Battery life exceeds claims by nearly two hours without ANC engaged
In the crowded marketplace of personal audio, the EarFun Air Pro 2 arrives at $79.99 as a reminder that progress is rarely linear — each generation of technology tends to solve old problems while quietly introducing new ones. This sequel to an award-winning earbud improves meaningfully on noise cancellation, battery endurance, and audio fidelity, yet surrenders some of the tactile confidence its predecessor carried. It is a product that asks its buyer to weigh what they value most, and for many, the answer will still favor the upgrade.
- Battery life defies the spec sheet in the best way — real-world testing pushed past nine hours without ANC, making all-day listening genuinely achievable.
- The noise cancellation is striking enough to feel like a mode shift rather than a subtle filter, and Transparent mode renders nearby voices with uncanny clarity.
- A six-microphone array and QuietSmart 2.0 algorithm combine to deliver call quality that holds up even in noisy, demanding environments.
- The carry case has regressed — thinner plastics, a wobbly hinge, and less reliable touch zones create friction that the original model never asked of its owner.
- Balanced audio tuning and a generous volume ceiling make these earbuds broadly satisfying, though bass-seekers may reach for the equalizer app.
- At $79.99 — and frequently discounted — the Air Pro 2 holds its ground among the best budget earbuds, imperfections and all.
The EarFun Air Pro 2 enters as a follow-up to earbuds that had already earned critical recognition, and it carries genuine improvements: stronger noise cancellation, upgraded audio drivers, longer battery life, and the addition of wireless charging. At $79.99, the ambition is clear. But the journey from predecessor to successor also surfaces a tension familiar to anyone who follows consumer electronics — advancement in one dimension often means retreat in another.
The physical experience is a study in contrasts. The earbuds themselves feel more comfortable, with a smoother shape suited to long sessions and six ear tip options to help users dial in the fit. Connectivity held firm even past 30 feet in signal-heavy conditions. The case, however, tells a different story — thinner plastics, a hinge that wiggles under light handling, and touch zones that require patience to master. For owners of the original Air Pro, these regressions will be felt.
Where the Air Pro 2 earns its keep is in performance. Battery testing returned nine hours without ANC and a full seven with it active, closely matching the company's own claims under demanding conditions. The charging case extends that to 34 hours with ANC enabled, and even a brief charge buys more than an hour of listening. The noise cancellation itself is immediate and convincing, and the Transparent mode passes ambient sound so cleanly that nearby voices can seem sharper than they would without the earbuds in at all.
Audio quality leans toward balance over bass emphasis — clear across the full frequency range, with a soundstage that places sound convincingly left to right. The low end delivers rumble without aggression, a deliberate tuning choice that most listeners will find satisfying, though an equalizer app is available for those who want more. Call quality, supported by six microphones and a wind-suppression algorithm, holds up well in noisy environments.
For first-time buyers or those upgrading from older hardware, the Air Pro 2 represents strong value — noise cancellation and battery life that outperform their price tier, with audio that competes well above it. For returning Air Pro users, the build quality step-back is real and worth weighing. Even so, the sum of improvements makes a credible case, and at its price point, the Air Pro 2 earns its place near the top of the budget earbud category.
At $79.99, the EarFun Air Pro 2 arrives as a sequel to a pair of earbuds that had already earned an Editor's Choice award and a spot on the publication's list of top ten headphones. The new model builds on that foundation with improvements across noise cancellation, audio drivers, battery life, and wireless charging—a feature absent from the original. Yet the path from predecessor to successor reveals a familiar trade-off in consumer electronics: gains in some areas come paired with losses in others.
The hardware tells this story most plainly. The Air Pro 2 feels more comfortable than its predecessor, with a smoother, more curved shape that suits extended listening sessions. EarFun includes six ear tips—two pairs each of three sizes—shaped slightly differently to help users find the right fit. The earbuds themselves rest securely in the case, and the USB-C port remains firm and jiggle-free. But the carry case itself has taken a step backward. The plastics feel thinner and cheaper than before, and the hinge wiggles noticeably when jostled, a problem that didn't exist in the original. The touch zones on the earbuds themselves have also become less reliable, requiring a learning curve to avoid accidental taps during normal use.
