The 8:12 train is standing-room only, and the announcer just cut in over a stroller wheel squeaking behind you. Your first call of the day starts in six minutes, and the person on the other end needs to hear you over platform noise, not guess at half your sentences. At your desk an hour later, the open-plan office hums with three unrelated conversations, and you still want the afternoon playlist to sound like more than a phone speaker. None of this calls for a flagship price tag, just gear that keeps up with a day that never gets quiet.
This review is built from published manufacturer specifications and the current product documentation for the true wireless ANC earbuds category, not from a laboratory test bench. It compares the EarFun Air Pro 4 against the rivals a shopper actually sees beside it, for one clearly defined household job.
The verdict
For a day built around noisy transit, back-to-back calls, and a want for real audio quality on a modest budget, the EarFun Air Pro 4 is the strongest match among earbuds in this tier. Its six-mic array with AI call isolation and QuietSmart 3.0 adaptive ANC are built specifically for the commute-and-call routine, and its LDAC and aptX Lossless codec support is rare at this price point. The 52-hour total battery life also means it can survive a full week of commuting between case charges.
Check the current EarFun Air Pro 4 listing →EarFun Air Pro 4 at a glance
These are the published specifications that matter most for the use case above. Manufacturers revise hardware between production runs, so confirm the current listing before ordering.
| Driver | 10mm composite dynamic driver with Qualcomm QCC3091 chipset |
|---|---|
| Active Noise Cancellation | QuietSmart 3.0 adaptive ANC, up to 50dB per manufacturer rating |
| Audio Codecs | LDAC, aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, LC3, SBC; Snapdragon Sound certified |
| Battery Life | Up to 11 hours per charge, 52 hours total with case (ANC off) |
| Connectivity & Protection | Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint, IPX5 sweat and splash resistance |
Why it wins this category
A better spec sheet is only useful when it removes work from a real routine. These are the four places where the EarFun Air Pro 4 changes the outcome rather than the marketing copy.
Adaptive Noise Cancellation
QuietSmart 3.0 uses adaptive ANC rated up to 50dB on paper, adjusting to cabin noise, wind, or an open-plan office in real time. Rivals in this price range typically ship a single fixed ANC strength, so the Air Pro 4's ability to adjust to changing surroundings is a meaningful edge for anyone moving between environments during the day.
Call Clarity On The Move
Six microphones paired with AI-driven CVC 8.0 processing are built to isolate a voice from platform announcements, traffic, or keyboard clatter. For anyone whose calls happen in transit rather than a quiet room, this is the feature that most clearly separates the Air Pro 4 from earbuds tuned mainly for music playback.
Hi-Res Codec Support
The Qualcomm QCC3091 chipset brings LDAC, aptX Lossless, and aptX Adaptive support alongside Snapdragon Sound, a codec lineup that published specifications show most rivals at this tier skip entirely. On a compatible Android phone, that means near-lossless streaming without stepping up to flagship-priced earbuds, provided the streaming service and phone both support the higher-bitrate codec chain.
Battery That Outlasts The Week
The manufacturer lists 11 hours per charge and 52 hours total with the case, with a 10-minute top-up good for roughly 2 hours of playback. That combination means fewer mid-week charging interruptions than earbuds that top out closer to 30 or 35 total hours on paper.
How it compares to the alternatives
Each of these is a capable product with a real audience. The question is not whether they work, but which one fits the job described above with the least compromise.
Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC
well-known budget ANC earbuds with a mature companion app
Where it is strong: Its companion app is more polished and customizable than most rivals in this price range, and reviewers consistently describe a more vivid, dynamic sound signature straight out of the box.
Where it falls short here: Published specifications show it skips aptX Lossless and Snapdragon Sound, so it cannot match the Air Pro 4's hi-res codec ceiling, and its multipoint connection is reported as less consistent for anyone juggling a laptop and a phone through the workday.
Sony WF-C700N
Sony's entry-level active noise cancelling true wireless earbuds
Where it is strong: The Sony name carries a strong reputation for audio tuning, and the compact shape fits comfortably for long stretches without the ear fatigue that bulkier cases can cause over a full workday.
Where it falls short here: The manufacturer lists only an IPX4 rating against the Air Pro 4's IPX5, and it tops out at SBC and AAC with no LDAC or aptX Lossless support, so it cannot offer the same hi-res path for listeners who care about codec quality.
1MORE PistonBuds Pro
ultra-budget ANC earbuds aimed squarely at first-time wireless buyers
Where it is strong: At a noticeably lower price point, it still delivers a claimed 38dB of noise cancelling and generally favorable reviews for sound quality relative to its entry-level cost.
Where it falls short here: Its published specifications list Bluetooth 5.2 and SBC/AAC-only codec support with no LDAC or aptX Lossless, and its total case battery is rated around 22.5 hours, well short of the Air Pro 4's 52-hour figure for anyone who charges only on weekends.
Weighed against those three, the EarFun Air Pro 4 remains the one that covers this scenario end to end without asking you to accept a workaround somewhere else.
Who it fits
Hybrid Commuters Taking Calls
If your workday includes calls on a train, bus, or busy sidewalk, the six-mic array and adaptive ANC are built for exactly that mix of background noise and voice clarity, rather than for a quiet home office alone.
Budget-Minded Sound Enthusiasts
Listeners who care about codec quality but do not want flagship pricing get LDAC and aptX Lossless support here, a combination published specifications show is uncommon among earbuds in this price tier, letting a modest phone and streaming plan punch above its usual sound ceiling.
Multi-Device Desk-To-Commute Users
Bluetooth 5.4 multipoint lets the earbuds hold a connection to a laptop for meetings and a phone for the walk home, cutting down on the manual re-pairing that single-connection earbuds require every time you switch between a work call and a personal one.
What to be realistic about
No product is the right answer for every household. Skip this one, or plan around these points, if any of them describe your situation.
- If you need earbuds rated for swimming or full submersion, skip these: the IPX5 rating covers sweat and splashes, not sustained underwater use.
- If your phone and streaming service do not support LDAC or aptX Lossless, skip the upgrade: you will fall back to AAC or SBC and lose the main audio advantage.
- If you already rely on a deeply customized Soundcore app setup daily, switching brands may cost more in relearning than you gain in ANC or codec support.
Living with it after week one
Charge the case fully before first use, then pair through the EarFun app rather than Bluetooth settings alone so you can install firmware updates and set up the 10-band EQ. Turn on adaptive ANC for commuting and switch to transparency mode at crosswalks or station platforms. Wipe the ear tips weekly with a dry cloth and check the fit seal monthly, since a loose seal weakens both ANC and bass response. Keep the case topped up on weeknights so a missed charge never turns into a silent commute.
Frequently asked questions
Do the hi-res codecs work the same way on an iPhone?
Not fully. LDAC and aptX Lossless depend on Android-side codec support, so on an iPhone the Air Pro 4 falls back to AAC, which still sounds solid but does not deliver the same near-lossless ceiling. ANC, calls, and battery life work the same across both platforms.
How does the noise cancelling compare to flagship earbuds?
The manufacturer lists adaptive ANC up to 50dB, which is strong for this price tier, though flagship earbuds from larger audio brands still edge it out in low-frequency engine and cabin noise reduction. For street, transit, and office noise, the difference is smaller.
Are they sweat-proof enough for workouts?
The IPX5 rating covers sweat and splashes, so light runs and gym sessions are fine on paper. It is not a swim-proof rating, so submerging them or wearing them in heavy rain for long stretches goes beyond what the manufacturer specifies.
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