Home Reviews ,,,,, The last few days in the editorial office were really special because we had in our hands one of the products presented a few weeks ago at the Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas and most coveted by music lovers. We refer to Zolo Liberty +, Anker's true wireless earphones that have stood out for the technology and functionalities proposed, making them a real opponent of Apple's AirPods, until today among the best especially for technology and integration with the operating system of iPhone and iPad.
These headphones are among the most modern that can be found today: completely wireless, they integrate Push and Go technology to be immediately ready right out of the box and can be controlled in some functions via voice assistant. There is a smartphone app that allows you to customize settings, they are sweat resistant and stable and comfortable when worn.
Like those of Apple they are sold together with a case that recharges them ensuring up to 48 hours of additional autonomy, and if this should already be enough to take them into consideration as an effective alternative, two things most of all have completely convinced us: the lower price ( 129.99 euros on Amazon) and the presence of a function dedicated to sound insulation that allows you to activate the microphones to listen to environmental noises in headphones.
Packaging and content
Excellent, from an aesthetic point of view, the sales package, taken care of from the outside with photos and high-level graphics that present the product. In rigid cardboard, to open the box, simply lift the cover with magnetic closure that shows the headphones and case under a transparent plastic lid, well housed within a thick layer of black foam. Below this there are two compartments: in one there is a box with spare parts (rubber pads and flaps of different sizes), in the other a cardboard box contains the user manual, warranty booklet and the charging cable. microUSB with braided nylon sheath.
How the earphones are made
The earphones are very small. Although we presented them by comparing them with AirPods as the latter are of greatest interest to our audience, aesthetically, Zolo Liberty + is very reminiscent of the Samsung Gear IconX headphones. They have an almost spherical shape, with a very strong plastic case to the touch and a large rubber portion that improves grip when worn. On the upper edge there is a small flap that increases the grip inside the ear while on the outer edge a single, large button allows you to manage its functions manually. The contacts for charging the internal battery as well as the network that protects the speakers are gold-plated. Microphone and LED indicator are respectively recessed on the outer edge of each earphone.
The charging case, on the other hand, is externally composed of a satin aluminum shell with black paint, while the interior is in glossy plastic. The closure of the lid is magnetic while on the outer edge there are 3 small LEDs that indicate the amount of energy present in the case (33% each) which are activated by slightly shaking the device. On the external side, well protected by a rubber cap, there is finally the microUSB input for recharging the internal battery.
First pairing: it doesn't get easier than this
Apple's AirPods have been acclaimed for their extreme ease of use. Those of Anker are then very different from this concept. To pair them simply turn on the Bluetooth on the smartphone and remove them from the case: after a few moments they will be shown in the list of nearby earphones, one click and the pairing is completed in a few seconds.
In subsequent uses it will not be necessary to press buttons or follow who knows what gestures. In fact, just put them back in the case to disconnect them from the smartphone and recharge the internal battery, while by removing them in less than two seconds they will be switched on again and paired with the phone.
The application
The Zolo Life application (for iOS and Android) is neither mandatory nor essential, but it allows you to manage a few more parameters if you wish. From here it is in fact possible to adjust the equalization based on the use you are making of the earphones (you can choose between Pop, Jazz, EDM, Classic and Balanced), activate the Anti-loss function (basically the smartphone will signal with a notification every time the earphones come out of the range (10m) of the Bluetooth, so in case they fell out of your pocket …) or the Transparency mode for the function linked to sound insulation that we will deepen in a moment. In reality, the latter can also be activated by pressing and holding the button of one of the two earphones for 3 seconds, thus making its use not only more immediate, but also independent of any software.
What they can do
To control music playback, just a click: a single touch pauses and restarts the playlist or, during a phone call, allows you to hang up. With the prolonged click of a second on the left earphone you go back to the previous track, on the right one you skip to the next one, while in the call it is transferred between the mobile phone and the earphones. If someone is calling you, this click will allow you to hang up without answering. Finally, the double tap allows you to call up Siri on iOS and Google Assistant on Android, with which you can also adjust the volume with a simple voice command.
Acoustic insulation, never again without
One of the most popular features in the editorial office is the sound insulation integrated into the earphones. As anticipated, just hold down the button of one of the two earphones for three seconds: an acoustic signal will warn of the activation (or deactivation) of this function. Basically, the system activates the microphones of both earphones to allow us to listen to environmental noises in the headphones, without having to remove them. In practice, it is possible to use the Zolo Liberty + both to train in the gym or relax on the sofa, completely isolating yourself from the surrounding environment, or to listen to music, manage phone calls and practice healthy jogging outdoors while keeping your ears alert to what is happening. around. Any roar of an engine, the chirping of a bird or even the voice of the person in front speaking to us (and their own) will be heard in clear in the headphones.
Audio quality
From a qualitative point of view, these earphones have nothing to envy to other solutions in the same price range. All frequencies are well reproduced, with crystal clear highs, crisp mids and energetic lows. They surprised us especially with the deactivated sound isolation mode: the headphones manage to balance the ambient noises from the music very well, making us listen to our playlist but at the same time also the external sounds without disturbing the listening, almost as if you were listening to music. from a Bluetooth speaker placed a few meters away instead of earphones tucked into the ears.
AirPods vs Zolo Liberty +, why say yes to one or the other
The integration with the iPhone is won by the AirPods, which are in some cases even more intuitive in use. In fact, it is enough to remove even just one from the ears to pause the music and listen to what a person in front of us is saying while with Anker's earphones it will be necessary to click on one of the two to stop the music and a second prolonged click to activate the microphones and transmit the audio to the headphones (or simply remove the headset from the ear).
But apart from this, the immediacy of use is equal for both, with excellent management of the Bluetooth connection by inserting and removing the earphones from the case that makes the Zolo Liberty + as intuitive as the AirPods. Those of Anker, however, are much more stable in the ears, protrude less and are particularly suitable for physical activity, while with AirPods you will have minimalism and simplicity at the highest level, with touch controls and an even more immediate management of functions via Siri.
Conclusions
Therefore, for those looking for true wireless earphones that are comfortable to wear and easy to use, those from Anker are a valid option because they meet these needs and have nothing to envy to others both for audio quality and materials, and for the functions offered. The autonomy is very good (about 3 hours with a single charge and the possibility of extending it by 48 hours with single recharges via the case) and if the goal is to train in the gym or outdoors, you can hardly get better, especially for the price for which they are offered.
Retail price
Anker's Zolo Liberty + earphones are on sale on Amazon for 129.99 euros.
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