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Tribit FlyBuds C3 review
These aren’t just any earbuds, they’re FlyBuds. And the new Tribit FlyBuds 3 look mighty impressive at a glance, especially when you consider their temptingly low price tag.
The Tribit FlyBuds 3 bring active noise cancellation, highly customizable EQ, and a six-microphone system for ‘clear’ voice calls. Sounds pretty good for $39.99 / £49.99 (about AU$60), right? But just how good are the FlyBuds C3? I’ve been using them for a couple of weeks now, and this is my verdict.
First up, let’s talk about features. The Tribit FlyBuds C3 offer a lot of the functionality you’d expect from the best wireless earbuds.
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Perhaps the main thing is ANC, which has five levels of strength, and can apparently block sounds “up to 45dB”. I have to say, though, that ANC on the FlyBuds C3 is disappointing. On walks, the sounds of nearby chatter and vehicles passing by were dulled, but still pretty audible. And when working in the office, the noise of typing was still pretty clear, even with my music at about 70% volume.
Again, the ANC here will certainly dull your surroundings, but it won’t block them out entirely. With that said, there is a very effective ambient mode that helps you stay aware of your environment when listening to tunes or taking phone calls on the go.
Most of the other features here did impress me, though. You get pretty detailed EQ options, with a number of presets for specific genres and use cases, as well as a full 10-band equalizer if you’re looking for more granular control. In addition, there’s a low-latency game mode, multi-point connectivity, and a hearing protection option.
Something else I appreciated about the FlyBuds C3 was their inclusion of customizable touch controls. By disabling single touch commands, and mapping playback controls to double taps (as well as ANC alterations to press and hold), I was able to avoid accidentally triggering unwanted button presses. You can map specific controls to each individual bud too, which is a great touch.
I also found the mic quality here to be plenty good enough. When taking phone calls and making a recording, I found that my speech was replicated accurately — I didn’t have to put up with the almost ‘underwater’ quality that some cheap models can apply. I picked up a bit of sibilance, and the microphones’ ability to carve out background noise was pretty limited, but in my view the call quality here is adequate for the price.
There are a few areas that could be improved, though. The X-3D spatial mode just makes music sound louder and less refined, there’s no wear detection or higher-res audio codec support, and the battery life here is surprisingly average.
Yes, you get just five hours from the buds with ANC active and seven hours without noise cancelling on, with up to 35 hours of playtime available with the case (with ANC off). A lot of Tribit’s budget audio tech goes big on battery, so I was expecting more here — that five hours with ANC on is especially weak when you consider you’ll need to use the standard EQ and keep volume at 50% or less to achieve it.
The FlyBuds C3 have been a bit of a mixed bag so far, but how do they fare when it comes to sound quality?
Let’s make a few things clear, though. These earbuds aren’t going to provide a wide, nuanced soundstage, impeccable detailing, or expert instrument separation. They can’t provide the quality that a pair of wired earbuds in this price-range, like the Sennheiser CX 80U can open up, for example, and keep things pretty basic. But you know what, they actually get those basics pretty spot on.
They definitely emphasize the bass first, but this works to good effect. When tuning into Right Before My Eyes by N’n’G, the pounding low end hit with impressive depth and agility, without sounding muddy or unregimented. Vocals in the midrange weren’t particularly open or detailed, but they were relatively clear, and drums in the treble was articulate and snappy.
When listening to the 2020 remaster of Giant Steps by John Coltrane, I felt that instruments in the midrange sounded a touch recessed, but by giving them a bump with some EQ tweaks, they sounded clean and fairly expressive, and the keys were well-separated from the leading sax.
Overall, the FlyBuds C3 provide good sound for their price. Treble can get a little edgy at the higher volumes, and the mid-range needs a bit of tweaking to sound its best, but the powerful bass really shines here.
In terms of design, the FlyBuds C3 keep it pretty simple, and that’s no bad thing. The earbuds themselves are small and lightweight, and are housed in a curved, ultra-compact charging case, making them perfect for sliding into your pocket. While the buds do have a plasticky and cheap-looking appearance, this can be forgiven for the price, and they do look curved and fairly stylish in-use, whether you go for the black or white color variant.
