Due in part to the larger battery capacities of the earphones and case, the rather large charging case is nine grammes heavier at 74 grammes. A high degree of shielding from the outside world and a firm, stable fit are the benefits of the slightly larger housing design that fully fills the ear. The IPX5-compliant sweat- and water-resistant finish makes the Creative Outlier Pro perfect for outdoor use and sports. However, because the housings clearly protrude from the ears, there is limited compatibility with wearing caps. also you can check our article on Creative Outlier Pro review.
Creative Outlier Pro review: Design
Since the original version, the Outlier Air series’ appearance and design have remained fairly constant while getting smaller and lighter. The Creative Outlier Pro features some outrageous flair in addition to the chunkier original aesthetic. They are larger, chunkier, and a few grammes heavier. The metallic umber finish is distinctive, and its glossy appearance and reflective touch area give the impression that the earbuds are more expensive than their affordable price would imply. The Outlier Pro seamlessly integrates into one of the best-fitting genuine wireless series. These have been used by us on runs numerous times and have never moved. Small, medium, and large silicone ear tips are available. Since they have the same IPX5 rating as the Outlier Air V3, they should be able to withstand “sustained, low pressure water jet spray,” such as a light rain shower or a tap spray, so they could theoretically be cleaned and dried. One shortcoming of the series has been using the Outlier wireless earbuds. The Outlier Pro feels like Creative has finally struck its sweet spot with the V3, which was an improvement over the Outlier Air V2. The touch control surface may be larger or more responsive to presses, but attempts to pause playback or adjust the volume almost always hit the mark. That is not to imply that there isn’t some awkwardness present. A triple tap activates your device’s voice assistant on both buds while a double tap on the right and left bud toggles between play/pause and noise control, respectively. At least in the Creative app, there is the option to customize the controls, which is initially confusing if you’ve tried to skip on the right bud and think that the same on the left would result in skipping backwards. Volume control is automatically linked to a hold on either bud.
Comfort
The Creative Outlier Pro’s earphone is comparatively homogenous. They have an almost deep golden color and an offset, slightly metallic brown gloss that matches the case’s metallic finish. They are oval-shaped. According to the Creative website, which we can believe, the correct term is “Metallic Umber,” but you see what we mean. You might prefer the option of having something fully in black or white even though it is a common hue. Unfortunately, the option is not yet accessible, but perhaps Creative will include more color options in later versions. The earphones themselves weigh 7.2g/0.25oz each, which is significantly heavier than most other earbuds. For instance, Anker’s Soundcore Life P3 earbuds weigh 4.8g (017oz) while Apple’s AirPods weigh 4g (0.14oz). The extra weight is undetectable once you insert the Creative Outlier Pro earbuds into your ears, though. The earbuds’ balanced design ensures that they provide support around the ear when you insert them, preventing unneeded discomfort from the added weight. also you will learn our article on Creative Outlier Pro review.
Creative Outlier Pro review: Connectivity
We experimented with connecting the earbuds to other gadgets, including a smartphone and a gaming console. In each case, Bluetooth 5.2 pairing was rapid and simple. When you transfer the buds from the charging case to your ears after the initial connection, they will immediately connect to your linked smartphone. However, the rather long amount of time it takes for the buds to connect left us feeling a little let down. On average, it only takes a few extra seconds than other buds, but if you’ve previously used Bluetooth earbuds with a faster pairing speed, you’ll definitely notice the difference. However, there were no problems with continuing connectivity after they were linked. Never once did background noise cause the earbuds to lose connection or pause at random. With the Creative Outlier Pro wireless earbuds, you can be sure that you’ll be able to listen to your favorite music and podcasts without interruption.
Noise canceling
The hybrid Active Noise Cancellation from Creative performs as advertised. The system uses feedforward and feedback microphones to cancel out accidental sounds, at least the majority of them, and adapts to the environment. Through the five-level Noise Control setting in the Creative app, users have complete control over how much noise they want to block out. The slider makes ANC adjustments simple, and choosing Max level gives you the best noise reduction. Additionally, it uses power quickly. We couldn’t have been happier with how many outside noises these buds muffled as someone who frequently changes his work environment. Inside, ANC eliminated all low- and mid-frequency sounds, particularly boisterous conversation and any commotion emanating from the washing area, which is close to the living room. Even our toddler’s exuberant screams and electronic boombox were muffled enough to not bother us during working hours. The benefits of using the Outlier Pro ANC outdoors are comparable. The landscaping that was being done on the ends of the home and any planes that passed over it went unseen. With the technology muzzling dribbling sounds and the thud of airballs hitting the garage door, shooting hoops in the backyard was serene. Turn on Ambient Mode to hear what is going on around you if you want to become more aware of your surroundings. It has five settings to change how much noise the microphones pick up, similar to ANC. If you want to hear or speak clearly to other people, keep it at maximum; turning it down muffles vocals. In addition, the feature was helpful for monitoring approaching traffic while out for strolls with our baby boy.
