The budget TWS segment in India is packed with options, but very few stand out for the right reasons. Most earbuds under ₹2,000 are built for basic use, and you will have to spend more to get features like ANC, In-ear detection, spatial sound, and more. But boAt is trying to change that with the Airdopes Prime 701 ANC. At ₹1,999, these earbuds promise features you usually find in higher-end models, including Hybrid ANC, Spatial Audio, Adaptive EQ, in-ear detection, and even 50 hours of battery life. Sounds impressive on paper. But does it actually deliver in real-world use?
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boAt Airdopes Prime 701 ANC Review
Design
The Airdopes Prime 701 ANC follows a minimal, clean look with a premium matte finish. The charging case is compact, fits easily in the pocket, and has a slightly curved design that feels good in the hand. The lid opens and closes with a smooth hinge, and the magnets inside feel strong enough to hold the earbuds securely in place. On the bottom side, it has a type-c port for charging and a button to reset it.
The earbuds themselves are stem-style with silicone ear tips. The stem is short, and the overall design is subtle and comfortable. There’s a boAt branding and tiny LED light for battery status. They are lightweight, and the in-ear fit is secure. Even during long listening sessions, workouts, or walks, the earbuds sit comfortably without causing any pressure. The passive noise isolation is already decent due to the snug fit, and when you turn on ANC, it gets even better.
Buds also feature touch controls for music playback, tracks, and calls. It works well. But there’s no default way to control volume. The good thing is that you can customize touch controls using the companion app called boAt hearable.
These are IPX5 rated, which means they are splash- and sweat-resistant. Ideal for workouts and outdoor use.
Sound and performance
Now, let us talk about audio, which is where these earbuds actually surprise you. The boAt Airdopes Prime 701 ANC comes with 10mm dynamic drivers. You get the usual boAt Signature Sound, which means boosted bass, clear vocals, and bright treble. Bass lovers will enjoy the low-end thump, especially in genres like EDM, Bollywood, or Hip-hop. It is not muddy, but just punchy enough to make your music feel energetic. Mids are clean and clear, vocals come through well, which is important for podcasts, acoustic tracks, and dialogue-heavy content like YouTube videos or movies. Highs are decent too. Not overly sharp, but clear enough to catch small details like cymbals or background instruments.
You are limited to SBC and AAC codecs, which are good enough for casual listening. But there’s no aptX or LDAC support, so audiophiles might feel a bit restricted.
Now comes the interesting part: 24-bit Spatial Audio. This feature adds more depth to the soundstage. It makes music and movies feel more open and three-dimensional. For example, while watching movies, you actually notice directional audio, like footsteps coming from the side or background scores filling the space. It’s not at the level of high-end Spatial Audio tech, but at this price, it adds real value.
Another standout is Adaptive EQ powered by Mimi. This lets you create a personalized sound profile using the boAt Hearables app. The app runs a quick hearing test and then adjusts the EQ to match your hearing sensitivity. For many users, this improves clarity, especially in the mid and high frequencies. It is a rare feature to find in this price segment, and it genuinely helps improve the listening experience.
ANC and other features
The Prime 701 ANC supports up to 46dB Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation, which is impressive at this price. In real-world use, it blocks out low-frequency sounds like fan noise, engine rumble, and background chatter quite well. ANC is not as strong as high-end earbuds, but good enough for earbuds of this price. If you are in a café, train, or office, you will notice a clear difference when ANC is on. There’s also Ambient/Transparency Mode, which allows outside sound to pass through. This is useful if you are walking outside or need to be aware of your surroundings. You can switch between ANC, transparency, and normal modes through the boAt Hearables app or with touch controls.
You also get In-ear detection. This is another hard-to-find feature in this price segment.
For calls, the earbuds come with 4 microphones supported by AI ENx™ Technology. This helps in filtering out ambient noise during calls. In my testing, voice clarity was good, both indoors and outdoors. Even in windy or noisy areas, the mics managed to keep my voice clear to the person on the other side.
For gamers and streamers, there’s BEAST Mode, which reduces latency to just 60ms. This makes audio sync better with visuals, especially useful in fast-paced games or while watching videos. Tap the left earbud three times to activate BEAST Mode.
The earbuds come with Bluetooth 5.2 for a stable connection and improved range. There is also multipoint connectivity. So, you can connect to two devices at once, like your phone and laptop, and switch between them easily. Google Fast Pair is also available, so pairing with Android devices is quick and effortless.
Battery
Now let us talk about battery life. The earbuds carry a 35mAh battery each, and the case has a 500mAh battery. With ANC turned off, you can get up to 45-46 hours of total playback time, including the charging case. The earbuds alone offer several hours of continuous use, and the case provides multiple additional charges. The ASAP Charge gives you 3 hours of playtime with just a 10-minute charge. The earphones can be fully charged in 40 minutes inside the case, and the charging case takes around 90 minutes to charge.
Conclusion
The boAt Airdopes Prime 701 ANC is one of the most complete earbuds you can get under ₹2,000. You get great sound, hybrid ANC, solid call quality, long battery life, and features like Adaptive EQ, Spatial Audio, low-latency gaming mode, multipoint connectivity, and in-ear detection.
If your budget is under ₹2,000 and you want full-featured earbuds for music, calls, and gaming, the Airdopes Prime 701 ANC is definitely worth considering.
Buy Here: Amazon
