Building on the success of the original Free, Free Pro, and Free Air, EarFun further improves the Free series by releasing the Free 2, equipped with Bluetooth version 5.2, aptX, fast charging, and low latency.
Pros:
- »Comfortable fit
- »Good clarity
- »Pocket friendly case
- »Long battery life
- »Punchy and accurate bass
- »Smooth and spacious highs
- »Fast charging
- »aptX enabled
- »Low latency
- »Excellent connection stability
- »Affordable pricing
Cons:
- »Plastic look with average feel and aesthetics
Where to Buy
The EarFun Free 2 are available on:
Introduction
EarFun was founded in 2018 by a collection of skilled designers, engineers, and music lovers. They share a shared goal: to develop next-generation wireless audio devices that incorporate the most cutting-edge technologies to resolve current-generation wireless audio device obstacles.
EarFun thinks that technology has the potential to enrich modern lifestyles and seamlessly integrate with our daily activities. This belief is reinforced by their tagline, “Better Sound, Better Life.”
One of their most recent offerings is the EarFun Free 2. I recently evaluated the EarFun Free Pro, which performed admirably, and I’ve been impressed with what EarFun has to offer.
Will the new Free 2 be able to outperform the outstanding Free Pro and Air? In this article, we will find out!
Case
Battery
- Battery Life: 23 hrs
- Connector: USB Type-C
- Wireless Charging: Yes
- Battery Capacity: 400mAh
Although the form factor is relatively small, EarFun did not compromise on the charging case’s battery life. Users can enjoy 23 hours of playback time from the charging case due to its 400 mAh battery capacity. This capacity is more than enough for one to two weeks of daily commuting.
You can place the case on a wireless charging pad to charge it. For those who prefer wired charging, like me, just connect a cable to the USB Type-C charging port on the back of the case.
Charging the case using a wireless charging pad and a USB Type-C cable at the same time will not cut charging time in half, and may end up causing damage.
UX
- Can be open easily with one hand: Yes
- Pass the shake test: Yes
- Light Indicators: Display battery level and display charging status
Users can open the charging case easily with one hand. Taking out the earbuds is also as simple as ABC. The earbuds protrude from the casing and offer an adequate grip for users to remove them. The earbuds are secured firmly by magnets within the case.
There is a LED light near the opening of the charging case to indicate the battery level and charging status of the case. Different LED colors indicate the battery charge level – green is high, and red shows the contrary. There is a button beside the charging port to activate the LED indicator.
Design
- Shape of the case: Rectangular with rounded edges
- Material: Plastic
- Build Quality: Average
The charging case is constructed of plastic and is rectangular in shape. EarFun did not specifically mention the material used, but it appears that the casing is made of ABS and PC plastics, just like EarFun Air. The charging case has a matte finish to give a better grip, even with damp hands.
Portability
- Weight: 48g (With earbuds inside)
- Volume: 6.6 x 3.9 x 2.9 = 74.6cm cu (~4.55 in cu)
- Portability: Great
The EarFun Free 2 have one of the most compact case of any true wireless earbuds I’ve tested. It fits comfortably into my pocket without generating an unsightly bulge. I’ve been carrying it to the gym with me, and I’ve had no problems having it in my pocket while working out. With a good choice of materials and small size, the EarFun Free 2 case is lightweight and never a burden on the go.
Earbuds
Battery
- Battery Life: 7hrs
- Charge Time (15mins): 120 mins playback time
Despite having a small form factor, like the charging case, the earbuds’ battery life is sufficient for practically any daily activity, including exercising, travel, or even running a marathon.
The earbuds also support quick charging. Simply leave your earbuds in the charging case for 15 minutes, and they will last another two hours. This feature is handy for long flights that take more than 7 hours.
UX
- Control Mechanism: Touch
- Touch Accuracy: Good
- Control Symmetry on both earbud: Yes
- Mono Use: Yes for both sides
- Earbuds can activate low latency and voice assistant
Touching the control panel on the IEMs allows you to control them. The EarFun Free 2 have a better control interface than the EarFun Air, with the touch sensor covering the entire faceplate.
The IEMs will detect motion as long as your finger is on the faceplate. I experimented with several control gestures, such as ‘triple-tap’ for track skipping and ‘tap-and-hold’ for low latency mode, and all of these motions were quickly recognized by the EarFun Free 2.
