REVIEW – Even though I enjoy reviewing various products, my heart has always warmed when it comes to audio. I can’t quite pinpoint the reason behind this but let me tell you, I’m not musical. I can’t read music, or play an instrument, and if I dare to sing in the house, my wife (who is a musician) promptly leaves the room. But that doesn’t stop me from being an avid music listener. I can’t resist the allure of music, whether through speakers, headphones, or any other audio device that comes my way.
With the numerous reviews I’ve written over the years, I’ve grown to appreciate the wide range of audio products offered by Edifier. This company has a knack for creating a diverse array of earbuds, almost to the point of overwhelming choice. If you find their earbuds website page confusing, you’re not alone. So what did Edifier do to “fix” this? They made another pair of earbuds! Introducing the Edifier NeoDots True Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation. Are these mouthful-to-say earbuds different enough from the other Edifier earbuds to warrant attention?
What is it?
The Edifier NeoDots True Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation are a premium pair of wireless hybrid earphones available in either black or white. These earbuds offer three levels of noise cancellation, wind reduction, and ambient sound, allowing all external noises to be let in for added safety in urban settings.
Six microphones ensure clear phone calls, both indoors and outdoors, even in windy conditions. The earbuds are water-resistant to an IP55 rating, allowing them to be exposed to water from any angle, including rain. However, submersion is not permitted.
The NeoDots come with three pairs of ear tips and a USB-C to USB-A charging cable. Wireless charging is also built-in. The case is similar in size and weight to the Apple AirPods Pro earphones.
Charging time for the earbuds is 1.5 hours, and the case takes 1.5 hours to fully charge. The NeoDots provide up to 12-17 hours of battery life, while the case offers up to 28-39 hours. Battery life depends on volume and noise cancellation. A small light at the front of the case indicates the remaining battery life.
The latest Bluetooth 5.4 is used, and the earbuds support various codecs, including LDAC, AAC, and SBC. However, the AptX codec is not included.
Edifier uses its ConneX app to control the NeoDots—as well as other Edifier speakers and headphones/earphones. The app is fairly comprehensive with a 4-band graphic equalizer along with Edifier audio EQ presets. Noise-canceling is controlled by button settings that can be used for volume, skipping tracks, ANC, or voice assistant (Google Assistant, Apple Siri). Each earbud has a small haptic button at the top of the outer shell that can accept single, double or triple clicks. Even the pressure of pushing the button is programmable. The haptic engine feels so real, I initially thought the buttons were physical.
What’s included?
- NewDots Earbuds
- Wireless charging case
- 3 pairs ear tips
- USB-C to USB-A charging cable
- Manual
- App
Tech specs
Click to expand
- -48dB Active Noise Canceling
- Hi-Res, LDAC, AAC, SBC
- Hybrid Dynamic and Armature drivers
- Bluetooth 5.4
- 6 Mics with AI Call
- Wearing detection
- IP55 water resistance
Design and features
If a pair of Edifier earbuds have the word “Neo” in their name, they are premium and more expensive than Edifier’s other models—even the ones with “Pro” in the name. The NeoDots are worth the higher price tag for exceptional comfort and the hybrid speaker setup.
Let’s delve into comfort. The NeoDots are remarkably lightweight, ensuring a secure fit in the ear without the risk of falling out. Moreover, their fit—at least in my ears—remains comfortable even after extended use. After all, what good is a 17-hour battery life if they don’t feel comfortable in the ear? While the NeoDots do protrude slightly from the ear, it’s not as much as some of Edifier’s other earbuds.
Edifier offers only three ear tip sizes—small, medium, and large. Unfortunately, none of these sizes fit me properly. I resorted to using ear tips from another earbud, which provided a satisfactory fit. However, it’s important to note that my ears are unique, so your mileage may vary. To achieve a proper fit, you need to push and twist the buds counterclockwise a bit.
The NeoDots are equipped with programmable functions that can be accessed through the haptic button located on each earbud. Initially, it may seem that the smooth outer shell of the NeoDot has a touch-sensitive area for these functions but no, it’s all haptic controlled. Personally, I prefer physical (or haptic) buttons over touch-sensitive surfaces that lack feedback. Nevertheless, during the fitting process, it’s easy to accidentally press the haptic “Press Area” on either bud, which can inadvertently activate a function.
The NeoDots employ hybrid speakers, comprising two speakers in each earbud. The 10mm dynamic speaker resembles a typical cone speaker found in bookshelf speakers, typically tuned to bass frequencies. The second speaker looks nothing like a conventional speaker. It’s called an armature speaker—derived from the hearing-aid industry. It’s usually tuned to play the mid to higher frequencies. Note that these two speaker designs can be fine-tuned to cover a wide frequency range, but when combined, they are specifically tuned to enhance their respective strengths.
The hybrid setup works well in the NeoDots. Note that the NeoDots lean more toward higher frequencies, giving the earbuds a more exciting and brighter sound—perfect for classical, jazz, or rock. Bass can be boosted to compensate, but the NeoDots are not for bass heads.
The NeoDots sport active noise canceling (ANC). No surprise since almost all earbuds now have ANC. Edifier states that ANC on the NeoDots cuts noise by 48 dB. It works well for lower frequencies, such as crowd noise and engine drone, but higher frequencies still slip through. Apple AirPods Pro earphones do ANC better.
I’ve primarily used the NeoDots for music, but they also excel in spoken voice applications, such as podcasts and my favorite—audiobooks. The reader’s vocals are always clear and easy to understand, which can be challenging if the earbuds are more tuned to bass. I prefer the NeoDots for spoken voice-over more expensive earphones that excel in music.
Despite their exceptional performance in audiobooks, the NeoDots also handle music well. If you’re not a bass enthusiast, you’ll appreciate the clarity the NeoDots exhibit when reproducing music. Khatia Buniatishvili’s breathtaking piano rendition of Debussy’s “Clair de Lune” will evoke goosebumps. The song features extremely quiet sections followed by powerful and forceful playing that the NeoDots capture exceptionally well.
Röyksopp’s “So Easy” recalls the classic Bobby Vinton song, “Blue on Blue” with a modern electronic overlay giving the song an edge the original never had. The NeoDots handle this brighter-sounding edge without veering into any harshness.
Edifier claims that the NeoDots are HiRes certified, although it’s important to note that this term is primarily a marketing ploy rather than any concrete scientific measurement. This concept originated with Sony years ago. The NeoDots do support LDAC which is a higher-resolution Bluetooth codec that Android devices support (sorry, Apple fans). I say big deal. Apple’s AAC sounds just fine. No, the NeoDots can’t compare with a pair of wired headphones, but it doesn’t matter. They sound good.
One nice feature of the NeoDots is their ability to pause music when removed from the ears and resume when reinserted. Additionally, they can be paired with two separate devices, automatically switching between them as one is clicked on. I find this feature particularly convenient, as it allows me to seamlessly switch between my iPad and iPhone without any hassle.
What I like about the Edifier NeoDots True Wireless Earbuds
- Well made
- Inexpensive for the quality
- Comfortable
- Fune music listening
- Great for spoken-word
- Programmable haptic button
What needs to be improved?
- Not for bass-heads
- The haptic button can be too-easily touched
Final thoughts
The Edifier NeoDots True Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation may not be the best-sounding earbuds I’ve reviewed, but they standout as top-tier options in the under-150-dollar range. They can be enjoyed for hours of continuous listening for both audio quality and comfort. That’s saying—and playing—a lot.
Price: $119.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by Edifier. Edifier did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
