CREATIVE Sensemore Air True Wireless Headphones

Good headphones don't have expensive. This is proven, for example, by the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 and the JBL Live Pro+. However, many models have no or only mediocre noise-cancelling on board. The Creative Sensemore Air is inexpensive and wants to compete with top Apple, Samsung or Sony models.

Pros

• Effective noise cancelling
• Good transparency mode
• Long battery life

Cons

• Sharp sound
• Mediocre app

Quality

From a purely visual point of view, the earpieces don't look the best. The bulbous plastic body looks cheap. However, it is more robust than it seems: The plastic body has an IPX5 protection rating and is, therefore, safe from water splash. Three different sizes of ear-tip are included in the package. This is standard in this price range, and the ear tips fit into most ear canals.

Comfort

There is nothing to complain about in terms of wearing comfortably. The True Wireless headphones sit comfortably and firmly in the ear canals. Even when moving around a lot, they always stay in position. Control is via touch surfaces on the outside of the earpieces. Playback and volume can be easily controlled with a tap, and the earphones take over the inputs quickly. In addition, the manufacturer Creative offers an app of the same name for iOS and Android devices. The smartphone application has essential functions such as an equaliser but offers little added value for music fans. More practical, however, is the "SXFI" app (for iOS and Android). It allows you to create an individual listening profile. Similar to the Sony WF-1000XM4 or the Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation), users have to take photos of their earphones. The application evaluates this data and independently adjusts the sound of the headphones. This worked well in the test and ensured optimal sound.

Noise Cancelling

The Sensemore Air have small microphones that pick up ambient noise, such as traffic. At the same time, the headphone drivers send sound waves in opposite directions to the music fan's ears. The resulting sound wave superposition cancels outside noise and creates silence in the ear canals. The Creative Sensemore Air works amazingly well and filters out low constant noise. However, the small plugs are different from the high frequencies. The so-called transparency mode deliberately lets environmental noise through is a counter design to noise cancelling. However, this mode can be adjusted in stages in the app so that only certain sounds penetrate and others do not. This works well and is a practical function.

Battery life

With battery life, the inexpensive in-ear headphone will surprise you: with noise-cancelling activated, it lasts nine and a half hours and can thus join the top models from Apple and Sony. Charging is also relatively quick, and after a ten-minute break, the Sensemore Air have enough juice for one hour and 44 minutes. The wireless plugs are placed in the bulky charging case to rest. The plastic box barely fits in a trouser pocket and looks cheap. It can be charged by cable and Qi charging pad without a cord. This is something that not even the twice-as-expensive competition offers - great.

Conclusion

Good noise-cancelling headphones don't have to be expensive, as the Sensemore Air prove. The sound quality of the Creative headphones could be better. But the in-ears compensate for this with impressive battery life and effective noise-cancelling. The adjustable transparency mode is convenient.