Creative Zen Air 2
Smart active noise canceling with two modes, 10mm neodymium drivers, and a 23-hour battery life with Qi wireless charging define its everyday utility. SXFI Ready spatial audio, Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint, and IPX4 sweat resistance add versatility for on-the-go listening. These suit budget-conscious commuters seeking basic ANC and long playback, not critical listeners or heavy call users.
No current retailer price
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
Great ANC and connectivity in a comfy, cheap package. Just don't expect the battery to keep up with your day.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ANC is shockingly good for the price 98th
- Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint is rock solid 95th
- Comfy fit, 4g per bud is light 90th
- IPX4 sweatproof and Qi wireless charging 82nd
Cons
- Battery life is rough, 6 hours is short
- No aptX or LDAC, just AAC and SBC
- Social proof is almost nonexistent
- Sound is just okay, not a standout
The proof
Performance
The 10mm dynamic neodymium drivers are fine. Sound lands in the 76th percentile, which means it's good but not going to blow your mind. What surprised us is the ANC. It sits in the 90th percentile, which is wild for earbuds this cheap. The quad mics handle calls decently too, landing in the 82nd percentile. But that battery, 6 hours in the buds and 23 with the case, is a weak spot. It's in the 17th percentile, which is a real letdown for anyone who hates charging.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | true wireless |
| Ear Tips | Small, Medium, Large |
| Weight | 0.0 kg / 0.0 lbs |
Audio
| Driver Type | dynamic |
| Driver Size | 10 |
| Freq Min | 20 |
| Freq Max | 20000 |
| Codecs | AAC, SBC |
Noise Control
| ANC | Yes |
| ANC Type | Smart |
| Transparency | Yes |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Profiles | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Range | 10 |
Earbud Battery
| Battery Life | 6 |
| Charging | USB-C |
Case Battery
| Case Battery | 23 |
| Case Charging | USB-C |
| Wireless Charging | Yes |
| Capacity | 40 |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
| Mic Count | 2 |
| NC Mic | Yes |
| Mic Pattern | Omnidirectional |
Features
| Voice Assistant | Siri, Google Assistant |
| Touch Controls | Yes |
| App | SFXI App |
| Volume Limiting | No |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 |
vs Competition
Stacked against the Soundcore P31i, the Zen Air 2 wins on ANC and connectivity but loses on battery. The EarFun Air Pro 4+ is a better all-rounder if you want longer playtime and better sound. The Anker Space A40 is the one to beat for battery life and overall polish. The JLab JBuds Pods ANC are a closer match on price, but the Zen Air 2 has better ANC. The Baseus Bass BP1 Pro is a bass-heavy alternative if that's your thing. For pure value, the Zen Air 2 only makes sense at the bottom of its price range.
| Spec | Creative Zen Air 2 | Sony WF-1000XM6 | Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation | Nothing Buds 2 | Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro | Soundcore P31i |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear |
| Driver Type | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 6.0 |
| Battery Life Hours | 6 | 8 | 8 | 13.5 | 6 | 10 |
| Case Battery Hours | 23 | 24 | 24 | 55 | 26 | 50 |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 | IP57 | IP55 | IP57 | IP55 |
| Multipoint | true | true | true | true | true | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creative Zen Air 2 | 89.7 | 81.9 | 79.4 | 76 | 17.4 | 94.8 | 98 | 9.3 |
| Sony WF-1000XM6 Compare | 97.3 | 99.8 | 79.4 | 88.5 | 75 | 72.4 | 99.1 | 81.4 |
| Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation Compare | 97.3 | 81.9 | 98.8 | 90.7 | 75 | 94.8 | 99.6 | 99.3 |
| Nothing Buds 2 Compare | 93.1 | 97.5 | 91.2 | 81.8 | 95.1 | 72.4 | 97.1 | 81.4 |
| Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro Compare | 97.3 | 97.5 | 98.8 | 92.8 | 72.5 | 94.8 | 99.6 | 90.2 |
| Soundcore P31i Compare | 89.7 | 97.5 | 91.2 | 96.8 | 92.5 | 72.4 | 86.5 | 90.2 |
Price
Value & Pricing
The value story is messy. In the US, prices swing from USD 25 to USD 40 across two listings. That's a USD 15 spread, which is annoying. The cheaper listing is the obvious pick if you can find it. In Canada, it's even worse, CAD 34 to CAD 126. That CAD 92 gap is absurd. If you're paying anywhere near the top of that range, you're getting fleeced. At the low end, these are a steal. At the high end, hard pass.
Read more
Overview
The Creative Zen Air 2 is a weird little package. You get genuinely great connectivity, solid ANC, and a comfy fit for pocket change. But the battery life is rough, and the social proof is basically nonexistent. The one thing to know? These are a budget buy that punches above their weight in some areas and falls flat in others.
Common Questions
Q: How long does the battery actually last?
About 6 hours on the buds with ANC on, and the case adds another 23 hours. That's short by today's standards. If you're a heavy user, you'll be charging these a lot.
Q: Do these work well for calls?
Yeah, the quad mics do a decent job. Call quality is above average, and the noise cancellation on the mics helps in louder spots. Not flagship level, but solid for the price.
Q: Are they good for working out?
They're IPX4 sweatproof, so light workouts are fine. But the fit is more about comfort than a locked-in sports grip. If you're doing heavy cardio, look for something with ear hooks.
Who Should Skip This
If you need all-day battery life, these aren't it. Go get the Anker Space A40 or EarFun Air Pro 4+ instead. If you're an audiophile chasing the best sound, the Zen Air 2 will leave you wanting. And if you're paying more than USD 30 or CAD 50, you're overpaying. Simple as that.
Verdict
If you can snag these for USD 25 or CAD 34, they're a no-brainer for ANC on a budget. The connectivity is best-in-class, the fit is comfy, and the ANC is genuinely impressive. But the battery life is a constant annoyance, and the sound is just average. At the higher end of the price spread, skip them and grab the Anker Space A40 or EarFun Air Pro 4+ instead.
