KICKER TWS3

KICKER's first earbuds nail the ANC but fumble the basics. Great noise cancellation, mediocre everything else.

The ANC is the star here, sitting in the 93rd percentile of our database. That's best-in-class territory for noise cancellation, which is wild for a brand new to this space. The dual mics also hold up well for calls, landing in the 82nd percentile. But then you hit the sound quality, which sits at a disappointing 29th percentile. Users are split on bass, some say it's great, others say it's weak. And a few report faint static noise creeping in. The battery is the real weak spot though, 5 hours per charge and 25 total puts it in the 14th percentile. That's rough when competitors are pushing 8-10 hours per charge.

Against the Sony WF-C700N, the KICKER wins on ANC performance but loses badly on battery life and overall polish. Sony's been doing this for decades and it shows in the little things like app support and connection stability. The Soundcore P31i is the budget alternative that actually beats the TW3 on battery and sound quality, though its ANC can't touch KICKER's. And if you're already spending EUR 200+, just get the Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation or Technics EAH-AZ100. Both are better all-around earbuds with stronger ecosystems and more reliable performance.

At $90 USD on Amazon, the TW3 is priced like a budget earbud but delivers flagship-level ANC. That's the trade-off. You're getting excellent noise cancellation and solid call quality, but you're sacrificing battery life and overall sound refinement. The EUR pricing is all over the place though, ranging from EUR 190 to EUR 275 across Spanish and Italian listings. If you're in Europe, shop around because that spread is significant. At the lower end of that range, it's a decent deal. At the top end, you're paying way too much for what you get.

KICKER is a name you know from car audio, and now they're slapping it on true wireless earbuds. The TW3 tries to bring that bass-heavy reputation to your ears with hybrid ANC and a claimed -35dB of noise reduction. The one thing to know? The ANC is genuinely impressive for this price, but the overall package feels like a first draft from a company still figuring out earbuds.

If you're looking for all-day battery life or audiophile-grade sound, this isn't it. The 5-hour battery will frustrate commuters and travelers, and the sound quality won't impress anyone who cares about detail. Go get the Soundcore P31i for better battery and sound at a similar price, or step up to the Sony WF-C700N if you want a more polished overall experience.

The KICKER TW3 is a weird one. The ANC is shockingly good, the mics are solid, and the fit works for most people. But the battery life is bad, the sound quality is average at best, and there are enough reports of static and pairing issues to make me pause. If you specifically want strong ANC on a budget and don't mind charging frequently, this is worth a look at $90. If you want a well-rounded earbud, there are better options at this price.