Edifier X2 Review | Simply Not Comfortable At All

For so long, earbuds continue to copy the AirPod’s like non-customizable ear tip design. Edifier X2 – a downgraded version of the Edifier X3 can also be called the 1st Gen Airpods copy. I remember that I purchased this on AliExpress on the day when it was premiered for a price of $16. Now, the Edifier X2 price has increased to almost $20. I have been using this for 2 months now, and here I’m with the Edifier X2 review.

For $20, the so-called best Apple AirPods clone are much better than those i9, i12, and i100 Chinese clones. But this doesn’t mean that you simply have to buy this. It’s Design Vs Comfort this time.

Honestly, let me summarize this at the start. I see many people and earbuds experts calling Edifier X2 the perfect Apple AirPods clones under $20. They might be, however, as a general earbud, they fail to impress me. The reasons:

• Super uncomfortable (fitting problems and my ears hurt like hell adjusting these)
• Flat sound quality (seriously nothing is the highlight of sound)

And for the audience looking for an AirPods clone, they will simply not buy this because such an audience looks for everything identical to AirPods including not only the earbuds design but the case and functions as well. Edifier X2 simply lies between an AirPods wanna-be and Edifier’s own uniqueness with a short stem.

To me, these earbuds are simply the worst Edifier earbuds to date. I’ll explain the details, in the Edifier X2 review below:

Edifier X2 Review – Sacrificing Sound and Comfort For The Design

Edifier X2 Review – Specs Sheet

Edifier X2 Review – The Unboxing

Edifier X2 comes inside a beautiful black box. On the front, we have the earbuds illustrated, along with one of its highlights which is battery life, Bluetooth logo, company name, and product name on the right side. I loved how they improved the presentation with the top and bottom front glossy paint. The presentation is simply way better for a budget earbud especially after seeing the boxing of similar cheap alternatives such as QCY T5 which was just a cardboard box.

On the back of the box, we have the complete illustration of the earbuds with the charging case along with the four major highlights of the earbuds according to Edifier. The accessories outline is also seen on the bottom back along with the QR code to the official product page.

Opening from the top and sliding out the black plastic tray/case which holds both the earbuds and the charging case separately. The tray indeed gives a cheap appearance since they are budget earbuds after all.

The accessories are:

• Charging cable (Type-C)
• User manual

The packaging in short is way better than any of the earbuds under $20. For the first impression, it does create excitement about how the earbuds will perform.

Edifier X2 Review – Design & Appearance

Edifier this time went for a single mold plastic design with the Edifier X2 similar to the AirPods. As a result, there’s no option for the silicon/foam eartips. Thankfully, the silver mesh present near the opening is metal despite being a budget-limited earbud.

Though they are black, however, on the earbuds one with notice two types of plastic. The majority of the part is metallic black colored while a smart part is a glossy black. This does give the earbuds some uniqueness and dual-tone coloring.

From the top they do appear as AirPods clones, yet, Edifier did add its uniqueness which can be seen in the length of the stem which hardly reaches the ear lobe. Because of this, if you ask me to describe Edifier X2 in one word it would be ‘compact‘.

On each stem, ‘Xemai‘ is written which is quite mysterious since they aren’t called Xemai X2. It’s interesting to know that Xemai was the maker of its older brother Edifier X3 as well and this is why the glossy X on the boxing of X2 and the X logo on earbuds of X3 both represent Xemai. Edifier and Xemai are one thing. This earbud which is sold as Edifier X2 on Aliexpress and Amazon is also sold as Xemai X2 as well.

A small light is present on each earbud which indicates charging, pairing/ and low battery, however, that LED is hardly noticeable.

