Earfun Air Pro 3
Retail Price
$79.99
Lowest Price
$79.99
Release Date
February 02, 2023
The Earfun Air Pro 3, while affordable and well-equipped, struggle to stand out in a market where average is not sufficient, falling short in sound capability and performance compared to competitors like Sony C700N and Panasonic RZ-S500W. However, they offer impressive sound quality with strong bass, clear audio, and a wide soundstage. Additional features include a wireless charging case, multipoint connectivity with manual intervention required for switching audio output, an IPX5 water resistance rating, and a decent call quality.
Purchase Links
Overview
- Summary
- Overview - Build
- Overview - Features
- Overview - Worth
- Recommendation
- Positive
- Negative
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
The Earfun Air Pro 3 is affordable and well-equipped, however it falls short when compared to superior competitors like the Sony C700N and Panasonic RZ-S500W in terms of sound capability and overall performance. They are not a bad choice for true wireless earbuds, but they struggle to stand out in a competitive market where ‘average’ is no longer sufficient to truly compete.
David Carnoy – CNET
The Earfun Air 3 earbuds offer impressive performance for their affordable price, characterized by strong bass, clear audio, and a wide soundstage. They come with a range of features including a wireless charging case and the ability to connect to multiple devices, although manual intervention is required to switch the audio output between devices. The earbuds have an IPX5 rating, making them resistant to splashes of water. While they can be used as a headset for making calls, the performance in this area is decent but not outstanding.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
The earbuds are constructed with a glossy yet ordinary plastic, with the stem in grey and the body and driver-housing in black. Additional color options include white and blue.
Tim Gideon – PCMag
The Air Pro 3 earphones, priced under $100, offer excellent noise cancellation capabilities, ranking them among the top in their price range.
Aaron X Loud and Wireless
LC3 is a novel Bluetooth codec that delivers equal or superior audio quality compared to the commonly used SBC codec found in most earbuds, while using less power. Consequently, earbuds equipped with LC3 are expected to exhibit extended battery life.
r/Earbuds
The Earfun Air Pro 3 can easily be paired with an iPhone 13 Pro Max and a Samsung S21 Plus. However, it’s been noted that some features such as APTX codec may not be fully supported by all devices. The earbuds deliver powerful bass that can be further adjusted using an equalizer for those who prefer less bass. However, some users may find the mids and highs lacking without some adjustments. The noise cancellation feature is impressive and works as advertised, significantly reducing ambient noise when turned on.
Tim Gideon – PCMag
For those looking to spend approximately $100, the Air Pro 3 earphones are an ideal choice, especially for those who prefer strong bass.
Pros & Cons
- Pros
- Cons
- Positive
- Negative
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
- The product has impressive specifications for its price.
- It delivers a lively, dynamic sound.
- It offers a lightweight and comfortable user experience.
David Carnoy – CNET
- The earbuds are quite affordable.
- They deliver good sound and overall performance.
- They also support wireless charging and the new Bluetooth LE Audio standard.
Tim Gideon – PCMag
- The earbuds are equipped with superior bass response.
- They have commendable noise cancellation for their cost.
- They come with a custom EQ in the companion app.
- They feature a case that supports wireless charging.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
- The sound could be more refined.
- The hybrid ANC does not meet expectations.
- It is challenging to reach the advertised battery life.
Tim Gideon – PCMag
- The sound signature may not be the most accurate.
- The app could benefit from a design update.
Build & Design
- Build - Case
- Build - Charging Case
- Build - Drivers
- Build - Ear Tips
- Build - Fit
- Build - Size
- Build - Water Resistance
- Build - Weight
- Design - Finish
- Positive
- Negative
Picky Audio
The case is of the same size and design as previous models, with the addition of three LED indicator lights on the front. Some may find the case slightly bulky, but the LED indicators are a welcome addition.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
The earbuds and their accompanying charging case are lightweight and designed for easy portability.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
Earfun includes four different sizes of eartips with the earbuds, ensuring a comfortable and secure fit for most ear sizes.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
The Air Pro 3 fit snugly in one’s ears, but do not feel obtrusive, and they stay secure even with vigorous movement, and feel comfortable to use, even during prolonged listening sessions.
