Rose Technics EARFREE i3 - Good Tuning Held Back by Poor Functions

2.5⭐️

+ Warm, bassy tuning

+ Companion app adds extra functions/EQ profiles

+ Battery life

+ Compact case

+ 3 Color options available 

- Soundstage

- Touch controls have a learning curve and are inconsistent 

- Gaming mode doesn't lower latency enough to be beneficial

- ANC mode decreases sound quality

- Transparent mode unusable in wind

- This shape of earbuds hurts my ears over time (subjective)

- Price isn't very competitive in today's market

- Voice prompts only in Mandarin but can be changed to English with the app

thaslaya's star rating system:

☆☆☆☆☆ - Fantastic!

☆☆☆☆ - Recommend

☆☆☆ - Sound for thee, not for me

☆☆ - Can't see the appeal

☆ - Product is a failure

Disclaimer: 

This product was provided to me by Rose Technics in exchange for my impartial and honest review. I receive no compensation, and all thoughts and opinions are my own. A special thanks to Yu at Rose Technics for coordinating this unit for review.

Non- affiliate link for those interested: https://rosetechnics.com/products/earfreei-3-active-noise-cancellation-tws-earbuds-anc-ipx5-earphones-gaming-earbuds

Gear used: 

● Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra

● Nintendo Switch

Source:

● Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD. Gaming through Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and Nintendo Switch.

Introduction:

Rose Technics has made a name for itself with both its TWS and iems. It has even recently released a dongle DAC/amp. The EARFREE i3 is a TWS that adopts a shape and size similar to the very popular AirPods. This set boasts many features and a companion app as well for further customization. It is currently available for $49.99 on the Rose Technics site. Let's break down the whole package and see how it stacks up in today's market.

Build, fit, ergonomics:

The i3 is available in three colors: black/gray, pink/white, and champagne. The unboxing experience is on par for a set costing $50. The box is fairly small in size and contains the TWS in the charging case, four sets of ear tips, a charging cable, and even a larger case to protect the charging case. The earbud shape is very reminiscent of the Apple AirPods. I don't typically like this style of earbuds due to discomfort, but that's just my preference. The i3s are made of plastic, feel lightweight and durable enough, but I wouldn't want to drop them from too high. The charging case is lightweight, compact, and easily pocketable. It is also made of plastic but still durable and well-built. The larger clamshell case that holds the charging case seems a bit redundant. It does add another layer of protection, but it's also a bit bulky, and most people will likely opt to just carry the charging case itself. There is also a standard USB-A to USB-C cable included for charging the case. The included ear tip selection is somewhat limited. There are three pairs of silicone tips and one pair of foam tips. I ended up using the largest silicone tips and find the comfort to be adequate for me. I can wear the i3 for up to an hour or so before fatigue begins to set in, which is better than similarly shaped sets I've tried in the past.

Functions and battery life:

One of the more important features of most TWS earbuds is the touch controls. The i3's controls are a bit inconsistent. Operating them requires more of a pinch technique on the stem of the earbuds rather than a simple touch. When it works, it's easy and intuitive, but unfortunately, it doesn't always work consistently. There's a kind of sweet spot, so there's a bit of a learning curve to using them. Also, the slight click that sounds when the button is pressed is very soft and can't be heard when the volume is medium or higher. Holding the button cycles through the transparency mode and ANC on/off. Unfortunately, the voice prompts are in Mandarin by default, but by using the Roselink app, the voice can be changed to English with a firmware update. Toggling through the three options is actually easier using the companion app and can be done with just a touch. Within the app, there are three sound profiles to choose from. The default is “POP,” but there are also “Hi-Fi” and “Rock.” Unfortunately, the last two options are locked behind the app. The app can also be used to add custom touch controls to each side, toggle “Game mode,” switch ANC modes, activate LDAC, use dual-device connections, and can even turn the touch controls off completely.

I've been using the i3 earbuds on and off for a couple of months, and I've only had to charge the case once since the initial charge I did when I received them. Granted, I typically only use them for about five to six hours a week, but I'm still quite impressed with the battery life of the case and earbuds. For my use, it's great not to have to worry about charging them frequently, and I can pop them in when I need to.

Sound impressions:

Unfortunately, when I enable ANC mode, the audio quality suffers significantly. The soundstage becomes narrow, and the bass and treble have severe roll-off and lack extension. Personally, I never use ANC modes anyway, but it is something to note for those who want it. I also do not regularly use transparency mode either. This option on the i3 causes slight wind and air to sound very harsh. It's not great to have enabled when out and about, which is kind of the whole point of it, so it is effectively useless.

