itel has introduced the itel ROAR 75 Open-Ear Buds, marking its entry into the open earbuds market in India. Unlike traditional earbuds that go into the ear canal, open-ear buds rest outside the ear canal, typically on the bones around the ear or in front of the ears. These earphones are specifically designed for activities like running or biking, etc. because they let you listen to music while still hearing things around you like traffic or people talking. I’ve been using the itel ROAR 75 for a week, and you can find my detailed review below.
itel Roar 75 Full Specifications
| Earbuds type | Open-Ear Buds |
| Model number | IEB-75 |
| Controls | Physical button |
| Latrency | 45ms |
| Bluetooth | v5.2 Dual Pairing |
| Bluetooth range | 10 meters |
| Supported codecs | SBC/AAC |
| Noise cancellation | ENC |
| Voice assistant support | Yes |
| IP rating | IPX5 |
| Driver | 14.2mm Bass Boost |
| Earbuds battery | 75mAh |
| Earbuds charging time | Approx. 60 Mins |
| Charging input | DC 5V-1A |
| Music playtime | Up to 13 Hours |
| USB port | USB-C |
| Microphones | Dual microphones |
| Compatibility | Android iPhones Windows macOS |
| Net weight | 11 grams |
| In the box | Headphones USB-C cable Manual |
itel Roar 75 Design & Build
The itel Roar 75 features a unique Open-Ear design, unlike the common in-ear or half-in-ear designs. It is designed to assist users with their daily tasks and routines seamlessly. This design doesn’t block the ear canal, making it ideal for activities where being aware of your surroundings is important, like jogging, biking, or other outdoor activities. The earbuds are linked by a titanium metal wire coated with rubber, referred to by Itel as a skeleton design.
The titanium band securely stays in place behind your neck. Please note that this is a neckband, not a headband, so it is designed to be worn around your neck rather than over your head. The earbuds are securely linked to the titanium wire at both ends, with no visible wires on the outside.
Furthermore, the buds do not include magnets, preventing them from being attached together. These earbuds come with 14.2mm drivers to enhance the music experience, and they also support environmental noise cancellation (ENC). itel has also used good-quality titanium wire that is flexible enough to be comfortably stored even in your jeans pockets while on the go.
Even though these earbuds look similar to regular ones with a neckband, itel has made some significant changes to the design. The only wires you see are the rubber-coated titanium ones that connect the buds. Unlike other earbuds, these don’t have a controller on the wire. Instead, you can control actions like playing music and answering calls using a single tactile multi-function button on the right bud. During my review, I found the tactile button is more useful than the touch sensors on most earbuds today. It helps avoid accidental touches, and you can feel a tactile response, confirming that your action has been registered.
The earbuds feature a dual-tone design, with the inner part having a matte coating and the outer part having a glossy touch. Both buds also come equipped with dedicated microphones to enhance voice call quality. As mentioned earlier, there’s only a tactile button on the right earbud, and there isn’t one on the left bud.
Therefore, all actions need to be performed using the button located on the right earbud. Every action provides you with voice feedback. For example, when these buds connect to a phone, you will hear a voice saying “Connected.” Similarly, for other actions like Disconnection, Power On, Power Off, Pairing, Low battery, etc.
Each earbud features a fairly large speaker grille, and the right earbud contains a USB-C charging port. Since these buds are of the open-ear type, there is no option to adjust the ear tips. The design is suitable for all ear sizes. Additionally, the right earbud is equipped with a multi-color LED that indicates the status of the buds.
- Red/Green Flashing: Pairing mode.
- Red (Continuous): Charging.
- Green (Continuous): Charging is complete.
- Blue (Flashes three times): Power on.
- Red (Flashes three times): Power off.
The USB-C port is equipped with a rubber flap to prevent dust particles from accumulating when it’s not in use. These buds support DC 5V-1A input, and it’s recommended by itel to use a 5V-1A charger. It’s advised not to exceed the recommended input and to avoid using fast chargers, as they may impact the battery performance in the long run.
itel Roar 75 Button Controls
- Turn on earbuds: Long press the button for 2 seconds.
- Turn off earbuds: Long press the button for 4 seconds.
- Answer a phone call: Press the button once.
- Hang-up a call: Press the button once when the call is completed.
- Reject a phone call: Long press the button for 2 seconds.
- Music Play/Pause: Press the button once while playing music.
- Next song: Double press the button.
- Voice assistant: Long press the button for 2 seconds.
- Factory reset: Turn off the device and press the button for 8 seconds.
- Change language: Turn on the buds, and during the pairing stage, press the button three times.
These earbuds don’t support volume control using the button; you’ll need to adjust the volume on the connected device. Additionally, you can only select the next song and cannot go back to the previous one using the button. These buds come with a 75mAh battery and can provide up to 13 hours of music playback when the volume is set below 50%. You need around 60 minutes to fully charge these buds with a standard 5V/1A charger.
