The HTC NE20 Bluetooth 5.4 Earphones are being marketed everywhere as the next big thing in wireless earbuds. On paper, they sound like a dream pair: Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, a clear LED battery display, high-fidelity audio, six hours of playtime (up to 48 hours with the charging case), a waterproof build, and even a built-in translator that supposedly supports over 100 languages.
At first glance, those features seem like an incredible bargain. But after looking deeper and trying to piece together real customer experiences, the HTC NE20 doesn’t exactly live up to the hype.
First Impressions: Too Good to Be True?
At first glance, the NE20s look like a copycat version of well-known wireless earbuds. The marketing leans heavily on flashy claims like “HD sound quality,” “AI translation,” and “48 hours of battery life”, but the actual build feels cheap. The plastic casing is lightweight in a way that feels fragile, and the earbuds don’t have the premium finish you’d expect from something carrying the HTC name.
The HTC Branding Problem
One of the biggest red flags is the branding itself. HTC, the well-known electronics company, isn’t actually promoting these earphones. The use of the HTC name seems misleading, making people believe they’re buying a genuine HTC audio product when in reality it looks more like a generic, rebranded pair of earbuds being sold under a borrowed name.
HTC is a well-known electronics brand, but these NE20 earphones don’t appear on HTC’s official website or through their authorized retailers. Instead, they’re popping up on random online shops with flashy discounts, sometimes claiming prices slashed by 70–80%. That’s a huge red flag. If these were truly HTC’s flagship earbuds, you’d expect them to be sold through Amazon, Best Buy, or HTC’s official store, not scattered across questionable websites.
Overhyped Features That Don’t Match Reality
The product description is overloaded with big promises. A built-in translator for 100+ languages sounds groundbreaking, but in practice, it feels clunky and unreliable. Customers who tried it mention lag, poor accuracy, and the feature being more of a gimmick than a useful tool.
The waterproof design is also questionable. While some listings claim full waterproofing, others only state water-resistance, leaving buyers confused about whether these earbuds are safe for workouts or just light splashes.
Quality Concerns: Build and Performance
Compared to genuine brands like Sony, Apple AirPods, or Samsung Galaxy Buds, the HTC NE20 falls flat. Many users describe the build as cheap plastic, with earbuds that feel fragile and a charging case that doesn’t hold up well over time.
Sound quality, which should be the main selling point, is another disappointment. Instead of the promised high-fidelity audio, the NE20 delivers a very average listening experience with weak bass and tinny highs.
And while the packaging claims six hours of battery life per charge, real-world use shows a much shorter span, sometimes only three to four hours.
The Checkout Trap and Misleading Pricing
Another concern is how these earphones are sold. Websites often advertise “60% off”, but only if you buy multiple pairs at once. Even when selecting one unit, customers report being automatically upsold into buying extra warranties or multiple sets they never intended to purchase. Some have even had to rely on PayPal disputes to cancel unauthorized charges.
This kind of tricky checkout process makes the whole shopping experience feel more like a scam than a legitimate purchase.
Is the HTC NE20 Bluetooth 5.4 Earphones Worth Buying?
The HTC NE20 Bluetooth 5.4 Earphones are marketed as premium earbuds packed with futuristic features, but the reality is far less impressive. Between the misuse of the HTC brand name, gimmicky translation tools, cheap build quality, average sound performance, and sketchy online sales tactics, these earphones raise too many red flags to recommend.
If you’re looking for reliable wireless earbuds, you’re far better off sticking with trusted brands like Sony WF series, Apple AirPods, Samsung Galaxy Buds, or even budget-friendly Anker Soundcore models. They may cost a bit more upfront, but at least you’ll get a genuine product that works as advertised.
Conclusion
The HTC NE20 earphones are not what they claim to be. Save your money and invest in something real.
Check out the Horsepower Power Scrubber I reviewed earlier!