The boAt Airdopes 170 has been on the market for quite some time, yet it continues to grab significant attention and maintain its popularity.
However, the real question is: How well does the boAt Airdopes 170 perform? Is it still a worthwhile purchase, or are there better alternatives available today? Let’s find out everything in this boAt Airdopes 170 review.
Quick Summary: Although the boAt Airdopes 170 is an older model, it remains a good TWS option. It features an attractive design, impressive battery life, and well-balanced sound quality. If you prioritize sound clarity along with decent enough bass, the boAt Airdopes 170 is certainly worth considering.
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable design
- Clear and open soundstage
- Clear vocals and crisp trebles
- Well-balanced bass
- Impressive battery life
- IPX4 water and sweat resistance
- Suitable for casual gaming
Cons
- Average call quality in outdoor environments
- Not ideal for those seeking heavy bass
Overall Rating: 4.0★
boAt Airdopes 170 Specifications
• Stem-style In Ear |
• Bluetooth V5.3 (10m Range) |
• Quad mic (Two mic per earbud) |
• 13 mm Driver |
• 40mAH battery per earbud, 470mAH in charging case |
• 5 hours battery life, 40 hours with the case |
• IPX4 rating, ENx, Beast Mode, Fast charging Type-C port, Voice assistant, IWP, Touch controls |
• 40 g weight with the case, 4 g per earbud |
• Check Best Price |
Best Alternatives of boAt Airdopes 170
Best Alternatives | Top Features |
---|---|
Realme Buds T110 | BT 5.4, 10mm Bass Driver, 32 Ohm Impedance, IPX5, 38H Battery |
Mivi DuoPods i7 | 3D Soundstage, 13mm Bass Driver, 55H Battery, Dual Connectivity |
Boult K10 | BT 5.4, 10mm Driver, 50H Battery, 4 Mic, 45ms Latency |
Noise Buds Verve 2 | 13mm Driver, BT 5.3, 4 Mic, 50H Battery, 50ms Latency |
Boult Audio UFO | 13mm Bass Driver, BT 5.3, 4 Mic, 48H Battery, 45ms Latency |
These are the best alternatives to the boAt Airdopes 170. Each option offers unique features that make them worth considering as viable alternatives.
Now, let’s get started with the boAt Airdopes 170 review to uncover its features and performance.
Build Quality
Upon unboxing the boAt Airdopes 170, you’ll notice that the build quality is great for its price. While both the case and earbuds are made of plastic, they feel sturdy and durable.
The plastic used is of good quality, giving the earbuds a solid feel without appearing cheap from any angle.
The matte finish on both the case and earbuds not only adds a premium touch but also helps resist fingerprints.
The earbuds are securely held in place with strong magnets, ensuring they don’t fall out even when the case is open.
Overall, the build quality is commendable for the price point. While you can’t compare it to more expensive earbuds, for under Rs 1500, it offers good value without any major compromises on the build.
Build Quality: 4.0★
Design and Comfort
Both the case and earbuds feature a simple, minimalist design. While there are no elaborate cutouts, a subtle protruding line on both the carrying case and earbuds adds a slight grip, which enhances their usability.
The stem-style earbuds fit comfortably in the ears. If you don’t get the right fit initially, switching to a different silicone ear tip can provide a more secure fit.
The earbuds are angled at 45°, allowing them to sit securely in the ears and stay in place even with vigorous movement. This makes them an excellent choice for sports activities like gym workouts and running.
The combination of good grip and comfort ensures you can enjoy extended music sessions without discomfort or pain.
For those who appreciate a simple design, these earbuds are a solid choice. They offer a comfortable fit regardless of ear size, although individuals with particularly small ears might experience minor comfort issues.
Design and Comfort: 4.0★
Battery Life
The battery life of the boAt Airdopes 170 is impressive.
While the manufacturer claims up to 9 hours of playback from the earbuds alone and 50 hours with the charging case, here are the real-world results we observed:
- 6 hours of battery life at 80% volume
- 6.5 hours of battery life at 70% volume
- 7.5 hours of battery life at 50% volume
The case can recharge the earbuds four times, providing:
- Approximately 24 hours of playback at 80% volume
- 25 to 26 hours of playback at 70% volume
- 30 to 33 hours of playback at 50% volume
A quick 10-minute charge gives over 2 hours of playback, and the case itself takes around 1.5 to 2 hours to fully charge, depending on the charger used.
Overall, we are highly satisfied with the battery performance of the boAt Airdopes 170.
The earbuds deliver excellent endurance on a single charge, and the fast-charging capability is a valuable bonus. You won’t have to worry about running out of battery power with these earbuds.
Battery Life: 4.2★
Call Quality
Call quality is a common challenge for most earbuds, even at higher price points, and the boAt Airdopes 170 is no exception.
Despite featuring a quad-mic setup with ENx technology, the call quality is merely average.
To clarify, indoor call quality is decent—the person on the other end can hear you clearly. However, the experience changes when taking calls outdoors.
In noisy environments, the ENx technology activates to suppress background noise, but it also compresses your voice. This results in the other person hearing a compressed sound, and some background noise remains noticeable.
So, if you make occasional calls using earbuds, the boAt Airdopes 170 will serve you well enough. However, if clear call quality is a priority, especially in noisy surroundings, these earbuds may not be the ideal choice.
