I’m reviewing the new generation TWS from Canyon not without personal pleasure, as both myself and some of my close ones have been using the Canyon TWS-8 for almost a year. And the TWS-8 set a certain standard, which, I thought, the manufacturer wouldn’t deviate from. But Canyon OnGo 10 ANC surprised me. Not so much because they’re better or worse. But because of how much they differ.
Canyon OnGo 10 ANC video review
Market positioning
It’s only surprising why such differences exist in the headset. Because at the moment, the cost of the Canyon OnGo 10 ANC is $25. With the discount at the time of writing, they could be found for $21.
I’ll also mention the available colors right away. The headset is available in dark gray, which I don’t have on hand, as well as black, dark lilac, and soft cream colors. And the latter strongly reminded me of the color of old computers. You know, from the days of the first Apples. I was surprised by the absence of white color in stock, but as I understand it, there is cream instead.
Package contents
The kit of the novelty is basic, including a Type-C to Type-A charging cable, as well as spare ear tips and an instruction manual.
Comparison
Before continuing, let me explain something that might confuse you. The thing is, I’ll be comparing the Canyon OnGo 10 ANC and the Canyon TWS-8 later on. But not because one headset is better than the other, but because these are very different headsets.
At times, they intersect; their prices are very similar, and I’m 100% sure Canyon won’t remove the TWS-8 from sale. So, when you have a choice, you can choose either model for yourself. Both models may suit you under certain conditions. Yes, undoubtedly, the OnGo TWS-10 is more versatile, but I know people who would find the “predecessor” suitable for them. Keep that in mind.
Read also: Review of Canyon TWS-6, Canyon TWS-8 headphones and Canyon WS-304 charger
Appearance
Well, let’s start with the appearance. The Canyon OnGo 10 ANC looks very simple. The plastic is matte, but in terms of feel, the case is lighter than its predecessor, although it’s larger in size. There’s also a glossy strip running from the Type-C port at the bottom to the seam of the lid..
The overall build quality has improved, the hinges feel sturdy, and the lid opens more than 90 degrees – and, unlike the TWS-8, it securely locks in this position. There’s also a reset button in the case. The earbuds themselves are glossy and adorned with a large number of microphones – and for a very important reason.
The thing is, the Canyon OnGo 10 ANC fully supports active noise cancellation and transparency mode. I’ll talk about their quality later, but the fact that the new model, priced at up to $25, has support for these modes of operation is a huge achievement.
Specifications
In terms of specifications, the frequency ranges from 20 to 20,000 Hz, the standard of operation is Bluetooth 5.3, and there are a whopping four microphones for noise cancellation on each earbud. And… yes, that’s all that’s mentioned on the official website. It doesn’t say, for example, whether the headset supports the AAC codec or the battery capacity of the case – 500 mAh.
Battery life
Canyon is actively promoting claims that the case will charge each of the batteries inside the earpiece, which are 40 mAh, from zero to maximum in 50 minutes. Certainly, this is technically considered fast charging. I will note, however, that in reality, charging is even faster. For example, I charged my headphones from 30% to 100% in half an hour.
The case’s battery life is up to 30 hours. The earbuds themselves last for 6.5 hours without noise cancellation and 5.5 hours with noise cancellation – I believe at maximum volume. That’s according to the instruction manual, and it’s an hour and a half less than my personal minimum… when it comes to headphones costing more than $25 without noise cancellation. These have noise cancellation, so I have no complaints.
Experience of use
I’ll say right away, the case of the TWS-10 is less functional than that of the TWS-8, which had a battery capacity indicator inside with four dots. Here, there’s only a long LED that doesn’t change behavior depending on the battery level. It only turns off when it’s full or empty.
The magnets in the Canyon OnGo 10 ANC, on the other hand, are superb. So much so that it’s impossible to retrieve the earbud with just one hand; they come out very reluctantly even with two. But on the flip side, they’ll never fall out of the case without your knowledge. Ever.
Control
The scheme isn’t perfect, but it works. Each of the earbuds has its own set of functions, including activating the assistant, adjusting the volume, skipping tracks, and toggling noise cancellation modes. By default, it goes transparency mode, then noise cancellation, then standard mode.
A double tap on either of the earbuds either pauses or answers a call during an incoming call. And a triple tap skips to the next or previous song, depending on whether you’re using the left or right earbud.
The sound quality of the TWS-10 is also interesting. It sounds slightly worse than the TWS-8 in terms of frequency transmission, midrange, and overall vocal reproduction – very unexpressive, as if restrained. However, the soundstage width and detail are absolutely divine. Playfully magical, I would say, because it feels like the earbuds have no trouble at all revealing songs in a new light. Not all multi-driver flagships can do that, you know.
Operating modes
The headset has three modes, including the basic one. The transparency mode works adequately, allowing sound to pass through, and there are no issues with it. The noise cancellation mode works in such a way that you might not even realize if it’s working or not at first. Spoiler – it works, but in terms of effectiveness, it’s on par with the very first TWS noise cancellations. So, it’s narrowly specialized. But not necessarily weak.
Because it overrides the fan noise of my ASUS ROG Scar 15 G533QS laptop to such an extent that I forget whether I have a game running in the background, even when no music is playing. And when it does work, both fans operate at 3500 RPM. So, don’t expect the versatility of Apple or Huawei noise cancellation from this. But it’s there. And it works.
Summary
This headset doesn’t follow the path of the TWS-8 but goes in a different direction. There are no features like dual connectivity, but there is active noise cancellation and transparency mode. There’s no high autonomy, but there’s fast charging. There’s no battery capacity indicator, but there’s arguably the best price on the market. So, under certain conditions, I recommend the Canyon OnGo 10 ANC.
Read also:
- Canyon WCS-304 and Canyon WCS-305 Wireless Chargers Review
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