Users can use the EarFun Free 2 in mono mode – using only one IEM. This functionality is handy when you need to pay attention to your surroundings, such as when eating in public or listening to music at work.
The low latency mode is quite appealing to me and a handy tool for watching videos and playing games. The latency is nearly as low as that of a set of wired headphones during video playback.
Design
- Profile: Low
- Material: Plastic
- Comfort: Good
- Fit: Good
The touch sensor parts of the IEMs slightly protrude from your ears while in use. This increases the likelihood of a touch gesture landing on the sensor. While EarFun chose to use plastics to build the shell to keep it light, they do not appear cheap.
It is a pleasure to use the EarFun Free 2. The isolation is above average, and there are no pressure hotspots that bother the user. I can easily wear these for hours without stopping or adjusting for a better fit.
Mic
- Noise Cancellation: Good
- Voice Pick-up: Good
Voice pick-up is satisfactory in a quiet environment. One of the EarFun Free 2’s selling points is the Qualcomm cVc 8.0 noise cancellation technology in the microphone. I tested it, and my voice can be heard even in a noisy environment. However, ambient noise is not entirely eliminated but it does have some degree of suppression.
Mic demo
Sound
- Driver: Dynamic Composite Driver
- Sound Signature: V-shaped
- Sub-bass: Good
- Bass: Good
- Mids: Average
- Treble: Average
- Sound Detail: Average
Overall sound quality
The sonic profile of the EarFun Free 2 is a modest focus on the lows and highs, leading to a V-shaped sound signature. They have the ability to reach deep thanks to the dynamic driver’s excellent performance. The overall quality of the soundstage is above average, spanning more vertically than horizontally, and as a result, the headroom is oval-shaped. The detail separation is decent, and I didn’t notice any congestion when listening to music.
Lows
The EarFun Free 2 have deep lows that growl in the sub-bass region and maintain reasonable control while going up into the mid-bass. The speed is typical of dynamic drivers – not the fastest and with some coloration in the presentation. The bass has a lovely richness and sounds full-bodied, a natural sound that isn’t at all analytical.
The mid-bass is not as focused as the sub-bass, but it adequately prepares the transition to the mids. It appears less noticeable, yet is of high quality. Instruments such as a jazz trumpet or drums are cleanly resolved. As a result, the EarFun Free 2 is a pair of versatile earbuds that may be used for various genres.
Mids
The EarFun Free 2’s mids are airy and spacious. Because of the shift from the modest mid-bass, the lower mids are slightly recessed. Positioning becomes more forward and noticeable when the sound moves towards the higher mids, resulting in great separation of instruments and vocals, especially for female voices.
Because of bleeding and coloration from the bass frequencies, the lower mids have considerable warmth. They are pleasant to listen to due to the smoothing effect. As the music progresses towards the high mids, the bass bleed disappears, and the sound becomes more airy and expansive.
Highs
The highs are smooth, with no piercing effect on the ears. This might be a lifesaver for folks with limited treble tolerance. Space and air demonstrated by the highs are typical, and the crashing of cymbals extends for a while after they are struck before the decay starts. The overall resolution is good and the highs have air, space, and sparkle.
The highs and lows have the same profile and they are appropriately extended. It’s a good thing the EarFun Free 2 have well-extended highs to keep the entire sound profile from being buried by the booming bass.
Connectivity
- Audio Codec: SBC, AAC and aptX
- Bluetooth Version: 5.2
- Bluetooth Chip: Qualcomm® QCC3040 SoC with aptX™
- Auto-connect when: Case cover is opened
- Average drop-outs in an hour: 0 – 3 times
- Multi-point connection: No
Waterproof
- IP Rating: IPX7
The EarFun Free 2 have an IPX7 waterproof certification, which is more than enough for everyday sports use. Users may need to be cautious during more demanding sports, such as mountain climbing, because they are not verified as shockproof, and the microphone apertures may be exposed to dirt or sand.
Teo Yong Shun
A chemical engineer by training and an audiophile with years of experience in audio industry as an audio consultant in one of the major Hi-Fi shops in Singapore. Appreciating good music is my daily task and I love to share the greatness with the community. Love what you listen to, with what you have, where you are. Founder of The Audiolocheese.