Creative Outlier Pro review: Audio performance
The Outlier Air v3 and Creative Outlier Pro are clearly different from one another in that the latter retrieves more detail with a crisper and sharper approach, while the Outlier Pro’s smoother approach lacks the same level of detail but stays away from the sibilant tones of the Outlier Air and has a stronger bass. In comparison to the Outlier Air v3, it boasts a thicker soundstage, giving it more presence in the bass ranges. While the Outlier Air carries with more punch and attack, the Outlier Pro’s bass line is more subtly described and richer in tone during a play of Magic Sword’s Only Way In. There is more detail in the low frequencies, so we actually prefer the Outlier Air’s performance in this area. However, the Outlier Pro has its advantages for those who prefer a warmer, smoother approach to bass handling. The Outlier Air has the superior audio quality of the two buds; they perform with greater clarity, detail, and energy, but there are some situations when the Outlier Pro comes out on top. With Tune-Yards’ Hypnotized, for example, they manage vocals a little better because they are better shielded from the beats when it gets more frantic around the minute mark, making Merrill Garbus’ vocal stylings more discernible. The edges of Mikhala Jené’s voice are clipped off with the Outlier Air, whereas this is not the case with the Outlier Pro when listening to her vocals in Black Love. The level of general detail that the Outlier Pro can extract from tracks is the other side of the coin. The Outlier Air takes a far more direct and combative stance. Black Love begins with a guitar strum and a piano background, but Black Love is considerably more detailed since we can hear more of the guitar strings being picked and the piano notes are more dynamic. The width of the soundstage isn’t much different; rather, it’s what each earbud does within it that differentiates it. With GoGo Penguin’s Atomised, The Outlier Pro sound duller, less detailed and dynamic, and are less talented at the top end of the frequency range. Not Creative’s best-sounding bud, but still enjoyable to listen to.
Call performance
This is a good headset for calls. Any calls made inside were successfully answered, despite some people’s complaints about slight muffling. It was difficult for anyone to hear me outside, especially in areas with a lot of traffic, because the microphones picked up a lot of background noise. We are still in disbelief that when our family member called us from the backyard, she could hear cars driving past the front of the house. Consider that evidence of Creative’s effective microphone array.
Battery and charging
For the price, the battery life of the Creative Outlier Pro is great. With ANC disabled, you can play for about 15 hours on a single charge. The charging case can extend that time by up to 45 hours, giving you a total of 60 hours of playtime before it needs to be recharged. The amount of time reduced to 10 hours on a single charge and 40 hours when using the charging case when ANC is enabled is still quite impressive for a pair of earbuds that are reasonably priced. In our testing, we discovered that charging the earbuds in the charging case also happens fairly quickly. With ANC turned off, we were able to get about 10 to 15 minutes of listening time after charging. The bold claim that the typical user will only need to charge the case twice per month is made on Creative’s website. We tend to agree, but if you use the earbuds frequently with features like ANC turned on, expect this statistic to change. you can read our article on Creative Outlier Pro review.
Price and Availability
Creative directly sells the Outlier Pro ANC for $89 on their website (opens in new tab). With the current early bird discount (Coupon Code: EARLYBIRD25), you may get a pair for only $65 (savings of 25%). Metallic Umber is the only colour that is offered. A wireless charging case, USB-C charging cable, three sets of ear tips in various sizes, a guide start guide, a compliance leaflet, and a warranty are all included in the box.
Conclusion
Creative’s noise-canceling Outlier Pro truly wireless headphones provide excellent audio quality, a long battery life, and several in-app customization options. However, the earpieces and their charging case are pretty hefty, and they don’t really refute our claim that strong active noise cancelling (ANC) is difficult to obtain in this budget-friendly price range. The Anker Soundcore Life P3 earphones, which won our Editors’ Choice award, are $10 less expensive and provide the best noise cancellation you can get for less than $100.
