HSPRO T16 vs. Lermom Wireless Earbuds – Review and Compare

Finding a good pair of wireless earbuds is tougher now than it was a few years ago. On the one hand, you can get an amazing deal, with better quality at a lower price. No longer are you shoehorned into buying a pair of AirPods if you want something decent. On the other hand, the proliferation of wireless earbuds has created a different problem. With so many options, there’s just no way for the average person to know what’s what. If you’re not prepared to wade through thousands of options, it can become nearly impossible. Fortunately, we’re here to help you sort out the good from the bad.

We’re about to review two of the best wireless earbuds that money can buy. We’ll start with the HSPROT16, a set of AirPod-style buds with a vertical case. We’ll follow up with the Lermom Wireless Earbuds, a sleeker, slimmer pair with a horizontal case. To find out which pair is best, we’ll dig deep into all of their features. We’ll start with the design, and what’s included in the package. Next, we’ll talk about the battery life, and the quality of the wireless connection. Last but not least, we’ll discuss how these buds sound when they’re actually inside your ears. After that, we’ll wrap up, and deliver our final verdict. Let’s get started!

HSPRO T16

The HSPRO T16 wireless earbuds are built like AirPods, which means there are no silicone tips. There are advantages and disadvantages to this design. On the one hand, they tend to be more comfortable if you have sensitive ear canals. This is because they rest in your outer ear, instead of protruding inside. On the other hand, they can’t provide the same noise isolation as a proper set of silicone tips. Moreover, the fit is less secure, since there’s nothing holding them inside. To compensate for this second factor, HSPRO borrowed another AirPod feature; the battery studs. These studs hang down from the main body of the earbuds, making them bottom-heavy. As a result, they stay in place easily under most circumstances.

If you prefer earbuds with proper tips, there are plenty of options. For example, the iWalk Amour Air Duo 2 Wireless Earbuds have both silicone tips and an innovative split case. On the downside, their battery life isn’t as long as the T16.

The earbud shells are available in five colors: black, white, pink, and light and dark green. On the backs, there are high-gloss circles that function as touch controls. With these buttons, you can adjust the volume, skip tracks, and accept or reject phone calls. You can also summon Siri or Google Assistant for even more control options. And because these are soft touch buttons, they’re comfortable to operate. You won’t have to press down hard and cause discomfort in your ears.

The T16 earbuds have a sweatproof design. They can’t withstand full submersion, and shouldn’t even be worn in the shower. That said, a little sweat or rain isn’t going to hurt them. You can wear them during your daily workout without worrying about damage. Similarly, you can clean them with a damp cloth without anything getting shorted out.

The charging case has a matte plastic finish, matching the earbuds. It’s designed for the buds to drop in vertically, where they rest in molded wells. The spring-loaded lid snaps shut and pops open easily, and does a good job of retaining the earbuds. On the front, there’s a single LED, which lights up when the case is charging. The Micro USB port is located on the bottom, and a short charging cable is included in the box. As long as you have access to a USB port or charger, you’ve got everything you need.

Battery & Connectivity

The T16 earbud batteries are good for five hours of playback on a single charge. Like most manufacturer ratings, this assumes you’re listening at medium volume, so your mileage may vary. If you’re listening at high volumes or in very cold weather, expect shorter life. Regardless, you’ll have more than enough juice for a workout and a commute. If you do need more power, the case carries enough for a full three recharges. This will net you a total of 16 to 24 hours of total playtime between plugins. Charging the earbuds inside the case takes about an hour. Charging the case itself takes a bit longer, but is still done in two hours.

These earbuds connect via the Bluetooth 5.0 protocol. This is the current standard for most wireless devices, and marks a significant upgrade over the earlier Bluetooth 4.2 protocol. To begin with, it provides significantly lower latency, eliminating desynchronization between video and audio. It also provides a more stable signal, so you won’t have as many dropped calls or random disconnects. Finally, it allows for playback at higher bitrates, so you can listen to HD music as well as 128K MP3s.

