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EarFun Free 2 in the test: low-latency in-ears with aptX, AAC and IPX7 for less than 50 euros

Jun 7, 2021

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The EarFun Free 2 offer a lot for less than 50 euros with a low latency mode, aptX, AAC, wireless charging and IPX7. In terms of sound, minor weaknesses in bass reproduction have to be accepted. In everyday life they are a good choice for many who are looking for inexpensive wireless in-ear headphones.

Table of contents

1 Low-Latency-In-Ears with aptX, AAC and IPX7 for less than 50 euros
1. Technical data and functions of the Free 2
2. Now with touch instead of buttons
3. No optional app for equalizers, adjustments and updates
4. Slight pressure feeling with a good grip
2 Sound, telephony, latency and conclusion
1. Slight weaknesses in the bass
2. Somewhat tinny telephony
3. The low latency mode works
4. Conclusion

With the EarFun Free (test) EarFun landed a success. The new EarFun Free 2 should build on the virtues of the first model and offer many functions at a still affordable price. For only 45.99 euros, the EarFun Free 2 not only promise water resistance according to IPX7, aptX and AAC, wireless charging and Bluetooth 5.2, but also a low latency of just 60 ms, which hardly any other wireless in-ear headphones offer Especially not at this price.

In addition to the earphones and the charging case, the EarFun Free 2 comes with a short USB-A-to-USB-C charging cable, three of which are different Large silicone adapters and an instruction manual included. The EarFun Free 2 are exclusively available from Amazon for 45.99 euros in black *. With the discount code EARFUNNN, ComputerBase readers can use the Free 2 up to and including 17.6. with a 10 percent discount in addition to 6 euros introductory discount for 35.39 euros.

Technical data and functions of the Free 2

Low Latency and Bluetooth 5.2 with

The EarFun Free 2 claim to be the best wireless aptX in-ears with low latency mode for less than 50 euros. To do this, they use Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless transmission, which most smartphones do not yet support, and their own low-latency mode that can be activated via the earphones. You do not use aptX LL, which would depend on the appropriate support from the smartphone, but your own solution that can be used independently of the end device – similar to how Razer implements it with the Hammerhead TWS Pro (test). As with Razer, the distance between the device and the earphones should be kept small in order to achieve the lowest possible latency.

EarFun Free 2

In addition to aptX and SBC, the AAC audio codec is also supported, so that an alternative to SBC is offered on both Android and iOS. The QCC3040 SoC from Qualcomm is used as the audio platform. Optionally, it also supports active noise suppression, but EarFun does not implement this in the Free 2. Qualcomm TrueWireless Mirroring technology is supported for this, which enables both earphones to be used individually and seamless switching between stereo and mono operation.

No multi-connect via Bluetooth

However, the EarFun Free 2 does not support the simultaneous connection to two end devices in order to be able to switch playback seamlessly at any time (Bluetooth Multi-Connect). You can only be connected to one device at a time. If another device is to be connected via Bluetooth, the active connection must first be interrupted.

6 mm driver

The dynamic drivers have a diameter of 6 mm. EarFun does not provide details on frequency response, distortion factor, maximum sound pressure level and impedance.

Wireless charging case with USB-C

< p class = "p text-width">As with the EarFun Free, the charging case also offers the Free 2 wireless charging and, alternatively, USB-C for charging. The charging case measures 66 × 39 × 29 mm and therefore has normal dimensions. Thanks to its shallow depth, it can also be carried in your pocket. The capacity of the battery of the charging case is 400 mAh, each earphone has a battery with a capacity of 50 mAh. Fast charging is supported via USB-C, so that after 10 minutes a playing time of up to 2 hours should be possible. According to the manufacturer, the EarFun Free 2 should achieve a battery life of up to 7 hours on one charge. The charging case adds an additional 23 hours, so a total of up to 30 hours of music can be played before the charging case needs to be recharged. An LED on the front of the charging case roughly shows the battery level, although it only changes from green to orange when there is less than 30 percent remaining charge. Below 10 percent, it glows red just like when charging.

In the test, the EarFun Free 2 achieved a battery life of 6:45 hours. A good value, but not a prominent feature, since the competition now manages more than 10 hours.

It takes around 1.5 hours to fully charge the earphones in the charging case. If the charging case is charged via USB-C, a little over 2 hours should be allowed for. Via wireless charging, however, around 3.5 hours.

Earphones are difficult to take out of the charging case

When you first use it, you notice that it is comparatively difficult to remove the earphones from the charging case, as the smooth, conical shape does not offer any support for pulling them out. Since the magnetic lock holds reliably, they cannot be thrown out of the charging case if it is turned over. With a little practice, you can find a grip position in which the earphones can usually be pulled out of the case on the first try. Again and again, however, you slip off and the earphones back into the charging case.