Picky Audio
The buds fit securely and comfortably, making them suitable for activities like weight training and running. Minimal bodyboard noise is reported during these activities.
Picky Audio
These earbuds are designed to fit comfortably in both small and large ears, without causing suction or pressure. This makes them suitable for long-term use.
Picky Audio
The design of the Air Pro 3 is slightly more compact and has a shorter stem.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
The earbuds come with an IPX5 rating, ensuring great water resistance, and that they can withstand long listening sessions in various environments.
Picky Audio
The earbuds have an IPX5 water-resistant rating, making them resistant to sweat and splashes of water. However, they are not designed to be submerged in water.
David Carnoy – CNET
These earbuds, while not significantly better than the Earfun Air S, offer a slight upgrade, and are both lightweight and comfortable.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
The construction and finish quality of the earbuds and charging case are satisfactory given their cost.
Features
- Case
- Chipset
- Connectivity Options
- Controls
- Microphones
- Software
- Sound System
- Specifications
- Updates
- Positive
- Negative
CEONTHEMAKING
Both the AirPods and the Air Pro 3 provide wireless charging options. You can either use a Type-C cable or place them on a wireless charging pad.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
The Earfun Air Pro 3 earbuds feature Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity, are equipped with multipoint capability, and support SBC, AAC and Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive codecs.
David Carnoy – CNET
They support AptX Adaptive for Android and other devices, along with LC3 audio codec, which outperforms the SBC codec. They are also compatible with AAC for Apple devices.
Tim Gideon – PCMag
These earbuds excel in terms of connectivity, supporting low-latency AptX Adaptive and LC3 codecs.
CEONTHEMAKING
These earphones run on Bluetooth 5.3 and support independent use. Users can switch between different ambient modes even when using a single earbud. This feature is accessible through the earphone app.
@pickyaudio – Picky Audio
Notably, the earbuds can connect to two devices simultaneously thanks to their multipoint connection feature.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
The earbuds incorporate capacitive touch-controls that offer functions such as adjusting volume, controlling playback, managing calls, and accessing voice assistant. Additionally, the controls allow you to switch between different noise-cancellation modes.
Picky Audio
The controls can be fully customized in the app, allowing users to play, pause, skip tracks, control noise canceling, and adjust volume.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
Each earbud is fitted with three microphones that feature cVc 8.0 technology. This array takes care of active noise-cancellation, phone calls, and voice-assistant interactions.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
The Earfun Audio app, available for iOS and Android, allows you to customize the touch-controls, check for updates, adjust EQ settings, and check battery life among other things.
Tim Gideon – PCMag
The companion app, albeit somewhat outdated in appearance, provides all the essential features including a six-band EQ and a platform for downloading firmware updates.
Aaron X Loud and Wireless
The Earfun application offers a great deal of flexibility in adjusting the sound, with EQ presets and a graphic EQ.
Aaron X Loud and Wireless
The app isn’t anything extraordinary; it includes the usual ANC switches, custom controls and a game mode. The game mode decreases latency for a more seamless gaming experience on your smartphone, but can impact connectivity.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
The earbuds use Qualcomm’s QuietSmart 2.0 hybrid active noise-cancellation technology, which adapts to your environment in real time for optimal noise-cancelling experience.
Aaron X Loud and Wireless
One of the highlights of these earbuds is their aptX Adaptive support, ensuring excellent sound quality on Android devices, similar to iPhones.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
- The product supports Bluetooth 5.3.
- It has codec support for SBC, AAC, and aptX Adaptive.
- The device claims a battery life of 45 hours.
- It can be charged using USB-C or Qi wireless charging.
- It comes with a hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) feature.
- It has built-in mic and controls.
- The charging case weighs 52g.
- It is available in three finishes: black, white, and blue.
Tim Gideon – PCMag
- These earbuds are in-canal type.
- They are truly wireless.
- They connect via Bluetooth.
- They are water and sweat-resistant.
- They also feature active noise cancellation.
@AndrewUKLondon – Picky Audio
The latest update of the EarFun Pro 3, version 0.5.1, has brought significant improvements to the audio and controls, as well as a new ‘find me’ feature. The device is highly praised when used with a phone that supports aptX adaptive and Apple music hi-res lossless.
