In this post, we review the Earfun Free Pro 2 is the 2nd-gen of this popular affordable TWS series with ANC, IPX5, and up to 30 hours of battery life. It is priced at $79.99
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It feels like just yesterday that we reviewed the EarFun Free Pro and yet a refresh has already surfaced a year later with the EarFun Free Pro 2.
EarFun is a relative newcomer in the highly competitive market of the TWS earbuds, and yet it has gained a positive impact with its affordable offerings. Since last year, they have multiplied their roster with both refresh and new offerings on both air and free models, which makes EarFun an affordable choice for everyone.
Priced at $79.99, the EarFun Free Pro 2 is a featured-packed affordable TWS earbud trying to do it all, targeting audiophiles, gamers, and sports-enthusiast alike.
Tech Highlights
The EarFun Free Pro 2 is a refresh of the Earfun Free Pro with its similar small footprint and featherlight TWS buds that have strong battery life. ANC is here to stay, with an addition of the QuietSmart 2.0 Hybrid ANC tech that can block out up to 40 dB of external noise.
This proprietary feature uses the input from the feed-forward mic that monitors wind noise and feedback microphone to generate an anti-noise signal, using the QuietSmart 2.0 Hybrid ANC Tech. This in effect inverts the noise signal from these mics, canceling each other out.
It also features transparency mode and an IPX5 Sweat and Resistance rating, perfect when using these earbuds on a daily commute or workout.
Gamers and casual users are also thought of with equipping the buds with BT 5.2 technology, ensuring stable long-range connectivity at ultra-low power consumption. This also enables a low latency feature that reduces latency to 80ms, enjoyable for both video and gaming.
Of course, these buds also consider sound quality in mind. With a 6mm dual composite dynamic driver, Earfun is using what I would term a typical dynamic driver size for TWS.
Design
Earbuds
The earbuds themselves are lightweight, with each earbud weighing only 4.1g. Visually, the earbuds are painted in a sleek matte black color, with a glossy print of the EarFun logo on each side.
The earbuds also have color-changing LEDs to indicate their status. Powering on and off flashes the blue and white LED for 1 second. A blue blinking light indicates the buds are in pairing mode. A blue and white alternating light flashes when the earbuds are in factory reset settings.
Carrying Case
The Free Pro 2’s carrying case is compact and light, seamless to carry around. It easily fits in the pocket, truly designed with portability in mind.
Externally, the charging case is small, the smallest that I have reviewed to date. It weighs around 38g for the whole system. Mind you, that’s like carrying a mere chocolate bar in your pocket! The case has a clamshell design with a snappy magnetic closure that keeps everything contained tightly. The hinge system is buttery smooth, an amazing feel for a budget TWS.
No buttons are found on the charging case. Just a single LED to indicate battery left. This is an understandable tradeoff, given how small this package is.
The LED is of a single color that changes its blinking pattern, depending on its battery life. White powered on for 3 seconds indicates > 30% battery life. White LED flashing 3 times indicates battery level to be 10-30%. White flashing 1 time indicated <10%. When no light is showing, it indicated the battery is less than 5% and should be charged immediately.
Controls
Pairing
Pairing is pretty straightforward for first-time use. Opening the charging case automatically powers on the earbuds and enters into pairing mode. With pairing to other devices, touch both the earbuds for 3 seconds or until the blue light flashes. This will make the earbuds enter into a pairing mode which will be easily found by the device.
Basic Controls
Opening the charging case automatically powers on the earbuds. Accordingly, closing the case automatically powers off the earbuds.
Music controls are pretty straightforward. Tapping the left or right earbuds twice will play and pause. Triple-tapping the Right Earbud skips to the next track. Volume can be adjusted by tapping the right earbud once to increase and tapping the left earbud once to decrease.
Game Mode and ANC
Triple-tapping the left earbuds toggles the game mode. The game mode function drops latency to as low as 80ms which improves gameplay. Double tapping the left earbuds enables active noise canceling. Do note that this gesture rotates on noise-canceling, ambient sound, and normal mode.
Comfort & Isolation
With its lightweight design, the Free Pro 2 sits seamlessly in the ears, allowing comfort for long periods. The nozzle depth is also just right, not too deep, but just enough to create a good seal. The earbuds manage to stay secure inside my ears, despite walking and running with them.
The ANC mode in the Free Pro 2 is also good enough. There is no excessive pressure build-up that gets uncomfortable over time. While music is turned on, the earbuds easily drown out outside noise such as background music and chatter.
Battery Life
Battery life is also great with this pair with a maximum total of 30-hour playtime, 6 hours per charge, and 24 hours with its charging case. It also charges fast, wherein 10 minutes of charge can go up to 2 hours of playtime.
