A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you primarily listen to music and value sound quality with good noise isolation, the Etymotic ER4XR may suit you better, but they lack a microphone for calls and have no wireless capabilities. Conversely, the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 provide versatility with wireless connectivity, a microphone for calls, and are also sweatproof, making them suitable for exercise. They are more budget-friendly and offer better portability but have lesser noise isolation quality compared to the Etymotics and a lower overall sound quality. Each suits different needs, with the Etymotics excelling in audio fidelity and the Outliers in convenience and cost. 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 Creative Labs Outlier Air V3
- Good for phone calls
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Etymotic ER4XR
- Very good for music
- Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
5.7
8.0
The Etymotic ER4XR is very good for music, while the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is poor.
Gaming
5.1
6.2
The Etymotic ER4XR is only fair for gaming, while the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is poor.
Phone Calls
7.6
4.7
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is good for phone calls, while the Etymotic ER4XR is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.9
7.3
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Etymotic ER4XR is good.
TV and Video
5.4
7.4
The Etymotic ER4XR is good for TV and video, while the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.5
9.1
The Etymotic ER4XR is excellent for noise reduction, while the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is only fair.
Battery
10.0 Hours
N/A
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 has 10 hours of battery life. The Etymotic ER4XR does not have a battery.
Cost
$30
$234
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 has a price of $30 and the Etymotic ER4XR costs $234.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Headphones
Find your new headphones
Key similarities
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 and Etymotic ER4XR both have excellent build quality.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 and the Etymotic ER4XR compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 | Etymotic ER4XR |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$30 | $234 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Creative Labs | Etymotic | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | June 1, 2016 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.7/10 | 8/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.6/10 | 4.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.2/10 | 6.3/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8/10 | 4.1/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 10 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 40 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 6.5/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6.8/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5.2 Grams | 4 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Creative Labs Outlier Air V3
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Trusted Reviews
Kob Monney | July 2022
"The V3 present the best version of the Outlier Air series yet. The new features such as Active Noise Reduction and Ambient mode are integrated well; the performance of both is as good as you’ll get below £100. The design is less bulky and more comfortable thanks to being smaller and lighter, and the Outlier Air V3 eke out more clarity, detail and definition from music."
Etymotic ER4XR
See more
Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | May 2015
"The Etymotic ER4XRs' top qualities are the detail and definition of the midrange, rewarding the closest listening. While the soundstage is large rather than gigantic, the excellent separation and spatial precision mean you can dive deep into music just as much as when wearing a pair of full-size open-backed headphones."
Get a great deal on the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 or the Etymotic ER4XR
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.
About Etymotic
Etymotic Research is an American based research, development and manufacturing company founded in 1983. They invented the first insert earphones that were used for the diagnosis and research of hearing loss and other auditory disorders. They went on to pioneer the market of high fidelity, isolating, in-ear earphones.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 vs. JBL Vibe Beam True Wireless
VS
Compare Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 vs. Skullcandy Dime 2
VS
Compare Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 vs. Creative Labs Zen Air
VS
Compare Etymotic ER4XR vs. Jabra Elite Active 75t
VS
Compare Etymotic ER4XR vs. Sennheiser Accentum Plus
VS
Compare Etymotic ER4XR vs. Sony WF1000XM4
VS
FAQs
FAQs about earbuds and headphones
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.
By the numbers
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
94,700
Recommendations made
14,205
Consumer hours saved
About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
Featured in
