Edifier NeoBuds Pro 2 review

About the Edifier NeoBuds Pro 2

Edifier NeoBuds Pro 2 specs

• Price: $129.99
• Battery life: Up to 4 hours with ANC, up to 5.5 hours without; up to 22 hours total with case
• Drivers: Knowles Balanced Armature Driver + 10mm Dynamic Driver
• Colors: Blue, White
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3
• Audio codecs: LDAC, LDHC, SBC, AAC
• Water-resistance: IP54
• Ear tips: Seven different sizes in total
• Weight: Earbuds, 5.6 grams; case, 49.2 grams

What we like

Detailed, crisp sound

We can talk about the specs until we’re blue in the face, from the NeoBuds Pro 2’s built-in digital signal processing and active crossover (which separates high and mid-low frequencies) to its Hi-Res Audio capabilities and optional spatial audio feature. While certainly impressive on paper, all of that means next to nothing if they don’t translate to the listening experience.

In the NeoBuds Pro 2’s case, packing the spec sheet paid off in a big, big way. Quite frankly, I was blown away at the level of detail showcased by the buds’ combination of a Knowles Balanced Armature Driver paired with a 10mm dynamic driver. Song after song, from Zach Bryan’s raspy “Something in the Orange,” to something a bit more dynamic like The Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” sounded full, balanced and packed to the gills with crisp notes.

I tried out Edifier’s spatial audio feature, which they say is meant to deliver a “realistic, three-dimensional and immersive listening experience.” While it is kind of trippy with certain songs (in a fun way), it seems to sacrifice detail in exchange for tracking your head movement and actively adjusting the soundstage to compensate for it. I kept most of my listening in standard Music Mode, and was rewarded with some of the best sound I’ve heard for under $150 in a long time.

Impressive active noise cancellation

The NeoBuds Pro 2 delivered some real active noise cancellation chops that I simply was not prepared for. Edifier employs its own Wide-Band Multi-Channel ANC technology, which it says utilizes an independant, feed-forward noise cancellation channel that allows the buds to reach a noise cancellation depth of -50db.

If that last sentence fell on deaf ears, here’s what you need to know. The NeoBuds Pro 2 block out noise, and a whole lot of it. So much so that, on multiple occasions while wearing them in my home office, my partner accidentally scared the daylights out of me while seemingly appearing out of nowhere at my side. In all sorts of situations, from a packed gym to alongside a busy roadway, the NeoBuds Pro 2 did an extraordinary job of keeping unwanted noise from creeping into my listening experience.

It doesn’t beat out ANC frontrunners like the Sony WF-1000XM5, and at its retail price, it really shouldn’t. But for great ANC without breaking the bank, we may have just found a winner. With powerful noise cancellation and six different modes to pick from (high, medium, and low cancellation as well as an ambient sound mode, a wind-reduction mode and an off button to listen without any ANC at all), the NeoBuds Pro 2 have soared to be among the top of our budget ANC rankings.

Awesome app

Admittedly, it’s been a few years since I tested a pair of Edifier earbuds and had to reacquaint myself with the Edifier Connect app. At the risk of being too hyperbolic, opening the app for the first time was as close to a jaw-dropping experience as I’ve had with earbud applications.

If your earbuds are already paired, the app should recognize the connection and take you immediately to the home screen for the NeoBuds Pro 2. From there, you’ll be able to scroll through four distinct screens: one for changing noise cancellation modes, one for sound modes (music, gaming, and spatial audio), another for sound effects (with two preset EQs to choose from, as well as a customizable EQ that can get quite advanced for the audio junkies out there), and finally a screen to play with the earbuds’ LED effects.

The app looks slick, especially the spatial audio screen where you can see how your head is tracked in real time. But my true infatuation with the app lies in the streamlined earbuds control. My only issue is that the settings tab, which houses important things like HD audio codec settings, control settings, and the user manual, is tucked so tightly into the top right corner of the screen that it took me several minutes to realize it was there. Beyond that, Edifier delivers a superb app experience.

Designed for all ear sizes

Edifier presents seven different pairs of ear tips to help ensure that anyone who buys your buds finds the right fit (most other companies provide three or four at the most). It’s a comparatively small part of the earbuds experience, but the NeoBuds Pro 2 once again exceeded expectations here.

What we don’t like

Below-average battery life

Especially at this price point, there’s always a but. The NeoBuds Pro 2 sound way better and block out far more noise than we could have ever imagined, but they offer pretty paltry battery life. When there are earbuds near this price range flirting with double digit battery life on a single charge, four hours of battery life with ANC on (and 5.5 without) sticks out as a rather archaic stat in an otherwise advanced set of buds.

Controls feel limited

When you do discover the settings icon in the Edifier app, you will likely be disappointed with the Control Settings tab. The NeoBuds Pro 2 only offer double-tap and triple-tap controls. They can be customized on the left and right earbud, giving you up to four controls at a time. But a choice between controls like volume adjustments or changing tracks needs to be made. I understand the concept of not offering single tap controls to avoid accidental taps, but there’s a missed opportunity to offer more comprehensive controls at users’ fingertips.

Should you buy the Edifier NeoBuds Pro 2?

Yes, they raise the bar for budget audio and ANC

Edifier’s NeoBuds Pro 2 are a true wireless lesson in not judging a book by its cover. Armed with a reputable, but not high-end brand name and a design that doesn’t stand out in particular, the NeoBuds Pro 2 nonetheless took center stage and delivered a near-breathtaking performance. And they did it by focusing all their efforts on two major categories: sound quality and active noise cancellation.

There are better sounding earbuds, and there are buds that block out more noise, and they can all be found in our roundup of the best wireless earbuds. That said, you will not find a better combination of the two for a better price than the NeoBuds Pro 2. The Soundcore Liberty 4 NC get relatively close for a few bucks cheaper, but they aren’t the spectacle of value that the latest from Edifier represent.

The bad battery life and limited controls should give you pause, but only a short one. The Edifier NeoBuds Pro 2 are worth every extra trip to the charging cable.