Waterproof according to IPX7

As with the first model of the Free, the earphones are waterproof according to IPX7 and can therefore be temporarily submerged, for example to clean them. EarFun expressly advises that the earphones must be dried if they are wet before they are returned to the charging case. As usual, it is not waterproof.

EarFun Free 2 EarFun Free (2nd Gen.) Yamaha TW-E3A JBL Live Free NC + Marshall Mode II Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro Bluetooth standard: 5.2 5.0 5.1 5.0 Audio codecs: SBC, AAC, aptX SBC, AAC SBC, AAC, aptX SBC, AAC SBC, AAC, aptX SBC, AAC, SSC Operation: Touch buttons Touch Battery life of the earphones: 7.0 h 6.0 h 7.0/6.0 (ANC) h 5.0 h 8.0/5.0 (ANC) h battery life with charging case: 30 h 24 h 21 h 25 h 28 h Wireless charging: Yes – Yes ANC: – Yes – Yes Single use: Yes IP certification: IPX7 IPX5 IPX7 IPX5 IPX7 Weight per earphone/charging case only: 6.0/37.0 g 5.5/45.0 g 6.3/39.0 g 7.0/40.0 g 5.0/35.0 g 6.3/45.0 g USB charging port: USB-C Dimensions charging case: 39.0 × 66.0 × 29.0 mm 30.0 × 80.0 × 35.0 mm 36.0 × 70.5 × 34.3 mm 35.5 × 61.2 × 30.0 mm 27.4 × 69.6 × 36.9 mm 50.0 × 50.2 × 27.8 mm Price: 45.99 € 130 € from 95 € 179 € from 135 € < h3 class = "text-width text-h3" id = "section_sehr_gute_einzelnutzen"> Very good single use

The single use of the EarFun Free 2 deserves praise, not only for smartphones with Qualcomm SoC and TrueWireless Mirroring. Switching between mono and stereo in both directions is also completely uninterrupted under iOS. When the second earphone is removed, playback on it starts again very quickly, so that it is usually active again before you put it in your ear.

Now with touch instead of buttons

The EarFun Free 2 rely on touch control, while the first generation still relied on buttons. This has advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, you don't push the earphones back into your ear every time you operate them, on the other hand, they are more prone to incorrect entries, since EarFun has also assigned a function to a single tap on the touch surface. This controls the volume, which in everyday life can definitely lead to it being unintentionally increased (right) or reduced (left). The playback, however, is started or paused by double tapping one of the two earphones. You can also jump through titles by tapping three times on an area. On the right it goes one title forward, on the left one back.

To activate the voice assistant of the connected smartphone, the touch surface on the right earphone must be pressed and held for two seconds. If this gesture is used on the left earphone, on the other hand, the low latency mode is activated, which is also signaled acoustically with a voice announcement. EarFun recommends using this mode only for movies or games, as it is more susceptible to interference than normal transmission.

Calls can also be accepted, ended or rejected via the earphones. Accept/exit, like playback, is set to double tap so that this does not happen unintentionally.

Control via the EarFun Free 2 is therefore complete and does not require reaching for a smartphone in everyday life. The operation reacts well, the delay in the implementation of a command is just within limits. Due to the small delay in executing the action, the operation is comparatively insensitive to the typing speed. Both very fast and slightly slower taps lead to the desired action.

No automatic pause and resume

The EarFun Free 2 does not have a function and sensors that automatically pause and resume music playback when one or both earphones are removed from the ear and reinserted. The same applies to the possibility of switching the earphones on and off manually without a charging case.

No optional app for equalizers, adjustments and updates

EarFun does not offer an optional app for the Free 2 with which firmware updates can be imported, equalizer profiles can be saved on the earphones regardless of the end device, or adjustments can be made to the operation. The EarFun Free 2 thus always remain on the stand that you have for sale.

A slight feeling of pressure with a good hold

The EarFun Free 2 hold in the ear simply because of the silicone adapters, which is why choosing the right size is crucial for both support and comfort. In the tester, the earphones sit well, but not bombproof, and develop pressure in the ear, which is also due to the fact that they do not nestle optimally in the auricle of the tester. As usual, the individual wearing comfort can therefore be very different. They are not fully suitable for sport.

In the test, the EarFun Free 2 showed a susceptibility to wind even without transparency mode or ANC. They are not the first choice for use on bicycles.

(*) The links marked with an asterisk are affiliate links. In the case of an order via such a link, ComputerBase receives a share of the sales proceeds without increasing the price for the customer.

On the next page: sound, telephony, latency and conclusion