Edifier X2 LED indications:

• Blinking Blue Slowly – Connected
• Blinking Red and Blue Constantly – In Pairing Mode
• Steady Red – Charging
• Blinking Red Slowly – Battery Low

The design language especially the two-tone plastic, unique and small stalk design, and similarity to the AirPods lineup fool you into thinking that they are not cheap Chinese earbuds after all. That is why I will be rating the design & appearance of these earbuds as 4/5, reducing one star because of those words Xemai printed on the stalk which looks a bit ugly and creates confusion if these earbuds really are Edifier X2.

Edifier X2 Review – Comfort & Wearing Experience

Because these earbuds weigh 3.4 grams each, they are super lightweight. You won’t even feel them in your ears.

If you have read my QCY T5 review, you might know that I don’t like half in-ear earbuds since accidental pressing the stalk loosens earbud fitting, and sometimes they even fall. However, Edifier might have found the solution to this since they have reduced the stalk of X2 to a minimum and to the point that accidentally pressing the stalk will not loosen the earbuds (if you have that 1 out 5 perfect ears suited for X2 AirPod design).

Since this is the AirPod clone, forget about the eartips customization and this is why these earbuds are not suitable for everyone.

I will definitely NOT recommend these earbuds to be used as sports earbuds. Firstly, there are no ear hooks and not even eartips customizable, and secondly, because of the AirPods like the design they are not suited

Edifier X2 is not waterproof, so don’t use them at any water activity. They are, however, IP54, making them splashproof as well as dustproof.

For people with that specific ears might enjoy the lightweight design of the Edifier X2. They would even say that they are comfortable with literally just the hard plastic hanging around their ears. However, people like me (I don’t even have a unique ear size or design) will come to know that the old AirPods one mold plastic design is simply a nightmare for ear comfort. One won’t get the perfect fitting even if someone says there’s a trick to it. My ears started hurting adjusting these. Even if someone manages to fit them in ears, you won’t get the satisfaction of a perfect fit and there will be uneasiness. 1 star just for the lightweight design that’s all.

Edifier X2 Review – Charging Case

I just love the charging case of the Edifier X2 which is a cute pebble–shaped box. Similar to the earbuds, we see two types of plastic surfaces, the metallic and the glossy ones.

You can consider this a pebble but with almost no weight (only 30 grams). Since there are no corners this time and stupendously small size, these earbuds are heaven to pants-pocket comfort. No nervousness of the case showing in your pants or the edges hurting your legs. The case is simply opposite to earbuds design which was not comfortable in ears at all.

I would really love Edifier and other earbuds manufacturers to continue the pebble shape charging case in upcoming earbuds.

There’s a red light indicator on the front of the charging case. Here is how it functions:

• Steady red light while charging
• Blinking red light when the case battery is down.

The hinge is tight and hasn’t loosened over 2 months of my use. I literally play with the case lid while testing every earbud. Since most of the case’s part has a rugged metallic surface, it is less likely to be prone to scratches, however, special care is needed for the glossy strip that goes on the outmost curves and is much lighter to get scratches. I have already got scratches on mine.

In short, the charging case is a cute pebble, lightweight, and most of all super comfortable in your pockets. So 4.5 stars, half star reduced because of the glossy finish on the case which is highly prone towards scratches.

Edifier X2 Review – Hardware & Connectivity

Moving to what’s on the board, Edifier doesn’t disclose what audio chip is used inside. However, we do know that each earbud features a large 13nm dynamic driver. This large driver has the capacity to generate clear and deep bass and sub-bass, but due to the AirPods-like design, the driver is far away from the eardrum, thus having a large driver isn’t that effective. I do believe that such designs stop earbuds from attaining better sound quality in comparison to the eartips one.

Edifier doesn’t disclose the diaphragm details as well as the built material.

We also have the Bluetooth v5.1 version, 1 step back from the latest v5.2 module. The range on the specs sheet is 10 meters without any physical disturbance between the source and the earbuds. Personally, I would say that it’s around 8 to 9 meters. Moreover, the sound quality gets really bad once you are 6 to 7 meters away. Earbuds in this price range including Haylou GT1, Airdots 2, QCY T1C, and Lenovo LP40 all have Bluetooth 5.0 but the same range and even better.

