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OnePlus Buds Pro 3 in for review
7:01 pm | August 14, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

Today we have with us the latest flagship earbuds by OnePlus, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3. The third generation model comes with all the bells and whistles, including audio tuned by the Danish high-end speaker maker, Dynaudio. The device comes in two colors. The first is Midnight Opus, which has a black and gray finish. The other is Lunar Radiance, which is the model we have here. OnePlus has opted for a two-tone color and texture combo. The front and back of the case has a leather-like texture that is a light tan color while the sides have a deeper gold finish. The leather-like...

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 review: a rock-steady smartphone stabilizer
6:09 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Phone Accessories Phones | Comments: Off

DJI Osmo Mobile 6: two-minute review

While probably best known for being the market leader in consumer drones, DJI also has a strong pedigree in content creation accessories. That includes smartphone stabilizers, of which the Osmo Mobile 6 is its current flagship model. Designed to keep your smartphone levelled and steady during video shooting, the Osmo Mobile 6 is basically a handle with a 3-axis gimbal (and extendable selfie stick) attached.

Some of the best phone gimbals feel too large and bulky, and therefore awkward to carry around, or too small and fiddly, and therefore hard to hold comfortably, but the OM 6 sits in the ‘Goldilocks zone’ for me: when folded down it’s almost pocketable, but when unfolded with a phone mounted it feels nicely balanced and pleasingly secure in my hand. It also comes with a mini tripod that threads into the standard tripod mount at the base of the handle. Also inside the box is a USB-A to USB-C cable for battery charging, a magnetic clamp, and a soft microfiber drawstring bag to keep everything together.

Whichever phone you're using (the OM 6 is compatible with a wide range of the best Android phones and best iPhones, although you'll want to check DJI's phone compatibility list) is fixed to the gimbal arm via the magnetic clamp: the clamp squeezes across the width of the phone tightly, and the powerful magnet in its center clicks into place on the arm with a reassuring thunk. I never had any reason to feel like my iPhone would detach while using the gimbal, no matter how much I waved it around, while the magnet meant I could quickly take it out of the clamp and use it if I received a call, or when I’d finished filming.

I found that unfolding and refolding the OM 6 took a bit of getting used to, but once I’d mastered the process I appreciated the fact that I could get the stabilizer functioning in seconds. The quick-launch function immediately turns on the power when the gimbal arm is unfolded, as well as automatically launching the Mimo companion app on your phone (assuming you use a MagSafe iPhone, and it’s been paired with the OM 6 via Bluetooth at least once before) when the magnetic clamp clicks into place. That meant I didn’t have to waste much time setting the thing up – I could pull it out of my bag, unfold it, mount my phone, and get filming in a matter of seconds.

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DJI Osmo Mobile 6 folded

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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DJI Osmo Mobile 6 box contents

(Image credit: Future)
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DJI Osmo Mobile 6's magnetic phone clamp on an iPhone 13

(Image credit: Future)
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DJI Osmo Mobile 6 with phone mounted via magnetic clamp

(Image credit: Future)
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 key specs

Folded dimensions: 189 x 84.5 x 44mm
Unfolded dimensions: 276 x 111.5 x 99mm
Weight (including magnetic clamp): 330g
Grip tripod weight: 72g
Compatible phone weight: 170 to 290g
Compatible phone thickness: 6.9 to 10mm
Compatible phone width: 67 to 84mm
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1 and USB-C
Battery life: Approx 6.5 hours

The control scheme is refreshingly simple. The M button can be used to cycle between the gimbal modes, or held down to power the OM 6 on and off. Below it is a video and shutter button. Below that is the Switch button: hitting it once switches between the phone’s back and front cameras; twice flips between portrait and landscape mode; and three times switches between photo and video shooting. To the left of those buttons is a thumb stick, which is used to manually control the gimbal movement. On the left side of the handle is the zoom and focus wheel, new to the Osmo Mobile series; pushing this in enables manual focus, while twisting it zooms the camera view in and out. Finally, a trigger on the front can be tapped twice to reset the gimbal position, or held down to ‘lock’ the view in place.

