DIZO, realme’s partner brand, is now officially available here in the Philippines! However, unlike realme, DIZO will be focusing on offering various AIoT products that complement consumers’ individuality, reflecting their tagline “Be Different”. Part of today’s launch are 13 compelling tech products, including the budget-friendly DIZO Buds Z, which we were able to test out a week before its official release.

The DIZO Buds Z is an affordable choice for those who are looking for earbuds with a lightweight and ergonomic design. When worn under bright lights and when light hits the earbuds, it subtly shows off some flashy blue-violet colors, which can mirror the wearer’s formal-yet-fun personality. It has a punchy bass with its 10 mm dynamic bass boost driver, noise cancellation for calls, 16-hour playback, and IPX4 water resistance that is good enough to withstand water splashes and sweat.

INSIDE THE BOX

DIZO Buds Z comes in a white box with an image of the product in front and features of the earbuds on the side and back. Inside, you’ll find two additional earbud silicone tips in different sizes (small and large), a white Type-C charging cable, a user manual with warranty card, and the DIZO Buds Z charging case with the earbuds inside.

We got the Onyx color so both the charging case and earbuds are in black; however, you’ll notice a hint of reflective blue and violet on the earbuds’ outer shell. The shape is very common, but the color is dazzling enough to complement any outfit you’re wearing – may that be workout clothes or a formal corporate outfit. With how earbuds are designed for the past few years, we’re sure that the Buds Z will not go out of style soon.

QUICK TEST RUN

It’s easy to bring the DIZO Buds Z with you wherever you go as it’s small enough to fit in your pocket and the matte finish makes it versatile enough to complement any kind of aesthetic. The charging case feels like a smooth oval stone that you’d find along riverbanks, too! In terms of weight, it’s very light so anyone can easily open and close the charging case using one hand. Although it’s easy to open, the earbuds won’t fall off right away as it’s securely latched onto a magnet inside the case.

We were able to use the DIZO Buds Z for two full working days with a jam-packed online meeting schedule and quick breaks in between. The buds are super light at 3.7 grams each, I almost forgot that I left it in my ears as I carried on with my tasks. With its noise cancellation feature, I was also able to make calls and attend meetings even while I’m working near a whirring electric fan. Although it didn’t block out the noise completely, it was able to help me focus better.

The controls are easy to memorize as it’s the same as typical TWS devices in the market today. If you have preferred smart gestures, it’s easy to customize it via realme Link app, too. Charging is also a breeze since it comes with a USB Type-C. I’ve also listed the estimate charging time and battery life in the specifications sheet below.

In terms of connectivity, DIZO Buds Z paired with my smartphones almost instantly after I enabled the Bluetooth. It works well with any Android device, as well as laptops! I haven’t tested it yet on an Apple product, though. There are different quick tunes that you’ll hear once it’s been successfully paired, when it gets disconnected, and when it’s almost out of battery. Just in case you’re wondering, the sound isn’t annoying and repetitive… unless you plan to wear it for a long time without pairing it with any device.

When it comes to overall performance, the DIZO Buds Z is a decent audio device. It may not be what audiophiles would go crazy for, but it’s good for its under Php 1500 price range. It’s versatile enough to give good quality of music with its Dynamic Bass Boost drivers, provide a balanced sound profile when watching videos, and keep up with action-packed games with its 88ms low latency. I’ve tried listening to songs on Spotify, watch videos via YouTube and Netflix, and play games like Pokemon Unite

Because of the work-from-home and pandemic setup, my audio tests were mostly done indoors. However, I was able to make calls by our patio while it’s windy and it was still able to perform adequately.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Weight: 3.7 grams (each bud)
• Dimensions: 64.6 mm x 51.6 mm x 26 mm (case), 29.2 mm x 20.4 mm x 24.6 mm (buds)
• Driver: 10 mm Dynamic Bass Boost drivers
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C
• Wireless Range: Up to 10 meters
• Protection: IPX4 Water Resistance
• Battery: Good for 16 hours of total playback, 1.5 hours playback in 10 minutes charging, 4.5 hours playback on each earbud (380mAh for charging case)
• Charging Time: 1 hour (earbuds), 2 hours (with case)
• Features: Environmental Noise Cancellation for Calls, 88ms Super Low Latency, Smart Touch Controls, Bluetooth 5.0 Instant Connection / In-ear Detection, Customizable via realme Link app
• Colors: Onyx, Pearl

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

The DIZO Buds Z will be available starting February 12, 2022 at 12MN via the official DIZO Philippines store on Lazada for only Php 1,499.

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