- 1MORE True Wireless ANC In-Ear Headphones offer exceptional THX-certified audio reproduction with a visual style that speaks “premium”
- EarFun Free Pro ANC Wireless Earbuds are impossibly small, provide great audio, and the battery life will outlast your longest Spotify playlists
- Aftershokz Opencom Wireless Stereo Bone Conduction Headset is ideal for all-day meetings in the office or at home
Apple AirPods and Samsung Galaxy Buds are two of the most popular true wireless headsets available today, but they’re not the only options out there. Both are great for communicating with your phone, but are there better headphones for your specific needs?
WhistleOut tested out three new wireless headsets showcased at CES 2021 for sound quality, portability, battery life and comfort. Each model has its own advantage over Apple’s earbuds, but is a cheaper alternative to AirPods worth it?
1MORE True Wireless ANC In-Ear Headphones
Premium Audio for Music Lovers
The 1MORE True Wireless ANC In-Ear Headphones are bulky, but provide robust audio fidelity, smart features and a sleek carbon fibre design. Everything about these headphones feels “premium.” The wireless charging case permits a full day of playback, but the buds themselves need a charge within as little as 4 hours. You might not be familiar with 1MORE, but years ago the company made the very first set of Bluetooth wireless earbuds that blew me away with exceptional audio fidelity. The company's newest premium model produces an over-ear audio experience in pocket-sized earbuds.
What we love
- THX Certified sound with hybrid dual driver and incredible audio fidelity
- Qualcomm TrueWireless Stereo Plus support on newer devices
- USB-C/Wireless charging case with Fast Charge
- Premium carbon fibre appearance
- Multiple ANC levels
What could be improved
- Expensive (but worth it)
- Large and bulky
- Clicky button instead of touchpad for most functions
- iOS/Android app doesn’t add much functionality
Amazon.com List Price; $249.99 (as of 3/9/21 10:00 EST). Read full disclaimer.
Audio Fidelity
These earbuds boom. We tested the 1MORE True Wireless earbuds with a wide variety of music, and they performed with excellence over orchestral, heavy bass and clear vocals. It’s no surprise, as they are the first true wireless headphones certified by THX for audio reproduction. The dialogue on phone calls and video conferences is also truly clear and in sync with video. Dual Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) microphones eliminate ambient noise in busy work environments.
Portability
There’s a compromise to make with this kind of audio fidelity. The earbuds and the case are larger than comparable products. The earbuds stick out of the ear, making their presence clear, but the attractive carbon fibre appearance and rounded design are worth showing off. The charging case dimensions are about 8cm x 4cm x 3cm, but the rounded pill shape and metal composition helps it fit comfortably in your pocket.
Battery Life
Typical use of the 1MORE earbuds nets 4 hours of audio playback, but that can extend to 6 hours when using TrueWireless Stereo Plus mode, and if ANC is disabled. That’s not quite a full workday of music, but a 15-minute charge in the case adds an extra 2 hours of life. Overall, the portable charging case enables 18 hours of playback with ANC on (22 hours with ANC off). You can charge the case using the included USB-C cable or with any Qi-compatible wireless charging pad (not included).
Comfort
Despite their large size, 1MORE True Wireless ANC in-ear headphones sit comfortably and securely in the ear canal. Even so, they stick out of the ear enough to interfere when we tried putting on a toque or face mask.
There’s a touch-sensitive button on the right side to control the ANC level, but all other commands are activated with clicky-function buttons on each earbud. You can control play, pause, track selection and voice assistance this way, but you need to grip the earbud with your thumb and middle finger while using it. This eliminates accidental activation, but it requires more effort to use than a single finger tap.
What are True Wireless Earbuds?
The “wireless” in Bluetooth wireless earbuds originally referred to the connection between the headset and the playback device. Instead of using a 3.5mm headphone jack, USB or Lightning cable to connect your headphones, wireless headphones use the Bluetooth wireless protocol to stream audio from your iPhone or laptop to your earbuds.
The first generation of wireless earbuds still used a cable between the two sides to provide power and connectivity to both speakers. “True wireless” earbuds eliminate that wire, giving you a tangle-free experience—even though makes it easier to lose one or both of your earbuds!
EarFun Free Pro Headphones
Lightweight, Low-cost and Long Life for Commuters
Extremely small and light yet packed with battery life and impressive audio fidelity, the EarFun Free Pro ANC Wireless Earbuds are competitive with some of the best true wireless headphones we’ve seen. The price is about one-third that of the competition, making these a much cheaper alternative to AirPods. There are many hours of playback with or without the diminutive wireless charging case, and ANC ensures a clear aural experience no matter where you are. This is the headset to get if you want something affordable and truly portable for long daily commutes on public transit.
What we love
- Very light, compact and portable
- USB-C/Wireless charging case
- Fantastic battery life with or without the case
- Affordable price
- Good bass and loud audio
What could be improved
- Tech support is minimal and slow to respond
- Touchpads are easy to accidentally activate
- Bass is loud, but frequency response isn’t the best
Audio Fidelity
The range of audio playback on these earbuds is remarkable for the size. We’d be impressed if we got this kind of frequency response from wired earbuds this size, but throw in Bluetooth and ANC electronics and the EarFun Free Pro headset is a micro marvel. The bass booms and vocals are clear, but it falls short of premium audio in comparison with top-of-the-line earbuds like Apple AirPods or Samsung Galaxy Buds. However, the EarFun Buds Pro is about one-third the price while still providing loud, clear audio.
