Verdict
Not Creative ’s best - sounding span of earbuds , but the improver of noise cancellation make the Pro name over the cheaper framework , with tactile sensation ascendance and wireless connectivity also improved . For less than £ 100 , the noise cancelling on the Creative Outlier Pro is very effective for the asking damage .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The Outlier Pro is Creative ’s first true wireless to have hybrid stochasticity cancellation – and do so for a cost of £ 84.99 .
A few years ago , hybrid noise cancellation for less than $ 100 / £ 100 would have been a fuzzy dream , only possible if a premium true wireless had been out for long enough to reach that price ( like theSony WF-1000XM3 ) . But now the blurry ambition is a realism , with ANC true receiving set starting at price less than £ 100 .
But then come the interrogation of how proficient can they really be ? There ’s a point of compromise to cheaper racket cancelling bud , so what compromise , if any , do the Creative Outlier Pro suffer from ?
Design
The look and design of the Outlier Air serial has been mostly uniform since the first looping , becoming smaller and lighter with each version . The Creative Outlier Pro regaining to chunkier stylings of the original along with some outré stylings .
They ’re great , chunkier and large by a few grams . The metallic umber polish is a distinctive one , the glossy finish and reflective surface of the touch area suggest a pair of buds more expensive than their low price would indicate .
The Outlier series has always been one of the easily - match true wireless and the Outlier Pro equip snugly in . I ’ve used these several prison term for runs and they ’ve always stayed put . spike - crown are bring home the bacon in small-scale , medium and large - sized silicone polymer crown .
The IPX5 rating is the same as theOutlier Air V3 , and should be capable to resist a “ sustained , low-spirited pressure water jet atomiser ” – a lite rainfall exhibitioner or spray from a water faucet – for instance , so they could feasibly be rinsed and washed dry .
control the Outlier radio receiver earbuds has been a weakness of the series . The V3 were an melioration over theOutlier Air V2 , and it feel like Creative has find its felicitous space with the Outlier Pro . Perhaps it ’s because the signature control surface is larger or more sore to presses , but attempts at pausing playback or changing the intensity hit the bullseye virtually every time .
That ’s not to say there ’s not a arcdegree of awkwardness encountered . Double tap on the rightfield and give bud is for bid / pause and randomness control severally , while a treble tap skips to the next raceway on one bud and Wake up your equipment ’s voice assistant on the other . That configuration is ab initio puzzling if you ’ve attempted to skip on the right bud and think that the same on the left would lead in skipping back – at least in the Creative app there ’s the choice of customize the control . A cargo hold on either bud is relate with bulk control by default .
The charging case ’s attribute have embiggened , but it ’s still the same design as before with the push - out tray that reveals the appoint rocker . The stamp battery index number for the earbuds and case are reasonably placed above theUSB - C port .
Features
stamp battery life takes another leap forrard and it ’s a elephantine one . The Outlier Air V3 was 40 hour , the Pro model is now 60 hours with 15 60 minutes per bud ( the charging case holds three extra charges ) .
Streaming music for an hour and the headphones were at 94 % , and another hour see them drop to around 86 % . That level of execution could see the Creative Outlier Pro reasonably eke out 15 - 16 60 minutes of economic consumption . I ca n’t think of any true wireless buds with as much stamina , specially with noise cancelling .
There ’s fast - charging bread and butter with 10 - minutes supply another two hours and wireless charging is available , which is slower and only potential with aQi tuner chargingplate .
The connection issue I ’ve experienced with previous Outlier earbuds come out to have been resolved here . First - time pairing out of the cause is not as kinky with the wireless connection much stronger and more consistent . away from a radar target walking through Waterloo post I have n’t experienced a problem . This is the full wireless public presentation so far from the Outlier series .
Bluetooth codec reinforcement is SBC and AAC with Creative seemingly move awayfrom aptX. Call character is substantial but can be tender to the level of background stochasticity . On a normal twenty-four hour period I ’d describe call calibre as slightly better than average , the only major topic was the soul on the other end commented that the horizontal surface of my articulation was up and down , and that it became difficult to find out me when the mass went low .
On a blustery day the bud suppressed sounds to the point where my vocalism became too quiet , the wind induce plenty of distractions . They ’re skillful at keep most noise at embayment but not really suitable to puffy weather condition .
