Unlike noise-canceling earbuds, the Haylou Airfree was designed not to disconnect you from your surroundings, but also to provide absolute comfort compared to traditional earbuds. I've been testing these earbuds for a while, and I'm confident they're perfect for you.

In this review, we will examine the Haylou Airfree to determine if it's the ideal open-ear earbuds for you.

What's in the Box

The packaging of the Haylou Airfree comes across as premium, typical of Haylou. In the box, you'll find the actual Haylou earbuds, a user manual, and a very basic USB-C to Type-C charging cable.

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Design

At first glance, the Haylou Airfree is a good option, aside from the PearlClip Pro, which is made from two different material finishes. It's one of the best so far. Just like the PearlClip Pro, the Haylou Airfree has ditched the typical open-ear design that comes with a single material finish.

The design is divided into two major components: the lower ring, which holds the battery and microphones in place, and the upper ring, which houses the speakers. If you ask me, it’s pretty impressive. Unlike the Soundcore C40i, the design of the Haylou Airfree is more detailed and unique, and it also looks perfect.

The upper part is made of premium-feel plastic and features a premium ring for the clip. Down to its speaker base, the material surrounding the speaker is also made of plastic, but with a touch of aluminum featuring Haylou’s signature writing, which looks quite good.

The Haylou’s design comes across as premium, and even while using it, it draws quite a bit of attention from passersby. And let’s not forget that these earbuds also appear to be very durable. While testing, I noticed that after a few drops, these earbuds did not show signs of scratches or breaking apart, a feature not typically found in most brands today.

The case, on the other hand, is one of my favorites at the moment. I appreciate it when earbud brands prioritize the case. The Haylou Airfree case is a premium one, made of a shiny material at the top and plastic at the bottom.

Haylou nailed it here. Then let’s not forget about its battery percentage indicator, an excellent add-on for users like me who forget to charge. The case is also quite durable, one of the first where the earbuds do not tend to fall out if, by mistake, you drop the case.

Comfort and Fit

Quite impressive, the fit of the Haylou Airfree is one of the best I’ve tested in a while. These earbuds appear to be relatively lightweight, which is quite surprising, considering they initially look bulky, unlike the PearlClip Pro. I suppose weight was substituted for battery here, although we will address the battery later.

When testing, the fit was one of the most comfortable I’ve experienced. The plastic was very skin-smooth and also lightweight, as I could barely notice that I had earbuds on, even when I was jogging or working out. An excellent suggestion for my gym buddies, as you won’t even notice any strain. You get the best earbuds that don’t go into the ears here.

Even during situations where I had to use the earbuds for extended periods, the Haylou Airfree performed well. It did not cause any irritation whatsoever, like the Soundcore c40i. The design was perfect for long-term use and heavy usage.

The case, on the other hand, is an easy carry-on. Trust me, I did not notice any inconvenience at all when carrying the case. Should I say it’s way lighter than even the PearlClip Pro?

In a nutshell, clip-on earbuds are generally designed for comfort, and Haylou did not disappoint in this regard. The Haylou Airfree appears to be one of the best earbuds that don't go into your ears and are lightweight. You won’t experience tight grips or inconvenience when using them, and you won’t experience slipping off like other clip-on and open-ear earbuds.

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Sound Quality

Now here’s where things get a little bit complicated. The sound quality of the Haylou Airfree isn’t quite impressive. Now, let’s consider the fact that open-ear/clip-on earbuds are not made with sound in mind. Haylou messed up here, in terms of sound quality on the Airfree, in my opinion.

While testing, I couldn’t help but notice that the Airfree struggled to perform when I was outdoors, especially in crowded areas, which was somewhat disappointing. The speakers could not deliver high volumes, even at maximum volume, on any mobile device, because I had to test with multiple devices.

The sound profile, on the other hand, came across as cheap. I mean, you can’t compare it to the PearlClip Pro, which had a good sound profile. The bass came across as mild, and so did its treble; even its vocals were not as clear when I was in a loud environment. And even when I was on calls, I had to ask people to speak up or, in some cases, had to end the calls.

Well, these earbuds are equipped with 11mm dynamic drivers, so I’m not shocked. In a nutshell, the sound quality and profile of these earbuds are not impressive.

Battery

As I mentioned earlier, did Haylou substitute its battery for weight? Although Haylou boasts 5 hours of playtime for its earbuds and a total of 28 hours with the case, here’s where it gets interesting.

While testing, the battery of the Haylou Airfree did not meet my expectations. I’m not sure if it’s my pair, but I've experienced poor battery life with the Haylou Airfree. There was a case where the battery dipped down by 10% in about 5 minutes, which was a deal breaker.

I had to charge these earbuds quite regularly, and trust me, I’m not a fan of that at all. If you are considering something with a significantly better battery life, I would recommend opting for the Baseus BC1  instead, which features a more standard battery.

Bluetooth and Range

The Haylou Airfree is equipped with Bluetooth 5.4, which is the current standard. Unlike the PearlClip Pro, the Haylou Airfree was straightforward to pair and quite impressive in terms of its Bluetooth and connectivity.

