What a mixed bag the PaMu Z1 turned out to be. First impressions were quite strong, including with the unique looks and customizable color options that make it stand out from the crowd in a good way. I also appreciate Padmate putting out a slightly nerfed PaMu Z1 without ANC or wireless charging at a lower price, which may well be the dark horse since it is the pricing that makes or breaks this set for me. The acrylic extension off the side of the case acting as indicator lights is also a neat touch and good example of branding; the design language of the case and TWS set is cohesive with deliberate actions taken to achieve a good balance of function and form. Having the face plate extend downward to accommodate the various microphones for ANC and communication is a better take than the Airpods Pro style a few others have since adopted, at least in my books.

There is more Padmate gets right, including on the technological side where Bluetooth 5.2 with 1:1 pairing and independent hosting/mono connectivity add to the experience. The wireless charging feature is handy, especially since battery life is not something to boast about here, and the app has preset EQ modes as well as a few other touch-control customization options. But the app is where things started to turn sour for me, with some steps counter to privacy and a user experience that leaves much to be improved upon. The tuning is also quite weird, and I am left confused about the implementation given it's a one-trick pony in terms of elevation in the lows and an essentially flat line thereafter. I have yet to find a decently tuned set at this price range with the same technological features, so I can't fault the PaMu Z1 much. At the same time, there are enough issues to where I can't generally recommend it either.