During my review, I observed approximately 8 hours of battery life when the volume level was set between 50 to 80%. The earbuds were consistently connected to the Pixel 7a, and the Bluetooth codec was set to AAC. The battery life of these earbuds depends on factors such as music playtime, the number of calls made/received, and the overall time the buds are connected to the phone. With continuous use, you can expect a battery life of approximately 7 to 8 hours.
itel Roar 75 Connectivity
The itel Roar 75 is equipped with Bluetooth 5.2 technology, providing a wireless range of up to 10 meters. To pair itel Roar 75 buds with your phone:
- Turn on the Bluetooth on your phone or laptop.
- Turn on the buds by long pressing the button for two seconds. Upon successfully turning it on, you will receive voice feedback saying ‘Power On.’
- Select ‘N75‘ in the list of available devices.
- Allow access to Contacts and Call history (Optional)
- Select Pair.
To check the battery levels of the earbuds, you can open the Bluetooth settings on your phone after pairing them. These earbuds support both SBC and AAC codecs. Enabling the HD Audio: AAC option switches the buds to AAC while turning off the option makes them switch to SBC. Moreover, these earbuds also support quick pairing and will automatically connect to the last paired device if it is within range and its Bluetooth is turned on.
itel Roar 75 Features
45ms Ultra low-latency: Despite supporting a 45ms ultra-low latency, these earbuds do not have a dedicated mode or option to enable it. They are set to low-latency mode by default. While they are not specifically designed for gaming, the low-latency mode performs well for video streaming on platforms like YouTube and OTT apps such as Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and Hotstar. I tested these buds with multiple OTT apps and did not experience any audio sync issues.
Dual-pairing: Another key highlight of these earbuds is the Dual-pairing feature, allowing you to connect them to two devices simultaneously. You can pair them with two phones or a phone and a laptop. To activate dual-pairing, connect the buds to your first device, disconnect it, and then pair them with the second device. Once the pairing is successful, go back to the first device and reconnect. Dual pairing works seamlessly without any issues on both Android and iPhones.
IPX5-certified: The buds are IPX5-certified, making them protected against water splashes during both indoor and outdoor activities. These earbuds are suitable for activities like running, jogging, and gym workouts; however, they are not designed for use during swimming or in the shower.
Dual microphones: The buds are equipped with dual microphones, with one on each earbud. They also provide passive noise cancellation, referred to as AI ENC by itel, but it doesn’t make a significant difference in voice quality. Due to their open-ear design, the microphones can pick up outside noise quickly, making voice calls slightly noisy in crowded environments. However, the voice quality indoors is very low, and no issues were observed.
Voice assistant support: These earbuds support both Google Voice Assistant and Siri. Activating the Voice Assistant is done by pressing the button for two seconds, indicated by a beep, after which you can issue commands to your phone. During testing, these earbuds seamlessly worked with Google Assistant on Pixel 7a and Siri on iPhone 15 Pro.
itel Roar 75 Review
The itel Roar 75 buds stand out from other in-ear and half-in-ear design earphones, as they are purposefully crafted for specific scenarios rather than catering to audiophiles. Unlike traditional in-ear headphones that create a sealed environment within the ear canal, open-ear buds do not block out ambient noise entirely. This design promotes situational awareness, making them suitable for activities like running, jogging, or outdoor workouts where awareness of the surrounding environment is important.
However, it’s essential to note that open-ear buds may lead to audio leakage, where people nearby can hear what the user is listening to. Despite this focus, it has still managed to deliver above-average audio quality through the use of 14.2mm drivers. Overall, the quality of the audio produced by the earbuds is satisfactory, considering their specific design characteristics. The audio output is balanced, neither too loud nor too low, and there is no noticeable distortion at higher volume levels. The vocals are clear, with a decent bass, balanced mids, and clear highs.
The sound starts to be heard by others around when the volume goes past 60 to 70%. As for comfort, I didn’t face any problems during the review. Even after using these buds for over four hours straight, I didn’t need to adjust them. In terms of quality, itel has not made any compromises. This includes the quality of the buds and also the titanium wire.
Featuring a lightweight design, dual-pairing, IPX5 support, dual microphones, voice assistant support, up to 13 hours of battery life, and a flexible titanium wire band, the itel Roar 75 buds offer a unique blend of functionality for users seeking a balance between practicality and audio performance. Priced under ₹1,200, these Open-Ear buds are sure to meet your expectations.
What I like
- Premium build
- Lightweight design
- IPX5 water-resistant
- Decent battery life
- Dual-pairing
- Good voice quality
- High-quality dual mics
What I didn’t like
- Cannot control volume
- No previous track support
itel Roar 75 Price, Colors & Availability
The itel Roar 75 Open-Ear Buds are offered only in a Black/Blue color, and you can buy them from Amazon India. Additionally, these earbuds can be found at brick-and-mortar retail stores across India, with a price tag of ₹1,099. The Itel Roar 75 comes with a 1-year limited warranty. Follow GizArena on Facebook and Twitter for the latest tech updates. If you have any queries, do let me know in the comments section.