Performance
- Battery
- Charging
- Sound System
- System
- Positive
- Negative
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
The Earfun Air Pro 3 promises a total battery life of 45 hours with the earbuds and the charging case combined, however, this drops to 35 hours with active noise cancellation (ANC) activated. In practice, it’s safer to expect a total of 35 hours with ANC off and 30 hours with it on.
David Carnoy – CNET
The battery life of these earbuds is quite impressive, lasting up to seven hours with noise cancellation enabled, according to Earfun.
Aaron X Loud and Wireless
The earbuds boast an impressive battery life, with up to 9 hours with ANC, and an additional 36 hours with the case, totaling to 45 hours.
Picky Audio
A significant improvement has been made in the battery life, offering seven hours of use from the buds, with a total of 37 hours when using the case.
CEONTHEMAKING
The earphones offer approximately nine hours of battery life on a single charge, with the case extending this to around 45 hours.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
The Earfun Air Pro 3 can be fully charged in approximately two hours using the case’s USB-C port. The earbuds also support Qi wireless charging, although this method takes longer.
Picky Audio
Fast charging allows the buds to get two hours of playback with 10 minutes case time. Wireless charging compatibility is also available.
CEONTHEMAKING
A fast charging feature provides about two hours of usage from a 10-minute charge.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
The Earfun Air Pro 3 delivers a heavy bass sound, however, this tends to overpower the overall sound experience due to its overconfidence. It also lacks tonal variation, causing the bass to feel repetitive.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
Treble sounds lack depth and substance, leading to a hard and splashy high-frequency reproduction. As the volume increases, the high end becomes harsher and less yielding.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
The midrange sound is well-balanced, poised, and articulate, providing a calm contrast amidst the overpowering bass and treble sounds.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
The soundstage of the Earfun Air Pro 3 feels confined, causing the various sound elements to compete for space. This, coupled with the lack of dynamic headroom, leads to a rather unsophisticated sound.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
The active noise-cancelling feature effectively reduces external noise, but it also impacts the overall sonic performance, causing the sound to become hazier and less defined.
Aaron X Loud and Wireless
While the call quality in quiet settings is good, it can be muffled in noisy conditions due to aggressive noise-gating. However, it’s usable, especially in quiet places.
Aaron X Loud and Wireless
The frequency response chart reveals a popular V-shaped tuning, with an emphasis on bass and treble and slightly recessed mids for a vibrant and punchy sound. Despite some sizzle, they also sound warm and non-fatiguing.
Aaron X Loud and Wireless
The earbuds provide consistent sound quality across different platforms and are capable of retrieving more detail from hi-res music files.
Aaron X Loud and Wireless
The active noise cancelling is quite effective, managing to significantly reduce low frequency and mid-range noises, which is impressive considering the earbuds’ price.
Aaron X Loud and Wireless
In terms of transparency, it doesn’t match the level of the AirPods Pro, but it is adequate for simple conversations or tasks like ordering coffee.
CEONTHEMAKING
Some users may find the bass a bit overwhelming, but the earphone app allows you to adjust this. A preset called ‘bass reducer’ effectively reduces the bass to a level similar to the AirPods Pro 2.
CEONTHEMAKING
These earphones have a wider range of sound, covering the bass, mids, and highs. Users can modify the overall sound quality to their liking.
CEONTHEMAKING
While Apple’s AirPods are considered the best in terms of transparency mode, these earphones are a close second. They are suitable for environments where awareness of surroundings is essential.
r/Earbuds
One of the main reasons for liking the Air Pro 3 is the ability to use almost any part of the body that can conduct a tactile response, making it extremely convenient and safe to use in environments such as a chemistry lab where one is constantly wearing gloves due to the presence of harmful chemicals. The high responsiveness of the double and triple tap commands even when used with wrists minimizes the risk of touching oneself with the fingertips or palms of gloves that might have been in contact with dangerous chemicals. One minor drawback is the poor sound quality during ambient mode listening, but the active noise cancellation feature works exceptionally well in quieter settings.