Packaging & Accessories
The EarFun Free Pro 2 comes in a standard box, enough to protect the items in place. Inside the box, the charging case is secured well with the earbuds inside of it. A plastic insert is placed to protect the battery from being drained while in storage.
The package also includes 4 pairs of extra tips (XS, S, M, L), 3 ear hooks (S, M, L), a user manual, and a USB-c cable.
Sound Impressions
Bass
EarFun has mentioned an earbud tuning with deep bass and clear treble, which frankly I was quite skeptical at first. Most TWS in this price range has overpowering lows that sacrifice the higher frequencies to deliver deep booming bass. This is not the case with the EarFun Free Pro 2.
The lows on the Free Pro 2 are pleasantly tuned, with no excessive bloom. It is deep and tight with a good sense of control. It has a fast attack with no excessive decay. It is also not overpowering, with just the right sub-bass rumble.
The midbass region has a clean and full presentation. Fast bass rifts are handled well, with a good amount of heft. Although, if I were to nitpick, it lacks details and textures. But given its price point, it has an impressive sub-bass extension and full mid-bass region.
Mids
The midrange is placed behind both the bass and treble regions, a V-shaped tuning. The lower and upper midrange is a bit uneven, with the lower midrange sounding more pushed back than the other. Male vocals ended up sounding a bit thin and lacking in details. Although some textures were still captured, with a pleasant presentation.
Female vocals on the other hand sound fuller and more detailed. Although there are some noticeable dips on extended high notes. The instruments sounded clean and natural. Although, wind instruments capture a good amount of detail despite sounding hollow.
Treble
A clear and well-extended treble is found on the Free Pro 2. It is a bit elevated, with a slight bright tuning. This is particularly noticed in subtle details such as the breathiness of the vocal presentation.
It gives the right amount of sparkle and airiness, complementing the recessed midrange tuning. In addition, cymbals are crisp and splashy. Guitar strums are also crisp, although unexpectedly, thin.
Soundstage (including imaging)
The soundstage is expansive in the Free Pro 2. It has enough width and depth to not feel cramped. However, there are times when I feel that sound is either far or near, with not much in between.
Imaging is also above average, with the sound coming from multi-directions. Vocal layering is also great, with just enough gaps in between to properly discern multiple layers.
Wireless Performance
Connectivity
The latest Bluetooth 5.2 is used in the EarFun Free Pro 2, which enables long-range at ultra-low consumption. It is impressive that sound is not cut off when moving a floor away from the source. Music just continued playing, with no perceived latency and drops.
Pairing the device is seamless with my iPhone 12 pro max. It was immediately detected and paired easily. Once paired, it automatically connects to the device once used. Repairing to other devices is also straightforward, with no difficulty.
Latency
The Free Pro 2 has a game mode that enables low latency of 80ms. Watching youtube videos do not show a significant difference between the 2 modes. There were no perceived delays in both settings.
There is a minimal improvement in latency when playing during the game mode. The sound feels snappier, thus, more enjoyable to use while playing.
Call Quality
Using the Free Pro 2 for calls, the mics are pretty average. There is no noise cancellation, wherein outside noise can be heard by the receiver. Although, the quality of my voice is clear and audible enough for the receiver to understand. The voice of the person on the other end came through well enough.
Select Comparisons
EarFun Free Pro
$59.99
Technical
The similarities and differences of these two earbuds are very straightforward – Free Pro 2 is a minor refresh of the Free Pro. Features are very similar to each other. Both earbuds are equipped with Bluetooth 5.2 and a dual composite dynamic driver.
What the Free Pro 2 improves on is the ANC. The Free Pro 2 improved Free Pro’s active noise cancellation from 28 dB to 40 dB. However, an improved ANC comes with a cost, playtime with ANC is reduced to with the Free Pro 2, 25-hour compared to the Free Pro’s 27-hour rating.
Design
The Free Pro 2 is an update of the Free Pro and it shows how EarFun has refined its design. There is a great resemblance in terms of the material and form factor of the 2 models. Visually, the main difference between the two is the elimination of the glossy design found on the Free Pro. The Free Pro 2 uses mostly a smooth matte black color in both its case and buds.
The charging case of the Free Pro 2 has a smaller and more rounded design, which is an improvement over the Free Pro’s slightly bigger and boxy design. The hinge on the Free Pro 2 is also snappier and smooth, compared to the Free Pro’s slightly loose hinge.
The earbuds are also now more refined with the Free Pro 2. Both have a similar factor but the decision to replace the glossy material on the Free Pro with the rounded matte black color on the Free Pro 2 looks more appealing and premium. Aside from the visual differences, the shells look identical. The nozzle angle and depth are the same.
Performance
Being the Free Pro 2 the refresh of the Free Pro, I expected the 2 to be similar in terms of tuning. And true enough, the 2 have the same profile, with some improvements found on the Free Pro 2. Both strive to achieve a deep bass, with a good and clear treble.
