It’s claimed that the EarFun Free Pros are the world’s smallest and lightest noise-cancelling earbuds, weighing in at only 4.1g each and measuring about 2cm long. Though diminutive, the Free Pros are far from light on features, with Bluetooth 5.2, active noise cancellation, four-mic array, low latency mode and touch controls, all for a price comfortably under £100. What’s The Best’s William Lobley tests and reviews.
The Review
I don’t have access to a detailed database of all earbud sizes and weights. So, it would be foolish of me to jump straight in and agree with EarFun’s claim that the Free Pro earbuds are the smallest and lightest in the world. What I can say with confidence is that they are the smallest I’ve ever seen and been lucky enough to test.
The Free Pro’s 6.1mm low-distortion composite dynamic drivers deliver the goods with plenty of volume and a rich, precise and clear audio profile. Ecstacy Is On Maple Mountain by Berlin-based producer Nathan Micay is a go-to testing track for me - it’s packed with long-tail bass kicks, modulated square synths, strings, ticking hi-hats and ambient nonsense, all mixed up with plenty of panning. The Free Pros handled it with ease. Low frequencies are thick and energetic but kept on a tight leash to allows the middle frequencies to roll through without hindrance. Highs are a pleasure, adding a brightness to the profile without distracting or cheapening the overall quality.
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For the most part, it's comfortable to listen to this audio. Thanks to the small size and weight, the Free Pros are discreet and well-fitted to the ear. They hold in place via the bud and a hook-like protrusion that rests inside the ear's concha. EarFun provide three different sizes of bud and ear-hook, and detail in the user guide a quick insert-and-twist fitting method. Once the fit is right, the Free Pros lock in place - even a vigorous run can't unseat them.
This secure fit does come with a cost for those who wish to wear the earbuds for extended periods - your ears get sore. How much of an issue this is depends on your intended use. For me, a desk-bound writer listening to music and taking video calls all day, seven or eight hours of continuous use left my ears feeling tender - over-ear headphones like the Jabra 85h are much better suited to this environment. This issue isn't likely to bother those using the Free Pros on occasion, or when commuting or running.
The tech EarFun has bundled into the Free Pros - not least because of the high standard. The Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity is excellent. The default connection has a reported range of 49ft and a latency of 200ms. When listening from an Apple iMac, I was able to get up and move around my flat - connection only dipped when walls and corners complicated the pathway. For those who game or stream entertainment, the Low Latency Mode reduces latency to 100ms for better audio-image synchronisation - though the range does take a hit.
There’s active noise cancellation (ANC) on board, working up to 28db and successfully blocking out distractions. There’s also a hear-through Ambient mode for improved safety when out and about. These features are well executed and only reduce the earbuds' battery life from seven hours to six.
The earbuds have integrated touch controls. Tapping the flat logoed surface of the right or left bud turns the volume up or down, respectively. A double on either side will play/pause playback or answer an incoming call, while three on the right will skip a track.
Calls are transferable via a triple tap, and a quick tap and two-second hold on the right bud activates the connected device’s voice assistant. A triple tap on the left earbud will move through noise-cancelling options, and a tap and two-second hold of this same side will turn on Low Latency Mode.
If that sounds like a lot, that’s because it is. Though there are good intentions behind this function, the controls are too numerous and similar to be effective. And this is before the functionality comes up against the Free Pros’ small size.
Did you know when you can’t see your ear, it’s pretty easy to miss? I do because with frustrating regularity I missed one or two of the planned taps, leading to incorrect functions. Likewise, I found myself activating functions as I tried to fit the Free Pros into my ears, simply because there’s not enough surface to hold the earbuds without tapping the surface.
The simple ability to control only volume and answer/decline calls would serve the size of this technology far better, rather than the current overabundance of overlapping commands. A companion smartphone app could - and should - handle the rest.
Did I mention that the Free Pros are tiny? Well, its charging case is a dinky thing too, at 7.5cm long, 2.5cm wide and 3cm deep. Well-built and sophisticated in appearance, it carries 25 hours of extra earbud charge and is itself charged via USB-C or a wireless pad. I don’t have large hands and consider myself to be quite dexterous, yet I struggled with this case. Its small stature, smooth texture-less surface and magnetic clasp make handling it an awkward process. On top of this, the earbuds sit in deep magnetised wells that are reluctant to let them out.
The great audio performance and technology found in the EarFun Free Pro earbuds are ill-served by a dedication to a small, compact design. I understand the appeal of offering high-tech solutions in discreet packages, but as we’ve discovered with the now-increasing size of smartphones, sometimes it’s more important that you give technology the space to show you what it can do.
Description
Exclusive limited time discount code - Enter FREEPRO20 at checkout to receive an extra 20% off, on top of Amazon's current 10% discount.
Pros: Great sound, connection, ANC and fit
Con: Fiddly and frustrating touch controls and case