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·
The Creative Labs Outlier Pro is a more budget-friendly option and is suited for a variety of uses including music, calls, and exercise, providing good noise isolation and a comfortable fit, along with wireless convenience and a long battery life. The HifiMan Edition XS delivers superior sound quality and soundstage, ideal for an immersive music and TV experience; however, it's more expensive, lacks a built-in microphone for calls, and is less portable due to its over-ear, open-back design. Consider the Outlier Pro if you prioritize versatility and affordability or the Edition XS for high-fidelity audio at home. 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 Pro
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the HifiMan Edition XS
- Very good for music
- Good for gaming
- Best in class for TV and video
Key differences
Music
5.9
8.8
The HifiMan Edition XS is very good for music, while the Creative Labs Outlier Pro is poor.
Gaming
5.3
7.4
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for gaming, while the Creative Labs Outlier Pro is poor.
Phone Calls
8.3
5.0
The Creative Labs Outlier Pro is very good for phone calls, while the HifiMan Edition XS is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.9
7.9
The Creative Labs Outlier Pro is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the HifiMan Edition XS is good.
TV and Video
5.5
9.5
The HifiMan Edition XS is best in class for TV and video, while the Creative Labs Outlier Pro is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3
2.5
The Creative Labs Outlier Pro is very good for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Edition XS is poor.
Battery
10.0 Hours
N/A
The Creative Labs Outlier Pro has 10 hours of battery life. The HifiMan Edition XS does not have a battery.
Cost
$50
$269
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Creative Labs Outlier Pro has a price of $50 and the HifiMan Edition XS costs $269.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Creative Labs Outlier Pro has excellent build quality, while the HifiMan Edition XS has very good build quality.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Headphones
Find your new headphones
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Creative Labs Outlier Pro and the HifiMan Edition XS compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Creative Labs Outlier Pro | HifiMan Edition XS |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$50 | $269 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Creative Labs | HifiMan | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | December 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 5.9/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.3/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 7.5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8/10 | 4.4/10 | |
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 | 45 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.2 Grams | 421 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Creative Labs Outlier Pro
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Forbes
Brad Moon | September 2022
"If you listen to music for extended periods such as commuting and work, and you hate having to pause to charge, give the Creative Outlier Pro wireless earbuds a try. You should be able to enjoy your tunes all day, or longer, without interruption."
HifiMan Edition XS
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Headphonesty
Eric D Hieger | January 2023
"The Edition XS easily compete with headphones in their price range with a very high price-to-performance ratio. The XS are an amazing value and offer performance not far off from headphones more than twice their cost. These will be a mind-blowing revelation for enthusiasts and music lovers who have only heard standard big-brand mainstream headphones."
Get a great deal on the Creative Labs Outlier Pro or the HifiMan Edition XS
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 HifiMan
HiFiMAN is a Chinese, high-end, audio product manufacturer, with 20 years of experience, that specializes in amplifiers, digital audio players and planar magnetic headphones, some of which have become a staple in the audiophile community such as the entry-level Sundara, the midrange Edition X, and the very well-regarded, high-end, Arya.
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 Pro vs. Soundcore Life P3
VS
Compare Creative Labs Outlier Pro vs. JLab Go Work Wireless
VS
Compare Creative Labs Outlier Pro vs. Razer Kraken
VS
Compare HifiMan Edition XS vs. Apple Airpods Pro
VS
Compare HifiMan Edition XS vs. Bose Quiet Comfort 45
VS
Compare HifiMan Edition XS vs. HifiMan Sundara
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
123,800
Recommendations made
18,570
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