Audio Quality

The T16 drivers are 10mm in diameter, ever so slightly larger than most earbud drivers. This means you’re able to get a little bit richer sound than you’d typically expect from compact buds. The sound is rich across all frequencies. On the high end, cymbals and strings have plenty of shimmer. Moving down to the mids, vocals are particularly powerful, with good separation from other frequencies. They won’t get sibilant from too much treble or muddy from too much bass.

Speaking of bass, the bass on these earbuds is better than we’d expected. It’s not as powerful as a set of over-the-ear cans, but it’s most certainly present in the mix. More to the point, it sounds rich and textured, not flat or thumpy like a lot of affordable earbuds. All in all, the audio quality is top tier for its price range.

Call quality is less impressive. In a quiet environment, everything will go smoothly. The other person will hear you just fine, and vice-versa. But as soon as there’s significant background noise, the mic performance starts to falter. The other person may have trouble hearing you over crowds, traffic, and other loud ambient noises.

Lermom Wireless Earbuds

The Lermom Wireless Earbuds have a more forward-looking, slender profile. Like the T16 buds, they have plastic tips, not silicone, for a looser fit. This comes with the same costs and benefits we already mentioned. These earbuds are available in black only, and have a glossy finish instead of matte. This means they tend to attract fingerprints a bit more, but they’re also easier to clean off. They carry a water-resistance rating of IPX5, which means they’re sweatproof and splash-proof. You shouldn’t wear them in the shower, but anything short of a steady stream of water will not be a problem.

Rather than a flat back, the shells of the Lermom buds are curved all around. Towards the top of the battery studs, there’s a surface that acts as a button. There’s nothing in the texture or the color to indicate that these are controls. You’ll have to play with the earbuds a bit to get used to the button location.

If you prefer a different design altogether, consider the Origem HS-3 Pro wireless earbuds. They have a neck strap design, which helps with retention, and allows for a larger built-in battery. That said, there’s no charging case for this style of earbud. Once you’re out of juice, you’re well and truly out.

The charging case is attractive, with a glossy black finish that matches the earbud shells. It has a vertical design, and the earbuds drop in from the top. The front of the case features an LED display that shows the current battery level as a percentage. This lets you know exactly how much power is remaining in the case. When the earbuds are inserted, you’ll also see separate meters for both of them. This is one of the more comprehensive earbud battery readouts we’ve seen. A USB Type-C cable is also included, so you’re able to plug in the case.

Battery & Connectivity

The Lermom Wireless Earbuds will operate for up to four hours on a single charge. This is a bit shorter than average, and gets even shorter at high volumes or in cold temperatures. Still, the case has enough power for four and a half additional charges. This will get you a total of up to 18 hours, which isn’t terrible, but still isn’t impressive. That said, charging takes only about 90 minutes via USB Type-C. You can also recharge wirelessly. This isn’t as fast as USB, but many people find it more convenient. Just set the case on your Qi charger when you’re not using it, and you’ll always have a full charge.

Like the T16, the Lermom earbuds connect via Bluetooth 5.0. There’s no distinguishable difference in the quality of the connection. Both pairs are fast, stable, and low-latency.

Audio Quality

The Lermom’s 8mm drivers are about average in size, but provide good audio overall. There’s plenty of texture across all frequencies. However, these drivers are simply incapable of producing a powerful, punchy bass. They’re too small. If you need more bass, look elsewhere. Call quality is about the same as the T16. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the built-in mics. But without any noise isolation, loud environments can be problematic.

Final Verdict

So, how do these two earbuds stack up? The HSPRO T16 buds have the edge in battery life, with 20 percent more per charge and even more overall. They provide better audio quality. With their larger drivers, they’re capable of producing far more bass. They also offer a more well-rounded experience overall, with a wider soundstage.

On the other hand, the Lermom Wireless Earbuds are the winners when it comes to style. Their glossy finish and sleek profile are easy on the eyes in a way the T16 can only hope to achieve. Not only that, but the USB Type-C charging is faster than Micro USB. And if you prefer not to use a wire, you can use the wireless Qi charging feature. No matter which pair you choose, you can’t really go wrong.