SureTech S1

The SureTech S1 wireless earbuds pack a touchscreen charging case, Bluetooth 6.0, and surprisingly good sound into a budget-friendly package. The 60ms latency and 60-hour battery life are standout specs. But quality control issues and a user sentiment score near the bottom of our database make these a risky buy for anyone who just wants reliable earbuds.

For the price, the sound is actually a pleasant surprise. The 13mm dynamic driver pushes out a warm, bass-friendly profile that lands in the 75th percentile for sound quality in our database. That's well above average for budget earbuds, and several owners specifically mention that the audio quality punches above what they paid. The equalizer presets on the touchscreen case are a nice touch too, letting you tweak the sound without digging through a phone app.

Connectivity is where the S1 genuinely shines. Bluetooth 6.0 with a claimed 60ms latency puts it in the 90th percentile for connectivity, which is best-in-class territory for this price point. That low latency is a real selling point if you're gaming or watching video. The 60-hour total battery life with the case is also solid, landing in the 79th percentile. But the mic performance is a weak spot at 48.7 out of 100 for calls, and the ANC sits at 74th percentile, which is fine but not going to silence a subway car.

The SureTech S1's most direct competitor is probably the Soundcore P31i, which sits in a similar budget range and offers reliable ANC without the touchscreen gimmick. The P31i doesn't have the same connectivity chops, but it's a safer bet if you just want earbuds that work out of the box. The EarFun Air Pro 4+ is another strong alternative, with better overall polish and a more established app ecosystem.

If you're willing to spend a bit more, the Sony WF-C700N is the obvious upgrade. Sony's ANC is in a different league, and the build quality is night and day compared to the S1's cheap-feeling case. The Nothing Ear (3) is also worth a look if you care about design and call quality. The S1's touchscreen case is genuinely unique, but it's not enough to overcome the QC concerns when these competitors exist.

At $40 USD, the SureTech S1 is priced like a budget pair of earbuds with a party trick. The touchscreen case and Bluetooth 6.0 are features you typically don't see at this price, and the sound quality holds up well. But the value proposition gets murkier when you look at the European pricing. At 130 EUR in Spain, you're suddenly competing with the Sony WF-C700N and the Nothing Ear (3), both of which have far better build quality and customer support. The GBP 61 and INR 10,719 prices land somewhere in between. If you can grab these at the US price, they're an interesting experiment. At the higher prices, they're a much harder sell.

The SureTech S1 is one of those earbuds that looks like a tech demo on paper and a gamble in real life. You get a 13mm dynamic driver, Bluetooth 6.0, ANC and ENC noise cancellation, and a charging case with an actual touchscreen on it. That last part is the hook. Most earbuds in this price bracket, around $40 USD in the US but oddly 130 EUR in Spain, don't ship with a screen on the case. It's a genuinely unusual feature, and it's the main reason people search for these things in the first place.

But the S1 is also a reminder that specs don't tell the whole story. The user sentiment score in our database is rough, sitting near the bottom of the barrel. Some owners love the sound and the novelty of the touchscreen case. Others got a pair where only the left earbud worked. That kind of split is worth knowing before you click buy.

So is the SureTech S1 a hidden gem or a QC lottery ticket? The short answer is both. It depends on which unit shows up at your door.

Skip the SureTech S1 if you need earbuds for work calls. The mic quality is the weakest area at 48.7 out of 100, and you'll sound muffled to the person on the other end. Also skip these if you're not comfortable sideloading apps from QR codes, since the AI translation feature isn't on official app stores. And if you're buying in Europe at 130 EUR, just don't. Get the Sony WF-C700N or the Nothing Ear (3) instead. The S1 only makes sense at the US price, and even then, only for people who enjoy gambling on quirky tech.

Should you buy the SureTech S1? If you're a tinkerer who loves weird tech and you can get them at the US price of $40, sure. The touchscreen case is a fun novelty, the sound is better than expected, and Bluetooth 6.0 with 60ms latency is genuinely impressive. But you're rolling the dice on quality control. Our data shows a user sentiment score in the 6th percentile, which is one of the worst we've seen. That's not a typo.

For most people, the answer is no. The risk of getting a unit with a dead earbud or a translation app that requires a sketchy QR code download is too high. The S1 is an interesting concept with flashes of brilliance, but it's not a reliable daily driver. If you want something that just works, look at the Soundcore P31i or spend a bit more on the Sony WF-C700N.