You also get small, medium, and large ear tips in the box, enabling you to find the perfect fit. For me, the medium ear tips were spot on, and I found the C3 to be very comfortable in use, with no signs of fatigue after a full day’s use. IP55 waterproofing also makes these safe to use when working out or listening in light rain.
The Tribit FlyBuds C3 sound pretty solid for the price, offer decent comfort, and have pretty generous EQ options. However, the models I’ve added in the ‘also consider’ section — the Nothing Ear (a) and JLab Go Pods ANC — deliver better ANC while still offering good sound quality. So, if you can get one of those models at a similar price to the C3, you might get better bang for your buck.
Tribit FlyBuds C3 review: price & release date
- Priced at $39.99 / £49.99 (about AU$60)
- Released in September 2026
The Tribit FlyBuds C3 were released in September 2026, about five years after their predecessor, the FlyBuds C2 hit the market. The C3 deviate from the C2 pretty drastically, offering a proper in-ear seal, as well as active noise cancellation capabilities.
With a list price of $39.99 / £49.99 (about AU$60), the Tribit FlyBuds C3 sit firmly in the budget category. Rivals include the CMF Buds Pro 2, the Earfun Air 2, and the Sony WF-C510.
Tribit FlyBuds C3 review: specs
|
Drivers |
10mm dynamic |
|
Active noise cancellation |
Yes |
|
Battery life |
5 hours (buds with ANC on); 8 hours (buds, with ANC off); up to 35 hours (with charging case) |
|
Weight |
4g (per bud) |
|
Connectivity |
Bluetooth 6.0 |
|
Frequency range |
20Hz-20kHz |
|
Waterproofing |
IP55 |
Should I buy the Tribit FlyBuds C3?
|
Attribute |
Notes |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Features |
Great EQ options and solid call quality, but ANC and battery life underwhelm. |
3/5 |
|
Sound quality |
Clear sound with deep bass, but not the most detailed and mids need tweaking. |
3.5/5 |
|
Design |
A bit plasticky, but very compact and comfortable. |
4/5 |
|
Value |
Cheap asking price with good overall quality, but some rivals offer more in terms of ANC. |
4/5 |
Buy them if…
Don’t buy them if…
Tribit FlyBuds C3 review: also consider
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Tribit FlyBuds C3 |
JLab Go Pods ANC |
Nothing Ear (a) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Price |
$39.99 / £49.99 (about AU$60) |
$36.99 / £29.99 / AU$69.95 |
$99 / £99 (about AU$140) |
|
Drivers |
10mm dynamic |
10mm dynamic |
11mm custom |
|
Active noise cancellation |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Battery life |
5 hours (buds with ANC on); 8 hours (buds with ANC off); up to 35 hours (with charging case) |
7.5 hours (buds); 26 hours (with charging case) |
5.5 hours (buds with ANC on); 9.5 hours (buds with ANC off); up to 42.5 hours with charging case) |
|
Weight |
4g (per bud) |
4.2g (per bud) |
4.8g (per bud) |
|
Connectivity |
Bluetooth 6.0 |
Bluetooth 5.4 |
Row 5 – Cell 3 |
|
Frequency range |
20Hz-20kHz |
20Hz-20kHz |
20Hz-20kHz |
|
Waterproofing |
IP55 |
IP55 |
IP54 |
How I tested the Tribit FlyBuds C3
- Spent two weeks testing
- Mainly streamed tracks using Tidal
- Used in the office and when out on walks
I spent two weeks testing the Tribit FlyBuds C3, taking them everywhere with me — to the office, on public transport, and on walks. Testing them out in a variety of environments helped me assess their ANC in full, as well as their transparency mode.
When listening to music, I mainly used the Tidal app on my Xiaomi 17 phone, but I also dipped into Spotify from time to time. As always, I commenced testing by sifting through the TechRadar reference playlist, which features tracks from a variety of genres, but I also listened to hours worth of tunes from my personal library.
More generally, I’ve spent years testing audio gear here at TechRadar, where I serve as a Senior Reviews Writer. I’ve tested all sorts of products, from wireless headphones like the Sonos Ace Ultra to Dolby Atmos sounders like the Marshall Heston 120, as well as a huge array of earbuds, including the wired Sennheiser IE 200 and wireless JBL Live Beam 4.
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harry.padoan@futurenet.com (Harry Padoan)
