Edifier TWS NB2 and MP380: Noise-cancelling TWS earbuds for RM349, anyone?

It’s 2020, and plenty of smartphones are now arriving without traditional 3.5mm headphone jacks. Instead, wireless headphones have now become the norm for any self-respecting smartphone user, and the market has slowly—but surely—become a little oversaturated. That said, if you’re looking for something that’s a little more on the affordable, Edifier has just announced two new releases for the Malaysian market.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Edifier TWS NB2 and the Edifier MP380.

Edifier TWS NB2

Edifier’s second-generation flagship TWS earbuds have quite a lot going for it at a fairly low price point. The company says that “Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling” has been improved over its predecessor by 28 percent, with dual microphones used to capture—and cancel—ambient noise in the surroundings. Like many other noise-cancelling headphones, you’ll be able to switch to an Ambient Mode, which will pipe in audio from your surroundings.

When in Gaming Mode, the Edifier TWS NB2 has a fairly impressive low latency of just 80ms. For some context, the AirPods Pro has a latency of 144ms, although Apple’s iconic TWS earbuds don’t have a gaming mode of any sort (and they aren’t marketed for gaming, either).

Additionally, the TWS NB2 has an IP54 splash and dust water resistance rating, which basically means that it should handle rain or light splashes. However, do note that you will not be able to take these swimming. As for the rest of the headphones, you’re also getting a large 10mm graphene diaphragm, which Edifier says contributes to “powerful and punchy bass”, while maintaining decent highs and mids.

Battery life is also one of the more impressive specs. We’re talking about up to 9 hours of usage with ANC off, while you’ll still get 7 hours out of the earbuds with ANC turned on. Meanwhile, a USB-C charging case offers 18 hours of additional usage with ANC, and 23 hours without noise cancelling turned on.

At a price of RM349, I’d say that Edifier’s latest TWS headphones’ direct rival would be the Honor Magic Earbuds (RM399)—but while Honor’s headphones certainly sound good, they have significantly poorer battery life compared to the TWS NB2.

Edifier MP380

Meanwhile, the Edifier MP380 has also hit Malaysian shores. A portable Bluetooth speaker, the MP380 has a complete 2.1 sound system built in, along with a 48mm driver and a 33cm passive radiator for the bass. For calls—because virtual meetings look like they’re here to stay—there’s also a built-in microphone, along with a headphone jack port for easy access. Meanwhile, the MP380 has up to 8 hours of playback time, thanks to twin 2,600mAh batteries.

What’s rather interesting about the MP380 is the inclusion of a variety of ports: three USB-A ports, a single AUX port, as well as a microSD card slot. Besides the ability to play music onto the speakers via external storage, this also means that Edifier’s speaker doubles up as a USB hub: plug in your keyboard/mouse, and connect the “hub” to your PC. Pretty neat.

The Edifier TWS NB2 and MP380 are now available on Edifier’s Lazada store, with official pricing as follows:

Edifier TWS NB2 – RM349
Edifier TWS MP380 – RM299

So, what do you think? At a price of RM349, the TWS NB2 is certainly an interesting bang-for-buck proposition, while the MP380 might just fill the niche for those looking for a portable, “multi-functional” portable speaker.