Honor Magic EarBuds review - an affordable alternative to AirPods Pro

Honor has released the new Magic EarBuds Active Noise Canceling TWS ‑ headphones. The model supports touch control, energy-efficient Bluetooth connectivity and other fashionable features. But what about the sound? We'll tell you whether Honor has turned out to be a budget competitor to the AirPods Pro.

Specifications
Appearance and equipment
Connection and communication
Control
Sound
Autonomy
Outcomes

Specifications

Type of emitters	Dynamic, 10 mm
Connection	Bluetooth 5.0
Frequency range	20-20,000 Hz
Bluetooth protocol	SBC, AAC
Battery	Headphones - 37 mAh, case - 410 mAh
Working hours	13 hours
Connector	USB Type ‑ C
Headphone weight	5.4g
Case size	80 × 35 × 29 mm

Appearance and equipment

Magic EarBuds are close to Apple headphones not only ideologically, but also in terms of design. The model received a streamlined shape, the cases are made of glossy white plastic. At the bottom there are "legs" for which the headphones can be conveniently taken out of the charging case.

Each of the headphones is equipped with three microphones for voice pickup and noise cancellation. On the inside there are magnetic connectors for charging and proximity sensors. Thanks to the latter, the device understands when one of the headphones is taken out of the ears, and pauses the music.

The charging case is similar in style and has a magnetic cover. There are LED indicators inside and on the front panel, there is a USB Type-C connector for charging and a power button on the back. The assembly of both the headphones and the case is excellent, nothing creaks or plays.

What I definitely don't like is the size of the case. It is significantly larger than the Samsung Galaxy Buds + and Mifo O7 - you can't put your jeans in your jeans pocket. The headphones themselves are not particularly bulky and fit well. You just need to choose the appropriate size nozzles, fortunately there are as many as four pairs in the kit. Also in the box was the documentation and a USB Type ‑ A to USB Type ‑ C charging cable.

Connection and communication

Usually TWS-headphones are activated as soon as you open the case, at worst you have to take them out. Everything is more tricky here: first you need to hold the button on the case for two seconds until the LED indicator flashes white - then the headphones are ready to be connected and detected by the smartphone.

After the first connection, the devices remember each other and connect automatically if you open the case. At the same time, the stability of the connection and the operating range were impressive. The headphones kept in touch with the smartphone anywhere in the apartment through walls and partitions. There were no problems with channel synchronization either.

Each earpiece is equipped with three microphones with different directivity. When talking in headset mode, one of the bottom picks up the voice, while the others compensate for background noises. As a result, the transmission quality is excellent.

Control

On the outside of both earbuds there are touchpads. By default, double-tapping on the right activates the next track, and on the left, the previous one. Long press on either side toggles noise canceling on or off. You can reassign actions in the proprietary AI Life program for Android.

Touch control is much more convenient here than in Samsung Galaxy Buds + and even more so Mifo O7. A set of combinations that exclude false presses affects: either you tap twice, or hold your finger for a second. You can't make a mistake.

Sound

Honor Magic EarBuds received 10 mm dynamic emitters that reproduce the entire spectrum of audible frequencies (20-20,000 Hz). In practice, the sound is highly dependent on the fit: the deeper the headphones sit in the ears, the more pronounced the low frequencies.

However, it is better not to insert them all the way, but to make a small gap between the body and the auricle. This will compensate for the pressure, and listening to music for a long time will not tire.

The headphones sound balanced and without excessive accents. The bass is deep and pumping mass well, especially in electronic music. The vocals are also in order: they are not pushed into the background and sounds natural. But the high frequencies are just relegated to the background, and this is the best solution for this type of headphone: so distortion is less noticeable.

When noise cancellation is turned on, the mids fall through, which affects the development of voices and basic instruments. Nevertheless, the function allows you to at least hear something in a noisy environment and not turn the volume to maximum.

In general, the model copes well with popular genres, its sound is pleasant and not fatiguing. Honor has done a decent job to ensure that the new product meets the needs of most users.

Autonomy

The claimed operating time is 3.5 hours from the built-in batteries, and the case provides three more recharges. At a volume of 50%, the headphones withstood 4 hours of continuous playback, after which a recharge was needed. They will be enough for a day of active use, but taking into account the size of the case, I want more.

Outcomes

Honor Magic EarBuds are decent wireless earbuds with well-thought-out ergonomics, stable connection, high-quality microphones, convenient controls and pleasant sound. And noise cancellation makes them even more interesting. You can find fault with an overly large case, because of which they are inconvenient to carry in your pocket. If this does not bother you, the new product will more than justify its price of 8,990 rubles.