EarFun might be a newer brand, but the company has already released numerous different models of true wireless earbuds. We’ve mostly liked everything from EarFun so far, but what about the EarFun Free Pro 2? I was able to test them out for myself, and here are my thoughts on whether the EarFun Free Pro 2 true wireless noise-cancelling earbuds are worth their highly affordable price. My review unit was provided for free, but my opinions are my own and haven’t been influenced in any way.
EarFun Free Pro 2: The Good
If you’re looking for true wireless earbuds with noise cancellation, you’ve got several options—but for most, the crème de la crème options are in the tier of Apple AirPods (or AirPods Pro), Bose QuietComfort, etc. If you have no intention of shelling out that much cash, your options become drastically slimmer. There aren’t that many good and reliable brands for affordable true wireless earbuds—except for EarFun, whose lower-cost options have been excellent bang for the buck. I reviewed the original EarFun Free Pro earbuds and was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked them. The EarFun Free Pro 2 earbuds make a few noticeable improvements, including a charging case that can now charge wirelessly. For the most part, though, the EarFun Free Pro 2 earbuds are an incremental upgrade to the original earbuds, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing since I liked the originals so much. EarFun provides four sets of ear tips and three sets of ear hooks to help the earbuds fit your ears. For me, the earbuds fit perfectly out of the box, so I didn’t try out the other options. The earbuds were comfortable for hours while I tested them, and I didn’t find them to bother me at all. One of my few complaints about the original EarFun Free Pro was that the earbuds were tough to pick out of the charging case. EarFun has updated the case design to match the earbuds better, and I noticed no such issue with the EarFun Free Pro 2. Another improvement on the originals is that the EarFun Free Pro 2 now features a transparent mode to hear things around you. By tapping and holding on the left earbud, you can cycle through three modes: normal mode, noise cancelling mode, and transparent mode. With the right-side bud, you can tap to activate your voice assistant (assuming you’re connected to a phone, tablet, or computer that supports this feature). In my case, the button summoned Siri on my MacBook. When it comes to sound, the EarFun Free Pro 2 is quite similar to the original. The V-shaped EQ curve is still here, with bass and treble hyped and midrange more pushed back. This isn’t always bad, mind you. Listening to King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s “Deserted Dunes Welcome Weary Feet,” the kick drum sounded huge and I noticed bass line elements I never really noticed before. Conversely, the kick drum on Kendrick Lamar’s “These Walls” didn’t sound as bass-heavy as I thought it might. The bass line still sounded absolutely massive though, while the high-end details on vocals and keys were smooth without any excessive sibilance. The EarFun Free Pro 2 also features automatic in-ear detection, so they will automatically pause playback when you take them out and restart playback when you place them back in your ears. This is a feature I’ve come to rely on, so it’s nice to see it here. The charging case also supports wireless charging if you have a wireless charging pad. For me, the case worked flawlessly with every wireless charger I tried at my disposal.
EarFun Free Pro 2: The Bad
The previously mentioned V-shaped sound signature—sometimes known as the “disco smile” due to how it looks on a graphic equalizer—isn’t always a good thing. When listening to Tera Melos’ “Trash Generator,” I noticed a high-end presence on the vocals that isn’t usually there. It wasn’t harsh, but it was more pronounced than I’m used to. The bass and drums were thunderous, so if you’re a fan of bass, this may not be a negative for you. I didn’t have a hard time using the EarFun Free Pro 2, but from time to time, I’d forget which earbud to tap or hold for a given function. This is amplified by my relatively short time with the earbuds, so I’m assuming if these were your everyday earbuds, you’d get to know them pretty quickly. The charging case isn’t exactly feel confidence-inspiring as it’s a little on the thin and flimsy side. That said, I did drop the case onto a carpeted floor a few times to see if the earbuds would pop out—and they remained safe inside every time. The final complaint comes down to the noise cancellation. It certainly works, but I could still hear higher frequencies coming through. Lower frequencies were more effectively blocked out, so these are still suitable for air travel or mass transit. Just know they won’t block out everything.
EarFun Free Pro 2: The Verdict
If you’re looking for an affordable set of true wireless noise-cancelling earbuds with a wireless charging case, there aren’t many good options at the same price point as the EarFun Free Pro 2. That alone is notable, but the audio performance and features kick them up even higher. But if you consider yourself an audiophile, or you’re quite used to listening on more expensive headphones, these will fall short of your expectations. Earbuds already compromise when compared to full-sized headphones, but the “disco smile” EQ curve doesn’t lend itself to critical listening. A few minor quibbles aside, the EarFun Free Pro 2 offers everything you need and nothing you don’t. Considering the price point, that’s enough to recommend these headphones for any casual listener. If you liked this review, consider checking out the complete whatNerd Reviews Index!
