What to know first
- Hybrid ANC rated up to 45dB, with noise-canceling microphones aimed at steady sounds like engine hum and HVAC noise
- Battery life rated up to 80 hours, with a 10-minute quick charge said to deliver about 10 hours of playback
- LDAC codec support brings higher-bandwidth wireless audio for compatible Android phones and hi-res files
- Multipoint Bluetooth lets you stay connected to two devices, like a laptop and a phone, at once
- Low-latency game mode (under 55ms) aimed at reducing audio lag during video and gaming
A budget headphone wearing a mid-range feature list
The Wave Pro's pitch is that you shouldn't have to choose. It packs hybrid active noise cancellation rated up to 45dB, support for the LDAC wireless codec used by higher-end hi-res audio gear, and a battery rating up to 80 hours, all into a headphone that costs less than a tank of gas in most cities.
EarFun positions the Wave Pro as its standard over-ear model, sitting below the newer Wave Pro X, which brings a different chipset (Qualcomm aptX Adaptive) and a redesigned acoustic architecture at a higher price. The two aren't the same headphone with different names slapped on. If you see "Wave Pro X" while shopping, know that it's a separate, pricier line, not simply a running upgrade to the Wave Pro reviewed here.
The Wave Pro was announced in March 2024 and has remained EarFun's budget-friendly current model since, which means it's had time to prove itself rather than arrive with untested claims. For shoppers who don't want to gamble on a brand-new release, that track record matters.
Noise cancellation and battery life that punch above the price
The headline spec is hybrid ANC rated up to 45dB, paired with what EarFun calls anti-wind noise handling. Active noise cancellation like this is generally most effective against steady, low-frequency sound: engine drone on a plane, the hum of an office HVAC system, road noise on a train. It won't erase a crying toddler or a barista yelling your order, and no headphone at this price (or most prices) truly does. But for the daily grind of commuting or working in a loud room, strong ANC changes how tired you feel by the end of the trip.
Battery life is the other standout. EarFun rates the Wave Pro at up to 80 hours, with a 10-minute quick charge said to add about 10 hours of playback. Whether that 80-hour figure holds depends heavily on volume and whether ANC is running, so treat it as a ceiling rather than a guarantee. Even discounted for real-world use, a headphone that doesn't need daily charging is a genuinely different ownership experience than one that does.
LDAC support is a rarer inclusion at this price. The codec is built to transmit roughly three times more data over Bluetooth than standard options like SBC, which can translate into a cleaner, more detailed listen on hi-res tracks, provided your phone supports LDAC (mostly an Android feature) and your music source is actually hi-res to begin with. It's a nice-to-have rather than a reason to buy on its own, but it signals that EarFun didn't cut every corner to hit this price.
Living with the Wave Pro: calls, switching devices, and gaming
Multipoint Bluetooth is the feature you don't appreciate until you're without it. The Wave Pro lets you stay paired to two devices at once, so a call on your phone can interrupt a podcast playing from your laptop without you digging through Bluetooth settings. For anyone splitting a workday between a laptop and a phone, that's a real quality-of-life upgrade, not a spec-sheet checkbox.
Call quality gets help from a 5-microphone array paired with AI noise reduction, aimed at keeping your voice clear even when the room around you isn't quiet. A dedicated game mode drops latency below 55 milliseconds, which should reduce the lag between on-screen action and the audio you hear, useful for mobile gaming or watching video where sync matters.
EarFun's companion app lets you adjust sound settings, though app polish is generally a weaker point across the company's lineup compared to premium competitors. Expect a functional app rather than a beautifully designed one. A 3.5mm aux input is also on board, so a dead battery doesn't necessarily mean silence, provided you have a cable handy.
Where the price shows itself
Nothing at this price is free of trade-offs, and the honest one here is refinement. If ultimate audio fidelity is your priority and budget isn't a constraint, this isn't the ceiling of what's available.