It might sound like a lot to take in, but I found it easy to grasp while handling most of the most-used controls. Anything else that needs adjustment is covered by the Mimo app’s menus and camera controls.

The stabilization offered by the gimbal is excellent, or at least it was for my iPhone 13. The gimbal auto-levels the phone (it can be quickly recalibrated in the Mimo settings menu if you think it’s off, though), and moves it according to the currently selected gimbal mode. 'Follow' is the general-use mode, with the camera view following the gimbal’s movements while remaining level with the horizon. 'Tilt Locked' is similar, but the view won’t tilt up or down. 'FPV' will pan, tilt and roll the camera view according to the gimbal’s movement, and works well for dynamic moving shots. Finally, 'SpinShot' allows the user to rotate the camera view with the joystick while keeping it pointed in the same direction; it can create some dramatic effects, but probably won’t be anyone’s most-used option.

The gimbal movements feel smooth and, for want of a better word, ‘logical’. By which I mean they didn’t surprise me and, in general, went where I wanted them to go. Coupled with the comfortable, well-balanced grip (which can be extended by screwing in the folding mini tripod), it made for an intuitive, responsive and all-round pleasant experience.

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DJI Osmo Mobile 6 with selfie stick extended

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 with selfie stick extended (Image credit: Future)
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DJI Osmo Mobile 6 control panel

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 control panel (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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DJI Osmo Mobile 6 trigger and zoom/focus wheel

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 trigger and zoom/focus wheel (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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DJI Osmo Mobile 6 on mini tripod

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 on mini tripod (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

DJI’s Mimo camera app feels refined and intuitive. The UI layout is simple and easy to get to grips with, with the shooting modes displayed at the bottom and selectable via swipes to the left and right. As well as video and photo modes, Mimo allows the OM 6 to shoot auto-stitched panorama photos as well as slow-motion, hyper-lapse, time-lapse and ‘dyna-zoom’ videos (the latter being Hitchcockian dolly zooms, essentially). It also offers two special modes: Parents&Kids, for automatically capturing family interactions from a static position, and Story, for filming and editing (which includes transitions, music and color grading) short videos to be immediately shared to social media.

The OM 6 also offers ActiveTrack 6.0, DJI’s object-tracking system. This will recognize and track faces automatically, but any object can be tracked by drawing a box around it in the camera view. Then, as the object moves, the gimbal will adjust the camera view to keep it in frame. It’s something that’s great for vlogging, either while walking with the gimbal or with it set up on its tripod nearby, as the vlogger can move around without having to worry about moving out of frame. That being said, the Insta360 Flow Pro’s tracking is faster and smoother, and its design allows it to ‘infinitely’ track a subject as it moves around and around it; the OM 6 will spin to a certain extent but then hit its limit, and be unable to follow if its subject leaves the frame.

DJI Osmo Mobile 6 price and availability

The DJI Osmo Mobile 6 is available now, costing from £125 on the DJI UK website and from $139 on Amazon US. It comes in two colour finishes (Slate Gray and Platinum Gray) and can be purchased in a bundle with the first-generation DJI Mic for £344.

In fact, there are a few other areas in which I found the newer, slightly pricier Insta360 Flow Pro a bit more impressive than the Osmo Mobile 6. The Flow Pro has longer battery life (about 10 hours to the OM 6’s 6.5), and a second USB-C port that allows it to act as a power bank, sharing its battery with a phone or other gadget. The Flow Pro also supports Apple’s DockKit framework for iPhones, which means it supports subject tracking not only via its companion app but through the iPhone’s native camera app and 200-plus camera-related apps (including TikTok, Zoom and Blackmagic Camera). For the OM 6, tracking only works through the Mimo app.

The OM 6 does feel more pleasant to use though, with better-placed physical controls and smoother gimbal stabilizer movement. So, it doesn’t feel like a distant runner-up to the Insta360 Flow Pro, but more like a worthy alternative that certain users might prefer.

