AirB is a true wireless earbud launched by BKAV earlier this December. Priced at 1.49 million VND for the standard version and 2.99 million VND for the Pro, BKAV promoted AirB as “packed with flagship features” like hybrid active noise cancellation, transparency mode, water resistance, and call noise reduction.
According to BKAV’s official statement, the company claimed AirB is “the first premium true wireless earbud line designed and manufactured in Vietnam.” The product box also clearly states AirB was “Manufactured in Vietnam in 2021.”
However, data from an import-export management website reveals BKAV imported thousands of charging cases from a Chinese company. The first shipment included 3,000 units labeled “Bluetooth earbud charging case (earbuds not included), Model: AirB, code CUM-E02A-SAC”. The second shipment had 850 units labeled “Bluetooth earbud charging case (earbuds not included), Model: AirB Pro, code CUM-E02B-SAC.”
Both shipments came from the Chinese manufacturer “Geekor” and arrived at Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi). Their trade dates were November 18 and November 24, 2021, just 2-3 weeks before BKAV officially launched AirB earbuds on December 5, 2021.
Interestingly, on November 23, BKAV CEO Nguyen Tu Quang admitted he had just gotten his hands on the commercial version (MP) of AirB. “As you know, the first MP products JUST CAME OUT today. Even I only officially got the AirB MP version in hand today,” he wrote on Facebook.
The import price for each AirB and AirB Pro charging case was $3.56 (about 81,000 VND). The Pro charging case costs the same as the regular one because their structures are identical, with the only difference being the “Pro” label printed on the box. Previously, a BKAV staff member was publicly criticized by CEO Nguyen Tu Quang for mistakenly sending a sample AirB version with a regular earbud but a Pro charging case to a reviewer.
The only difference between AirB and AirB Pro charging cases is the “Pro” label on the back.
In total, BKAV spent $3,026 (69 million VND) on 850 AirB Pro charging cases and $10,680 (244 million VND) on 3,000 regular AirB charging cases. As the shipments only included charging cases without earbuds, the actual cost of a complete AirB earbud set remains unclear.
Earlier, on social media, CEO Nguyen Tu Quang shared photos of the AirB earbud production line. He explained BKAV had to design custom jigs and robots because AirB has a unique design that isn’t available off the shelf.
“The jigs and robots mentioned were all designed by BKAV engineers. Some asked why BKAV had to make them instead of buying machines. The issue is these machines must be custom-designed for AirB’s unique design. They don’t exist ready-made. Thanks to decades of R&D mastering core technology, BKAV can do this,” Mr. Quang wrote on social media.
However, the images only show the earbud production process and do not mention the charging case. The AirB earbuds themselves are produced by Synopex Co., Ltd., based in Bac Ninh.
Another BKAV product relying on a Chinese partner is the Bphone A series. According to our information, all four Bphone A models, A40, A50, A60, and A85 5G, are manufactured by Coosea, a Shenzhen-based company. Nguyen Tu Quang has said BKAV uses the ODM model to lower prices and make the phones more accessible to customers.