Once you pair them, the connectivity speed is fast, not the fastest. It connects on my Xiaomi Mi 10T within 3 seconds of taking out from the case. In comparison, Edifier X3, QCY T5, even the Redmi AirDots 2 have the same speed.  

Thankfully, both earbuds can be used for master-slave connectivity. This means that you can either take out the left earbud or the right earbud to pair and run in mono mode and then take out the other one to automatically shift to stereo mode.

They don’t connect when you open the lid. So, if the lid gets loose over time, this won’t cause any problem. Once put in the case, the earbuds will turn off.

I have tried connecting them to my Zenbook as well (Windows 10, Bluetooth 5.0) and they paired successfully.

Edifier X2 Review – Latency

In normal mode, the latency is as follows:

• Movies/streaming/YT: under 100ms (recommended)
• Audio books / audio songs: under 100ms (recommended)
• Gaming: 300ms+ (on PUBG Mobile)

With the gaming mode on by triple tapping the left earbud and hearing the voice prompt ‘game mode on’, the latency is reduced to only 50 to 60ms which isn’t noticeable at all. In comparison, these deliver sound faster than my FIIL T1 Lite (60 to 80ms) and even the Galaxy Buds + (70 to 90ms). Surprising, isn’t it?

Edifier X2 Review – Sound Quality

If you get to set these earbuds in the perfect fitting, only then you will be able to hear what X2 has to offer. Without the proper fitting, the sound is literally garbage (low volume, too much background noise, airiness, and just a flat, thin sound like from those fake AirPods knockoffs). This was my review at first once I put them on. However, when I kept pressing them in my ears, the volume slightly improved, the airiness improved a bit, and I started to feel the slight bass it generated.

The Edifier X2 sound highlight is its neutrality/flatness and airiness. The headstage/openness in these is strong. There’s a slight controlled bass to it as well, if you have those perfect ears for them to fit properly 😀

The treble/airiness/high frequency gets too harsh at a higher volume. However, the bass is well controlled even on a 100% level. I was able to listen to songs at 100% volume. The volume level is not too high nor too low, however, I would have expected higher volume. Just for comparison, my FIIL T1 Lite produces the same volume at 60% as the Edifier X2 does at 100%. The sound is not too bright and not too dull.

Surprisingly, the vocals (both male and female) are super clear similar to Edifier X3. However, I do notice overwhelming sharpness in the vocals similar to the treble which might get a bit too harsh especially if any windy instrument is playing behind.

In short, there’s no fun in using them for music because I do think they miss the spark in them, especially because of the fitting problem and the AirPods-like design. You do find how stunning these earbuds might have performed if you press the earbuds too hard while listening to the songs. That is why, these earbuds apart from the discomfort they give, can’t be worn for a longer duration of time, creating fatigue, despite the 3.4 grams weight.

For gaming, they can be considered because of the openness and the low latency gaming mode.

• Volume: 6 out of 10
• Clarity: 6 out of 10
• Bass: 6 out of 10
• Details: 5 out of 10
• High-Frequency Response: 3 out of 10
• Mid-Frequency Response: 6 out of 10
• Low-Frequency Response: 6 out of 10
• Soundstage: 6 out of 10
• Treble: 3 out of 10

Songs Played On Edifier X2 Earbuds

• Hootie & The Blowfish – Hold My Hand (Yes, PC Principal :D) – Well controlled guiter strings are heard, instrumental sounding is fine. Male vocals are clear but sound is too flat, considered not that much enjoyable. Electronic guitar sound is too harsh. Drum beats lack that thump.
• Future – Mask Off – There is slight bass but no deeper sub-bass. Voice is clear. Still because of treble some points are harsh and neutrality is observed creating a flat experience.
• Imagine Dragons – Natural – Similar to the previous song, drum beats have slight bass. Background environmental sounds such as glass breaking mix with other sounds. Not even a single instrumental sound is dominated where it should have been creating a flat experience. And yes, treble is still harsh.