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DJI Osmo Mobile 6 in hand

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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DJI Mimo app video settings

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)
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DJI Mimo app Stories shooting mode

DJI Mimo app Stories shooting mode (Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

DJI Osmo Mobile 6: Also consider

Insta360 Flow Pro
Despite being a relative newcomer to the smartphone gimbal space, Insta360’s compact foldable gimbal feels like the current model to beat – on tech at least. With excellent battery life, a power bank function and the ability to subject track when using third-party iPhone apps (or the native iPhone camera), it’s an impressive all-rounder, and only slightly more expensive than the Osmo Mobile 6.

DJI Osmo Mobile SE
Available for a significantly less than the Osmo Mobile 6, its DJI stablemate offers very similar features in a similar-sized product, including ActiveTrack 6.0 and the magnetic phone clamp. Interestingly, its battery life is slightly better than the Osmo Mobile 6’s, but it lacks the extendable selfie stick and doesn’t quick launch (i.e. immediately turn on when unfolded).

Should I buy the DJI Osmo Mobile 6?

DJI Osmo Mobile 6

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

Buy it if...

You want the best smartphone stabilizer user experience
Smartphone stabilizers can be fiddly – but not this one. The comfy grip, well-placed controls and intuitive gimbal movements make the OM 6 a joy to use.

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the DJI Osmo Mobile 6

  • One week of use
  • Tested with iPhone 13
  • Used for B-roll and vlogs

I spent a week using the Osmo Mobile 6 in a variety of situations with my iPhone 13. I tested out all of the video and photo modes available in the Mimo app in both outdoor and indoor situations, and found the OM 6’s compact size and lightweight build a great asset for on-the-go vlogging.

First reviewed August 2024

Moto G45 leaks in all three colors
6:07 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

Motorola's next mid-range smartphone in its very successful G series will be the G45 5G, which has leaked today in official-looking renders. Moto G45 5G in Brilliant Blue The phone is rumored to sport a 6.5-inch 120 Hz HD+ LCD touchscreen and a Snapdragon 6 series SoC, most likely the 6s Gen 3 (which is a rebranded Snapdragon 695 essentially). It will ship in three colors: Brilliant Blue, Brilliant Green, and Viva Magenta. All three of these will have a fake leather finish on the back, which means the rear panel will be plastic. Moto G45 5G in Brilliant Green The...

Spotify for iOS and iPadOS now shows EU pricing inside the app
5:11 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: | Comments: Off

Back in March, the European Commission (EC) hit Apple with a massive €1.8 billion fine ($2B) for "abusing its dominant position” in music streaming on iOS and iPadOS. It was Spotify that issued the initial complaint to the EU back in 2019 and now the Stockholm-based streaming service is getting a small win in the EU where its iOS and iPadOS apps can display subscription tier pricing and promotional offers. Sadly, there’s no direct link to external payment options (i.e. Spotify’s official website) yet as those would be subject to a 27% commission on sales from Apple. Spotify...

JBL Clip 5 review: an affordable portable speaker with fantastic sound
4:54 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Gadgets Hi-Fi Wireless & Bluetooth Speakers | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

The JBL Clip 5 is reasonably priced at $79.95 / £59.99 / AU$89.95 and is available in the US, the UK, and Australia. Considering that the JBL Go 4 costs $49.95 / £39.99 / AU$59.95, if your budget can stretch to the JBL Clip 5 the extra investment will return big gains in sound quality and volume levels.

From minute one I was impressed with what this compact Bluetooth speaker had to offer. The Clip 5 is a satisfying mix of durability, practicality, and enjoyable sound in a small package. Is it one of the best Bluetooth speakers around? All in good time. 

The JBL Clip 5 is covered in woven fabric on the front and back, with a silicone mid-section. It has a large plastic carabiner on the top that's easy to open and clip onto things. I’ve had it hanging from door handles, the bathroom mirror, and shelving units amongst other places, and could easily change up its position to allow for the best listening experience. 

