Earphones
Earfun Air Pro 4i Review
Earfun have become known for delivering high-performance audio at surprisingly affordable prices. The Air Pro 4i is feature-rich and aims to provide high-end features like LDAC support and adaptive noise cancellation for the everyday listener – see how they perform in our Earfun Air Pro 4i review.
Read more: Earfun Air Pro 4i ReviewThe sub £50 price bracket is possibly the most competitive area of the earphones market as a whole – this is the sweet spot for a lot of people. The Earfun Air Pro 4i promises a refined balance of functionality and matching audio fidelity that could set a new benchmark for what listeners should expect for their money (rrp £49.99 often available for less).
Solid Engineering and Smart Features: Earfun Air Pro 4i Design Overview
The first standout point of the Earfun Air Pro 4i is the packaging. The box is simple, but high quality that avoids excessive, costly components. This well presented, no-nonsense approach shows that the product inside will be well-made, considered and thoughtfully designed.
Upon handling the earbuds, they feel remarkably solid with a high-quality, premium feel in the hand. The construction uses a mix of materials, including metal and plastic parts, which suggests that they will be more than tough enough to survive the rigours of daily use. The charging case is equally impressive, supporting both USB Type-C and wireless charging (which works perfectly). It is also worth noting that the case has a small internal rechargeable battery, allowing you to charge the earbuds while they are tucked away in your pocket. The earbuds are held inside the case by magnets and pop in easily with a reassuring, secure click.
In use, the ergonomics of the Earfun Air Pro 4i are a standout feature – if you regularly struggle finding earphones that fit comfortably, these are worth taking a very good look at.
Most earphones have a circular sound port that you insert into your ear – ear canals aren’t circular. The Air Pro 4i’s have an oval shaped sound port that the silicone ear tips fit onto – this provides a lot more comfort AND security of fit. My ears are also slightly different sizes and I usually need to use different size adaptors for each ear – this is still the case here, but the fit is sooo much more comfortable and secure (they haven’t fallen out once).
Each earbud has a button for audio playback control – these are pre-programmed with a wide range of functions (you can customise the button functions in the app). While the app itself is not quite a “top-tier premium” experience, it is highly functional and does what it needs to. In the Earfun app you get access to deep customisation for noise-cancelling modes, low latency game mode, custom EQ settings, button assignments and more. Although having said that and having played with many of the settings, I have ended up using only basic settings in the android app: Balanced ANC noise cancelling, Dual device connection off, Bluetooth Audio quality – LDAC on, EQ flat (default).
Quick note about power on and connection speed: When you remove the earbuds from the case, they automatically turn on and connect to your device (Pixel 8 in my case). When I take the earbuds out of the charge case and insert them into my ears one at a time, they are powered on and connected to my phone before I have managed to get the second earbud in my ear. Then all you need to do when you’ve finished listening is pop them back in the case and they disconnect automatically – zero fuss, no delays, they just work.
In the box:
- Charging case for storage and portable charging.
- Earfun Air Pro 4i Wireless Earbuds.
- 4 sizes of eartips plus 1 extra medium set.
- Short USB Type C charge cable.
Immersive Clarity and a High Level of Detail: The Earfun Air Pro 4i Sound Analysis
The Earfun Air Pro 4i earphones are clearly aimed at the listener that is looking for an immersive experience, whether for work, study, or the daily commute. Our expectations were high given the 11mm titanium-coated composite drivers and Hi-Res certification. Fresh out of the box, the audio was marred a little by a slightly jarring hi-mid frequency, but this disappeared entirely after a few hours of listening. This burn-in period is noticeable to the ear and I would suggest leaving the EQ controls alone until you’ve passed this point (3-4 hours of use).
The frequency response has a hi-fi style scooped midrange with a deep, full, and enveloping bass (as a basshead, it’s rather lovely). This creates a clean high-end that feels both modern and immersive. While the midrange might be a little too scooped for dedicated audiophiles, it is perfectly suited for everyday listening and provides a “big” sound that works well across most genres. For those seeking more detail, enabling the LDAC codec on a compatible device makes a noticeable difference, this adds more detail to the midrange and reduces the severity of the mid scoop.
Where the Earfun Air Pro 4i truly excels is its stereo image and precise stereo positioning. The soundstage feels wide, and when the noise cancellation is active, the perceived detail and sense of space actually increase. The “QuietSmart 3.0” ANC technology does a fantastic job of removing general background noise; the ‘Balance ANC’ mode is particularly effective in an office environment, silencing fans and reducing conversations to a near silent whisper.
The ambient sound mode is also worth mentioning. This provides a subtle boost to external/environmental sounds with accurate stereo positioning to aid situational awareness and potentially increase your safety.
Whether you are using the earbuds for music or taking calls with the 6-mic AI system, the audio clarity is impressive. These earbuds are IP55 rated for dust and sweat resistance, making them as durable as they are capable.
I’ve listened to a lot of different earphones over the years from a lot of different brands, this is perhaps the most telling insight I can give you:
While testing the Earfun Air Pro 4i’s, I stopped focusing on how they sound and instead went on an immersive journey of musical exploration…they sound really, really good.
Earfun Air Pro 4i Review Conclusion
Bang for buck, the Earfun Air Pro 4i is an exceptional product that I believe can be considered as the new benchmark for what can be achieved at this price point. While the app could possibly use a little more polish, the incredible sound quality and effective noise cancellation far outweigh this. These are amazing earphones for anyone looking to escape into a fully detailed, immersive soundscape during their daily routine. You can find the Earfun Air Pro 4i available for purchase here.
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