The Wireless Earphone market is still one of the most attractive sectors for electronics brands and obviously for audio players. If you take a look at the wireless neckbands available in the Indian market, there are very few that anyone can recommend at below ₹1,000 price point. Basically, the audio leader hardly focuses on under ₹1,000. But Costar came with its first wireless neckband at only ₹799. This competitor already received a 4.1 stars mark on Amazon with over 1,500 consumers.
The Costar Mateband N300 is available in three colour options – Smart Blue, Active Black, and Energy Red. You can purchase it either from Amazon India or Costar’s official website.
It was launched in December 2022 and I have been using it for quite a long time now. Moto is to verify all the company claims and experience what the Costar Mateband N300 is practically offering. So, let’s deep dive –
In the Box:
- Costar Mateband N300
- Type-C Cable
- Extra Eartips
- Paperworks
Specifications:
- It offers a total playtime of up to 24 hours and a standby time of up to 120 hours on a full charge via a Type C interface. With this massive 130 mAh built-in battery, you can immerse yourself in your favourite music without any fear.
- Switch between Deep bass mode and normal mode with the ease of one single click.
- The stylish design of the unique metal earbuds gives you the comfort of listening to music and making you look cool at the same time.
- With the Hall-effect Tech magnetic earbuds, you can play and pause just by splitting and clipping the earbuds respectively.
- With the IPX5 waterproof design, you can enjoy your workout without worrying about sweat.
Design and Build:
The Costar Mateband N300 earphone features a plastic body and tactile buttons located on the right side, accompanied by an LED indicator. The earphone has metallic buds with both soft silicon ear-tips and fins for a comfortable and secure fit in every condition. They are also equipped with an IPX5 waterproof design that makes them resistant to splashes and sweat. While the band may feel somewhat hard, the overall build quality is acceptable, particularly when considering the price point.
Connectivity and Control:
This neckband offers hassle-free connectivity with its automatic Bluetooth pairing feature, just like all other wireless devices, after the initial setup. It boasts an ultra-low latency of 50ms, providing a smooth and seamless user experience. Additionally, the device remains stable during our testing for approximately 5 meters, ensuring reliable and uninterrupted usage.
You as a user will have complete control over the audio content with the available buttons, which allow to pause, play, skip, and go back to the previous track. The earphone also offers the ability to answer, cut, or reject calls, as well as play with voice assistants. A dedicated button is provided for turning on and off the bass mode. Moreover, the neckband supports Magnetic pause and play, which is a useful feature for a product that is priced at ₹799.
Audio Quality:
The Costar Mateband N300 earphone is equipped with 10mm dynamic drivers that are expected to offer good audio quality with a balanced sound signature, which emphasizes clarity and detail. The earphone provide a wide frequency response range as well.
We have tested this neckband with a variety of audio content, including OTT shows, online podcasts, tracks from both online and offline sources, and calls. It offers a balanced sound signature with decent audio quality, providing optimal output at 50% to 60% volume.
Surprisingly the Mateband N300 is offering two modes to choose from – Base Mode On and Off. With Bass Mode turned on, the overall listening experience is enhanced, resulting in more enjoyable and acceptable content. On the other hand, the output may sound somewhat flat with Bass Mode turned off.
Overall, the Costar Mateband N300 earphone is offering a balanced sound signature and the added advantage of Bass Mode at this attractive price making it one of the best options to recommend for casual listening.
Microphone and Calling:
Our calling experience was smooth enough so far with the device. There have been no complaints reported from the opposite side during calls, indicating that the microphone performs well in transmitting clear voice quality. The easily detectable buttons also help to react to the calls the earliest.
Battery Life:
Costar has advertised that their device can provide non-stop music for 24 hours, and we have tested to verify the claim. The neckband took around 100 minutes to fully charge, and during our review period, we got around 20 hours of power backup in total inclusive of one week of standby time. We kept the volume level at 50% most of the time and the base mode was also enabled. Besides, as already mentioned earlier, we used the Mateband N300 while consuming various media content such as movies on Netflix, podcasts, tracks, and obviously, phone calls.
In case of low battery, the earphone can provide up to 10 hours of playback time with just 20 minutes of charging. Additionally, Costar offers a Type-C port for charging the earphone, which is a positive feature compared to other brands that often provide a cheaper Micro USB port.
In Battery Backup, Neckband always has an unfair advantage of its design over any TWS. But in compare to the other wireless neckbands available below ₹1,000, around 20 hours of playtime is easily appreciatable.
Verdict:
The Costar Mateband N300 earphone has a great design with an IPX5 waterproof rating and comfortable fit. It has buttons for full control over audio content and an ultra-low latency of 50ms for a smooth user experience. This neckband has a balanced sound signature, Bass Mode for an enhanced listening experience, and clear microphone quality. It also boasts an impressive battery life of 20 hours on a single charge with a Type-C port. The Costar Mateband N300 earphone are an affordable and reliable choice for daily use.
Product Link: https://amzn.to/3yQmXNa
Also Read: COSTAR DIAMOND ON T300 BUDS REVIEW: HERE’S WHAT THE NEW PLAYER HAS TO OFFER WITHIN BUDGET