There are silicone strips on the back of the speaker body for added stability when the speaker is placed face-up on a surface, and the JBL logo on the front of the speaker is also made from silicone. Above the logo are the play/pause button and the volume up and volume down buttons. These have icons that represent the respective functions – so, a triangular 'play' icon, and plus and minus signs – and I found them satisfying to press. Within the silicone area on the left-hand side of the speaker sit the power, Bluetooth and Auracast buttons.

A close up of the carabiner on the top of the JBL Clip 5, pictured leaning against a sand coloured rock against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

This pint-sized speaker measures just 3.4 x 5.3 x 1.8 inches / 86 x 134.5 x 46mm, but at 10 ounces / 285g, it feels a little heavy for its size. It’s a shame that it's only possible to hang the Clip 5 or lie it on its back; there was many an occasion when it would have been more convenient to stand it on its base, but its pebble-like shape makes it unstable.

The speaker has IP67 water and dust protection, meaning I wasn’t limited to where I could listen to tunes. It quickly became my favorite bath-time companion, and the steam was no issue for it. We also did a dunk test in the TechRadar testing tank, after which the Clip 5 continued to function quite happily, so whether you want to listen to tunes on the beach or do karaoke in the shower, it looks like this speaker can handle it. JBL has adopted a sustainable approach with the Clip 5 by incorporating some post-consumer recycled materials in the design. Great stuff.

A close up of the back of the JBL Clip 5, pictured leaning against a sand coloured rock against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

If you’ve read my JBL Go 4 versus feature, you’ll already know I’m a fan of the JBL Portable app's user-friendly interface. It has an attractive, easy-to-use design that makes it a snap to view the battery level, use Stereo Group mode to play in stereo from two speakers, or use the PartyTogether mode to add other JBL speakers into the mix for amped-up sound.

Further features on the app include PlaytimeBoost, which is designed to boost the volume of the music without consuming more battery power, a Product Information section, and an EQ settings section. There are four equalizer profile presets: JBL Signature, Chill, Energetic, and Vocal, as well as a customizable EQ profile.

I tested out the Clip 5’s Auracast capabilities by connecting it with a JBL Xtreme 4 and Go 4 speaker. The connection process was easy thanks to PartyTogether mode, and the resulting surround sound effect was impressive. I must admit that my colleague, audio expert Harry Padoan, and I couldn’t help but bop along to the tunes in our music testing room.

A closeup of the control buttons on the side of the JBL Clip 5, pictured leaning against a sand coloured rock against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

The battery is said to last up to 12 hours on the JBL website. When I tested it by playing our TechRadar testing playlist non-stop at 50% volume, it lasted just under eleven-and-a-half hours, which isn’t bad considering how obnoxiously loud the Clip 5 is when playing at this volume level.

The sound quality of the JBL Clip 5 is pretty impressive considering its size and price. It’s capable of some surprisingly deep bass and delivers this without losing the detail, even when just using the default JBL Signature EQ setting.

When I laid the speaker down, I could feel the bass pounding through the surface it was on. Not only was the bass impactful and dynamic in tracks like Black Eye by Allie X, but it also delivered low-frequency bass impressively well when I listened to Angel by Massive Attack.

A close up of the USB C charging port on the JBL Clip 5, pictured leaning against a sand coloured rock against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

Unfortunately, there was a shortcoming that became apparent when listening to Black Eye. The vocals came across slightly strained and overpowering when listening to the track at 75% volume. They were brought more into proportion when the volume was reduced to 50%; the bass continued to bounce dynamically across the track, and I could still hear the detail in the vocals. I changed to the Energetic EQ preset to see if this made any improvements. While it did what it said on the tin and added some energy to the instrumental element of the track, the vocals continued to have a sharp edge to them. As was also the case with the JBL Go 4, changing over to the Vocal EQ preset just results in all the elements sounding distorted, as if they were recorded underwater.

When listening to Hit the Road Jack by 2WEI and Bri Bryant, the delivery was satisfyingly atmospheric and immersive considering the size of the Clip 5. The different elements layered together well. The bass was dramatic and impactful, and I could hear the finer details in the background of the track as the beat was building up.

