- Comfortable fit
- Strong ANC
- LDAC and multipoint support
- Long battery life
- Wireless charging
- No in-ear detection
- Case scratches easily
- Treble needs EQ for best results
The EarFun Air 2 NC punches far above its budget price, offering impressive sound, solid ANC, LDAC support, and a surprisingly polished app experience. While the design plays it safe and in-ear detection is missing, the overall package delivers exceptional value, making these one of the best sub-$50 ANC earbuds this year.
After checking out budget earbuds for years, you start to lower your hopes. But now and then, a company shows up that delivers for the price. EarFun is one of those companies—and with the EarFun Air 2 NC, they’re pushing the limits of what you can get on a tight budget.
I’ve used the Air 2 NC as my go-to earbuds for the last week—on my commute, at the gym watching shows, and jumping between phone calls—and to be honest, they surprised me with how good they are for what they cost.
They’re not flawless, but at about $50, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better deal in the budget ANC category right now.
Let’s take a closer look.
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Earfun Air 2 NC – Specifications
| Noise Cancellation | Adaptive Hybrid ANC up to 45dB |
| Audio | Hi-Res Audio, LDAC, 11mm Wool Composite Drivers, 3D Surround Sound |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3, Google Fast Pair, Multi-device Connectivity |
| Call Quality | 6-Mic AI Noise Cancellation |
| Battery Life | 40 Hours Total (9h + 31h), Fast Charge (10 min = 2h) |
| Charging | USB-C, Wireless Charging |
| Latency | Gaming Mode <55ms |
| Durability | IPX5 Sweat & Water Resistant |
| App Support | EarFun Audio App (EQ, Controls, Profiles) |
| Fit | Ultra-compact ergonomic design |
| Voice Assistant | Supported |
Design & Build
EarFun has never been flashy with design, and the Air 2 NC continues that theme. The case is a compact matte clamshell—lightweight, pocketable, and unfortunately a bit prone to hairline scuffs. For the price, though, this is a trade-off I don’t mind.
You also get USB-C charging, wireless charging, and a physical button on the bottom to check battery or reset the buds.
The lid opens smoothly, though it doesn’t lock in the open position. Not a deal-breaker, just one of those things you wish they’d improve someday.
Inside are stem-style earbuds with AirPods-Pro-like tips. The stems have a clean gunmetal accent with discreet EarFun branding, and while the design isn’t new, it works—lightweight, comfortable, and secure enough for runs and gym sessions.
There’s still no in-ear detection, which would’ve completed the feature set, but at this price it’s hard to complain too loudly.
Features & Connectivity
Even after reviewing countless EarFun products, I’m still surprised at how aggressively they load features into budget earbuds.
Here’s what you get:
- Bluetooth 5.3
- LDAC support (Hi-Res Audio Wireless certified)
- AAC / SBC
- Google Fast Pair
- Multipoint pairing
- Wireless charging
- IPX5 water resistance
- EarFun App support
Multipoint + LDAC on a $50 pair is rare. You can’t use both simultaneously (typical for budget buds), but having the option at all is a win.
The app is also well polished these days—clean layout, fast connection, reliable controls. You get:
- Noise control modes (ANC / Transparency / Wind Reduction / Air-Adaptive ANC)
- Gaming mode
- Theater mode (wider soundstage for movies)
- 30 EQ presets + full 10-band custom EQ
- Custom hearing profile
- Button remapping
- Firmware updates
- Earbud finder tool
For a budget product, this is honestly better than what some premium brands offer.
Sound Quality
EarFun’s sound tuning has always leaned toward a full-bodied, energetic signature, and the Air 2 NC sticks to that formula—with an 11mm wool-composite dynamic driver delivering an almost “mini-subwoofer” experience at times.
Here’s the breakdown after a lot of listening:
Bass
This is where the Air 2 NC instantly stands out.
The bass is big, deep, and confident, especially the sub-bass. It rumbles hard at higher volumes without losing control, giving EDM, hip-hop, and cinematic tracks a very satisfying weight.
Mids
The mids take a slight step back—but not far enough to muddy vocals. Think mild V-shape tuning: warm lower mids, smooth upper mids, and clear vocal presence. If you boost mids using the EQ, these buds turn into genuinely well-balanced performers.
Treble
Out of the box, the treble leans safe rather than bright.
It’s clean, detailed, but not sparkly. I personally raised the upper bands using the 10-band EQ to get more air and crispness, and the drivers responded beautifully.
For the price, the tuning is shockingly good. The drivers feel more expensive than they are, and EarFun’s consistency over the years really shows.
ANC Performance
Active noise cancellation on the Air 2 NC is better than I expected. Not top-tier, not poor—comfortably in the “very good for budget ANC” camp.
What it does well
- Low-frequency rumbles (bus engines, road noise, AC hum) are significantly reduced.
- With light music playing, those lower noises almost disappear.
- Wind noise is handled decently well, especially with wind mode.
What it struggles with
- High-pitched sounds
- Café chatter
- Keyboard clicks
These noises are reduced but still audible. I’d say it eliminates roughly 60% of ambient chatter—solid, but not in premium territory.
Transparency mode is natural enough for talking to people without removing the buds.
Call Quality
With six mics and EarFun’s AI noise reduction, call quality is reliable. It handles quiet rooms well, and even in moderate background noise, voices sound clear with only minor compression.
In busier environments, some noise leaks through, but the buds remain usable for calls on the go.
Not “business class,” but more than good enough for day-to-day calls.
Latency & Gaming
Gaming mode claims 55ms latency, and in practice, it’s responsive. PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty felt synced enough to play comfortably.
Videos on YouTube and Netflix showed no noticeable delay.
Battery Life
Battery has never been EarFun’s weakness, and the Air 2 NC continues that streak.
- Up to 9 hours (ANC off) + 31 hours with case
- 6 hours (ANC on) + 20 hours with case
- 5.5 hours (LDAC) + 17.5 hours with case
- Fast charge: 10 minutes = 2 hours (ANC off)
In real-world use, I averaged around 6 hours on ANC, which aligns perfectly with EarFun’s claim. For something this small, that’s impressive.
What I Don’t Love
No product is perfect—even a $50 one. These are the areas that could be improved:
- Design is still too safe—EarFun has been recycling the same aesthetic for years.
- No in-ear detection
- Plastic case marks easily
- Treble needs EQ to shine
None of these are deal-breakers, but they’re worth noting.
Final Thoughts
After spending a good amount of time testing the EarFun Air 2 NC, it’s genuinely surprising how much these earbuds offer for the price.
The sound quality is far better than what you’d expect in this range, the ANC performs impressively well, and EarFun’s app adds plenty of useful customization. You get LDAC support, multipoint pairing, long battery life, wireless charging, and a lightweight, comfortable fit—all for about $50.
While they won’t outshine something like the Soundcore Liberty 4 Pro in pure audio performance, they come surprisingly close in noise cancellation and deliver exceptional overall value.
In short, EarFun hasn’t just created another budget ANC earbud; they’ve crafted one of the strongest deals you can get right now. A steal at this price, indeed.
Best Deal: View on Earfun
Nick, the Co-founder of Earbuds Arena, is a seasoned freelance tech journalist with over ten years of experience covering wearables, apps, headphones, and gadgets. When he’s not immersed in the tech world, you’ll likely find him unwinding with video games, going for a run, or enjoying a game of soccer on the field.
