Author: Today I will spend Honor Magic Earbuds review... The earbuds are actually the same Honor FlyPods 3 that were previously released in China in 2020. The Honor Magic earbuds are no larger than lipstick in size, but there is an active noise cancellation function, IP54 moisture protection, touch control, and the price is only $ 110 (8,000 rubles). So is Honor Magic Earbuds (FlyPods 3) worth buying?
FlyPods 3 advantages and disadvantages
- Firm fit
- Relatively low price
- Smooth case
- Effective Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
- Fast Bluetooth 5.0 connection
- Weak bass
- Low battery life
Kit and characteristics
Equipment
- Honor Magic Earbuds
- Charging cable
- Charging case
- 3 pairs of interchangeable ear pads
- Instructions
Characteristics
| Parameter | A type |
|---|---|
| Connection type | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| frequency range | 20-20000 Hz |
| Sensitivity | -75 dB |
| Range | 10 m |
| Noise suppression | Active (ANC) |
| Playback control | there is |
| Work indicators | there is |
| Working hours | 3 h |
| Case work time | 13 h |
| USB connector | Type-C |
| Audio protocols | A2DP 1.3, HFP 1.6 and AVRCP 1.5 |
| Microphone | there is |
| Weight | 10.4 g |
| Colour | White, mint |
| Moisture protection | IP54 |
| Price | 110 $ (8000 rub) |
Honor Magic Earbuds (FlyPods 3) Short Review
When the Honor Magic Earbuds were first announced, I was intrigued. Considering the shape is close to AirPods Pro and the price is lower than many models on the market, I wondered - could Honor's FlyPods 3 become a real competitor to the flagship wireless headphones of 2020?
Add to that Active Noise Canceling (ANC), a feature that is still a rarity for TWS in-ear headphones. Not to mention the many other features of the Honor Magic Earbuds, which are at least stated in the specifications.
Not every technology and feature in this gadget pays off, and the sound can be disappointing for those looking for AirPods-like performance. However, some aspects of the Honor Magic's design deserve attention. Why? You will find out below in the FlyPods 3 review.
Honor Magic price and availability
Price 110 $ (8000 rubles) suggests that the headphones are "average", which means that you should not expect the best technical characteristics or performance on the market. And the question, as always, is, is the quality and performance up to the price?
If you want to choose the best and most affordable gadget, then check out TOP wireless headphones this year
The headphones have already entered the market and are available for order from May 5 in Russia, the UK and Europe.
Video review
Honor Magic design
During the review of Honor Magic Earbuds, the gadget immediately made it clear that it is almost a complete copy of the Apple AirPods Pro. The Flypods 3 have a nearly identical design with adjustable ear tips for a snug fit in your ears and it's clear that Honor isn't trying too hard to uniquely customize its product.
The earbuds do fit snugly, although they are more boxy than the AirPods Pro, which can lead to some discomfort during extended listening sessions. However, this is by no means spoiling them, I think they are comfortable and stylish enough for daily use.
For the Honor Magic review, a pure white gadget (Pearl White) was taken. But you can also buy Flypods 3 in Mint (Robin Egg Blue) if you want something different from the many AirPods kits.
In the box, you get several sizes of ear cushions, as well as a USB-C cable for charging the case. Honor Magic has a horizontal version of the charging case, which means that the earbuds lie on the side.You will hear a slight click when you fold the headphones into the case - these are magnets that attach the headphones to the inside of the case.
There is a pairing button on the back of the case. If you open the case and hold the connect button until the white light turns on, the gadget is activated and will be available for pairing with any device (smartphone, tablet, PC, etc.).
However, when the headphones are connected to a smartphone, there is no sound from the connection. This, of course, is a drawback, since you have to turn on the music carefully, checking if the headphones are connected.
Connection and usability
Continuing the theme of the connection review, Honor Magic Earbuds (FlyPods 3) supports quick pairing function when you open the case. By lifting the lid next to your Huawei or Honor mobile phone, a pairing request will appear. After a successful connection, the data about the charging case and headphones will be displayed. After connecting to a smartphone, the gadget can be configured in the Huawei AI Life app.
