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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize great sound with a wide soundstage for a more immersive music experience, the Philips Fidelio X2HR headphones are superior, but keep in mind they are open-back, making them less suitable for noisy environments as they offer minimal noise isolation. They're also better for TV and gaming due to lower latency when wired, but they're not portable and not designed for exercise or travel. Alternatively, the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 earbuds cost less and offer wireless convenience, good for exercise with sweatproof certification, and are more portable, but they have lower overall sound quality compared to the Philips and may not provide the same level of detail or spaciousness in audio. Additionally, the Creative Labs model is better for calls given their integrated microphone. 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 Philips Fidelio X2HR
- Excellent for music
- Good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
5.7
9.3
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is excellent for music, while the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is poor.
Gaming
5.1
7.0
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is good for gaming, while the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is poor.
Phone Calls
7.6
5.0
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is good for phone calls, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.9
7.9
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is good.
TV and Video
5.4
8.8
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is very good for TV and video, while the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
6.5
2.5
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is only fair for noise reduction, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is poor.
Battery
10.0 Hours
N/A
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 has 10 hours of battery life. The Philips Fidelio X2HR does not have a battery.
Cost
$30
$148
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 has a price of $30 and the Philips Fidelio X2HR costs $148.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 and Philips Fidelio X2HR both have excellent build quality.
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How the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 and the Philips Fidelio X2HR compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 | Philips Fidelio X2HR |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$30 | $148 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Creative Labs | Philips | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2021 | September 1, 2014 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.7/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7.6/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.2/10 | 7.1/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.5/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8/10 | 4.5/10 | |
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 | 2.5/10 | |
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 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5.2 Grams | 390 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Creative Labs Outlier Air V3
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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."
Philips Fidelio X2HR
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Liquid Audio
Stefan | May 2022
"This piece is a fantastic option for music lovers searching for premium sound and a snug fit. You should get these headphones if you care about sound quality and want to hear music in a new light. This technology is a great option for high-quality headphones with superb sound reproduction."
Get a great deal on the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 or the Philips Fidelio X2HR
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 Philips
Philips is a Dutch conglomerate and electronics manufacturer with over 130 years of history. Philips makes the Fidelio audio line which includes several models of full-sized wired and wireless headphones, true wireless earbuds. soundbars and wireless speakers.
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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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