Comparison
- Alternatives
- Comparison vs. Panasonic RZ-S500W & Comparison vs. Sony WF-C700N
- Comparison vs. Apple AirPods 2 Pro
- Comparison vs. OnePlus Buds 2 Pro & Comparison vs. Sony LinkBuds S
- Comparison vs. Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro
- Comparison vs. Apple Earphones & Comparison vs. LG FP9
- Comparison vs. Soundcore Liberty 4
- Comparison vs. Apple AirPods 2 Pro & Comparison vs. Bose QuietComfort 2
- Comparison vs. Bose QuietComfort 1 & Comparison vs. Bose QuietComfort 2
- Comparison vs. Soundcore Liberty 4 & Comparison vs. Apple AirPods 3 Pro
- Comparison vs. Soundcore Life P3
- Comparison vs. Apple AirPods Pro
- Comparison vs. 1MORE ComfoBuds Pro
- Positive
- Negative
Tim Gideon – PCMag
For those prioritizing active noise cancellation, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC earbuds might be a better choice.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
The Earfun Air Pro 3 earbuds face tough competition from Panasonic RZ-S500W and Sony WF-C700N, especially since these rivals can often be found at significant discounts.
CEONTHEMAKING
Out of the box, the Air Pro 3 earphones have a more bass-heavy sound compared to the AirPods Pro 2, which could appeal to bass enthusiasts.
CEONTHEMAKING
The noise cancellation performance of these earphones is commendable and very close to the performance of the AirPods Pro 2.
CEONTHEMAKING
While the AirPods slightly outperform in cancelling lower frequency sounds, the earphones are almost as effective and provide excellent value at their lower price point.
r/Earbuds
Compared to the Airpods Pro 2, these earbuds have inferior sound quality and noise cancellation, although the noise cancellation is still quite effective.
r/Earbuds
The sound quality of the Earfun earbuds isn’t impressive, but the Bass can be boosted using the Earfun phone app to improve the experience. The earbuds support the APTX codec when paired with a Samsung S22 phone, although the phone doesn’t seem to support the APTX adaptive feature. The earbuds live up to their claim of providing a 43 dB reduction, offering superior active noise cancellation (ANC) compared to the Air Pro 2 model. The in-ear detection feature, which was less favored in the Air Pro 2 model, is not present. Uncertainty exists over how to access other advertised codecs, and whether a Samsung S23 with Bluetooth 5.3 will support the LC3 codec.
@Nordi1_0745 – Aaron X Loud and Wireless
The OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is expected by some to offer excellent call quality and a stylish design that isn’t too bulky for the ears, more so than the Earfun Air Pro 3 which has mediocre call quality, and the Linkbuds S which was only better to a degree.
@louiswiles9449 – Aaron X Loud and Wireless
There are concerns about sound leakage with the Air Pro 3, unlike with the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro.
r/Earbuds
One of the standout features of the Air Pro 3 is their exceptional active noise cancelling (ANC) quality, which surpasses that of the more expensive Liberty 3 Pros. The microphone quality for calls is also commendable.
r/Earbuds
The Soundcore Liberty 3 Pros are preferred if only superior sound quality and in-ear detection are required, though the battery life of the Earfun Air Pro 3 is significantly longer.
@eluv2401 – Picky Audio
The earbuds offer a great fit and excellent call quality, making them suitable for all-day use at work. The transparency feature is commendable, though not as high-quality as that of Apple or LG FP9 earbuds.
@aarancm8259 – Picky Audio
Compared to the Liberty 4, the EarFun Air Pro 3 are preferred for their sound quality. Initial intense bass, although handled well by the device, was toned down after a firmware update to create a more balanced sound.
r/Earbuds
The Liberty 4 earphones are enjoyable, especially their spatial audio listening mode, and are suitable for occasional use. However, the EarFun Air Pro 3 is appealing due to its significantly lower price, making it a more likely choice unless its sound quality is severely poor.
@hl954 – CEONTHEMAKING
The Apple AirPods Pro 2, unlike the Earfun Air Pro 3, perform excellently with constant noise, comparable to the Bose QC2, but struggle with sudden, high-frequency noises such as wind.
@hl954 – CEONTHEMAKING
The Earfun Air Pro 3 are efficient at blocking mid and high-frequency sounds, like human voices and wind, but perform poorly with low-frequency noises, making them less suitable for use in transportation.
