UPDATE: EarFun Free Pro 3 ANC Earphones Review – Getting Way More Than You Paid For!

EarFun has been putting out new, affordable earphones for quite some time. In general, I’ve liked their offerings. Each new headphone has gotten better in my opinion. They’ve done all this without increasing their prices significantly. The EarFun Free Pro 3 earphones are no exception. EarFun has addressed nearly all my issues with their previous offerings and released a refined product that is sure to please nearly everyone. With a 25% off coupon code, these headphones are sure to be on your Christmas shopping list. Let’s take a closer look!

Update: EarFun has pushed an update to the ANC functions of the Free Pro 3 earphones. We’ve updated this review to reflect our thoughts.

EarFun Free Pro 3 Specs

• Bluetooth Version – V5.3
• Personalize Your Buds with EarFun Audio App
• All-new Multi-device Connectivity
• Advanced Qualcomm® QCC3072 SoC
  with aptX™ adaptive Audio Tech & Bluetooth 5.3
• Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound Certification;
• Premium Immersive Sound with 7mm Wool Composite Drivers
• QuietSmart™ 2.0 Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation up to 43dB
• Enhanced 6-mic array + cVc™ 8.0 tech for Superior Clarity Call Quality;
• <55ms Ultra Low Latency Mode for Better Video & Gaming Experience
• Ultra-compact design & Secure Ergonomic Fit;
• IPX5 Sweat & Water Resistant
• 33-hour Playtime: 7.5 Hours + 25.5 Hours with Charging Case
  Fast Charging, 10 Min Charging = 2 Hours Playtime
• Wireless Charging Compatible
• Charging Times:
  • 1.5 hour(for earbuds);
  • 2 hours(for charging case via USB-C);
  • 3.5 hours(for charging case via wireless charger)

EarFun Free Pro 3 Overview

Earphones these days are getting so full-featured that it is nearly impossible to cover every single thing they can do. These are in-ear headphones with a somewhat controversial earhook design. Earhooks are designed to wedge into your ear in order to keep the headphones secure during exercise or other movement. With IPX5 rating, the EarFun Free Pro 3 headphones are designed with activities in mind. EarFun has included non-hook earhooks for those that would rather not have the wedge. Giving you options is going to be a running theme with the EarFun Free Pro 3 headphones.

The oval shape of the earphones allows them to seat in your ear more flush than many other earphones. If you are tired of earphones that stick out of your ears, these may be just the ones you’ve been searching for. The sides are flat enough that they aren’t hard to grab or manipulate. One common problem I have with many earbuds that attempt a more flush design is that they become nearly impossible to touch without accidentally sending a command via the capacitance controls. With the flat sides, I rarely had that problem with the EarFun Free Pro 3 earphones.

EarFun Free Pro 3 App

Apps for wireless earphones are standard these days. EarFun has all the standard accoutrements including EQ, battery indicators, and control modifications. While I could spend thousands of words going through all the options, let’s just cut to the chase and say that it nearly all works as expected. I love the battery indicator on the front page (including the case battery indicator). Game mode (powered by aptX) makes a big difference in lip sync issues. There are single, double, and triple tap controls as well as a long press. If you would rather control everything from the app, you can disable all the controls.

The EQ has all the expected options including a Default option (completely undefined), a slew of preset options (Rock, Pop, Jazz, Bass Boost, etc.), and a custom EQ with 10 sliders (with plus or minus 10dB range). There is also an “Oluv Signature” EQ created by a YouTuber that looks like the kind of EKG readout that would give send you straight into surgery.

One funny (to me at least) aspect of the EarFun app was the confirmation text. Instead of something like “Done” or “Confirm” or even “Save,” EarFun used “Sure.” It just seemed so non-committal.

My Favorite Features

One of the best new features in their app is the “Find My Earphone” control. You can, from the app, have one of your earbuds play a sound that is loud enough so that you can find it if you’ve dropped or misplaced it. The sound starts off quiet enough so that if you’ve selected the wrong earphone, you won’t have to worry about damaging your hearing. A nice feature for sure!

EarFun has included other features that you may like. You can select which earbud is your default for calls. There is a default setting but it isn’t clear exactly what that means. Under Mode Switching, you can enable Wind Noise Cancelling. If you’ve ever used ANC (Active Noise Cancelling) outside you know that wind can often trip it up. This can cause the ANC to actually magnify the wind noise. With this option, you can negate that effect.

The best feature of the app is that it really explains a lot to you. Want to enable Wind Noise Cancelling? It reminds you that it reduces the effectiveness of the ANC on other noises. Want to enable Game Mode for lower latency? Your connection might become less stable. You may only need these reminders once, but it is good that EarFun included the extra text. In fact, when you enable Wind Noise Cancelling, the option on the front page of the app changes from “Noise Canceling” to “Wind Noise Cancelling” to remind you. Very convenient!

Lastly, it is important to mention that the EarFun app remembers nearly all of your settings. If you’ve selected an EQ, you can rest assured that the same EQ will be selected the next time you put on the headphones. Same with the noise canceling options. The only option it does not remember is the Game Mode. The EarFun Free Pro 3 earphones will always default to Game Mode off. If you want the lower lag (and less stable connection and shorter battery life), you’ll have to enable it every time you put the earphones on.

Sound Quality

Generally speaking, I’ve always been pretty impressed with the EarFun offerings’ sound quality The EarFun Free Pro 3 headphones are no different. As always, I tested the earphones with the EQ set to flat so that I could hear the raw performance of the headphones. Of course, with the included manual EQ, you can tailor the sound signature to your preference.

The EarFun Free Pro 3 earphones had a fairly flat response through the frequency range. With the EQ set to flat, they had a slightly bass-forward presentation but it wasn’t unpleasant. If you are listening while on the move, you’ll likely prefer a bass-forward sound. Call quality was excellent with people reporting that these earbuds were some of the best I’ve used during calls. They reported that I sounded as good as if I weren’t using earbuds at all (which is about as good as it gets).

I tested the EarFun Free Pro 3 earphones with a variety of content and in different environments. Audio clarity was very good with a very engaging sound. In “Normal” mode, sound isolation was great. ANC performance was average and certainly made a difference though I’ve heard better. If you are looking for headphones for casual listening or use during workouts, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the EarFun Free Pro 3 earphones.

ANC Update

On December 10, EarFun pushed an update to the Free Pro 3 earphones to upgrade the ANC function. They added three additional ANC modes that are optimized for different-shaped ear canals. They also upgraded the Ambient Sound mode. The new ANC modes definitely make a difference. When you select each one, it momentarily turns off the ANC as it switches between modes. Some worked better than others for me suggesting that there was something different between the modes. One, in particular, was less effective and one was the clear winner. This is the first time I’ve seen ANC modes that are tailored to your ears, showing that EarFun is dedicated to giving you the best ANC they can.

Take Away

With an $80 retail price, the EarFun Free Pro 3 earphones are a great value. For a limited time, you can use the coupon code “AF325OFF” on Amazon and get 25% off ($60 out the door) for an amazing deal. With great audio quality, a fully fleshed-out and featured app, and all the controls and features you could want, the EarFun Free Pro 3 earphones are an easy recommendation. Check them out!