The JBL Clip 5 in black is pictured being held by the carabiner against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

Cheaper speakers can struggle with the treble and intensity of some vocal sections on this track, making them sound tinny and strained. The Clip 5 handled it well, but the tinniness did appear at around 75% volume, which seemed to be a running theme when I listened to various tracks. The song Boom Boom by the same artists sounded good at 75%, with plenty of detail and drama, but the highs again began to feel a little harsh; at 50% volume, everything blended together a bit better. So this definitely wouldn’t make a replacement for a party speaker if you wanted to blast out the tunes at a get-together.

Adagio Per Archi E Organo In Sol Minore by the London Philharmonic Orchestra was a satisfying listen with this speaker; there was a clear distinction between the different notes and instruments, but a slightly tinny edge to the sounds of the organ. This will likely only be noticed by audiophiles who are scrutinizing the sound quality, however. I don’t imagine anyone expects perfection at this price point but, actually, outside of the treble troubles, the Clip 5 is certainly reaching for it.

Another enjoyable listen was I Believe in a Thing Called Love by The Darkness. The guitar and vocals sounded great, and everything was well-proportioned. I could easily hear the detail and depth in Justin’s voice, and the instruments layered together well, with nothing stepping out of line or trying to steal the limelight when it shouldn’t have been.

A close up of the play, pause and volume buttons on the front of the JBL Clip 5, pictured leaning against a sand coloured rock against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

The difference between the sound quality of the Clip 5 and the cheaper JBL Go 4 is certainly noticeable. While there is of course a $30 price difference to consider, I'd say it’s worth it if you want deeper bass and the ability to blast out some tunes without lugging about a bigger speaker – though there's naturally some sacrifice when it comes to sound quality at the higher end of the volume scale. 

If you're still undecided whether the JBL Clip 5 covers all your bases, we’ve curated a list of the best Bluetooth speakers with alternatives suitable for varied budgets and requirements. We also keep track of the best cheap Bluetooth speaker deals, so it's worth checking back now and then to see if there’s money to be saved.

JBL Clip 5 review: Price & release date

  • List price: $79.95 / £59.99 / AU$89.95
  • Available now in the US, UK, and Australia

The JBL Clip 5 was released in June 2024 and is one of JBL’s first speakers to include Auracast capabilities, along with the Xtreme 4 and Go 4. It’s available directly from the JBL website in the US, UK, and Australia for $79.95 / £59.99 / AU$89.95. 

JBL Clip 5 review: Specs

Should I buy the JBL Clip 5?

The JBL Clip 5 in black is pictured leaning against a sand coloured rock against a pink background,

(Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

JBL Clip 5 review: Also consider

How I tested the JBL Clip 5

  • I tested the speaker over several months
  • I listened to a variety of music genres and podcasts
  • I played music continuously to determine battery usage

I tested the JBL Clip 5 over a few months. I listened to a variety of music genres, as well as the TechRadar testing playlist that includes tracks ranging from complex and layered instrumentals to deep bass and delicate vocals. This enabled me to determine the speaker's ability to handle different frequencies.

I played our TechRadar playlist on Tidal continuously at 50% volume using the default JBL signature EQ preset to test whether the battery could last up to 12 hours.

I used it to listen to music and podcasts in the TechRadar office, our music testing room, and at home, using Spotify and Tidal from an iPhone 12 Pro and a OnePlus Pad Go.

Samsung brings Circle to Search to its mid-range Galaxy A and Tab S9 FE devices
4:14 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Comments: Off

Samsung introduced its Circle to Search feature with the release of the Galaxy S24 series and has since expanded to the Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 as well. The convenient option to search the web by circling a part of an image, text, or a video has been appreciated by many since, so now the company is seeding it to even more of its devices. The feature is now rolling to Samsung's mid-range devices - select Galaxy A series smartphones and the Galaxy Tab S9 FE and S9 FE+ tablets. Samsung is starting the rollout of Circle to Search as soon as this month for the Galaxy A55, A54, A35 and A34 in...

