This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.
Quick take
These aopiata wireless earbuds are a big seller on Amazon Japan, and I paid ¥1,899 for them in a sale (at the time of recording). I put them side by side with my AirPods Pro 3. They work fine, but they are only “okay”. I would not strongly recommend them, though they make sense as a stopgap pair or a pair you would not mind losing.
What I tested
- aopiata wireless earbuds (they show up as “AP09” in Bluetooth settings): in-ear, no noise cancelling, Bluetooth 6.0, charging case with a battery display
- Compared with Apple AirPods Pro 3 for weight, fit, sound and microphone
- Paired with an iPhone; mic tested by recording a voice memo
- In the box: a charging cable, a strap, a manual and spare ear tips in small and large (medium comes fitted)
What I found
- The case has a small display showing the battery level, and mine arrived at 100%.
- On the downside, my case arrived slightly dirty. It is cheap, but that was disappointing.
- With the case, the aopiata weighs 53.3 g against 55.3 g for the AirPods Pro 3, so they are almost identical. A single earbud is just 4.0 g versus 5.7 g, which is very light.
- They look a lot like AirPods, but the AirPods Pro 3 sit deeper and seal better. The aopiata fit is not bad, but I wanted a better seal.
- There are no L/R markings on the earbuds, so you have to look carefully when taking them out of the case.
- Pairing was instant, and they reconnect quickly. There is no app, but touch controls cover play/pause, volume up (tap right), volume down (tap left) and answering calls.
- Sound is clearly behind the AirPods Pro 3. The highs top out early, so cymbals do not shimmer, and the bass is boomy and blends into the mids.
- Vocals in songs and videos still come through clearly. If you are not picky about sound, it plays without any problems.
- The microphone is surprisingly good. Calls should be no problem at all.
| aopiata | AirPods Pro 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight with case | 53.3 g | 55.3 g |
| Single earbud | 4.0 g | 5.7 g |
| Noise cancelling | No | Yes |
| Fit / seal | Okay | Better, deeper seal |
| Sound | Muffled bass, limited highs | Clearly better |
Who it’s for
Fine as a stopgap while you wait for the earbuds you really want, for calls, or for places where losing them would not matter. If you already own a decent pair, I do not think these are worth adding.
The video is in Japanese.
Limitations
I compared a roughly ¥2,000 pair with earbuds that cost close to ¥40,000, so this is not an even match. Sound impressions are by ear, not measured. The ¥1,899 price was a sale price on Amazon Japan at the time of recording. aopiata is a brand I found on Amazon Japan, so it may not be sold in your country.
Products
aopiata wireless earbuds: on Amazon Japan
Apple AirPods Pro 3: on Amazon Japan
The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.
More reviews in English
All Earbuds, Speakers & Audio (35) →Browse all English reviews →
This review is also available in Japanese.