The inclusion ofActive Noise Cancellationis a footprint up from the Outlier Air ’s Active Noise Reduction , introducing intercrossed ANC to the series which uses feedforward and feedback microphones to scratch noise externally and within the in - ear country .
And the performance the Outlier Pro offers is very good , as good as you could get for less than £ 100 I ’d say . It ’s helped by the chunkiness of the bud ’s pattern , the passive noise isolating qualities of the earphones keep sounds at true laurel before the racket cancelling get to puzzle out .
With ANC on , the buds thin out noises in a busy nutrient grocery from voices to the dealings become by and the sounds of food being cooked . On the subway system and train it reduces ( but does n’t completely dismiss ) the tip going preceding , and persistent randomness like air conditioning are removed . walk through popular places in London ( Waterloo , Southbank ) and through train stations , the Outlier Pro ’s noise scratch achieves a common sense of quiet that ’s effective than others at this monetary value .
The Ambient mode is respectable in that I can broadly speaking smell out what ’s around me . I can get a line the uproar of a nutrient food market in Borough , but there ’s not the crystal pellucidity and definition you ’d get from more expensive twosome .
Sound Quality
The most obvious differentiation between the Creative Outlier Pro and the Outlier Air v3 is that the latter retrieves more point with its crisper and acuate approach ; whereas the Outlier Pro ’s smoother plan of attack lacks the same point of detail but avoids the Outlier Air ’s sibilant tones and have potent sea bass .
It carry a heavyset soundstage than the Outlier Air v3 , which gives it more presence in the bass regions . A play of Magic Sword ’s Only Way In and the bass part line is more softly describe and richer in tone on the Outlier Pro while the Outlier Air carries with more punch and onrush . I actually prefer the Outlier Air ’s operation in this regard – there ’s more detail to low frequencies – but for those who like a warmer , fluent advance to sea bass treatment then the Outlier Pro has its merits .
The Outlier Air are the good sounding of the two buds : they are clear , more detailed and industrious performing artist , but there are instances where the Outlier Pro edges in the lead .
They are , for instance , a little good at handling vocal with Tune - Yards ’ Hypnotized , which are best protected from the beats when it becomes more industrious around the hour St. Mark , making Merrill Garbus ’ vocal stylings more legible .
The same is true of Mikhala Jené ’s vocals in Black Love , where the edges of her vocalization are clipped off with the Outlier Air which is not the case on the Outlier Pro . The snotty-nosed side of this coin is the level of overall detail the Outlier Pro can retrieve from tracks .
The Outlier Air is much more upfront and aggressive in its approach . From the strum of the guitar to the pianissimo financial support that opens Black Love , I can hear more of the guitar string being pick and there ’s more dynamism to the pianoforte notes for a performance that ’s much rich in detail .
There ’s little difference in the breadth of the soundstage , it ’s more what each earbud does within it that makes the difference . The Outlier Pro do n’t fathom as wide or defined , nor are as talented at the top end of the frequency range , sounding duller , less detailed and active with GoGo Penguin ’s Atomised . A good listen but not Creative ’s best - sounding bud .
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Should you buy it?
Some wo n’t like the bulky size or the odd looks , but I ’ve not come across a more effective noise cancelling couplet of earbuds for less than £ 100 .
Their placid and rich demonstration irons out the sibilant quirks of the Outlier Air models , but they lack the same amount of point and overall tonal balance .
Final Thoughts
The Creative Outlier Pro are the other side of the coin from the Outlier Air v3 . Smoother and richer in tone , they are , however , not as detailed and clear as the Outlier Air . The braggart difference of opinion here is the presence of ANC , which is pretty good for the monetary value and the main reason for a purchase .
The bulky design wo n’t be appreciate by some , but these earbuds equip well and well , while Creative has repair most of the proceeds that have plagued their true wireless earbuds in the past , namely connectivity and hint controls . For less than £ 100 , the Outlier Air are pretty dandy value .
Trusted Score
How we test
We essay every headphone we review thoroughly over an lengthy period of time . We utilize industry received exam to compare features right . We ’ll always separate you what we find . We never , ever , accept money to review a merchandise .
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FAQs
There are two apps that the Outlier Pro sustain in the Creative app , which brings customisation for soupcon controls and interference cancelling ; and the SXFI app , which bear 3D audio .
Full Specs
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