Portability
Promoted as “the world’s smallest Active Noise Cancelling true wireless earbuds,” the EarFun Free Pro earbuds certainly fit the bill. A touchpad on each earbud controls play, pause, track selection and activating ANC. There’s a learning curve as you figure out what a tap, a double-tap, and a tap-and-hold does, but once you've got it down, you can control your playback device with relative ease. The charging case is also small and made of light plastic.
Battery Life
Inside each earbud is a 50 mAh battery that provides up to 7 hours of audio playback (6 hours with ANC on). The portable charging case extends that battery life up to 32 hours (27 hours with ANC on). That kind of endurance makes these the ideal earbuds for public transit commuters—you'll only need to charge the case on the weekends.
This is the first Bluetooth 5.2 headset we’ve tested at WhistleOut Canada. The new specification brings further battery life optimization and reduced wireless interference. You can charge the case with the included USB-C cable or a Qi-compatible wireless charging pad (not included). The earbuds charge in one hour while the case charges in as little as two hours.
Comfort
Each earbud weighs 4.1g—about the same as Apple AirPods—and sits almost entirely within the ear. The box includes four ear tip sizes and three ear hook sizes to ensure a perfect fit with your ear canal. The small profile is great as you’re putting on or taking off a face mask, but you can accidentally activate the touchpads if your fingers brush up against them.
Is It Worth Buying Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) Headphones?
ANC is most effective in environments with steady, low-frequency noise like an airplane or around desktop computers. Newer, more responsive headphones with ANC go a long way to cancelling out chatting people and other loud noises.
Aftershokz Headphones
All-day Comfort for the Home Office
By keeping the ears open and free, Aftershokz provides clear audio and hours of comfortable playback. Built for the office environment, the open-ear design prioritizes comfort while keeping audio private. Audio fidelity is sufficient for music (and the beating bass just feels weird), but voice conversations are loud and clear. The Aftershokz OpenComm Wireless Stereo Bone Conduction Headset supports two simultaneous Bluetooth devices, allowing you to take all your meetings whether on your phone or over Zoom. Connecting to a new smartphone is easy thanks to NFC pairing.
What we love
- Comfortable to wear all day
- Supports two Bluetooth devices at the same time
- Easy NFC Bluetooth pairing
- Ears remain exposed to your environment
What could be improved
- Mediocre music audio fidelity
- Expensive
- Needs a quiet environment like a home office
- Proprietary charging cable
Also available at select electronics stores like Best Buy.
Amazon.ca List Price; $205 (as of 3/9/21 10:00 EST). Read full disclaimer.
Audio Fidelity
Voice conversations are clear both ways thanks to an adjustable boom to put a microphone closer to your mouth. A second mic catches ambient sound for noise cancellation. Listening to music was a different experience since bone conduction doesn’t translate into great audio fidelity. Since there are no speakers in your ears, it can be difficult to hear details when in a noisy environment. These headphones are clearly built for the relative quiet of an office. Music playback is adequate, but thumping bass bounces the speaker pads off your head in a way that’s distracting.
Portability
The Aftershokz OpenComm headset isn’t truly wireless like the other two sets we’ve reviewed—there’s a rigid cable between the two speakers. The bone conduction pads sit slightly in front of the ear and secure in place with a loop over the top of the ear. There’s a protective carrying case included, but it’s quite large, eliminating any sense of portability. The headset itself is thin and light, so if there’s a side pocket in your backpack to keep it safe, that’s probably your best option.
Battery Life
There should be no problem getting a full workday of use out of the Aftershokz OpenComm headset, even if you put in overtime. It’s rated for 16 hours without a charge, and our experience reflected that kind of longevity. There’s a proprietary magnetic connector for charging that is convenient, but not if you’ve lost the cable. There’s no alternate way to charge the Aftershokz OpenComm headset than the included USB cable.
Comfort
Playing anything with a lot of bass is disorientating on these headphones—the bone conduction pads bounce on your head to the beat. Speaking voices can do the same thing, but it’s not as distracting. I was excited to see that the speaker pads have no opening and expected them to be easy to sanitize. Unfortunately, there’s no water resistance rating, and the user guide clearly states it should only be cleaned with soft dry cloth.
WhistleOut's Pick:
Best AirPods Alternative Headphones
EarFun's headset demonstrated the best balance of audio quality, compact design and battery life. The EarFun Free Pro ANC Wireless Earbuds is WhistleOut's Pick for Best AirPods Alternative. The low price is a big part of our decision although they're currently only available through the company's website. The EarFun Free Pro earbuds are listed at $59.99 USD (about $75 CAD) with free shipping to Canada. WhistleOut readers can use the code EARFUNWO to receive 20% off at checkout for a limited time.
Each of the wireless headsets we tested have their own fields of excellence, sometimes making them a better alternative to more mainstream options from Apple or Samsung. The undisputed champion of audio fidelity is the THX-certified 1MORE True Wireless earbuds. For all-day office use and keeping your ears unobstructed, you might want to consider the Aftershokz OpenComm wireless headset.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. WhistleOut utilizes paid Amazon links.
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