Edifier NeoBuds Pro Review 

flagship TWS headphones with ANC and Hi-Res sound

The term "flagship killer" is used mostly in relation to smartphones, but sometimes it can be applied to other gadgets as well. For example, to Edifier NeoBuds Pro headphones for 9.5 thousand rubles. with great Hi-Res sound (a first for true wireless earbuds), long battery life, active noise cancellation and an attractive design.

Funding for the release of the NeoBuds Pro was raised through the Indiegogo crowdfunding platform, and Edifier managed to release a really great product for its 25th anniversary. I tried to find out if the Edifier NeoBuds Pro could live up to the hype.

Specifications of Edifier NeoBuds Pro

Manufacturer: Edifier

Model: NeoBuds Pro EDF200051

Drivers: 10mm dynamic, Knowles RAN-34200 BA moving armature

Processor: BES2300YP

Microphone: 6, ENC

ANC: Yes, up to 42 dB

Resistance: 24 ohm

Frequency response: 20-40 kHz

Output SPL: 92+/-3dB spl(A)

Bluetooth version: 5.0

Bluetooth range: up to 10m

Bluetooth protocols: BLE/HSP/HFP/A2DP/AVRCP

Waterproof: IP54

App: Edifier Connect (IOS and Android)

Codecs: AAC, SBC, LHDC (up to 900 kbps), LDAC (to be added via firmware update Q1 2022)

Input: 5V/200mA (headphones), 5V/1A (charging case)

Case battery capacity: 500 mAh

Charging: 120 minutes fast charge

Battery life: up to 6.5 hours (ANC off), 5.5 hours (ANC on) earphone, up to 30 hours (ANC off), 24 hours (ANC on) case.

Weight: 5.3 grams (earphone), 44.68 grams (with case)

Dimensions: 34×30 mm (earphone), 65.5×48.2×25.6 mm (case).

Design and appearance

The case of Edifier NeoBuds Pro is made of aluminum and plastic, and this combination turned out to be very successful.

The headset is stored in a compact black pebble-shaped case, no less stylish than the headphones themselves. The case looks like it came straight from the TV series Knight Rider - the red LED strip animates when opened, and it looks cool.

Case dimensions - 6.6 × 4.8 × 2.5 cm, and weight - 39 grams. The headphones weigh 5.3 grams each, the body length is 3.3 cm. The case is slightly larger than that of the AirPods Pro, but it is lighter. Due to the fact that it is quite voluminous, it is not always easy to hide it in a pocket. The earbuds themselves are a few millimeters longer than the AirPods Pro , but the weight is the same. You will not feel them in your ears even after several hours of use.

The NeoBuds Pro comes with seven pairs of silicone tips of various sizes, an incredible number compared to the standard three pairs found on most competitive models. You will definitely be able to choose the ones that are comfortable for you.

Control and voice assistant

The Edifier NeoBuds Pro have so many advantages that in some aspects the functionality inevitably had to be cut to keep the price reasonable.

The victim was touch control. Headphones support only double and triple pressing when the reaction is slow. There are no long presses or swipes, so you can only do four things. And most importantly - there is no playback control, although you can adjust the volume.

Management in NeoBuds Pro is limited, but there is a voice call for virtual assistants Siri and Google. Of course, in terms of functions, these headphones can not be compared with competitors from Apple or Google, where assistants can even tell you who texted or called you. However, the support of voice assistants will definitely not be superfluous.

Smartphone app

The Edifier Connect app may not be for everyone, but it has a number of useful features.

Here you can check the battery level, switch between ANC modes and adjust the sound through the equalizer. There's also a Game Mode that reduces audio latency a bit, though not completely. For gaming, cable headphones are ideal, but NeoBuds Pro are a good alternative.

The app's interface is a little cluttered, and the bottom panel is occupied by a link to the company's online store. Probably the best app for headphones Soundcore has, but Edifier Connect can compete here if the company works on the interface.

Active noise cancellation

The Edifier NeoBuds Pro earbuds support up to 42dB of noise cancellation, twice the volume of the AirPods Pro and Nothing Ear 1 .

True, in everyday use, the difference in decibels will not be significant. But, you can be sure that a strong wind or the rumble of cars on the roads will not prevent you from enjoying your favorite music.

Enhance the noise-canceling effect of eartips that sit snugly in your ears and naturally isolate external sounds. There is a transparency mode, which, thanks to six microphones on two headphones, allows you to hear everything that happens around.

Sound quality

And now the most important and impressive thing about the Edifier NeoBuds Pro - the powerful 10mm drivers from Knowles provide incredible sound quality.

They guarantee both impressive bass and distinct high frequencies. What's more, the NeoBuds Pro will be the first true wireless Hi-Res headphones thanks to Sony's LDAC codec. True, the update will be released only at the beginning of 2022, so you need to wait a bit.

On the other hand, many smartphones do not support LDAC, so you will have to make do with the usual AAC and SBC. But, even with them, any music sounds amazing: all frequencies are reproduced clearly, instruments and vocals are more voluminous, and the bass is more energetic than many more expensive headphones.

NeoBuds Pro easily cope with any genre, whether it's classical Tchaikovsky compositions or modern hip-hop tracks.

Microphone quality

The Edifier NeoBuds Pro have 3 microphones on each earbud: one is used for voice capture and the other two are used for noise cancellation.

Thanks to this, the headphones are ideal for phone calls. Even if you talk on the street on a windy day, the interlocutor will easily hear you. Bluetooth 5.0 is responsible for communication here, and the maximum operating range is 20 meters. Of course, you should not count on such a distance in an apartment, but there should not be any problems with communication.

Autonomy Edifier NeoBuds Pro

According to Edifier, with ANC enabled, a single charge of the NeoBuds Pro will give you 5 hours of listening time, with the case providing another 15 hours.

Without active noise cancellation, performance will increase to 6/18 hours. There is a quick charge function - 15 minutes in the case will give another 2-3 hours of listening. In terms of battery life, NeoBuds Pro outperform both AirPods Pro (4.5 hours) and Nothing Ear 1 (4 hours).

Outcome

The Edifier NeoBuds Pro TWS wireless earbuds are impressive in almost every way. The sound quality is amazing even compared to many more expensive models, and the stylish design gives it a premium feel.

There is also active noise cancellation, along with nozzles of the right size, eliminating all unnecessary external sounds. The only drawback is limited control via touch panels, so you have to get used to it. In all other respects, NeoBuds Pro for 9.5 thousand rubles. almost perfect headphones.

Is it worth buying

With dynamic audio features and good ANC, the Edifier NeoBuds Pro proves that quality wireless earbuds don't always come at a price.

Edifier NeoBuds Pro