Review: EarFun Air Pro 4

EarFun may not be the most immediately recognizable name in the TWS earbud or headphone market. However, the EarFun Air Pro 3, the predecessor to the model under review, has garnered positive attention from reviewers on platforms like YouTube and Reddit. This review focuses on the successor, the EarFun Air Pro 4.

The specifications are notable, including: ANC, LDAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, Google Fast Pair, LE Audio, Auracast, Bluetooth 5.4, <50ms Ultra Low Latency Mode, Multipoint connectivity, IPX5 water resistance, and a rated 52 hours of battery life. This feature set is available for a competitive price point.

The packaging includes the charging case, a USB-C cable, and five sets of silicone ear tips for varied fit (one pair pre-installed on the earbuds).

Design and comfort

Each earbud weighs 5.2 grams, and the case is a relatively compact 43 grams, facilitating portability. The stem design of the earbuds ensures a secure fit within the ear. The inclusion of five ear tip sizes accommodates a wide range of ear shapes. The fit proved to be among the best tested, exhibiting stability during activities such as jogging and gym workouts.

The IPX5 rating provides resistance against sweat and rain, increasing the earbuds’ durability.

The inclusion of strong magnets within the charging case simplifies earbud placement. An integrated lighting system confirms correct earbud placement with an illuminated indicator when the earbuds are seated properly, also activating upon opening the case.

Earbud control is facilitated by a pressure-sensitive surface located on the stems. With familiarization, the controls prove effective. The companion app enables customization of single, double, triple, and long press functions.

Integrated sensors enable automatic play/pause functionality. Removing an earbud pauses audio playback, which resumes upon reinsertion.

Sound quality

The earbuds deliver a powerful and prominent bass response, well-suited for bass-heavy music genres like hip hop and electronic music. However, the bass can, at times, be perceived as somewhat overpowering, potentially overshadowing the soundscape in more nuanced musical pieces. This can result in the midrange and treble frequencies being less pronounced, potentially leading to a loss of detail. The included app provides a 10-band equalizer with 30 preset sound profiles, offering some mitigation of this effect.

With adjustments via the equalizer, the sound quality improves, approaching very good for the price range. The “My sound profile” mode offers personalized sound tuning, similar to a hearing test, where the user adjusts frequency levels to match their hearing sensitivity, generating a customized sound profile.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Ambient Mode

The earbuds feature multiple levels of Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), with “Strong ANC” providing a maximum noise reduction of up to 50 dB. This proves effective in reducing background noise in environments such as public transportation or urban settings. While not reaching the noise cancellation capabilities of industry-leading models, it performs admirably. As with all ANC systems, a proper ear seal is crucial, emphasizing the importance of selecting the correct ear tip size.

Beyond “Strong ANC,” several other noise reduction modes are available, although the differences between them are less discernible. “Strong ANC” provides the most effective noise reduction, with the exception of the dedicated “wind mode”, which notably reduces wind noise. While wind noise is not entirely eliminated during cycling, it is adequately reduced for activities like walking or jogging in windy conditions.

In isolated instances, the noise cancellation exhibited anomalous behavior, such as amplifying certain sounds instead of attenuating them. These instances were infrequent.

The ambient sound mode allows external sounds to pass through the earbuds, enabling the user to hear their surroundings without removing them. This feature is identified as the weakest aspect of the earbuds’ performance, with an unnatural sound quality that is not ideal for prolonged use. While suitable for brief interactions, such as speaking to a cashier, it is not recommended for extended use.

Call Quality

The call quality of the EarFun Air Pro 4 is adequate, but not outstanding. Equipped with six microphones and AI-based noise reduction, the earbuds effectively filter background noise during calls in quiet to moderately noisy environments, resulting in clear voice transmission. Performance degrades in louder or windy conditions, where the recipient may perceive muffled or echoing audio.

Battery life

The EarFun Air Pro 4 boasts impressive battery life, particularly within its price category. The manufacturer claims up to 11 hours of playback with ANC disabled and approximately 7 hours with ANC enabled. These figures were corroborated during testing. The charging case provides an additional 41 hours of battery life, enabling a total usage time of up to 52 hours.

The charging case supports both USB-C and wireless charging, with a quick charge function providing 2 hours of playback time after a 10-minute charge.

Other

The EarFun Air Pro 4 utilizes Bluetooth 5.4 and supports a range of audio codecs, including LDAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, and AAC.

Multipoint connectivity allows simultaneous connection to two devices. No connection stability issues were observed during testing, even when switching between a mobile phone and a computer. However, enabling the LDAC codec disables Multipoint functionality.

A built-in earbud location feature enables the earbuds to emit a loud beeping sound, proving useful for locating misplaced earbuds.

Conclusion

The EarFun Air Pro 4 offers a compelling combination of features and performance at an accessible price. It provides a comfortable fit, commendable sound quality (post-equalization), effective noise cancellation, and extended battery life. While the ambient mode and call quality are not exceptional, the overall value proposition is strong. For consumers seeking affordable true wireless earbuds with a robust feature set and solid performance, the EarFun Air Pro 4 represents a noteworthy option.

EarFun provided a review sample for this evaluation. Provision of review materials does not influence our editorial independence. Our reviews are conducted with the interests of our readers and consumers as our primary focus.

EarFun is offering senses readers a 25% discount on the EarFun Air Pro 4 using the code AP425OFF (resulting in a price of 690 kr instead of approximately 920 kr, inclusive of free shipping). Senses receives no commission or kickback from this promotion.