As far as gaming is concerned, the i3 features a low-latency game mode that can be toggled on or off. I was excited to try this feature and hoped for the best, but unfortunately, I was disappointed. Wireless headphones are much more convenient for gaming, but there are often issues with lag and latency that mean the sound and video don't match up. With "Game mode" enabled, there is indeed a decrease in the overall latency; however, there is still very noticeable lag between the video and audio. It might be adequate for puzzle or turn-based games, but competitive gaming still suffers greatly, as any perceptible lag can make it harder to perform well and make the entire experience less than enjoyable.

The Roselink app is the only way to conveniently switch between the three predefined EQ settings. The "POP" profile suits my tastes the best, so the following impressions are made using this setting.

I would describe the tuning as being U-shaped with a large bass shelf and elevated upper mids. The soundstage is somewhat narrow and lacks depth, but it's not too bad for the price. The detail retrieval is slightly below average, and it's generally not a very resolving set, but its tuning does lean more musical than analytical. The dynamics, imaging, layering, and separation are all a bit lackluster and have below-average performance. There are many wired IEMs at this price and below that do everything better, but they also have to be directly connected with a cable, so ease of use goes in the i3's favor. Unfortunately, the volume level could use more headroom. It can get fairly loud at maximum volume, but then it feels like it's straining.

●Lows - The bass is quite elevated with more emphasis on the mid-bass, but the quality is somewhat bloated, woolly, and soft. It lacks a distinct impact and punch and is not very dynamic in its presentation. The sub-bass does not have the best extension but can rumble low when called for. Overall, the mid-bass does add a decent amount of warmth, but the bass suffers from a slow attack with a longer decay that leads to a messy and unkempt bass response. There is also a fair amount of bleed into the midrange, which can sound muddy depending on the genre and track. Overall, it reminds me of the bass found on most consumer-grade headphones that will be adequate for the masses, but it's not a hifi experience.

●Mids - The lower midrange is slightly recessed due to the elevated midbass. The upper mids are boosted slightly to help the vocals come through more clearly. Male artists are more prone to bass bleeding into the mids than their female counterparts. Vocals are generally good, but their timbre is slightly off. They don't sound as natural and organic as some wired iems I've heard in this price range, but overall they are pretty good. Guitars and other instruments also have that slightly unnatural-sounding timbre, but again, they mostly have good quality. Despite the drawbacks, the midrange is arguably the i3's most impressive frequency band. It's a viable option for those seeking an easy-listening set with an emphasis on vocals.

●Highs - The treble is very polite and tame. The extension rolls off fairly early, so there's not a lot of treble to be heard. But that also means there is no sibilance or harshness present. It's definitely not a treble for those seeking air and sparkle. It mostly stays out of the way of the bass and mids and complements the warmer tuning. To be honest, this is my preference anyway. I will take a rolled-off treble to avoid irritation over a well-extended, sharp presentation any day. But this also leads to a somewhat blunted and incomplete tuning profile, which I can understand won't be to everyone's liking.

In conclusion:

The Rose Technics EARFREE i3 is a difficult one for me to score. They are the first wireless set I've reviewed, and this particular shape of buds doesn't fit my ears the best. I strongly prefer wired iems due to comfort and for their superior sound quality. Plus, I don't personally like or use ANC or transparency modes. That being said, I do like the default POP tuning, and I would score them a bit higher if it were based solely on their sound. They have a warmer, bass-oriented sound that better lends itself to my preferred tuning. But its detail retrieval, layering, separation, and quality of bass are lacking and could be much better. Now, when talking about TWS headphones, it's essential to consider all the additional options and functions, not just the sound quality. The market is currently oversaturated with many inexpensive options (just look at the dozens available on Amazon). I feel like Rose Technics has an advantage in the tuning department because they also make decent iems, but the i3's functions leave a lot to be desired. The companion app does offer some customization and alternate EQ profiles, but what the i3s really need to set themselves apart from the competition are better ANC/transparent modes, more consistent touch controls, and a slightly more competitive pricing. As they are, I do enjoy their tuning, and they are very convenient for on-the-go listening with a small case and decent battery life. However, I would say that they fall short of delivering a complete TWS experience. If ANC/transparency modes are important to you, consider other options.