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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If you're looking for premium sound quality, especially for music, and active noise cancelling, the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ with aptX Adaptive codec might be the right choice, though at a higher cost. They also offer better build quality and are suited for exercise with sweatproof features. However, if budget is a concern and you need earbuds with good sound for calls, the Creative Labs Zen Air are more affordable and offer virtual surround, which is absent in the Beoplay EQ. But the Zen Air might fall short in areas like gaming, TV, and music enjoyment due to lower performance scores in those aspects. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ
- Good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Creative Labs Zen Air
- The Creative Labs Zen Air has no clear advantages over the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ.
Key differences
Gaming
8.4
5.1
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ is very good for gaming, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Phone Calls
7.2
5.1
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ is good for phone calls, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.8
5.4
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
TV and Video
7.8
5.6
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ is good for TV and video, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Battery
6.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Creative Labs Zen Air has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$176
$30
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ has a price of $176 and the Creative Labs Zen Air costs $30.
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Key similarities
Music
6.8
6.8
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ and Creative Labs Zen Air are both only fair for music.
Noise Reduction
7.0
7.0
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ and Creative Labs Zen Air are both good for noise reduction.
Build Quality
8.9
9.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Creative Labs Zen Air to have excellent build quality, while the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ has very good build quality.
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How the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ and the Creative Labs Zen Air compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ | Creative Labs Zen Air |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$176 | $30 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bang and Olufsen | Creative Labs | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2021 | December 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.9/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.2/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 8.4/10 | 5.1/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 7.8/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.4/10 | 6.9/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6.5 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 20 | 12 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8 Grams | 5 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ
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Dig into reviews and images
PC Mag
Tim Gideon | March 2022
"Bang & Olufsen’s audio products prioritize style and function just as much as sound quality. The company’s latest Beoplay EQ noise-cancelling true wireless earphones combine strong, accurate-leaning audio with solid noise cancellation in an exceedingly classy design."
Creative Labs Zen Air
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphone Check
Maike Paeßens | February 2023
"The Creative Zen Air’s weak points are its low battery life and rather short Bluetooth range. On the other hand, the strengths of these weatherproof True Wireless in-Ears are the sound and the wide attenuation of the Active Noise Cancellation. Considering the price range, the speech intelligibility during calls is also exceptionally good."
Get a great deal on the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EQ or the Creative Labs Zen Air
About Bang and Olufsen
Bang and Olufsen is an almost century-old electronic goods manufacturer based in Denmark with a very special focus on design. Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen created the first AC radio in 1925 and went on to develop televisions, telephones and, of course, headphones and loudspeakers. Today, they are partnered with several companies, like Audi, BMW and Aston Martin, to provide very high-quality audio solutions.
About Creative Labs
Creative Labs is a Singaporean technology company specialized in the manufacture of multimedia products. They created the world-famous Soundblaster soundcard back in 1989 which was a staple of the gaming community for a long time. Nowadays, besides still marketing their discrete audio systems, they offer a wide array of headphones, gaming headsets and speakers that still preserve that same heritage.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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