While testing, I noticed how exceptionally these earbuds performed in terms of Bluetooth range. I had the earbuds on and could leave my mobile device in another room around the house without thinking about its distance.

Even when I get into the car and my mobile phone connects to the car’s stereo automatically, it works without needing to be paired again or put away. Although Haylou claimed that these earbuds support multipoint connectivity, which I tested, I was unable to achieve any positive results. In short, that didn't work out for me.

Although I couldn’t get an exact measurement of its range, I could ascertain that the Haylou Airfree connection range was really impressive. The only issue I had was its multipoint connectivity, as this has proven to be handy, considering most individuals now use multiple mobile devices or operate various devices, such as laptops, tablets, and mobile phones.

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Call and Media Playback

Haylou bragged about its dual AI mics, and it was accurate. Calls were crystal clear, and I did not get complaints when I was on a call with anyone. Let’s say I didn't have instances where individuals complained that they couldn't hear me or that my voice was breaking.

The mics were able to reduce noise to a minimum, even in crowded places, which was quite impressive for clip-ons.

However, here’s where it gets annoying: when it comes to speaker output regarding calls, the Haylou Airfree failed. The speakers were not loud enough when receiving or making calls outdoors. When indoors or in quiet environments, it was okay, but outdoors, I was not impressed.

Media playback, on the other hand, was satisfactory, but not in loud environments, as the speaker output remained mild and somewhat disappointing. Although you won’t experience lag or media breakdowns, I enjoyed the lengthy media playbacks when watching movies or scrolling through social media.

In a nutshell, the call and media playback were quite okay. What just killed it was the low speaker volumes.

Touch Controls and App Support

Now, I’m still not a fan of the touch controls on clip-on/open-ear earbuds, and the Airfree did not prove otherwise. While testing, I couldn't help but notice how unresponsive the touch controls on the Haylou Airfree were, and yes, it wasn't the best.

The sensors for the touch controls were located at the back of the earbuds, which makes it even more difficult. I prefer the button option over touch controls, like those on the Baseus Bowie MC1 Pro, which were more accurate and responsive.

Default touch controls

• Left ear

• Double tap: Play/Pause

• Triple tap: Skip track backward

• Long press: Low latency mode

• Right ear

• Double tap: Play/Pause

• Triple tap: Skip track forward

• Long press: Low latency mode

The app supports button customizations, a feature I find most useful in modern earbuds, as it allows you to choose the right option for your touch controls based on your usage.

The app support, on the other hand, is quite impressive. Now, standard on most brands is the find earbuds or headset option, but Haylou took this a step further by adding sound effects. This feature enables you to play a sound on your earbuds when you misplace them, which is quite helpful.

Another thing I noticed is the firmware update option. This app supports firmware updates for earbuds or headsets, which is also quite helpful.

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Pros and cons of the Haylou Airfree open-ear TWS earbuds

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Pros

1. Premium design & durable build – Plastic with aluminum accents, stylish case with battery indicator, and resistant to drops.

2. Very lightweight & comfortable fit – Feels almost weightless despite its bulky look; perfect for workouts, jogging, and long use.

3. Skin-friendly materials – No irritation, no slipping off, and better comfort than many other clip-on/open-ear earbuds.

4. Compact and durable charging case – Easy to carry, lightweight, and earbuds stay in place even if the case drops.

5. Strong Bluetooth 5.4 performance – Instant pairing, steady connection, excellent range even through rooms.

6. Clear call quality – Dual AI microphones effectively reduce noise, allowing people on calls to hear me clearly both indoors and outdoors.

7. Good app support – Firmware updates, customizable touch controls, and a handy “find earbuds” sound feature.

8. Affordable price – At under $20, one of the most affordable open-ear TWS earbuds, offering reliable comfort and connectivity.

Cons

1. Weak sound quality – Low max volume, thin bass, and vocals that struggle in noisy or outdoor environments.

2. Disappointing battery life – Rated at 5 hrs + 28 hrs case, but drains too quickly (10% in ~5 minutes in testing).

3. Low speaker output for calls – Mic is fine, but the speaker volume is too quiet outdoors, making calls frustrating.

4. Multipoint connectivity doesn’t work – A claimed feature that failed in real-world testing.

5. Unresponsive touch controls – Placed at the back, they are not very accurate; button controls (like those on the Baseus MC1) would be better.

6. Media playback struggles in loud spaces – Indoors, it’s fine, but outdoors, the weak output kills the experience.

Price and Budget

For less than $20, the Haylou Airfree is one of the cheapest TWS clip-on earbuds on the market today. You get a very comfortable and reliable open-ear design, provided you are willing to sacrifice sound quality. If you ain’t an audiophile, then it’s the perfect one for you.

Should You Buy the Haylou Airfree?

As I mentioned earlier, if you are not an audiophile or prioritize loud volumes, then the Haylou Airfree is the perfect earbuds for you. Its fit and comfort are great for athletes and daily commuters, and it also has excellent Bluetooth connectivity and range. So for its price, the Haylou Airfree is an absolute steal.

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