Where to buy?
Introduction
With $300k forked out by 5k+ backers, the Earfun Free has made a compelling case to their target audience at an even more compelling price. Touting USB-C connector and wireless charging, it brings flexibility to your workflow (if you are on board the USB-C train). It has a higher waterproof rating(IPX7) than higher-end TWS models like Jabra Elite 65t Active. And of course, the latest Bluetooth 5.0 is supported. But for $39, there are some serious downsides that we have encountered. Read on more to find out.
Case
Battery
When fully charged, the charging case gives an additional 24hrs of playback time. That’s pretty crazy compared to more expensive TWS models like Jabra Elite 65t Active (10hrs) and Samsung Galaxy Buds (7hrs). It has my favorite charging connector – USB-C, and it supports wireless charging. Overall, the Earfun Free did well in this section. For this price point (~$39), it is hard to find a TWS that supports wireless charging, USB-C connectors and still pack this crazy amount of battery juice.
UX
The usability of the charging case is straight-forward and friendly. It is easy to open, and the earbuds can be easily retrieved with one hand. The magnetic hold of the earbuds is also of the appropriate amount. It can withstand strong shake without dropping out. It has 4 indicator lights on the front of the case. It lights up when you are charging the case. However, there is no light indicator on the earbuds itself to signify its battery level.
Design
The case lacks a solid build. It is made from matte plastic and feels cheap to touch. The plastic cover slightly squeaks when you give it some pressure on the side. The magnetic thud sound when the cover is closed is unsatisfying. The run-of-the-mill design lacks characteristics. The rounded-rectangle case with its muted black palette is similar to many other TWS in the same budget bracket.
Portability
Earfun chose a taller profile instead of a flatter and wider one. The volume of the case measures at 8cm x 4cm x 3.5cm = ~112 cm3 (6.83 Cu. inches ). The volume is two times larger than the Samsung Galaxy Buds.
The case (with the earbuds) weighs around 56g. Due to its thick profile, it causes a noticeable bulge when it is in the jean’s pocket and is not easy to slide it in and out.
Earbuds
Battery
The earbuds hold roughly 6hrs of playback time. Combined with the charging case, it holds a crazy ~30hrs of playback time. It also charges fast. With 15 mins of charging, you get 90 mins of playback time.
UX
Control Mechanism: Mechanical Control Symmetry: Partial
The Earfun Free is the first TWS that I have reviewed that has no volume control and is also unable to reject calls. Some of the controls are asymmetrical. You can only jump track on the left earbud and pick/end calls with the right earbud.
Only the right earbud (the master earbud) is available for mono-use. There are no auto-pausing when you take the earbuds out of your ear. The mechanical button requires some pressure to press, causing you to push the earbuds into your ear canal every time you use the controls. It also makes this audible mechanical click sound when you press it.
Design
Just like its charging case, the earbud’s shell is made from matte plastic and lacks a solid feel. The design is very typical and nothing to shout about.
Ignoring the aesthetic, the Earfun Free is quite comfortable to wear. The long nozzle slots into my ear canal nicely and the earbuds fits snugly on my ear.
Mic
The mic is usable, just barely. The voice is audible but muddied. The noise pick-up is pretty bad too, but at least it doesn’t cover up the voice. I wouldn’t be using this for calls.
Sound
I feel like the tuning of the Earfun Free is all over the place, especially for the bass and treble. The mids performed the most consistently and the best out of the three.
Bass
The sub-bass of the Earfun Free is pretty decent. The rumble from songs like “Intro” by Yosi Horikawa can be felt. We are not talking earth-shattering but a slightly more subtle kind. However, it is enough to add another dimension to the overall sound quality. The upper bass, however, did not fare too well. It has thump but in a boomy kind of way. It lacks articulation and comes off sounding half-hearted.
Mids
The mids performed the best for me. Vocals are rich and present, even on tracks with complex layers. I like to use “Hide and Seek” by Imogen Heap to test for mids. Headphones with good mid reproduction can bring me into the song within the first 10 sec. The Earfun free surprisingly nailed this.
Treble
The treble like the bass is a story with two opposite sides. The lower treble is nice and smooth. Piano pieces sounded great. But the upper treble sounded roll-off and slightly tinny. It is not as bad as the Jabra Elite 65t Active but compared to the KZ ZS 10 Pro, the violin lack extension and doesn’t sound great.
Overall Sound Quality
Overall, the sound signature is mostly neutral with a slightly forward mids. The bass and treble has its bright spots and also downsides to it. The mids work well for me and is enjoyable to listen with pop, rap, and R&B songs. The earbuds also bring out more details in the background. I usually like this because you get to hear more things, but the Earfun Free doesn’t do this elegantly. It focuses more on letting you “hear” the details then to enjoy it.
Noise Leakage
The earbuds barely leak sound even at 100% volume.
Noise Isolation
With its long nozzle and a good ear tips fit, the noise isolation works well for me. I have to take out my earbuds to have a decent conversation.
Connectivity
Supported Bluetooth audio codec: AAC, SBC Bluetooth version: 5.0 Multi-point connection: No
The pairing is easy, and the connection is mostly stable. No issues with it thus far. It did well on the line-of-sight test too – clocking over ~190feet (55m) before the connection starts dropping.
Waterproof
IPC: IPX7
With an IPX7, the Earfun Free is sweatproof. It is still not recommended for swimming (need an IPX8 for that), but it should be well-protected for runs and gyms session. With a comfortable and snug fit, the Earfun Free makes for a pair of great workout earbuds.
Should You Buy The Earfun Free?
Yes. The Earfun Free works as a suitable gift for my nephews and nieces. They have an active lifestyle, uses the latest smartphones with USB-C support, and their primary genre of music are pop songs. At $39, you get
30 hrs of playback time, wireless charging, USB-C connector, IPX7 waterproof rating Good Mids
Maybe. If I owned a higher-end true wireless sports earbuds like Jabra Elite Active 65t, I would still consider buying the Earfun Free as a backup pair. Especially for a sweatier workout like running. No. If you are buying it for purely music enjoyment, I will say consider looking elsewhere.
Where to buy?
You can purchase the Earfun Free at their official website.
