Logitech Zone True Wireless review, earphones designed to work

For some time now Logitech has launched a couple of true wireless earphones designed specifically for the world of work, in the sense that they have a certification of full compatibility with software such as Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and Zoom and come packaged with a USB dongle to facilitate video calls with these software, as well as integrate with the Logitech ecosystem of webcams and microphones.

On top of that, the earbuds offer active noise cancellation to cut out background noise as well the ability to adjust the reverb of the main microphone for quality audio, but also the IP68 certification against water splashes which on paper makes them suitable for sports and leisure activities as well.

These characteristics will be enough to make them indispensable companions for work and life, also considering that the introductory price places them at the high end of the true wireless market? In order not to miss anything, we tried them for a couple of weeks both in the office and on vacation, that’s how it went.

One of the first things that catches the eye is undoubtedly the design of the True Wireless Zones: not so much for the case, which is in line with the others in its sector, but for the decidedly unusual earphones. The shape inside the pavilion is that of the classic in-ear, with proximity sensors and pogo-pin, but the part facing outwards is ovoid and quite thick, which makes them quite impressive and a little protruding compared to ear.

An unusual shape that at the first uses led me to put them one instead of the other in the case (only then did I notice that the right earphone is marked with a purple mark), and also to wonder if I had worn them correctly. Once you get used to them, however, things improve, and I must say that I found them comfortable and ergonomic: they need a slight backward rotation once inserted into the ear, I used the size M rubber among the three available.

Of course it is a very subjective question since it depends on the shape of the auricle of each one, but in my case they remained in place doing yoga and other similar activities, while running puts them to the test a little more, not having the bar that keeps them anchored to the ear. The IP68 certification against splashing water allows you to use them with peace of mind in all situations.

Build quality is definitely good: the case is sturdy (weighs 43g and the earphones 13g each), with a solid zipper, a very scratch-resistant matte finish and a lanyard to attach it wherever you like; on the front there are three LEDs that indicate the charge level of the case and of the individual earphones, the USB-C socket for charging (which is also wireless) and the button for Bluetooth pairing.

The packaging deserves a separate mention, because the Logitech headphones come with a soft case that contains, in addition to the in-ear pads of the other sizes and the charging cable, also a dongle with usb-A / usb-C adapter that is used to connect them to the PC if it does not have Bluetooth connectivity or in any case to offer an alternative to ensure better quality of video calls, which gives them a decidedly more professional connotation than their TWS colleagues.

To make the most of them, also considering the compatibility with both the Android world and the Apple world, you need to download the app. It is called Logi Tune and is found on both the Play Store and the App Store, but also in the desktop version for Windows or MacOS, which is an added value because it allows you to manage the earphones in every aspect even from a PC while usually at this juncture you have to be content with using them in a basic way.

Pairing takes place effortlessly thanks to the physical button on the case (you just have to open it and press the button for a few seconds for your device, smartphone, tablet or PC to detect them), and then you access the app which has a few, simple functions clearly displayed pleasant from a graphic point of view.

Once in the home you can choose between active noise cancellation, transparency mode or none of the above, which you can also do directly from the headphones using the touch controls (by default two presses to switch from one mode to another). You can also choose whether to activate voice messages and choose from four customizable EQ settings.

Touch controls can be customized via the app, and also allow you to manage the volume with prolonged pressure; moreover, you can choose to summon the voice assistant but also, alternatively, to open Microsoft Teams. Net of these customization possibilities, however, the reactivity of the touch controls is not very high, and sometimes they do not respond as they should; you also need to be very precise about where you touch the surface of the headset.

It is interesting to be able to set a mode sleep, which allows you to turn off the earphones after a given interval of time from the end of use, the ability to adjust the reverberation of your voice for optimal performance and to activate or deactivate the proximity sensor.

The multipoint connection works very well connecting a maximum of two devices at the same time, which can be easily managed by the app in both the smartphone and desktop versions; a very convenient feature, which is not found on all headphones and allows us to avoid wasting time with cumbersome manual pairing to switch from one device to another.

The main focus of these in-ear headphones is the voice, and you hear: the rendering of vocal tracks, such as podcasts or audiobooks, is of very high quality, as is that of the voice on call. As for the calls and videocalls, in fact, what you say is captured by three microphones, they are able to cut out the background noises in a really efficient way (I also tried them a few centimeters from a fan), while the voice of the interlocutor is heard in a clear way; audio-video synchrony on both PC and smartphone is also good.

As for the music reproduction instead with the default equalization the 12 mm drivers return a powerful sound – also because the maximum volume reaches a fairly high peak – and of average quality. Listening Shine on You Crazy Diamond by Pink Floy you can perceive a sound scenario that is not completely enveloping, with an overall somewhat metallic timbre; in short, the quality is better than the mid-range tws earphones, but it does not reach the quality of the Sony WF-1000XM4, or even the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro.

Overall it is not surprising, given that they are earphones designed above all for calls and video calls. About this active noise cancellation works quite well: it does not give you the feeling of pneumatic vacuum that cuts out any sound around you and that some find a bit excessive but manages to adequately isolate the surrounding sounds, especially low frequencies such as train or plane noise. I was very impressed by the transparency mode, which is able to amplify the surrounding sounds satisfactorily.

The autonomy of each single earphone is around 5 hours with ANC active for calls and reaches 10 hours without ANC for listening to music, in line with what the manufacturer claims, to which the two top-ups guaranteed by the case are added. The result is that with a hybrid use, made up of calls and listening at work and above all listening on vacation, I struggled to download them: it took almost five days.

It takes two and a half hours to fully charge, but with five minutes of quick charge you can still get an hour of talk time. There is also wireless chargingas was to be expected given the price range of the product, or otherwise you can use the classic USB-C.

The True Wireless Zones are available in two color variants, anthracite gray like the ones we had in test or powder pink, price list at 329 euros, but online they can also be found on 290 euros. A high-end price that definitely positions them above generalist earphones of excellent quality such as the newly released Huawei Freebuds Pro 2, but also the Sony WF-1000XM4, the Airpods Pro, the Bose alternatives and the Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro.

Although the excellent quality calls and the fully successful office vocation are points in favor of the True Wireless Zones, it must be considered that for the strictly professional sector, many prefer cable solutions because they eliminate the battery autonomy factor and the over-ear form factor that reduces noise more effectively than any in-ear, as well as costing much less.

In the field of true wireless earphones, on the other hand, there are cheaper alternatives that work just as well, such as Huawei’s aforementioned Freebuds Pro 2, which have both ANC and multipoint connection. In general, I must admit that I have never encountered particular problems in making video calls on Zoom, Teams & Co even with headsets without specific certification.

To distinguish the True Wireless Zones from the others remain the app for PC and Mac and compatibility with the Logitech ecosystem for smartworking. This makes them more interesting for a company than for a private individual, to offer employees a versatile tool to be exploited even in their free time, as long as they can perhaps take advantage of some discounts for cumulative purchases.