Battery life is where the Air Pro 2 genuinely excels. EarFun claims seven hours per charge with noise cancellation active, but testing revealed closer to nine hours without ANC and a full seven hours with it engaged—nearly matching the company's claims even under demanding conditions. Testing occurred at distances of 15 to 20 feet with volume set just below maximum, using high-fidelity music streams and some gaming audio. The charging case adds another 34 hours of listening time with ANC enabled, making all-day use realistic for most users. Charging the earbuds themselves takes roughly an hour, and even a few minutes of charging yields more than an hour of additional listening time. The case charges more slowly—two hours via USB-C, or three-and-a-half hours using the wireless charging pad that EarFun includes.
Audio quality stands as the earbuds' strongest asset. Each bud houses a 10mm titanium composite driver paired with three microphones—six total across both earbuds. Two of those mics are professional-grade noise reduction units working in tandem with a QuietSmart 2.0 algorithm designed to suppress wind noise automatically. The result is remarkably clear call quality with minimal speakerphone effect, even in noisy environments. The noise cancellation itself is striking. Activating it produces an immediate, noticeable difference in what reaches the ear. The Transparent mode, which allows ambient sound to pass through, works so effectively that voices of nearby people sometimes sound clearer than they would without the earbuds in place—even with music playing at medium volume.
The audio signature itself leans toward balance rather than bass emphasis. At 50 to 70 percent volume, the earbuds deliver clarity across bass, mids, and highs without compression or underrepresentation. The soundstage places audio convincingly across the left-to-right field. Bass punch runs lighter than many competitors, a deliberate choice favoring a flatter frequency response. Bass-heavy songs still deliver substantial rumble, but users expecting aggressive low-end boost will notice the restraint. An equalizer app can address this for those who want it, though most listeners will find the tuning satisfactory without adjustment. Volume capacity is generous—70 to 80 percent is nearly too loud for comfortable listening, while 50 percent maintains full detail and clarity.
Beyond audio, the Air Pro 2 includes features that justify its price. In-ear detection automatically pauses playback when the earbuds are removed, and they support single-bud listening for calls or navigation. On-bud volume controls eliminate the need to reach for a phone. An IPX5 water-resistance rating with SweatShield technology protects against both moisture and the corrosive chemistry of sweat, extending the lifespan of the protective coating. Connectivity proved rock-solid throughout testing, with no interference or dropouts even at distances exceeding 30 feet in a radio signal-heavy environment.
The verdict hinges on what matters most to the buyer. For those upgrading from older earbuds or buying their first quality pair, the Air Pro 2 delivers exceptional value—impressive noise cancellation, battery life that exceeds claims, and balanced audio that punches well above its price tier. For users of the original Air Pro, the step backward in build quality and touch responsiveness may sting. The thinner case plastics and wobbly hinge represent a real regression, as do the less reliable touch zones. Yet even accounting for these compromises, the improvements in ANC, audio drivers, and battery life, combined with the addition of wireless charging, make a compelling case. At $79.99—and often discounted further—the Air Pro 2 earns its place among the best budget earbuds available, though not without reservations.
Citações Notáveis
This is easily among the best pair of earbuds tested for noise cancellation, despite the price— Reviewer assessment
The build quality and design aspects feel diminished compared to the predecessor, though not terrible or unworkable— Reviewer conclusion
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
So the previous generation won an award, and now this one costs less. That seems like a win, but you found problems.
The price drop is real, but it came with actual cost-cutting. The case feels cheaper—thinner plastics, a hinge that wiggles. If you owned the original, you'd notice it immediately.
But the audio got better?
The audio and noise cancellation both improved significantly. The ANC is genuinely impressive for the price. And the battery life actually beats what EarFun claimed—nine hours without ANC active.
Why would they make the case worse if everything else got better?
That's the question, isn't it. Maybe they needed to hit that $79.99 price point and had to cut somewhere. The case isn't essential to the core function, but it's what you touch every day.
Would you recommend them over the original?
For a new buyer, absolutely. The ANC and battery life are genuinely better. For someone who already owns the first generation, it's trickier. You'd gain real improvements in sound and noise cancellation but lose build quality you already know you liked.
What about the touch controls being finicky?
That's a real friction point. You'll accidentally tap them while adjusting them in your ear until you learn the exact pressure needed. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's annoying.