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL survives bending from both sides in durability test
3:21 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: | Comments: Off

Yesterday Google finally made the Pixel 9 family official, following months of leaks. And now, the Pixel 9 Pro XL has been subjected to the usual 'durability test' by Zack from YouTube channel JerryRigEverything. The Pixel 9 Pro XL comes in a new box style, and it's also got a new design itself, with flat sides and a huge 3.5mm thick camera bump. The phone's screen has Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on top, which is made obvious by it scratching at level 6 on the Mohs hardness scale, with deeper grooves starting at level 7. The frame is metal of course, with plastic cutouts here and there...

Earfun Air Pro 4 review: good-value cheap earbuds with just a few too many features
2:40 pm |
Author: admin | Category: Audio Computers Earbuds & Airpods Gadgets Headphones | Tags: | Comments: Off

Earfun Air Pro 4: Two-minute review

I never thought I’d be knocking a set of good budget earbuds having too many features, or excluding a set of earbuds from our best noise-cancelling earbuds guide for offering too many ANC profiles. But this Earfun Air Pro 4 review changes that.

If you’ve ever heard of Earfun before, you’ll know it as a brand well versed in putting out low-cost but competitive earbuds. You'll also know that its naming conventions can be quite baffling. 

The Air Pro 4 are the successors to 2023’s Air Pro 3 (which we gave a near-perfect review to), and their main difference from the same-priced Free Pro 3 from late 2023 is that they have stems, rather than being purely in-ear beans. They’re also more premium alternatives to the Earfun Air 2, released earlier in 2024, which (like all those other Earfun options) offered some great features at really low prices. But that's a lot of Frees, Airs and graces Pros to get your head around. 

Suffice to say that Earfun has a bustling product suite, perhaps an overwhelming number for people who don’t know which to opt for, and ‘too much’ is the theme of this review too.

In its quest to offer buyers on a budget a wide range of options, Earfun has gone a bit too far, and I found some elements of the experience a little too overwhelming. There are five different ANC modes (not counting ‘off’ and ‘ambient’) and I couldn’t get my head around the differences; there are a whopping 30 equalizer presets and scrolling through the list to find the right option for certain songs or genres was more work than it was worth.

So testing the Earfun Air Pro 4 was initially a bit exhausting – until I gave up, and just stuck to the same modes. I think that's what you'll do too. Do that, and you'll reveal great low-budget earbuds that offer loads of options and fairly respectable, robust audio quality for the price. It's just that wading through the extraneous options becomes a little wearying. 

They feel premium enough too, with a lightweight minimalist design that remains comfortably in the ear, and the case is lovely and small enough to slip into little pockets even though it packs a few premium features like wireless charging.

The sound quality is perfectly acceptable for the price (though if your budget breaches the $/£100 barrier, you’ll have a few more tempting options) and definitely matches the ‘cheap’ with the ‘cheerful’ for most songs.

I also appreciated how the Earfun Air Pro 4’s battery life outstrips most competitors, with 7.5 hours per bud with ANC on and 11 hours with it off. That’s a fair few songs more than you’ll get on most earbuds in this price bracket. 

So if you’re happy to ignore a few too many superfluous and potentially confusing features, or are willing to try and get your head around them, then the Earfun Air Pro 4 are good picks for people on a budget. But if not, then the company has loads more options for you – as do its competitors (more on that later).

Earfun Air Pro 4 review: Price and release date

The Earfun Air Pro 4

(Image credit: Future)
  • Unveiled in July 2024
  • Cost $89.99 / £79.99 (roughly AU$140) 

The Earfun Air Pro 4 were announced right at the end of July 2024, and became available to purchase shortly afterwards. The company sells them in certain regions but also has a global option on its website, listed in USD, which is why we don’t have an AUD price.

