The earbud market has reached a crossroads. For years, we’ve seen incremental improvements, with features like active noise-canceling (ANC) trickling down from premium models to budget options. AI integration has become the latest trend, but it’s a step sideways at best. This stagnation is why I’ve stuck with my Google Pixel Buds Pro since their 2022 launch. They offer a solid package: ANC, tap controls, Fast Pair, impressive battery life, and a fantastic transparency mode. But the arrival of Creative’s Zen Air SXFI earbuds has challenged my loyalty.
Creative, a relatively niche brand, has packed the Zen Air SXFI with features that make them a compelling option in 2025. Adaptive ANC, up to 39 hours of battery life, surround sound, IPX5 water resistance, and more—all for $80. It’s an ambitious attempt to cram the best of modern earbuds into an affordable package. While compromises are inevitable, Creative’s effort is impressive and thought-provoking.
The Pixel Buds Pro have served me well since August 2022. I don’t use all their features, but they’ve met my needs—until now. After spending a few weeks with the Zen Air SXFI, I realize that when I next upgrade, it won’t be to the Pixel Buds Pro 2. The Zen Air SXFI has introduced me to new possibilities that have reshaped my expectations.
For me, the most important features in earbuds are convenience, battery life, and ANC. The Pixel Buds Pro’s tap controls are intuitive and responsive. You can tap to play, pause, skip tracks, and adjust the volume. A tap and hold toggles between ANC and transparency modes, a feature I use frequently. The Zen Air SXFI offers similar tap controls, but they require stronger taps, and the ANC controls toggle between four modes, which can be cumbersome.
ANC on both sets of earbuds isn’t exceptional, but it’s sufficient for everyday use. If you’re not a frequent flyer or walking through busy streets daily, you don’t need to spend more than $100 to get decent ANC in 2025.
However, the Zen Air SXFI’s SXFI technology has changed my perspective. SXFI aims to recreate the experience of a high-end multi-speaker system through software. While I still prefer my Pixel Buds Pro for music, movies and games are best experienced with the Zen Air SXFI. The surround sound effect is phenomenal, creating a 3D sound effect that’s particularly pronounced in first-person shooter games. Dialogue-heavy movies can be hit or miss, but action movies and games come to life. I’ve even reached for my Zen Air SXFI over my dedicated gaming headset while playing Halo.
SXFI is proprietary, but spatial audio isn’t. While SXFI’s performance was inconsistent, it’s made me curious about other spatial audio technologies, like Bose’s Immersive Audio.
The Zen Air SXFI earbuds, in their attempt to do everything, have made me rethink what I can expect from earbuds in 2025. Don’t compromise on ANC and tap controls, but features like SXFI can change your world. The earbud market is ripe for innovation, and the Zen Air SXFI is a bold step in that direction. As consumers, we should demand more from our earbuds, and Creative’s offering is a wake-up call to the industry. The future of earbuds is not just about incremental improvements but about reimagining what’s possible.
