SABBAT X12 PRO

The SABBAT X12 PRO delivers surprisingly good sound and build quality for $46, with sound in the 83rd percentile and build in the 91st. But comfort is a real problem, landing in the 28th percentile, and battery life is below average at 6 hours per charge. If they fit your ears, they're a solid budget pick. If they don't, no amount of sound quality will make up for it.

The 10mm dynamic driver does the heavy lifting here, and it does it surprisingly well. With a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz and a sensitivity of 120 ± 5 dB, these earbuds get loud and cover the full audible range. The sound quality percentile of 83 means you're getting audio that's better than most budget earbuds we've tested. The codec support is limited to AAC and SBC, so Android users won't get aptX or LDAC, but for casual listening at this price point, that's not a dealbreaker. The semi-in-ear design means you won't get the bass thump of a sealed in-ear, but you do get a more open, airy soundstage.

Connectivity is a mixed bag. Bluetooth 5.2 is solid on paper, and the automatic connection feature is genuinely nice. Pop the earbuds out of the case and they pair instantly. But the connectivity percentile sits at 70, which is about average, and several users report one side cutting out intermittently. That's frustrating, especially when the marketing copy brags about how stable the connection is. The mic performance is where things really fall off, landing in the 40th percentile. Calls are listed as the weakest area at 23.1 out of 100, so if you're planning to use these for phone calls or video meetings, you should look elsewhere. The IPX5 water resistance is a nice touch for workouts, but given the comfort issues, you might not want to rely on these for the gym.

The Nothing Buds 2 is the most obvious competitor here, and it's a different beast entirely. The Nothing Buds 2 offers active noise cancellation, which the X12 PRO lacks, and a more refined overall experience. But it also costs more. If you're on a strict budget, the X12 PRO's sound quality holds up surprisingly well against pricier options. The Sony WF-C700N is another strong alternative, with better comfort and battery life, plus actual ANC. Sony's earbuds are known for their fit, and given the X12 PRO's comfort issues, that's a significant advantage.

The SoundPEATS H3 is probably the closest direct competitor in terms of price and positioning. Both are budget-focused with decent sound, but the H3 tends to have better battery life and a more comfortable fit for most people. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro is in a completely different league, with premium features and a premium price. If you're comparing the X12 PRO to the Galaxy Buds3 Pro, you're comparing apples to oranges. The X12 PRO wins on price alone, but loses on comfort, battery, mic quality, and features. The Soundcore P31i is another budget option worth considering, with better battery life and a more consistent fit.

At $46 in the US, the SABBAT X12 PRO is aggressively priced. You're getting build quality and sound performance that would normally cost you significantly more. The 91st percentile build quality is the kind of number we usually see on earbuds in the $80 to $100 range. So on paper, this is a steal. But value isn't just about the spec sheet. If the earbuds don't fit your ears comfortably, that $46 is wasted money no matter how good the sound is.

The pricing gets weird when you look at other markets. The Italian listing shows EUR 199, which is a completely different value proposition. At that price, you're competing with mid-range Sony and Samsung earbuds, and the X12 PRO simply can't hang in that arena. The Indian listing at INR 11,244 is similarly out of step. So if you're buying in the US, this is a budget pick with some real strengths. If you're buying in Europe or India, the value equation falls apart entirely. The battery life is also a factor. Six hours per charge is below average, and the 20th percentile ranking means most competitors offer more. The 30-hour total with the case sounds impressive until you realize you'll be reaching for that case more often than you'd like.

The SABBAT X12 PRO is one of those earbuds that makes you do a double take when you see the price. At $46 in the US, you're getting a semi-in-ear design with a 10mm dynamic driver, Bluetooth 5.2, and a charging case that promises 30 hours of total listening time. That's a lot of spec sheet for the money, and it's clearly aimed at people who want the Apple earbud shape without paying Apple earbud prices. But the numbers tell a more complicated story than the marketing copy suggests.

Our database puts the build quality in the 91st percentile, which is genuinely surprising for a budget pair. The sound quality lands in the 83rd percentile, meaning it punches well above its weight class. But then you hit the comfort score, which sits in the 28th percentile, and the battery ranking at the 20th percentile. That's a weird combination. You've got a well-built, good-sounding pair of earbuds that a lot of people find uncomfortable and that doesn't last as long as the competition.

The user sentiment summary backs this up. Owners who can wear these comfortably tend to love them. They praise the secure fit, the automatic connection, and the sound quality for the price. But a recurring complaint is that the earbuds are simply too large for some ears, and the ear wings are too soft to provide any real hold. So this is a product with a real split personality. If they fit your ears, you're probably going to be happy. If they don't, no amount of sound quality will save them.

If you have smaller ears, skip these. The comfort issues are real, and the 28th percentile ranking isn't just a number. Multiple owners report the earbuds are too large, and the soft ear wings don't help. If you're buying these for workouts or long listening sessions, you'll likely be disappointed. The fit is the foundation everything else builds on, and if that's shaky, nothing else matters.

If you need earbuds for calls, skip these too. The mic quality is below average, and calls are the weakest area by a wide margin. If you're on video meetings all day or take a lot of phone calls, the Sony WF-C700N or Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro are much better options. And if you're buying outside the US, the pricing makes no sense. At EUR 199 or INR 11,244, you're paying mid-range prices for a budget product. Look at local alternatives instead.

If you have smaller ears, skip these. The comfort issues are real, and the 28th percentile ranking isn't just a number. Multiple owners report the earbuds are too large, and the soft ear wings don't help. If you're buying these for workouts or long listening sessions, you'll likely be disappointed. The fit is the foundation everything else builds on, and if that's shaky, nothing else matters.

But if you have larger ears and you're looking for a budget pair with surprisingly good sound and build quality, the X12 PRO is worth a look. The automatic connection is genuinely convenient, the sound quality is better than most $46 earbuds, and the build feels more premium than the price suggests. Just don't expect great call quality or all-day battery life. These are music-first earbuds for people who prioritize sound and build over comfort and features. For everyone else, the Nothing Buds 2 or Sony WF-C700N are safer bets.