@CEONTHEMAKING – CEONTHEMAKING
The Liberty 4 and Air Pro 3 are quite similar in terms of fit due to their stem design, with the Liberty 4 having a punchier bass and the Air Pro 3 boasting a more pronounced sub-bass.
@hl954 – CEONTHEMAKING
Earfun Air Pro 3’s capability to block out mid and lower-high frequencies is commendable and they are a good choice for those seeking to minimize noise from large crowds or barking dogs.
r/Earbuds
The active noise cancellation on the EarFun Air Pro 3 matches up well with that of the AirPods Pro, offering impressive performance. The ambient mode may amplify sounds, but in quiet environments, it’s barely noticeable and doesn’t detract from the overall experience.
r/Earbuds
The touch controls are strategically located at the top of the stem, minimizing accidental touches and ensuring the earbuds stay secure in the ear during use. Compared to the 1more comfobuds pro, the EarFun Air Pro 3’s touch controls are more user-friendly, as tapping doesn’t cause the earbuds to dislodge from the ear.
Price & Availability
- Availability
- Price - Availability
- Value
- Positive
- Negative
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
The price of the Earfun Air Pro 3 varies across countries, being £79 in the UK, $79 in the US, and AU$99 in Australia.
Tim Gideon – PCMag
The Earfun Air Pro 3 earbuds are available for purchase on Amazon for $55.98.
r/Earbuds
The EarFun Air Pro 3 is available for purchase on Amazon at a discounted price of $56 with the use of a code.
@cformont – CEONTHEMAKING
The Earfun earbuds offer excellent value for their price, providing a quick and easy connection, as well as unparalleled comfort.
r/Earbuds
The sound quality of the Earfun Air Pro 3 may not impress everyone, but it is satisfactory for the price and can be improved with a custom EQ. The recent firmware update has enhanced the default EQ.
r/Earbuds
The Earfun Air Pro 3, at $56 with the launch promo code, offers great value for money. Although it lacks in-ear detection, this is not a significant drawback considering the price.
Miscellaneous
- Drawbacks
- History
- Issue - Build
- Issue - Features
- Lacks
- Positive
- Negative
Picky Audio
There is no in-ear detection feature and users cannot adjust their noise-canceling settings. Users must cycle between noise canceling on, off, and transparency mode.
What Hi-Fi – What Hi-Fi?
Earfun’s approach with the Air Pro 3 is to pack them with numerous features and capabilities, then offer them at a significantly lower price than one might expect and that its high-profile competitors can match. This strategy has proven successful, as evidenced by the award-winning Earfun Air earbuds from 2020.
David Carnoy – CNET
Over the years, Earfun has consistently released wireless earbuds that offer excellent value for money, which is further enhanced by regular discounts.
3b0ny1 – Aaron X Loud and Wireless
There are concerns about the fit of the earbuds, especially for those with smaller ears.
Picky Audio
When switching between transparency mode and noise canceling, a voice prompt is provided. However, this voice prompt may be hard to hear at volumes above 70.
@elizabethcarroll8012 – Picky Audio
An issue has been reported where the audio stops playing through the earbuds after a certain period of use, causing some annoyance to users.
r/Earbuds
Some users have encountered issues when using LE Audio with their Pixel 7 and earbuds, as the app failed to recognize the earbuds and experienced connection problems. After upgrading to firmware version v0.37, the connection issue seemed to be resolved, but further testing is recommended. Some suggest that LE Audio/LC3 is still relatively new and lacks compatibility with many devices, hence it may not be a critical factor to consider when purchasing at this stage.
r/Earbuds
One downside is that you can’t switch between noise cancellation, normal, and ambient modes during a call, which can be inconvenient for some users. The app also doesn’t automatically connect when the buds do, requiring a separate step.
r/Earbuds
EarFun’s app terms of service allow extensive tracking across apps, phone, and internet usage, and require users to agree to this data collection and potential monetization as a condition of use.
@edderepa9685 – Aaron X Loud and Wireless
Users are disappointed that Earfun hasn’t incorporated in-ear sensors into their new models, noting that the feature was present in an older model.
Comments