Introduction
Oraimo has built a reputation for packing impressive features into affordable audio devices. Their latest release, the Oraimo SpaceBuds, aims to raise the bar yet again. These true wireless earbuds are designed to deliver a genuinely premium experience—complete with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), dual connectivity, and customizable aesthetics—without the premium price tag. But can they truly compete? After thorough testing, here’s an in-depth look at whether the SpaceBuds are worth your money.
Price and Availability
Price Point
The Oraimo SpaceBuds are officially priced at Ksh 4,550, positioning them as a mid-range option with high-end aspirations. It’s worth noting that Oraimo has indicated prices may increase soon, making the current offering a potential bargain for early adopters.
Availability
The SpaceBuds are widely available across Oraimo’s key markets. You can purchase them in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, and Morocco through official Oraimo channels and retail partners.
Unboxing Experience
The unboxing experience feels substantial. Inside the box, you find:
- A detailed user manual.
- A short USB-C cable for charging.
- The earbuds and their charging case.
- Extra ear tips in different sizes to ensure a perfect seal for various ear sizes.
Design and Build
Charging Case
The case features a unique clamshell sliding design, similar to the FreePods 4 and SpacePods, which is satisfying to open and close. It has a glossy 3D flow texture finish that looks stylish but is prone to picking up fingerprints and micro-scratches over time. The standout design feature is the customizable LED ring indicator that encircles the lid.
Customization
This is where the SpaceBuds truly shine. Through the Oraimo Sound app, you can personalise the LED ring with a spectrum of colours, including Energy Green, Peaceful Blue, Pilot Blue, Digital Purple, Tropical Orange, and Fluorescent Yellow, allowing you to match your earbuds to your mood or style.
Earbuds
The earbuds themselves are vibrantly colored, continuing the stylish theme. A Type-C charging port is conveniently located at the back of the case.
Connectivity
Bluetooth and Range
Equipped with the latest Bluetooth 5.4, the SpaceBuds provide an exceptionally stable and reliable connection. They work seamlessly with both Android (using SBC/AAC codecs) and iOS (AAC), maintaining a strong connection for up to 10–12 meters in an open space.
Extra Features
A significant premium feature is dual connectivity, which allows the earbuds to be connected to two devices simultaneously (e.g., a phone and a laptop), making switching between them effortless. For Android users, Google Fast Pair ensures a quick and easy pairing experience similar to Apple’s ecosystem. All these features are easily managed through the comprehensive Oraimo Sound app.
Battery Life
Earbud Capacity
Each earbud has a 76mAh battery, powered by a sizable 650mAh charging case.
Playback Performance
Battery performance is solid, though it doesn’t quite hit Oraimo’s claimed marks:
- ANC off: Claimed 11 hours | Tested: 9h 24m
- ANC on: Claimed 8 hours | Tested: 6h 26m
- Transparency mode: ~6h 36m
The case provides approximately 3 full recharges. The LED indicator displays a red light for low battery and reverts to your customised colour when the battery is charged.
Charging
A full charge for the earbuds alone takes about 1 hour, while a full charge for the case with the earbuds inside takes roughly 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Comfort and Fit
The earbuds are lightweight and comfortable, even during extended listening sessions, tested over four full days. The inclusion of multiple ear tip sizes ensures a secure and comfortable fit for larger ear sizes, making them suitable for prolonged use.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
Performance
The SpaceBuds boast the highest ANC in Oraimo’s lineup with 50 dB of noise reduction (up from 45 dB in the FreePods Pro+). They are effective at drowning out low-frequency hums like aeroplane engines or office chatter, though the improvement over previous models may be subtle for the average listener.
Transparency Mode
This mode works well, allowing ambient sounds to filter in clearly, which is essential for staying aware of your surroundings while commuting or having brief conversations without removing the earbuds.
Controls
Touch controls are highly responsive with no lag, supporting single, double, and triple taps for various playback and ANC functions. The full control scheme is detailed in the manual and customizable via the Oraimo Sound app, which also allows for EQ customisation, game mode toggling, and LED light personalisation.
Unique Features
Smart Chat Mode
This innovative feature automatically pauses music when you start speaking and resumes it after 6 seconds of silence. The only downside is that it can interrupt playback if you sing along to a song, as it detects your voice as a conversation.
Voice Prompt Customization
You can go beyond lights and replace the default system voice prompts with recordings of your own voice for a truly personalized experience.
Wide-Area Tap
A clever feature lets you tap the area just in front of your ear to control playback or ANC, which is incredibly useful when your hands are dirty, oily, or otherwise occupied.
Call Quality
The 4-mic setup with environmental noise cancellation ensures clear, loud, and stable voice transmission. Call quality is impressive for the price, working reliably for both indoor and outdoor calls.
Gaming and Latency
Game Mode
Activated by holding the right earbud (until 4 beeps) or via the app, Game Mode significantly reduces audio latency.
Performance
It works fine for casual games like Subway Surfers and reduces delay enough to make FPS games like PUBG Mobile, COD Mobile, and Free Fire playable. However, competitive esports players may still notice a slight delay compared to dedicated gaming earbuds or wired options.
Sound Quality
Drivers and Signature
The 11mm dynamic drivers tuned with Oraimo’s Avid Bass technology deliver a powerful, bass-forward sound signature. The default tuning emphasizes deep bass first, followed by clear vocals and well-balanced highs, making them excellent for modern music genres.
EQ Customization
For those who prefer a different sound profile, the Oraimo Sound app offers robust EQ customization to adjust the sound to your personal preference.
Durability
With an IP54 rating, the SpaceBuds are resistant to dust and splashes. This makes them suitable for workouts, sweat, and light rain, but they are not waterproof and should be kept away from swimming or submersion.
Final Verdict
The Oraimo SpaceBuds are a feature-packed triumph in the budget-to-mid-range segment. They successfully combine a stylish, customizable design with genuinely useful premium features like strong ANC, dual connectivity, and innovative controls.
Pros:
- Strong 50 dB ANC performance.
- Exceptionally comfortable fit with multiple ear tips.
- Dual-device connectivity & Google Fast Pair.
- Highly customizable LED lights and voice prompts.
- Innovative smart chat mode and wide-area tap.
- Powerful, bass-driven sound quality.
Cons:
- Glossy case finish is a fingerprint magnet and may scratch.
- Smart chat mode can be too sensitive and interrupt music if you sing.
- Gaming latency, while improved, may not satisfy hardcore competitive players.
Overall: For KSh 4,550, the Oraimo SpaceBuds offer an incredible value proposition. They deliver a suite of features typically found in more expensive earbuds, wrapped in a stylish and customizable package. If you want high-end functionality like effective ANC and multi-point connectivity without spending a fortune, the SpaceBuds are an easy recommendation.
