Bargain audio brand EarFun has released several of the best cheap earbuds and best true wireless earbuds over the past two years, including the category’s top $80 option: the Air Pro 3. Their successor just arrived in the Air Pro 4, and they’re our new favorite low-priced noise-canceling earbuds.
Aesthetically, they bear the same design as the Air Pro 3. Call quality and controls haven’t improved much either. However, upgrades to overall audio quality elevate these buds above many mid-range and high-range models. Expect powerful adaptive noise cancellation and superb hi-res sound that combine for a fantastic, mostly-distraction-free listening experience.
What I liked about them
Striking sound quality amplified by premium audio tech
I’m torn between the Air Pro 4 and OnePlus Buds 3 as my top budget earbuds for music. Both models have satisfying soundstages that produce boomy lows, clean mids and striking highs. All I’ll say is that the Air Pro 4 sound better than luxury rivals like the AirPods Pro 2 and stand out as the company’s best-sounding buds to date — an honor that was previously held by the shockingly good EarFun Air 2.
Neo-soul bangers like Khalid’s “Ground” were soothingly resonant. The singer’s soulful vocals sounded mostly transparent over the ground-trembling drums, though listening at max volume distorted the midrange. Common & Pete Rock’s “All Kind of Ideas” had a vibrant presence that stimulated rhythmic head nods courtesy of its funky bass line and triumphant horns. Even classical selections like Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” were well represented; the Air Pro 4’s wondrous sound reproduction made every piano note distinguishable and pristine.
EarFun’s customizable EQ is ideal for personalizing sound. There are several well-engineered presets in the EarFun Audio app to enhance certain music genres (e.g. Blues, Latin) and sonic traits (e.g. Bass Boost/Reducer, Vocal Attenuation). The low-latency Game Mode reduces lag when playing mobile games. Also, users have the My Sound Profile feature that can tailor audio to their hearing via listening test. It’s annoying, but the results are compelling, or at least mine were. Mids and highs gained a nice boost.
I mostly credit the addition of aptX Adaptive/Lossless and LDAC for the Air Pro 4’s excellent sound quality. Enabling either audio codec will dynamically scale bitrate to reveal more details in recordings at a faster streaming rate. Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive codec (up to 420 kbps) operates smoothly and is optimized to work with other technologies like Bluetooth multipoint. Sony’s LDAC codec (up to 990 kbps) provides higher bitrate and clarity on the best music streaming services.
Some of the best noise cancellation from sub-$100 buds
ANC on the Air Pro 3 worked extremely well and it’s more robust on the Air Pro 4. EarFun’s QuietSmart 3.0 Adaptive Hybrid ANC technology helped suppress a lot of incidental sounds across the frequency spectrum. In fact, it exceeded the noise reduction on more-expensive competitors like the $150 Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 and $200 Google Pixel Buds Pro.
Noise Canceling mode significantly reduced household distractions like family chatter, loud TVs and the tumble of a washing machine. That same performance carried over to outdoor listening, where typical ambient noises like passing cars and talkative pedestrians went unheard. The occasional siren captured my attention during grocery runs, as did my son’s screams from across the apartment. Luckily, these high-frequency noises weren’t too disruptive. Balance ANC mode improved wearability by reducing in-ear pressure. Certain buzzing noises were audible, but raising the volume to 60% tuned them out.
Ambient Sound mode is worthwhile for those wanting to increase environmental awareness when out and about. EarFun’s mic array does a fine job capturing incidental sounds and vocals. I heard everything from elevator conversations to train horns blowing several blocks away.
An expansive feature set and long battery life
These buds received grand treatment in the features department, especially on the audio end. We already touched on major inclusions like the 10-band EQ, Game Mode, hi-res audio codecs, My Sound Profile and several music presets. Other prime features worth noting are control customization, IPX5 water resistance, a Find Headphones mode, multipoint technology to pair to two devices simultaneously and a Bluetooth Audio Quality Prioritize setting to choose between high-quality sound or stable connectivity.
The Lab hub hosts two experimental features for Android users: LE Audio with Auracast support and one-tap Google Fast Pair. LE Audio (or low energy audio) is a new and growing Bluetooth standard, promising perks like better overall performance and the ability to easily share what you’re listening to with other Bluetooth devices via Auracast. EarFun shares a few warnings about LE Audio such as compatibility issues with select phone models (including the Samsung Galaxy S24 series and Google Pixel 8 series) and the feature’s being disabled when using Game Mode or any of the hi-res codecs.
Adding to the Air Pro 4’s versatility is long battery life that extends up to 11 hours (7.5 hours with ANC on). High volume and special features like Bluetooth multipoint or LDAC drop playtimes by about 2 hours. Nonetheless, you’re given enough juice for about three days of moderate listening before recharging. The wireless charging case holds up to an additional 52 hours and generates 2 hours of listening time on a 10-minute charge via USB-C.