The buds cost $89.99 / £79.99 (roughly AU$140) which is notably a lower price than the $99.99 / £99.99 (roughly AU$160) Air Pro 3 – those earbuds got price cuts almost immediately after launch, so it's possible that the Air Pro 4 could too.

Earfun has a busy line-up of earbuds and the Air Pro 4 slot in just ahead of most of the others in terms of price; the Air Pro 3, Free Pro 3 and Air Pro SV all cost just a small amount less. The company specializes in low-cost earbuds and these new models are no different.

So yes, the Earfun Air Pro 4 definitely count as cheap earbuds; they won’t break the bank and that fact helps set expectations with the sound quality and features.

Earfun Air Pro 4 review: Specs

Earfun Air Pro 4 review: Features

The Earfun Air Pro 4

(Image credit: Future)
  • Many (many) equalizer presets
  • ANC is good but too many modes
  • Good battery life compared to rivals

One of my favorite things about Earfun’s other earbuds is that they often trump the competition in terms of battery life, and that’s certainly the case with the Air Pro 4.

With ANC turned on, the buds last for roughly seven and a half hours before you need to return them to the case to power back up; turn ANC off and that figure is even longer at 11 hours. Most same-price rivals go for about 6 and 9 hours respectively, so the Pro 4 is, ahem, Pro-4-ming well here.

Earfun has said that the case can provide up the 52 hours of music playback between all its charges; the website doesn’t state whether that’s with ANC on or off, but I’d imagine it’s with it off. At an estimate, I’d give you 35 and a half hours of listening time from the case if you only listen with ANC on.

On the topic of ANC: it has potential on the Air Pro 4, but an annoying abundance of choice makes it hard for you to make the most of it.

The standard ANC is pretty heavy-duty, cutting out annoying background noises to help you enjoy your music without the chattering of keyboards or whine of noisy trains that you’re working on (at least, those are my favorite uses of it!).

The thing is, in the app there’s no one noise cancellation mode. Instead, there are seven.

The Earfun Air Pro 4

(Image credit: Future)

These include ambient mode and no ANC (pretty self-explanatory) but five different versions of ANC: strong, balance, AI environment adaptive, AI ear adaptive, and wind noise cancellation. These five all have descriptions about how they’re different but it’s all very vague and I couldn’t hear much of a difference between them, especially the adaptive one. After a few listening sessions of confused testing, I decided just to stick to ‘strong’ and hope for the best.

Beyond this confusing ANC situation, the Earfun app offers the basic features that most companion apps do: a few toggle-able features such as wear detection and low-latency mode for gaming, the ability to customize the controls and a ‘find my headphones’ feature.

There’s an equalizer too and I really took to it: you can customize your sound yourself, or rely on a sound profile mode that tests your hearing (I didn’t find this mode quite as accurate or useful as other companies’ equivalents though, like Nothing’s in the Nothing Ear (a) and Nothing Ear). But the best part is the presets: there are 30 in all, and lots of them make marked differences on the sound profile, so it’s useful if you want to tailor your mix to what you’re listening to.

Frankly, 30 is far too many, and I didn’t want to scroll through a whole list of ‘Bass Reducer 1, 2 and 3’s in order to find specific ones. Instead I stick to a core 15 based on genres of music, and that seemed enough – in situations like this, less is definitely more. I’m just surprised that there can be 30 without any for spoken word or podcasts!

  • Features score: 3.5/5

Earfun Air Pro 4 review: Design

The Earfun Air Pro 4

(Image credit: Future)
  • AirPods-style stem earbuds
  • Fairly small charging case
  • IPX5 rating against limited showers

The Air Pro 4 aren’t the smallest earbuds I’ve ever seen, even within Earfun's lineup, but they’re still pretty slender. The buds weigh roughly 5g each (according to my kitchen scales; no official weight is listed) and consist of an eartip, a small body and an AirPods-style stem.

The default tip fit in my ear comfortably and stayed nice and secure through the entire testing process, but Earfun has packed four extra sizes into the box, which is at least one more than you normally see in earbuds – and two more at this budget level. These range from extra-small to extra-large and I commend Earfun on it.

