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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're on a budget and need wireless convenience for day-to-day activities like exercise, the Creative Labs Zen Air is a solid choice, especially with its good noise isolation, sweatproof certification, and added features like a built-in mic and wireless charging. However, the Focal Elex, despite its higher price, offers superior sound quality, comfort, and an open-back design which creates a more natural and immersive soundstage, better suited for critical listening and enjoying music at home. The Focal Elex is wired and lacks modern features like a mic and active noise cancelling, making them less versatile for calls, travel, and use in noisier environments. 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 Zen Air
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Focal Elex
- Good for music
- Very good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
6.8
7.7
The Focal Elex is good for music, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is only fair.
Gaming
5.1
6.9
The Focal Elex is only fair for gaming, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Phone Calls
5.1
4.3
The Creative Labs Zen Air and Focal Elex are both poor for phone calls, though the Creative Labs Zen Air is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.4
7.1
The Focal Elex is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
8.3
The Focal Elex is very good for TV and video, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0
2.5
The Creative Labs Zen Air is good for noise reduction, while the Focal Elex is poor.
Battery
5.0 Hours
N/A
The Creative Labs Zen Air has 5 hours of battery life. The Focal Elex does not have a battery.
Cost
$30
$749
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Creative Labs Zen Air has a price of $30 and the Focal Elex costs $749.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Creative Labs Zen Air and Focal Elex both have excellent build quality.
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How the Creative Labs Zen Air and the Focal Elex compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Creative Labs Zen Air | Focal Elex |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$30 | $749 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Creative Labs | Focal | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2022 | December 1, 2017 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.9/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 4.4/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.1/10 | 6.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.9/10 | 4.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 12 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 7/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5 Grams | 450 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
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."
Focal Elex
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Dig into reviews and images
Golden Sound
Golden Sound | October 2021
"The Focal Elex are an excellent pair of headphones for the money and a great all-rounder that will suit many tastes. They’re an easy recommendation for anyone looking for something comfortable, well built, that looks good, and will work with just about any genre."
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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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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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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.
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