Review on 🎧 TCL ACTV200BT: Wireless Bluetooth Headphones with Heart Rate Monitoring, 14H Playtime, and Noise Isolation - Perfect for Gym and Workout Sessions! by Brittany Collins

TCL ACTV 200BT Observations I bought the TCL ACTV 200BT Wireless In-Ear Bluetooth Headphones for $5 from Revain Smile where they were listed for $49.99. I was looking for an alternative to various wireless Jabra HRM in-ear headphones. I've been using Jabra successfully for many years until recently due to poor battery life and poor fit, especially with the fully wireless Elite Sport. The Elite Sport is expensive for such poor fit and connectivity. When I made this purchase I realized that the TCL ACTV 200BT is a value proposition so my expectations matched that concept. Background Information With this in mind, this review was completed after using the TCL ACTV 200BT thirteen (13) times for just over 50 hours. use. I train all year round, but in the winter I cross-country ski, so I use gloves. My ears are medium in size and shape. I am a nationally recognized marathon runner and have been using HRM in training for 3 decades. I will use these headphones both when training outdoors and indoors on the SkiErg or treadmill. Observations For the sake of brevity, I've divided my observations into three categories: 1. The features I'd like to see in these headphones, 2. What I like. what I didn't like about them and 3 what I liked about them.1a. Features I'd like to see include a larger bulge on the middle button of the ON/OFF switch. It's not easy to find even with thin gloves, so finding the HRM switch is quite difficult.b. Move the HRM switch toward the listener instead of fumbling for the cord and HRM switch when doing vigorous exercise like doing intervals (HIIT). c. Change the HRM switch time to half (0.5) second to read HRM.d. Get rid of the background heartbeat calibration tone - it's annoying. Add noise canceling technology to make your workout safer as the headphones block noise well.2a. HRM turns off randomly and often while on SkiErg. During a 30-minute workout, connects/disconnects or disconnects ten (10) times within 30 minutes.b. The very small charging LED does not change color to indicate that charging is complete. However, it turns off when charging is complete. c. You cannot listen to media and get HRM values at the same time. i.e. The heart rate is not instantaneous. It takes two (2) seconds to hold the switch plus an additional second to hear the number. So it actually takes about three seconds just to get HR, plus... e. You have to find the HRM switch before you can press it, which isn't that easy in more ballistic activities.3a. Trim-and-Fit adjustment is simple, quick and easy. There are three (3) eartip sizes available.b. The fit is very comfortable and reliable during my most edgy and sweaty workouts (IPX4 rating) for up to four (4) hours.c. The battery life was good enough for about two and a half (2.5) of my workouts on a single charge.d. The headphones are cute. The sound is what you would expect from headphones in this price range. Phone calls were clear. TCL includes well-written/illustrated instructions and a micro-charge USB cable in minimally recyclable and recyclable (Green Dot) packaging. The packaging and instructions list various international safety standards for power supplies, although RoHS or China RoHS are not listed among the other certifications listed. My conclusion is disappointment. If the TCL ACTV 200BT works and stays in contact with my SkiErg I would consider it perfectly acceptable. This didn't happen so I'll try to return it.