Edifier X2 Review – Gaming Experience

Similar to the songs, my gaming experience with these despite the low latency was flat. The surrounding fires in PUBG mobile weren’t too predictable from where they were coming from. The satisfying sound of AWM fire wasn’t satisfying anymore because of the flatness. Moreover, I noticed that the volume wasn’t even sufficient enough to hear clear footsteps from a distance. Because of the fitting problem, these problems increase depending on how loose the earbuds are.

Edifier X2 Review – Talking & Calling Experience

Honestly, earbuds are always mediocre when it comes to microphone quality. With a few exceptions, earbuds under $20 hardly have good microphones as well as background noise cancelation. We have a single microphone present on both of the earbuds.

The background noise cancellation is mediocre. Even my FIIL T1 Lite which is notorious for bad call quality is better than Edifier X2. I was recording indoors while my ceiling fan was turned on, I was able to hear slight wind gushes in the background. Edifier X2 doesn’t highlight any CVC technology in these earbuds, however, these earbuds did decrease the background noise slightly, and I’ll explain to you why.

However, the audio pick (range) of the earbuds is super low, probably because of the shorter stem. I was speaking normally and what could have been a clear audible voice, my voice was barely audible at some points. That is why I didn’t hear the background noise in the first place because the volume and the range were too low for almost everything to pick up.

The voice isn’t clear and was similar to that robotic voiceover.

Below is my recording:

I would not recommend it for both indoor and outdoor calling.

Edifier X2 Review – Controls

Edifier X2 earbuds surprisingly feature touch controls instead of physical buttons. However, the touch sensitivity is high. Because of the loose-fitting, I used to long-press them in my ears and ended by opening the voice assistant accidentally, while the songs were playing. This was really annoying. However, there’s no single touch operation that may decrease accidental touch which is a brilliant move by Edifier.

The controls are sadly minimal. Edifier only added the basic ones and even the volume adjustment operation is missing. Turning off/on earbuds via touch isn’t available as well.

For music/video:

• Increase volume: No option
• Decrease volume: No option
• Next: Touch 3x the right earbud
• Previous: No option

Incoming call:

• Attend call: Touch 2x any earbud
• Decline call: Long press any earbud for 3 seconds

During call:

See also

Oladance OWS 2 Manual | Everything You Need To Know

Gines·April 19, 2024

• Increase volume: No option
• Decrease volume: No option
• Hang up: Touch 2x any earbud

Voice assistant activation:

• Long Press any earbud for 3 seconds

Edifier X2 Review – APP Guide / Instructions

These earbuds don’t have any App support.

Edifier X2 Review – Battery Life

The only highlight of these earbuds to me is the battery life. Despite being $20 earbuds, they provide a battery life of 7 hours. However, I assume that it’s around 6 hours and 30 minutes because of the fact that these earbuds have low volume and fitting problems which focuses the user to use them at 100% volume. The battery is drained further to 6 hours in gaming mode.

Details of what you did to measure battery life

• 1 hour PUBG mobile (low latency game mode, 100% volume) = 100% to 87%
• 1 and 40 minutes movie watched on Youtube Vanced (normal mode, 100% volume) = 87% to 62%
• Podcast for 1 hour (same settings as in above) = 62% to 53%
• Next day 1 hour PUGB mobile (same mode as when I played last time) = 53% to 35%

It takes around 50 minutes to charge the earbuds from 0% to 100%. The charging case itself needs 2 hours to fully charge. The charging case can provide 3 more complete charges making a total battery life of 27 hours.

The best part about the Edifier X2 is that the charging case has a Type-C port.

Our Verdict

Summarizing the Edifier X2 review, the Chinese company provides a blend of Apple’s AirPod design along with their own uniqueness (compact stem). Since these are AirPods look-a-like, the fitting problem will persist for the majority. Because of this, you will have to compromise on the flat and airy sound, and there will always be a feeling of the earbuds might fall.

