Padmate introduced a new model of wireless headphones called PaMu Slide. After the success of the previous model, the expectations were very high and once again, the Chinese company understood us well, but there are some things that you absolutely must know before buying …
A competitive price
PaMu Slide is currently available for purchase around the world through Moldac.com, this is not a bad thing: many “investors” have already received the requested product and there are very interesting lots in case of multiple purchases, perhaps in the company of friends or interested parents. The PaMu Slide costs only $129 with wireless charging Qi (even reversed!).
The purchase pack includes headphones, charging and carrying case and a Type-C USB charging cable, different sizes of tips and instructions for use.
A solid set for consumer headphones
The design of the PaMu’s charging box is precise and elegant, the opaque plastic body, the honeycomb lid on which the PaMu logo is detached and the symmetrical layout of the USB Type-C port and the function key give the idea of a quality product.
The magnetic sliding mechanism of the case is a good idea, however the slide is not the best and the lid moves enough when it is closed and when it opens or closes. The case is also relatively thick and heavy, which is a forgivable defect because the weight is given by the huge battery and Qi charging technology.
Just below the lid are the PaMu blades in magnetic slots. Be careful because the right earpiece (R) is positioned to the left while the left earpiece (L) is positioned to the right. At first, I thought it was a silly position, necessary given the limited space dedicated to housing, but with the use I realized that it makes it easier to grasp the “stem” of the headphones the right way to insert them into the ear without having to manipulate or turn excessively.
The PaMu Slide is a reminder of Mobvoi’s Free TicPods in terms of shape and size, differentiating them by the presence of a rubber cover in the upper part of the headphones. This rubber liner is used to prevent headphones from falling when used during active activities such as running or gymnasium. Speaking of perspiration, the PaMu Slide is IPX6 certified, which allows it to support a little physical activity and a few drops of rain.
A control system to review
The headphones are controlled by tactile gestures and I must confess that I am not a big fan. First of all, I find that the capacitive headband placed at the top of the bar line is too small and it is very easy to miss it the first time. You will also need to open the manual to read, study and learn all the different gestures that differ depending on the affected atrium.
PaMu Slide: gestures and touch controls
A well-deserved compliment for volume control gestures: handy and handy even though a companion app to customize these gestures would have been ideal.
A new, well-optimized chip
The PaMu Slide were made in close collaboration with Qualcomm and Intel, Padmate says on his Indiegogo campaign page. Unlike many competitors who still use the “old” chip Qualcomm CSR86Xx , we find inside each of PaMu headphones the brand new QCC3020 chip from the American company.
This allows these True Wireless Stereo (TWS) headphones to take full advantage of Bluetooth 5.0 for fast, reliable, wide-range, low latency coupling, as well as the aptX audio codec, although I would have liked to find aptX HD codecs or LDAC, now usable on virtually all Android smartphones.
Exaggerated audio quality (for the price)
The PaMu headphones, if worn with the right earbuds, sound great against the selling price. The stereo separation and voices are very well highlighted. In general, the different sounds of the headphones are clearly separated from each other, great!
The bass is present and better than the other headphones I had the chance to try, but the PaMu have a different audio tone than some of its competitors. This is not a bad thing, they sound different and adapt to different musical genres: the Slide is much more balanced.
Power to share
As for the battery, PaMu Slide promises 10 hours of battery life with a single charge of headphones, 60 hours in total if you count the energy available in the carrying case (2000 mAh declared on the packaging). I honestly have to admit with you that I have not finished the first charge cycle yet, despite the daily use of headphones for about 2 hours. I have not yet been able to fully discharge to verify this promise, but visibly and crookedly, we should be very close to the expected duration.
Very nice that, there is a Type-C USB port for charging and you can charge your headphones with your new Galaxy S10 or P30 Pro. Speaking of these, the pamu slide were inspired by them for their most interesting function: the case can indeed become a wireless portable external battery that can charge other wireless devices such as your smartwatch or your smartphone!
Of course, you can not count on it to spend a weekend camping away from the phone charger, but in case of emergency it’s convenient.
Final verdict: the right choice for many
New good wireless headphones are introduced and marketed every day. Virtually all manufacturers today have a true wireless model, and many other manufacturers are starting their story with this type of accessory. Padmate has become well known to the general public by launching the PaMu Scroll, true wireless headphones with original design and valid at the proposed price.
The PaMu Slide is a logical evolution of the previous product: more battery, more functions, more sex appeal. Although the overall design reminiscent of the AirPods does not make me personally crazy (my preferences go to more discreet models like the Earin M-2 or Cambridge Audio Melomania 1), these headphones are perfect for the price at which they are offered and hide something that will surprise friends and family while being useful in an emergency!
The absence of a companion application for customizing gestures, for audio equalization or for downloading OTA updates, penalizes the headphones. These are and will remain so forever. Apart from a slight lack of bass, there is not much to correct audio side. The sound quality is sufficient for the target they are offered and the Bluetooth connection is stable and immediate.
