Edifier NeoBuds Planer review: You can have any color you like, so long as it’s black
The Edifier NeoBuds Planar aren’t your everyday earbuds. But with a price that pits it against the best in the business, they’re hard to recommend over Apple’s AirPods.
If you’re looking to pick up a pair of earbuds unlike anything you already own, look no further than Edifier’s NeoBuds Planar. They’re a rare breed in that they use planar magnetic drivers rather than the dynamic drivers found elsewhere.
But the planar drivers do more than just give these NeoBuds their name. These kinds of drivers are known for offering improved clarity in vocals and treble, with distortion often improved along the way.
All of that means that the planar technology is more than just something fancy to stick on the spec sheet — it should offer actual, notable improvements. So when Edifier offered to send over a pair of its NeoBuds Planar for review, I was intrigued.
After mainly using the AirPods 4 (ANC) and Bose Ultra Open earbuds over the last few months, I was ready for something different. But just how different could these earbuds really be?
That’s the question I set about answering, and I think I have. But with a price that sits around the $300 mark, it might not matter anyway.
Edifier NeoBuds Planar review: Design and specs
The first thing I noticed when unboxing the NeoBuds Planar was the aesthetics. They’re certainly an acquired taste, let’s put it that way.
The charging case is fine, and it looks like most charging cases out there. It has a nice heft to it, thanks most likely to the wireless charging support that comes as standard.
Opening the case, I found the two earbuds lying flat beside one another. And that’s when I was instantly transported back to the 1990s.
I don’t think it’s too unkind to say that these earbuds are reminiscent of the old Ericsson Bluetooth hands-free gear that did the rounds way back when. Everyone I’ve shown them to agrees, but we’re all in our forties — the younger readers won’t know or care.
That isn’t to say they’re ugly, per se. But they definitely don’t set the pulse racing.
Edifier NeoBuds Planar review: The wireless charging case is pretty standard fare
In terms of specs, there are the planar magnetic drivers that use magnets to move a thin, flat diaphragm to create the sound that we hear. I’m told these kinds of drivers are harder to make than the traditional dynamic drivers.
They’re also often found in high-end headphones, for what that’s worth.
What does that get you? Historically, planar headphones are known for offering strong bass, clear highs, and crisp vocals. Essentially, they sound “better” but are more costly and often heavier because of those magnets.
Edifier only sells the NeoBuds Planar in black, so you won’t need to make a decision there.
Connectivity is handled by Qualcomm Snapdragon Sound, which promises crystal clear music, calls, and gaming performance. The LHDC 5.0, aptX, SBC, and LDAC codecs are present via Bluetooth 5.4, while Hi-Res lossless audio is also available.
Moving on, these earbuds have three mics each for improved call quality, while an AI algorithm deals with any background noise. The people you call will thank you for that, I’ve no doubt.
Next, Edifier has given the NeoBuds Planar full adaptive noise-cancelling technology support. It’s built to adapt to your environment to give you the best listening experience.
Battery life is strong at around 30 hours when using the charging case, with wireless and USB-C charging supported. Multipoint connectivity is also provided for easier device switching, too.
The earbuds themselves have touch-sensitive controls which work most of the time. I did find myself activating them by accident on more than a few occasions, but this is an issue I see with a lot of earbuds, not just Edifier’s.
Edifier NeoBuds Planar review: Sound and comfort
All of the specs, features, and magnetic drivers in the world won’t save you if your earbuds sound poor. Thankfully, Edifier doesn’t need to worry there.
I spent the last few weeks listening to all kinds of things while wearing the NeoBuds Planar. I listened to podcasts from my iPhone, Apple Music on my Mac, and enjoyed some gaming via Nvidia GeForce Now. I largely listened with ANC on, as I normally do.
Edifier NeoBuds Planer review: There’s a retro look to these earbuds
During my testing, I found the NeoBuds Planar to sound pretty great. The bass was incredibly strong after a little tweaking of the four-band EQ settings in the Edifier app, and I had no complaints with the rest of the aural performance.
Would I say that I noticed a huge difference in the way things sounded when compared to a good pair of earbuds with dynamic drivers? Probably not. Would I say I noticed any difference? Again, probably not.
I get the impression that the planar effect is magnified when you move to high-end headphones, rather than earbuds. But when I ignored how these things work and instead focused on how they perform, I had no complaints whatsoever.
I have seen some reviewers of these earbuds complain of a lack of bass, which seemed off before I tried them. It seems downright incredible now that I have.
My assumption is that, as is often the case with in-ear earbuds, the fit is the key to a good bass experience. Thankfully, Edifier ships the earbuds with no fewer than four pairs of tips so you can find the right ones for your lugholes. Do that, and these things have bass for days.
In terms of comfort, I again had no complaints. I wore them all day with no issue, although warmer days did lead to my ears getting a little warm after a while.
That could be improved by aftermarket tips, I imagine.
I mentioned earlier that I generally use ANC when using earbuds, and the NeoBuds Planar don’t disappoint. I wouldn’t quite put them up there with the very best from the usual earbud suspects, but it isn’t far off.
Edifier NeoBuds Planar review: Solid earbuds let down by one glaring problem
Overall, I’m a fan of the Edifier NeoBuds Planar wireless earbuds. They’re comfortable, they sound good, and I can even overlook my 1990s flashbacks, too.
But all of that being said, I’m not sure that I’d recommend that you buy them.
Why, you might ask? Well, I have 300 reasons.
Edifier NeoBuds Planar review: The case looks much nicer than the earbuds, thankfully.
A pair of Edifier NeoBuds Planar will set you back a cool $299.99 at the time of review. That, frankly, is an incredible sum of money.
It’s a lot of money even before I remind you that a pair of Apple AirPods Pro 2 can be had for just $249 — and often even less if they’re on sale.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd-gen earbuds might be my favorite wireless earbuds right now, and they cost a dollar less than the NeoBuds Planar. And they come in a few colors other than black, too.
Which leaves me, and more importantly, Edifier, with a problem. I’m just not really sure where the NeoBuds Planar earbuds sit in the market.
If you’re curious about the planar technology and want a pair of earbuds that use it, the NeoBuds Planar are for you. But if you just want a great-sounding pair of wireless earbuds at around the $300 mark, it’s a hard sell.
Bose, Apple, and Sony with its always-popular WF-1000XM5, are tough competition to beat. I’m just not convinced that Edifier has done it this time out.
Edifier NeoBuds Planar review: Pros
- Strong bass
- Wireless charging case included
- Clean vocals
Edifier NeoBuds Planar review: Cons
- Lack of colors
- Not the best looking earbuds
- Simply too costly
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Where to buy the Edifier NeoBuds Planar earbuds
You can buy the Edifier NeoBuds Planar wireless earbuds from Amazon for $299.99, but there are often discount codes available to reduce the price somewhat.