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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If you prefer wireless convenience, go for the Creative Labs Zen Air; they're great for commuting and have active noise cancelling to quiet down your environment, plus a longer battery life for extended use. However, for critical listening, the Moondrop Chu offers very good wired sound quality and is better suited for gaming and calls due to its superior mic quality. Neither is ideal for exercise due to their form factors and the Zen Air's lower durability. Choose based on whether wireless features and noise cancelling or sound and mic quality are more important to you. 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 Moondrop Chu
- Good for music
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
6.8
7.9
The Moondrop Chu is good for music, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is only fair.
Gaming
5.1
8.0
The Moondrop Chu is very good for gaming, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Phone Calls
5.1
8.8
The Moondrop Chu is very good for phone calls, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.4
7.6
The Moondrop Chu is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
7.5
The Moondrop Chu is good for TV and video, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Noise Reduction
7.0
6.0
The Creative Labs Zen Air is good for noise reduction, while the Moondrop Chu is only fair.
Battery
5.0 Hours
N/A
The Creative Labs Zen Air has 5 hours of battery life. The Moondrop Chu does not have a battery.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Creative Labs Zen Air has excellent build quality, while the Moondrop Chu has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Cost
$20
$18
$0
$10
$20
$30
$40
$50
The Creative Labs Zen Air has a price of $20 and the Moondrop Chu costs $18.
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How the Creative Labs Zen Air and the Moondrop Chu compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Creative Labs Zen Air | Moondrop Chu |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$20 | $18 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Creative Labs | Moondrop | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2022 | April 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.9/10 | 8/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.1/10 | 8.1/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.9/10 | 4.4/10 | |
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 | 6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | Yes | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5 Grams | 8 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | In-Line | |
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."
Moondrop Chu
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Jasper Lastoria | September 2022
"These budget buds put the pressure on those premium priced in-ear monitors to really justify the cost disparity. Offering excellent sound quality at any price, the Moondrop Chu is both a perfect entry into the audio enthusiast hobby, and an all around good pick for music fans."
Get a great deal on the Creative Labs Zen Air or the Moondrop Chu
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 Moondrop
Moondrop is a Chinese brand of smart audio equipment, portable audio players, earbuds and headphones started in 2015. During the last few years they have become one of the major players in what is lovingly referred to as the Chi-fi market, the bulk of Chinese companies that have managed to actually compete with the western manufacturers in both prices and superior quality. Products such as the Blessing II, Chu and Kato are among the most popular offerings of the brand, more popular among those users that wish for good quality audio that won't break the bank. Besides audio, the brand also works in what they call the ACGN field (Animation, Comics, Games and Short Novels).
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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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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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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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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.
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