The Honor Magic Earbuds also received a touch unit, which makes the design of the headset minimalist, and the controls are more sensitive, which allows you to give commands even if you are wearing a hat. By touching both sides of FlyPods 3, you can adjust music playback, answer calls, and call your voice assistant. Long press the headphone sensor to turn ANC on or off.
| Act | Function |
|---|---|
| Double-tap one of the earbuds | Play and pause music |
| Answer and end the call | |
| Holding one of the headphones | Turn on / off noise canceling |
In the Huawei AI Life app, the headphones can be customized the way you want, for yourself.
In addition, the functionality of the headset can be adjusted in Bluetooth settings, including smart detection. When I removed the headset, the music would automatically pause, and when I put it on, the Honor Magic Earbuds kept playing, eliminating the need for manual control.
Noise Canceling Honor Magic Earbuds (FlyPods 3)
One of the main advantages of the Honor Magic Earbuds is the Active Noise Cancellation function. Each FlyPods 3 headset has two microphones for noise reduction: an external microphone picks up ambient noise, and an internal microphone picks up and suppresses excess noise in the ear canal. The combination of two noise cancellation technologies significantly reduces noise levels. When reviewing the Honor Magic Earbuds (FlyPods 3) on the road, noise cancellation significantly protects against low frequency traffic noise (engine noise, tire noise, and so on).
But this is one of the main problems in trips and travels: the roar of aircraft engines or the sound of rails is very sharp and terribly annoying for several hours of travel. So after wearing Honor FlyPods 3, according to the official statement of the company, the noise canceling efficiency of the headphones can reach -32dB. And so it turned out: when testing for the review of Honor Magic Earbuds, ambient sounds and noises were almost inaudible on the train.
In places like cafes and libraries, it is difficult to avoid conversation sounds or other noises, so FlyPods 3 (TWS) Wireless Bluetooth Headset with ANC will come in handy like never before.
But not only is the external noise cancellation excellent, but also the isolation of the Honor Magic microphone works extremely effectively during conversations - the headphones received three MEMS microphones. When we speak on the phone, it is often difficult to hear the interlocutor because of the sounds around us, therefore these microphones are necessary to pick up and transmit your voice.
Battery life
The Honor Magic Earbuds review showed that the battery life of the earbuds is 3.5 hours (listening to music) or about 2.5 hours (calling). But the charging case will increase the work up to 14.5 hours. It's not that much by modern standards, but enough to keep you listening to music all day long.
| Act | Working hours |
|---|---|
| Music | 3 hours (with ANC) |
| 3.5 hours (no ANC) | |
| Calls | 2 hours (with ANC) |
| 2.5 hours (no ANC) | |
| Standby mode | Up to 12 days |
FlyPods 3 sound quality
For a review of the Honor Magic Earbuds sound, I listened to the classic Hurts song "Stay" and found the sound to shake slightly during the chorus.This is "cured" by decreasing the volume, but this is still a minus, since it is unclear how to listen to music in a traffic jam or subway.
While testing TWS FlyPods 3, I noticed that the low frequencies are lost or the low mids are converted. This creates a rather pleasant music, where the frequencies complement each other, but the balance is not felt. Audiophiles will definitely not like this gadget.
But the mids of the Magic Earbuds sound much better. Rock and pop sound great and the vocals are pretty crisp. There is practically no bass, which means that you should not take this gadget if you are a lover of driving music and powerful beats.
Frequency response analysis showed a V-shaped sound. Above 7 kHz, there was a slight dip - this range is responsible for the lightness and balance of the sound. The gray color on the graph shows the frequency response for in-ear headphones according to the Harman International team.
Based on these frequency response measurements, the Honor Magic Earbuds' sound profile was developed, close to the perception of the listener.
Turning on the active noise cancellation system slightly degrades the quality, lowering the bass level, which causes a slight blockage in the midrange.
FlyPods 3 review summary
Based on the results of the Honor Magic Earbuds review, I can safely say that the headphones offer quite good quality for their price segment, including active noise cancellation (ANC) and auto pause. I note that the gadget received IP54 protection against moisture and dust.
The audio is a bit harsh and one couldn't help but feel like the sound should be better controlled. I tested the Magic Earbuds with Apple AirPods and found that the latter are much more comfortable to sit in the ears, and have deeper bass and balanced sound.
If you are considering earplugs, we recommend looking at rating of the best plugs of 2020.
Nevertheless, FlyPods 3 headphones can be called a budget replacement for an Apple product, the gadget is good for daily use and will suit 80% of users who are not obsessed with perfect sound!
