The EarFun Air S might be the ideal pair to test if you haven’t ever used a pair of EarFun earbuds. The Air S is a fantastic option from EarFun that’s certain to entice a number of new users to the brand because it combines clear and accurate audio with passable ANC and a very alluring price point. They do not attempt to be audiophile quality; they are not. However, the EarFun Air S earbuds deliver enough to be worthwhile for anyone looking for high-quality earbuds without having to spend a fortune. also you will learn our article on EarFun Air S review.
EarFun Air S review: Design
The Air S sports a much fancier-looking two-tone matte black and silver finish instead of the shiny plastic of the Air and the Air Pro 2. The design finds a good mix between the two; it isn’t as divisive as the angular finish on the original Air Pro or as streamlined as the more futuristic Air SV. This set of earbuds is one of many reasonably priced earbuds to adopt the shape of the Apple AirPods. The stem shape is what distinguishes the Air series from the more compact Free line. We discovered the fit to be secure and pleasant, much like with EarFun’s previous true wireless pairs. These earbuds are incredibly light weight (as is the case), and the manufacturer includes four ear tips in sizes XS, S, M, and L in the box, so as long as you pick the appropriate size, you should be able to get passable noise cancellation that works well. Exercise enthusiasts will appreciate the snug fit and the fact that these earbuds are sweat- and water-resistant up to IPX5. Here, touch controls rule, and you can activate your phone’s voice assistant by tapping and holding the right earbud. The Air S comes with a coordinating wireless charging case; while the matte plastic doesn’t give it the most premium appearance, it does at least manage to stay incredibly light. Similar to B&O’s BeoPlay EX in size, but about twice as large as the tiny case that comes with EarFun’s own Free Pro 2.
Comfort
Excellent comfort is paired with a fit that is neither too deep nor too shallow; in fact, we would describe it as a mid-depth fit, likely pleasing both fans of deep and shallow insertion. The Air S are likely more comfortable for a larger range of people because they employ “regular” tips rather than specialized, short tips. The slight isolation is enough to block out the majority of noises in a peaceful setting. The case is identical to those other EarFun products have used; it is nearly oval in shape, flat, and equipped with a status LED on the front and a USB-C port on the back. Similar to the earbuds, it is composed of plastic and appears and feels reasonably sturdy. We appreciate that the lid can be opened with just one hand and that it will remain open after being laid flat on a surface. Moreover, wireless charging is supported.
EarFun Air S review: Connectivity
Connectivity is provided by Bluetooth 5.2, and I experienced quick and simple pairing with my computer, laptop, and smartphone. Every time, the earbuds were almost instantly detected and, once linked, remained so. AAC, SBC, and, conveniently, aptX are all supported by the EarFun Air S earbuds. AptX encodes and transmits data a little bit faster and with better latency than the other two alternatives. As a result, listening while using aptX provides a fluid experience, though we should note that listening while using AAC or SBC was similarly fine. We’d still prefer to have it over not having it because it’s a useful option.
Noise cancelling
ANC was not EarFun’s strongest suit, as the Air Pro SV and Air S both demonstrated. The QCC3046 SOC technology from Qualcomm, which is highlighted in the marketing, is claimed to block out undesirable noise while allowing some sounds to pass through for security purposes. We noticed that sounds of all frequencies crept in and caught our attention. We heard our washer and dryer churning as we entered the laundry room and our cat meowing by the door for attention. When listening to music in windy conditions, baby screams were loud, kitchen appliances were distracting, and wind was noticeable. There weren’t many mid-frequency sounds that the Air S could handle. When strolling through the neighborhood or relaxing in the gazebo, we hardly ever overheard any conversation. We also didn’t hear any barking when passing dog parks. But that’s pretty much it. Ambient sound is adequate to make you more aware of your surroundings. Voices are not as audible as one would like, but common outside noises like construction equipment and speeding cars are audible from around 80 feet away. Talking while wearing the earbuds is challenging because of this. We tried the feature in the house, but we had trouble hearing our family members’ words.
Audio performance
When it comes to how well they sound, the Earfun Air S is an album of two parts. For the price, the ANC is extremely effective. Being too close to a big fan wasn’t a problem because we still couldn’t hear it blowing, and other background noises like ambient music and conversation were similarly muffled. you can check our article on EarFun Air S review. A big time saver if you need to have a fast conversation with someone is switching to the transparency mode, which is also a success. However, the Earfun Air S fails when used exclusively for listening to music. The soundstage is rather small and uninspiring, and this pattern persists throughout the entire album. Even when listening to bass-driven music like Muse’s Hysteria, the bass is generally weak. In the end, everything is a little confusing, and while everything sounds reasonable, it never goes above that. For example, using the Earfun Air S makes it difficult to hear the details in Under Pressure. Power and precision are absent from an orchestral track like anything from Holst’s The Planets. You won’t be fully enjoying listening to the Earfun Air S during your downtime, but it’s not the end of the world for a casual listen while you walk. We’re saying that these earbuds aren’t the best for prolonged listening sessions. Adjusting the equalizer in the companion app helps a little, but it’s not very significant.
EarFun Air S review: Call performance
To our surprise, the Air S worked effectively as a calling headset—but only when the environment was relatively calm. The majority of the responses we received from calls made inside were favorable; however, two people did mention a slight muffle. It was 50/50 outside. The ANC technology from EarFun had poor wind resistance and did nothing to reduce background noise during calls. In order for people to clearly hear us, we had to choose a secluded and quiet area.
Battery and charging
When it comes to battery life, EarFun won’t be as entertaining. With ANC turned off, the Air S has a rating of up to six hours and five hours, respectively. You won’t reach those numbers, we can almost promise you that. One explanation is volume levels, where gradually increasing the volume would drain the battery. If you choose to use Game mode as well, it’s the same. In our testing, after about three hours and 45 minutes, we heard a verbal low battery warning, which was a nice touch. That is with ANC activated, or ANC and ambient combined. Those aren’t outstanding numbers by any standard or at any price, but they are exactly in line with the AirPods. It’s intriguing that the case, which is substantially larger than that of the AirPods, holds five more batteries. Overall, that is one more than Apple, but more importantly, it is a feature that is required because the Air S will frequently be placed in charging cradles. Although there is no fast charging capability, you can get wireless charging, which is wonderful. Once you’ve put the earphones in their case, it will take them around an hour to fully charge. Fast charging does exist, or at least it appears to. Although it’s closer to 20 minutes, EarFun claims that the Air S can play for up to two hours on a 10-minute charge. Because the batteries in the earbuds are so sensitive to the features and volume levels you actually use, the two hours is also very flexible.
Price and availability
Conclusion
If you want full-featured earbuds at a fair price, you should think about the EarFun Air S. With these earphones, EarFun once again excels at maximizing the price/performance ratio. In addition to offering excellent sound quality, the Air S are cozy and secure in your ears. They have effective transparent mode and good active noise cancellation. With so few extras for such a low cost, they support multipoint, aptX, low-latency game mode, and wireless charging. Overall, if you are on a tight budget, these earbuds are a good option. They provide one of the best AirPods alternatives at this price point.
