The Polish brand 3MK is on my radar for the first time, and there’s a good reason for that. It’s a newcomer brand trying to break into the highly aggressive and competitive Ukrainian TWS headset market. Their attempt to do so is with the 3MK LifePods model. Right off the bat, I’ll say the company has a solid chance of success, and many will find the LifePods appealing. This is NOT the company’s first model. It is NOT their only model. And it is NOT the perfect TWS headset. I’ll explain why further on.
Specifications
- Bluetooth version: 5.3
- Speaker size: 13 mm
- Impedance: 32Ω
- Charging port: Type-C
- Charging voltage: DC 5V
- Bluetooth signal range: 15 m
- Frequency range: 20-20000 Hz
- Music playback time: (without ANC) 6.5 hours
- Music playback time: (with ANC on) 5.5 hours
- Charging time: 1.5 hours
- Battery capacity: 40 mAh
- Case battery capacity: 300 mAh
Market position
The new model is priced at just under $50 or €45. To be honest, this is a somewhat risky price point for a new product, but on the other hand, it’s PERFECT. Especially for something new on the market.
Why risky? Because for $50, you can find some absolutely incredible models that even I, with my high standards, would rate highly and without hesitation. So, the competition will be fierce.
The price is ideal because this newcomer is positioned boldly and subconsciously guarantees a certain set of features found in competitors. In other words, it’s not a budget model from a no-name brand. It’s something more prestigious, allowing 3MK to make a long-term statement.
Package contents
The earphones come with a basic set of accessories: a USB cable, silicone ear tips, the earbuds themselves, a USB-A to USB-C cable, and a user manual.
Design and build quality
I’ll divide the discussion about the appearance into two parts. Visually, just in terms of design, the 3MK LifePods look quite attractive. The glossy white plastic is both resistant to scratches and doesn’t collect too many fingerprints.
However, design is just the first part. The second part is the overall build quality, which is frankly the weakest aspect of the 3MK LifePods. While there are no structural mistakes per se, there are some “amateurish” flaws. For instance, the plastic seams are noticeable, the case lid wobbles more than I’m used to and doesn’t lock in place. The holes for the LED indicators are just holes; they aren’t covered with diffusers.
These issues are noticeable to a reviewer, but they might not be as apparent to an average user. In fact, I stopped noticing them almost immediately. So, while I wouldn’t call it a major flaw, it is undoubtedly a drawback. Overall, for a first attempt, it’s a decent result.
Control scheme
The 3MK LifePods are controlled by pressing the touch area on the top of the leg. I’ll give you the instructions right away – the left earbud reduces the volume with one press, pauses playback with two presses, and switches the noise canceling modes with three presses. Long press – switches the song back.
The right earbud increases the volume with a single press, pauses with a double press, calls the assistant with a triple press, and plays the next song with a long press. During a call, a double click picks up and hangs up the phone, a long press disconnects the call.
Technical specifications and battery life
The specifications of 3MK LifePods are as follows. Bluetooth 5.3, range – up to 15 meters, although in practice I had a little less. The size of the drivers is 13 mm, the impedance is 32 ohms, and the frequency range is from 20 to 20,000 Hz.
The battery life of the 3MK LifePods is advertised as 6.5 hours with noise cancellation off and 5.5 hours with it on. The testing conditions are not specified, but battery life is typically measured at 70% volume. Each earbud has a battery capacity of 40 mAh, while the case has a 329 mAh battery. The case charges at a rate of up to 5 watts. The earbuds do not come with proprietary software and only support AAC and SBC codecs.
Ergonomics
I’ll start with the AirPods test, and the AirPods barely pass the test. The issue is that the earbuds are rotated 180 degrees around their vertical axis inside the case. This means that when you take them out of your ears and put them back into the case, you have to rotate them. In theory, this could reduce the case size, but in practice, it just makes it more difficult to place them back in.
Read also: Anker Soundcore P40i TWS Headphones Review
Sound quality
I’ll keep it simple. The sound quality of the 3MK LifePods, which cost $50, is comparable to what you’d expect from earbuds that cost $100. Not $120 or $200. I recently reviewed an Oppo TWS model that sacrificed various features for premium sound quality. In this case, the situation is even better.
The sound is VERY rich and detailed. The bass is so deep it feels like it’s tickling your brain. You can even hear the age of a song due to the noticeable artifacts from vintage recordings. The soundstage is playful and more expansive than 99% of the earbuds I’ve tested before, offering not just a horizontal but even a slight vertical dimension. In other words, it’s genuinely three-dimensional.
And don’t forget about the transparency and noise-cancelling modes. They might not be industry-leading, but they’re good enough that the noise cancellation cuts out the loud USB fan that usually disturbs my sleep.
The microphone quality is decent. There appears to be built-in noise cancellation, which isn’t mentioned in the specifications or marketing materials. However, noise cancellation is often standard in SoCs for wireless earbuds, and it doesn’t require any special hardware from the manufacturer—just choosing the right system-on-chip. I’m not sure which specific chip 3MK chose, but I believe their choice is a good one.
Summary
The best thing I can say about these earbuds is that they are well-balanced. The case feels like it’s from a model that’s about half the price, while the sound quality and features are comparable to those of models that are nearly twice as expensive. Furthermore, not all flagship TWS earbuds offer this level of quality. I’d love to see the 3MK LifePods 2 addressing some of these shortcomings, but the 3MK LifePods themselves are already impressive.
Read also:
- ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova Gaming TWS Earbuds Review
- Huawei FreeBuds 6i TWS Headphones Review
- Moto Buds 065 TWS Earphones Review: For the Young and Active