At present, Yamaha sells TW-E3B, TW-E5B, TW-ES5A, and TW-E7B TWS earbuds in India. Each of them is aimed at different price segments. The TW-E3B variant is the most affordable model; it was priced at Rs 8,490 (~$103) when it debuted in June 2022. Currently, it is selling for Rs 6,490 (~$79) on Amazon. One of the attractive features that the TW-E3B offers is the audio clarity. In addition, it offers a good battery life. Here is our unboxing and hands-on post about the Yamaha TW-E3B TWS earbuds.
Yamaha TW-E3B TWS earbuds: What’s in the box?
The Yamaha TW-E3B TWS earbuds retail package includes the following items:
- Yamaha TW-E3B TWS earbuds with charging case
- Eartips (extra small / small / medium / large)
- USB-A to USB-C cable
- Quick Start Guide
Design and Comfort
The Yamaha TW-E3B comes in multiple colors, such as black, pink, blue (limited edition), and purple (limited edition). The black variant, of the TW-E3B, that we received has a simple yet sleek design and a matte finish. Since it is the most affordable pair of Yamaha TWS earbuds, the build quality does not feel premium, but is good enough for the price it offers. The case makes a nice snappy sound when it is closed. Each earbud weighs 5.0 grammes, and the entire thing with the case weighs 45 grams.
The TW-E3B has four LED indicators on the front, and the back has a USB-C port. The Yamaha logo can be seen on the lid of the case. Both earbuds have a microphone, a physical function key with the Yamaha logo on it, and an LED indicator for pairing. The underside of each earbud has a charging connector, which can be connected to the charging pins available inside the case. Both earbuds offer an IPX5 rating, which makes them ideal for use during workouts. As far as comfort is concerned, the earbuds fit well inside the ear canals thanks to the different-sized eartips they come with.
Connectivity and Controls
The TW-E3B comes with support for Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, which brings support for audio codecs, such as SBC, AAC, and aptX. In order to establish a connection between the TW-E3B and a phone for the first time, one needs to take out the right earbuds and long press the button available on it. This will let the TW-E3B enter pairing mode, and its LED indicator will flash blue. Next, one needs to scan for new Bluetooth devices on a phone and look for “Yamaha TW-E3B R.” The LED indicator will then glow in purple, meaning it is ready for use. Next, take out the left earbud from the case, and it will show a prompt on the phone to connect with “Yamaha TW-E3B L,” this way the left earbud can be connected. Once the device has been paired with a smartphone, the earbuds will instantly connect to the phone when they are taken out of the case.
The specifications sheet for the TW-E3B on the official website mentions that it does not support gaming mode or active noise cancellation. However, it offers a feature called Listening Care. According to Yamaha, “Listening Care provides a more sophisticated solution by using a 4-band parametric equalizer (PEQ) to apply precise settings at each level in order to produce the best tonal balance at every volume. This means that you (and earbud guy) don’t have to crank up the volume to hear the bass drops or the cymbal crashes.” Here is how the function key on each earbud work.
| Controls | Functions |
| Single press on right / left earbud | Play / Pause | Answer / End call |
| Long press on right / left on an incoming call | Reject call |
| Double press on right earbud | Increase volume |
| Double press on left earbud | Decrease volume |
| Triple press on right / left earbud | Access Google Assistant / Siri |
| Long press on right earbud until here a beep | Next Song |
| Long press on left earbud until here a beep | Previous Song |
| Long press on right earbud | Power on / off |
| Long press on left earbud | Power on / off |
I sometimes prefer to listen to music using only one earbud. Some mid-tier earbuds offer smart wear detection, which can automatically play / pause music when an earbud is removed from the ear. This feature is unavailable on the TW-E3B. However, in its absence, the Yamaha TW-E3B offers a nifty feature that allows the user to turn off / on to the left or right by long pressing the function key.
Most earbuds with smart wear detection require users to remove one of the earbuds to play / pause. On such TWS devices, once the earbud is removed, it should be placed inside the case to make sure you don’t lose it. However, on the TW-E3B, one can continue wearing the turned off earbud and turn it on whenever required. Another thing that I liked about the TW-E3B is that it provides a way to adjust the volume through the earbuds.
Sound Output and Battery Life
There is a dedicated app called “Headphones Controller” available on Apple App Store and Google Play Store. It shows the battery status of the earbuds, offers a toggle to turn on Listening Care, and an auto power off timer. It also lets users search for the latest firmware for the TW-E3B. The Listening Care adjusts the frequency balance, offering rich sound quality playback even at a low volume.
The TW-E3B will be liked by those who prefer to listen to every detail. The 6mm audio drivers onboard produce crisp audio output. The bass is good enough and does not appear overoptimized. One of the impressive features of the TW-E3B is that the audio sounds very clear when played at low volume.
The built-in microphone is good enough for voice memos and voice assistants. As far as call quality is concerned, it is unable to cut down noise in a busy environment since it lacks ANC. However, it is still usable for calls in scenarios with less background noise.
Coming to the battery life of the TW-E3B, the moment the earbuds are worn, they will sound one of the following battery status messages.
- Battery High: plenty of charge remaining
- Battery Medium: moderate charge remaining
- Battery Low: small amount of charge remaining
In addition, if the battery is low, the LED indicator on the earbuds flashes three times in red. As claimed by the brand, the TW-E3B takes around two hours to achieve a full charge. The official page of the device states that the earbuds can last for up to 6 hours once they are fully charged. With the charging case, it can last for up to 24 hours. The charging case promises up to three charging cycles.
I used the TW-E3B for a couple of weeks. Since I used them for an hour or two each time, the earbuds could easily last for 3 to 4 hours. Hence, it required me to charge the TW-E3B once a week. I can conclude that the audio output and battery life are the strengths of the Yamaha TW-E3B.
Price and Availability
The Yamaha TW-E3B and TW-E5B debuted last year for Rs 8,490 (~$103) and Rs 14,200 (~$17), respectively. At the time of writing this review, the TW-E3B was priced at Rs 6,490 (~$79) It can be purchased through Amazon India and the Yamaha Music Store website. To conclude, the TW-E3B, which is powered by Yamaha’s decades of experience in acoustic and electric technologies, offers an impressive audio experience in the affordable price segment.
Disclaimer: All of the opinions in this Yamaha TW-E3B TWS earbuds unboxing and hands-on post are mine and based on my own experiences. There has been no editorial input from Yamaha.
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