LDAC is only useful if your phone and source material support it. IPhone owners in particular won't get the benefit, since Apple's ecosystem doesn't support the codec, making that specific spec largely irrelevant for a big chunk of shoppers.
The 45dB ANC figure and 80-hour battery claim are both manufacturer specifications rather than numbers Pickori has independently verified through hands-on use. Treat them as best-case marketing figures, useful for comparison shopping, but plan for somewhat less in daily conditions with volume and ANC running.
The specs that matter
Effective against steady droning sounds like planes, trains, and office HVAC systems. It won't fully block sudden noises or nearby conversation, but it can meaningfully reduce fatigue on long commutes.
Even accounting for real-world use with ANC and volume active, this is a headphone built to go a week or more between charges rather than needing nightly attention.
LDAC can carry more audio data for a cleaner wireless listen, but only on compatible Android phones with hi-res source material. IPhone users won't see the benefit.
A larger, stiffer diaphragm generally helps deliver punchier bass and clearer treble, which is where EarFun says its tuning focus sits.
More microphones generally means better isolation of your voice from background noise during phone calls, useful if you take calls from noisy environments.
Lets you switch instantly between a laptop and phone, for example taking a call without manually re-pairing.
Lower latency keeps audio in sync with on-screen action, which matters more for gaming and video than for music listening.
Gives you a backup listening option if the battery dies, and can support wired hi-res streaming from compatible sources.
Who this product fits
The daily commuter on a budget
Someone riding a noisy train or bus every day gets the most obvious payoff here: hybrid ANC rated up to 45dB aimed at the steady drone that makes commutes exhausting, paired with battery life rated to last most of a week without a charge.
The hybrid worker switching between laptop and phone
Multipoint connection means calls on a phone can interrupt music from a laptop without re-pairing, a small feature that removes a recurring annoyance for anyone working across two devices all day.
The Android listener with hi-res files
LDAC support gives Android users with hi-res streaming subscriptions or downloaded hi-res tracks a real audio quality upgrade over standard Bluetooth codecs, assuming their phone supports it.
The shopper deciding between Wave Pro and Wave Pro X
Buyers tempted by EarFun's newer, pricier Wave Pro X should know it's a separate flagship model with a different chipset and design, not an automatic upgrade path. If the standard feature list above covers your needs, the original Wave Pro saves real money.
What else to compare
A few other angles worth considering depending on what you value most.
EarFun Wave Pro FAQ
Is the EarFun Wave Pro good for noise cancellation?
Its hybrid ANC is rated up to 45dB, which should handle steady low-frequency noise like plane engines, HVAC hum, and road noise well. It won't eliminate sudden sounds or nearby conversation, which is true of ANC generally, not a specific weakness of this model.
How long does the battery actually last?
EarFun rates the Wave Pro at up to 80 hours, with a 10-minute quick charge adding about 10 hours of playback. That ceiling assumes moderate volume and depends on how much you use ANC, so expect somewhat less under heavier daily use.
What's the difference between the Wave Pro and Wave Pro X?
The Wave Pro X is a separate, higher-priced flagship model with a different chipset (Qualcomm aptX Adaptive) and redesigned acoustic architecture. It isn't a straightforward successor to the Wave Pro, both are sold as current, separate options.
Does the Wave Pro support hi-res audio?
Yes, it supports the LDAC codec for wireless hi-res streaming on compatible Android devices, plus a 3.5mm aux input for wired hi-res listening. IPhone users won't get the LDAC benefit since Apple doesn't support that codec.
Are these headphones good for gaming?
The Wave Pro includes a dedicated game mode with latency rated under 55 milliseconds, aimed at keeping audio synced with on-screen action for mobile gaming and video.
That's not the argument being made here.
If you've been putting off buying ANC headphones because the good ones felt too expensive, the Wave Pro is the headphone that removes that excuse. Just go in aware that the Wave Pro X exists as a separate, pricier option if your budget stretches further, and that the manufacturer's battery and ANC figures are best-case numbers rather than guarantees.