Each bud has a small button, which is the round indentation at the top of the stem that you can see in the images. This only required a gentle touch and so I found them easy to use, although there was a noticeable delay between the press and the desired action being triggered.

The Earfun Air Pro 4

(Image credit: Future)

The buds have an IPX5 rating, making them protected from streams of water but not immersion in liquid, so you can wear them in the rain or even in the shower, but not in the bath (or pool).

Keeping the Air Pro 4 cozy and safe when you’re not using them is their charging case; from product listing images and the size of the box, you’d imagine this would be quite big, but it was a lot smaller than I expected. It weighs 56g (when the buds are in) and measures 62.4 x 46.6 x 29.2mm.

Said case, which opens in a clamshell style, has a USB-C port for charging but also supports wireless powering. Despite being a small plastic pebble that’s smaller than the average size of a field mouse, it felt sturdy enough to protect the buds well.

  • Design score: 3.5/5

Earfun Air Pro 4 review: Sound quality

The Earfun Air Pro 4

(Image credit: Future)
  • Good sound, rather than great
  • Equalizer gives you customization over sound
  • Several upgrades over predecessor

It’s good that the Earfun equalizer is so in depth in letting you customize your music, because in default mode the buds are good, but not great. For the price, they are better than lots of rivals, but you’d definitely get better audio by paying more.

Unless you boost the treble in the app, it’s a little lacking by default, falling in the mix behind the relatively meaty bass. Mid is also hiding in the back, but I found it susceptible to peaking and distortion at times, with instruments like hi-hats and acoustic guitars getting mushy.

However once you turn to the equalizer, and push the music to its limits, you can get a lot more legroom for enjoying your music. Bass, which is already pretty meaty by default, can gain even more prominence, though it’ll never turn as forceful as on something like the Nothing Buds. 

I enjoyed rescuing the treble, with certain presets pulling it further forward, and the mid to a certain extent – though this put both at higher risk of peaking in songs. And while the presets let you play around with how the different sounds interact, I rarely felt that sounds found energetic.

A few additions to the Air Pro 4 over the Pro 3 is support for a new audio codic, LDAC, allowing for 24-bit/96kbps streaming from supported files or apps, as well as Bluetooth 5.4 for a more reliable connection. This offsets what might, on paper, look like a downgrade in the driver size to 10mm from 11mm.

  • Sound quality: 3.5/5

Earfun Air Pro 4 review: Value

The Earfun Air Pro 4

(Image credit: Future)
  • Good feature set for price
  • More cash will get you better audio

If you know low-cost earbuds, you’ll know that Earfun always gives you good value for money, and that’s no different here.

The Air Pro 4 give you decent music quality, a long-lasting battery and admirable noise cancellation, and the only thing more slender than the easily-pocketable charging case is the price.

Sure, the Earfun Air Pro 4 isn’t quite as feature-packed as some of the biggest names on the market, but it also costs a third of its big Bose, Apple and Samsung alternatives. 

  • Value: 4/5

Should I buy the Earfun Air Pro 4?

Buy them if…

Don’t buy them if…

Earfun Air Pro 4 review: Also consider

How I tested the Earfun Air Pro 4

The Earfun Air Pro 4

(Image credit: Future)
  • Tested for two weeks
  • Tested at home, in the office and on trips

I tested the Earfun Air Pro 4 for two weeks to write this review, which is the standard testing time for earbuds like this. I mainly used them connected to my Android phone, but also paired them to my Windows laptop and iPad during testing.

The listening for this review was done at home, in the office, at the gym, on walks around my neighborhood and also on a couple of long train journeys, so their ANC was really put to the test. I listened to music, podcasts and audio books on Spotify and also watched YouTube videos, streamed Netflix movies, caught lots of the Olympics on Discovery Plus and partook in phone and video calls, all using the buds.

I've been testing gadgets at TechRadar for over five years now, and in that time have used plenty of budget earbuds including previous Earfun options.

  • First reviewed in August 2024
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