The bass on the two is identical. Both have a good sub-bass extension, enough to hear a deep rumble, but not too overpowering to bleed into the upper frequencies. The mid-bass also has a good sense of attack and decay, with a full presentation.
Mids of the 2 present a V-shaped tuning, which is recessed compared to the bass and treble. Although, the Free Pro 2 has a thicker lower midrange presentation compared to the Free Pro, only by a little bit, to the point that it’s not that noticeable if not compared directly side by side. Other than that, there seems to be no perceived difference between the 2.
Both earbuds have a good treble extension and a slightly bright tilt. The treble is comfortably tuned, with no harshness felt in ultra-high frequencies. Even the soundstage and imaging are identical. Both have an expansive soundstage with above-average imaging.
EarFun Free 2
$49.99
Technical
The Free 2 is priced at a lower price point, which understandably cuts some corners on some features. One key difference between the two earbuds is that the Free 2 doesn’t support ANC technology.
However, both earbuds support the latest Bluetooth 5.2, with the Free 2 supporting 60ms super-low latency mode vs Free Pro 2’s 80ms low latency Game Mode.
The Free 2 also has a better IPX7 fully waterproof rating, compared to the Free Pro 2’s IPX5 sweat and water-resistant rating. Battery life is quite similar with both earbuds supporting a 30-hour rated playtime.
Design
The 2 earbuds are very different in both case and earbuds design. The case of the Free 2 is around twice the size of the Free Pro 2, although the weight is quite similar. The finish is very similar with a matte black design, however, the Free Pro 2 does have a more premium feel and look out of the two.
The earbuds of the Free Pro 2 are significantly smaller and easier to wear than the Free 2. The Free Pro 2 has a slim pill-like design that is seamless when worn. The Free 2 on the contrary has a bigger round design that is felt when worn. In terms of comfort and portability, the Free Pro 2 has a significantly better design.
Performance
The bass on the Free Pro 2 is significantly more elevated than on the Free 2. The Free Pro 2 has a deeper and fuller sub-bass region whereas the Free 2 pales in comparison. The Free 2 lacks the heft that the Free Pro 2 provides.
The midrange region on the Free 2 is more elevated compared to the Free Pro 2, partly because of the rolled-off lows on the Free 2. However, the vocals sound grainy and shouty at times on the Free 2. Instruments also sound more natural on the Free Pro 2. The Free Pro 2 provides more clarity in the overall presentation of the midrange region.
Both monitors have an upward tilt in the treble region. The treble extends well, with no harshness on upper frequencies. Although, the Free 2 has a sharper take on the upper frequencies while the Free Pro 2 is smoother and more tamed in comparison. Both monitors present an airy and additional shimmer with their splashy cymbals and crisp guitar strums.
The soundstage on the Free Pro 2 is significantly wider than the Free 2. The Free Pro 2 felt wider and have a better headspace. Although the Free 2 has an average soundstage, it does feel cramped at times, which is highlighted by certain tracks.
Imaging is also more accurate with the Free Pro 2. The sound feels unidirectional on rare occasions with the Free 2, while this was not the case with the Free Pro 2. The Free Pro 2 is more consistent with its above-average imaging.
Our Verdict
The EarFun Free Pro 2 is this year’s refresh on the older EarFun Free Pro. It has taken the good of the previous design and improved on it with a sleeker design, better build, and updated features.
It tries to do it all, a jack of all trades, striking a balance to cater to audiophiles, gamers, sports enthusiasts, and casual users. This TWS is not the best for a specific category but is a good versatile option for people who are at the intersection of all of them.
The EarFun Free Pro 2 nails the basic features of having the latest Bluetooth 5.2, good battery life, an IPX5 rating, and ANC, which most people look for in a TWS. Honestly, it has set a good benchmark in my opinion for the sub-$100 TWS range with its good tuning, updated features, and affordable price.
Earfun Free Pro 2 Specifications
- Bluetooth version 5.2
- Bluetooth frequency 402GHz – 2.48GHz
- Bluetooth transmitter power <7dBm
- Bluetooth profile A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP
- Bluetooth Codec AAC, SBC
- Maximum working range 15m (without obstacle)
- Battery capacity 35mAh x 2 (earbuds);420mAh (charging case)
- Charging time 1 hour (for earbuds); 2 hours (for charging case via USB-C); 5 hours (for charging case via wireless charger)
- Playtime
- ANC OFF — Up to 6 hours, Total of 30 hours with the charging case; (varies by volume level and audio content),
- ANC ON — Up to 5 hours, Totally 25 hours with the charging case; (varies by volume level and audio content)
- Input In DC 5V/1A
- Dimentions 6mm x 25mm x 28.5mm
- Weight 38g