The fast connectivity and the battery life are the highlights of the earbuds.

Honestly, I would recommend these earbuds for general use only if you have a super limited budget and are an Apple AirPods fan. General use includes hearing podcasts and watching movies. That’s all. These earbuds aren’t a good choice for music, workouts or running, and long use. For gaming, they might get the job done with low latency mode, yet in competitive games like PUBG, they do create confusion.

I would recommend going for Edifier X3, QCY T17, and QCY T5 over these earbuds. They have a way better fitting, comfort, and sound quality, especially the QCY T17.

If AirPods fit in your ears perfectly, then and ONLY THEN go for Edifier X2. Otherwise it’s a waste of $20.

Edifier X2 Comparison With Other Earbuds

Edifier X2 ($20) vs Edifier X3 ($25)

Edifier X2 has:

• Half in-ear design
• Better Bluetooth module
• Better battery life
• Sound is exact opposite of X3 (open, airy, and not fulfilling)
• Cheaper

Edifier X3:

• Way better and faster connectivity
• One of the best fits and comfort under $30
• AptX audio decoding
• Way better call quality
• More touch operations (previous song and turn off)
• Way better sound quality (fulfilling deeper bass and sub-bass while the rest is pretty controlled)

Edifier X2 ($20) vs QCY T17 ($16)

Edifier X2 has:

• Lighter weight and half in-ear design
• Comfortable, elegant and compact charging case
• Airy and open sound with slight bass
• Better built quality & appearance

QCT T17 has:

• Complete in-ear design
• Sports-wings for better fit
• Way better comfort
• Slightly more battery life
• Better IP ratings
• Similar airyness like X2 but way better tuned sound, especially the treble which the former earbud lacks.
• Slightly better call quality
• Cheaper price

Edifier X2 ($20) vs Edifier X6 ($32)

Edifier X2 has:

• Much compact half in-ear design
• Much comfortable in ears because of size
• Better battery life
• Cheaper
• Better Bluetooth Module

Edifier X6 has:

• Qualcomm chipset (apTX enabled)
• Faster connecitivity and pairing
• Slightly better latency
• Sound similar to QCY T17 (wide, clear, full, airiness)
• Slightly better calling range and quality

Also read: Edifier TWS1 Pro Review | Just How Good Are The Upgrades!

Edifier X2 Review – Price & Availability

You can buy Edifier X2 for a price of $16 to $23 USD. Here are the stores below with the best pricing.

EDIFIER X2 TWS Wireless Earphones Bluetooth Headphones 13mm Driver Unit 28hrs Playback time Low...

EDIFIER X2 TWS Wireless Earphones Bluetooth Headphones 13mm Driver Unit 28hrs Playback time Low...

$20.27

$38.99

in stock

Grab Now!

Aliexpress

FAQs

Rating Edifier X2

Summary

If you have previously tested any AirPods-like earbuds and they fit well in your ears, then Edifier X2 are the perfect option as a cheap AirPods alternative under $20. They are the lightest and the most compact half in-ear earbuds on the market.

Design & Appearance

8

Comfort & Wearing Experience

1

Charging Case

9

Hardware & Connectivity

8

Latency

9

Sound Quality

5

Gaming Experience

7

Talking & Calling Experience

4

Controls

5

Battery Life

10

Price

8

Price/Performance

6

Reader Rating4 Votes

6

Pros

Compact & Super lightweight Design

Two tone black plastic quality

Cute and Small Pebble Shaped Case (comfortable in pocket)

Fast connectivity

Creditable Low Latency in Gaming Mode

Super affordable (if the price remains under $20)

Cons

Fitting Problem in Majority of the audience

Super uncomfortable if it doesn't fit

Mediocre sound and worst if they don't fit (treble to harsh, flat sound)

Bad sound quality

6.7

Total Rating