Call Quality:3.8★
Sound and Bass Quality
boAt Airdopes are well-known for their bass-heavy sound profile, which appeals to many listeners. We appreciate deep bass, too.
However, with budget earbuds, sound clarity is often sacrificed to emphasize bass. This can result in missing finer details like instrumentals, voice clarity, and treble.
Surprisingly, that’s not the case with the boAt Airdopes 170. This time, boAt has struck a good balance between bass and clarity.
The bass is decently deep and impactful without being overwhelming. It’s well-balanced, providing a satisfying punch without overshadowing other elements.
While the bass is prominent, it’s not extreme, which might not fully satisfy those seeking a bass-heavy experience. Adjusting the EQ settings can boost the bass, but out of the box, it’s tuned for a more moderate bass response.
Other frequencies, such as vocals and treble, are impressively clear and crisp. Vocals stand out, enhancing the overall music experience, and the trebles are pleasant without being harsh, even at higher volumes.
Speaking of volume, the earbuds deliver ample loudness, thanks to the 13mm driver. Instrument separation is also commendable at this price point—you can easily distinguish the background instruments.
Overall, if you prefer a balanced sound with clarity and adequate bass, the boAt Airdopes 170 is an excellent choice at this price. However, if you’re a heavy bass enthusiast, you might want to explore other options.
For a more bass-heavy experience, you can consider the newly launched boAt Nirvana Space.
Sound and Bass Quality: 4.1★
Gaming Test
boAt claims a 50ms latency on the boAt Airdopes 170. Typically, brands tend to understate actual latency, but in this case, boAt’s claim is quite accurate.
While it’s not exactly 50ms, it’s very close—around 55ms in some instances. This slight difference is negligible, and most users are unlikely to notice it.
In simple terms, the gaming experience is good for earbuds in this price range. If you’re looking for earbuds for casual to moderate gaming, the Airdopes 170 is a viable option. However, for more intense gaming, you might want to consider earbuds specifically designed for gaming.
Although the boAt Airdopes 170 isn’t marketed as a dedicated gaming TWS, it performs adequately well in this regard. Most casual to moderate gamers will find it more than capable for their needs.
Gaming: 4.0★
Other Features
- Bluetooth 5.3 ensures a stable connection, and we haven’t encountered any connectivity issues.
- The earbuds have an IPX4 rating, making them resistant to accidental splashes. However, many earbuds in this price range come with an IPX5 rating.
- Equipped with IWP (Insta Wake N’ Pair) technology, the earbuds automatically connect to your phone as soon as you open the case, after the initial pairing.
- Additionally, the touch controls are responsive and function as expected.
Features: 3.9★
Pricing and Value for Money
The boAt Airdopes 170 was initially launched at Rs 1500, offering good value for money at that price point.
However, with numerous alternatives now available in the same price range, the competition has intensified. Fortunately, the price of the Airdopes 170 has also been reduced to Rs 1200, making it an attractive option.
If you can find the Airdopes 170 for around Rs 1200 or Rs 1300, it’s a worthwhile purchase. However, if the price rises back to Rs 1500, it’s advisable to explore other options to ensure you get the best value for your money.
You might also like the JBL Cinema SB271 review.
Final Verdict and Pros & Cons
We acknowledge that the boAt Airdopes 170 is not a perfect TWS option. Additionally, many users associate boAt earbuds with heavy bass, and this model does not cater to bass enthusiasts.
However, not everyone prefers overpowering bass. For those who appreciate a balanced sound profile with a reasonable amount of bass, the boAt Airdopes 170 is an excellent choice at this price point.
Overall, if you understand your priorities in terms of sound quality, the boAt Airdopes 170 is a solid option worth considering.
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable design
- Clear and open soundstage
- Clear vocals and crisp trebles
- Well-balanced bass
- Impressive battery life
- IPX4 water and sweat resistance
- Suitable for casual gaming
Cons
- Average call quality in outdoor environments
- Not ideal for those seeking heavy bass
Overall Rating: 4.0★
FAQs
1. Does boAt Airdopes 170 have noise cancellation?
No, the boAt Airdopes 170 does not feature Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). However, it does provide passive noise isolation through its in-ear design, which helps to minimize ambient noise to some extent.
2. How long does it take to charge Airdopes 170?
The boAt Airdopes 170 earbuds take approximately 1.5 hours to fully charge. The charging case itself also requires around 1.5 hours to reach a full charge.
3. How to start boAt Airdopes 170?
- Take the earbuds out of the charging case; they will automatically power on and enter pairing mode.
- On your device, turn on Bluetooth and search for available devices.
- Select “boAt Airdopes 170” from the list to connect.
4. How to activate beast mode in Airdopes 170?
To activate BEAST Mode on your boAt Airdopes 170, press and hold the touch capacitive area on the right earbud for 3 seconds.
5. Does boAt 170 have touch controls?
Yes, the boAt Airdopes 170 features touch controls. These controls allow you to manage various functions, such as playing or pausing music, answering calls, and activating BEAST Mode.
You might also like the Realme Buds T310 vs T300.
That concludes our boAt Airdopes 170 review. If you still have any doubts, feel free to ask in the comments section.
Do you agree or disagree with this review? We’d love to hear your thoughts.