absolute pleasure to use.

Conclusion

OK, I admit it—I’m genuinely surprised by the Tozo Crystal Pods. I don’t know if every Tozo model is as good, but with these you really get a lot for what you pay. The bass is fantastic (something cheap earbuds usually miss), the transparent case and earbuds design is refreshing, and overall they’ve been one of the best surprises of the year for me.

Are they for everyone? Probably not. Some people will always prefer a big-name brand with a premium design and reputation, and that’s fine. But if you’re after a reliable secondary pair of earbuds, or you simply want a solid new pair without spending a fortune, I honestly think you should give these a try.

Right now they’re even on offer on Amazon.com and also available on Amazon UK. For the price, I don’t think you’ll regret it.

Jerome

Written by Jerome , founder of Dapper & Groomed. I’ve been testing and reviewing men’s lifestyle and tech products for over 10 years.

Disclaimer: Tozo kindly sent me the Crystal Pods for review, but all opinions shared here are my own.