The Creative Outlier Air V2 promise to improve all the weaknesses of the first version, proposing itself as a top choice in its price range. Will it really be like this? Let’s find out in the full review
The opening words of this review will be a personal reflection, due and desired, on the excellent work that has seen the protagonist Creative in the last few years. Whenever I find myself trying and testing a product of the Asian company, I do it with the awareness of finding myself, depending on the case, in front of more or less successful devices, but always above a quality threshold tall enough. This must be said because, in most situations, the consumer, not having the opportunity to try all the devices, often ends up being carried away by high-budget marketing maneuvers or by word of mouth that in many cases does not do justice to products and companies that instead deserve. Although it is among the market leaders, Creative is, in my opinion, one of the companies that deserves more attention.
Premise made, I think it is appropriate to point the magnifying glass on the protagonists of this review, the auricolari True Wireless Creative Outlier Air V2 which, you will have understood by now, are yet another successful product of the company, but let’s go step by step. Already last year we appreciated, albeit with some reservations, the first version of Outlier Air which had, as their only fault, the limit of being a step behind the competition in terms of secondary features. The new version, the Outlier Air V2, improves almost all of its weaknesses by taking a significant step forward.
Data sheet
- Product: auricolari true wireless
- Connection: Bluetooth 5.0, HFP, A2DP, AVRCP profiles
- Codec audio: aptX, AAC, SBC
- Dimensions and weight: case (82x44x27mm, 60g), earphones (34x15x18mm, 2x6g)
- Battery life: 12 hours earphones, 22 hours case
- Liquid resistance: IPX5
- Frequency response: 20-20,000 Hz
- Microphone: Frequency Response: 100–10,000 Hz / Sensitivity: – 42 dBV / Pa / Type: Omni-directional x 2
- Color: metallic blue
Sales and design packaging | Creative Outlier Air V2 review
Inside the sales package you will find exactly what we are now used to finding in products in the price range from € 100 downwards: earphones, case, replacement tips (4 in total for all needs) and manuals. Unfortunately, the Creative Outlier ONE that I reviewed more than two years ago, aroused in me the need to have, at least as an option, an additional attachment system to the ear cup, with the classic “hook” inserts. Obviously this absence is not a critical issue, but it is an optional that I would like to have more often, especially if the same company already used it two years ago. The design of the earphones does not overturn that of the first version, certainly remaining cared for, refined and refined in detail, although not particularly original.
In this new version, however, the novelty in aesthetic-functional terms is represented by the presence of a surface intended for controls, this time completamente touch. Also present is the now classic LED ring (two-color) which provides information regarding the status of the connection. The earphones make up a solution of chromatic continuity with the case, the latter very resistant thanks to the presence of metal material. Very comfortable the presence of the small LEDs with the task of indicating it charging status of the individual earphones. There is also a USB Type-C input for charging (unfortunately not fast).
Functionality and comfort | Creative Outlier Air V2 review
Le Creative Outlier Air V2 perfectly embody the meaning of “True Wireless”. Immediate connection at the exact moment of exit from the case and fully functional over long distances, as well as near-zero latency. Once worn, I can assure you that there hasn’t been a single occasion when I have fallen, which, as far as I’m concerned, is not something that happens that often, a sign that the weight of the earphones is perfectly balanced.
I touch controls present on the Creative Outlier Air V2 are indeed the novelty of this product that most of all had been asked of the company, but unfortunately they are also the biggest weakness of this version. The touch surface is easily accessible but the problem lies precisely in the control structure which involves the execution of several consecutive touches (two or three) or a single long press to initiate a command. The choice of entrusting a touch on the right earphone to increase the volume and a touch on the left earphone to reduce the volume, however logical it may be, definitely goes against situations in which we wear a single earphone or have a busy hand. The presence of a IPX5 certification (splash, rain and sweat resistance) is definitely an appreciated feature, especially if you are thinking of purchasing this product to listen to music during the most intense training sessions.
Daily use and audio quality | Creative Outlier Air V2 review
The Creative Outlier Air V2 are equipped with: driver da 5,6 mm in graphene (which amplifies its conductive capabilities, decreasing the need for energy), codec audio aptX, AAC, technology Qualcomm cVc 8.0 for better microphone quality and technology Super X-Fi READY. Technical features aside, how do these headphones feel? The answer, if you have already read my other earphone reviews, cannot be in absolute value, being strictly influenced by personal taste. The audio quality is still positioned at very high levels in the range to which it belongs. The various frequencies are well balanced with each other, with one exception on the medium-low, definitely more emphasized and present than the others, which allows you to have an even more enjoyable and fun listening, especially if purely musical or in the reproduction of multimedia contents. There sound power it settles on excellent levels for all tastes and needs despite the fact that any type of distortion is absolutely absent, even at high volumes. Unfortunately (but really sorry?) The earphones don’t come with active noise cancellation and the only reduction is given by the same in-ear rubbers that perform this task very well, even if the comparison is impossible. On the other hand, the high quality microphone integrated that will allow you to make calls without interruptions or misunderstandings even in the noisiest environments.
At this point I should tell you about technology Super X-Fi READY but, since it is only possible to have a taste of this product, I will not dwell much on it. This technology allows, through photographic measurements of the auricle, to return a very interesting spatial audio and actually different from the “pure” sound of the earphones, but unfortunately it is possible to use it only on an application (at the moment) not very inviting and by downloading the songs in the internal memory of the device (therefore no support for streaming services).
Autonomy | Creative Outlier Air V2 review
L’autonomy represents another winning point of this product, thanks to a further leap forward compared to the last generation. With a full charge, the earphones are capable of about 11 hours of playback (mixed calls + music listening) and the case offers an additional 22 hours of battery life. Unfortunately there is no fast charging, so it will take about three hours or more to fully charge the case and earphones.
It is time to take stock
the Creative Outlier Air V2 bring the second version of the product among the best in its category. Excellent audio quality, sophisticated design and first-class battery life, are hallmarks of yet another Creative product to recommend. Too bad for the touch controls not yet properly optimized and for the absence of real breakthrough features with the competition. The Creative Outlier Air V2 true wireless earphones are priced at around € 70.
Points in favor
- Excellent build quality
- Bel design
- Concrete audio quality
- Autonomy at the top
Points against
- Touch controls
- Absence of killer features