ZTE’s new true wireless earbuds are a carbon copy of 1More’s latest ‘buds

ZTE TWS Earbuds product render

Credit: ZTE
  • ZTE has announced the ZTE LiveBuds, a pair of affordable true wireless earbuds.
  • The earbuds feature an IPX4 rating, AAC support, and look nearly identical to the 1More PistonBuds.
  • The ZTE TWS Earbuds are available now and retail for $40.

ZTE kicks off CES 2021 with a pair of new true wireless earbuds to accompany the ZTE Axon 20. The ZTE LiveBuds feature Bluetooth 5.0 and support SBC and AAC, the latter of which is good for high-quality audio. ZTE’s true wireless earbuds are strikingly similar to the 1More PistonBuds, save for the ZTE logo stamped along the stout stems.

We thoroughly enjoyed the PistonBuds, and even awarded them a spot on our list of the best true wireless earbuds under $50. We have every reason to assume the ZTE LiveBuds will perform equally as well, since they share the same IPX4 rating, Android and iOS compatibility, touch controls, weight, and battery life as the 1More PistonBuds.

The 1MORE PistonBuds cheap true wireless earbuds in the open case, which sits at an angle.

Credit: Lily Katz / Android Authority

ZTE’s earbuds may not look bold, but its move to clearly mimic the PistonBuds with virtually no deviation from 1More’s design is brazen. The ZTE LiveBuds last four hours on a single charge, and total 20 with the included case. You can control the earbuds with a set of administered taps and holds, and each bud weighs about four grams.

Just like the 1More PistonBuds, the ZTE LiveBuds house environmental noise reduction technology to mitigate any background noise. This helps with clear voice transmission, and you can hear a sample of the 1More PistonBuds microphone below, which uses the same technology, below:


The ZTE LiveBuds are available now and retail for $40.

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