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The Creative Zen Air Dot was announced a few months ago and is the most affordable true wireless earbuds Creative has at a bargain price of just £30.
These differ from the Creative Zen Air by having an open-fit design without silicon ear tips, similar to the Apple AirPods. At just 7g per earbud, they are some of the smallest and lightest earbuds available.
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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| Creative Zen Air DOT Lightweight True Wireless Sweatproof... |
£29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Specification
- Lightweight design with an open fit
- Sweatproof and water-resistant with an IPX4 rating
- Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity for stable wireless connection
- 13mm custom-tuned neodymium drivers for enhanced audio quality
- Dual microphones with environmental noise cancellation (ENC) technology
- Touch controls for easy playback and call management
- Up to 24 hours of total playtime with the charging case
- USB-C charging for quick and convenient charging
Open Fit Design and Comfort
One of the standout features of the Creative Zen Air Dot is its open fit design. Unlike traditional in-ear earbuds, these earbuds fit loosely in the ear and do not sit in the ear canal. This design ensures a comfortable fit and eliminates any feeling of pressure, even during long periods of use. Additionally, the open fit design allows for better awareness of the surrounding environment, making it ideal for outdoor activities or situations where you need to be alert to your surroundings.
The lightweight construction of the Creative Zen Air Dot further enhances the comfort factor. Weighing just 7g grams per earbud, these earbuds feel almost weightless when worn, making them suitable for extended listening sessions without any discomfort.
These are IPX4 rated, which is the most common IP rating for earbuds, and this makes them suitable for fitness.
I don’t normally get along with this design of earbud, I always struggle to get a good fit due to my large ears. With these, they fit surprisingly well, there is a sense of looseness that comes with this design, but I haven’t had to adjust them when wearing them.
Sound Quality
The Creative Zen Air Dot delivers a well-balanced audio experience and good sound quality, factoring in the price of them.
The 13mm custom-tuned neodymium drivers provide clear and detailed sound reproduction across different genres of music. The mid-range is particularly impressive, offering a spacious and detailed soundstage that brings vocals and audiobooks to life with great clarity.
While the earbuds may not deliver the deepest bass response due to their open fit design, the mid to upper bass range still offers a powerful and crisp sound. This makes the Creative Zen Air Dot suitable for listening to pop and rock music, where the emphasis is on vocals and instrumentals rather than heavy bass.
The high frequencies are lively and present, providing a pleasant listening experience at moderate volume levels. However, at higher volume levels, sibilants can become more incisive, and the upper registers may peak and become sharp. It’s worth noting that these earbuds are not specifically tuned for bass-heavy genres like hip-hop or club music.
Microphone
The Creative Zen Air Dot features dual microphones with environmental noise cancellation (ENC) technology. This technology effectively reduces ambient noise, allowing your voice to remain clear and intelligible during phone calls. Both sides of the conversation can be understood loud and clear, making these earbuds a reliable option for hands-free communication.
It’s important to note that while the voice transmission is clear, it may not sound as natural as higher-priced models. However, considering the price range, the microphone performance of the Creative Zen Air Dot is commendable.
Battery
Despite their compact design, the Creative Zen Air Dot offers impressive battery life. The earbuds themselves provide almost seven hours of listening time at moderate volume, which is better than average, especially when you factor in the size of these earbuds.
Additionally, the charging case can recharge the earbuds two and a half times, extending the total runtime to 24 hours.
Charging the earbuds is a breeze, with a full recharge taking just 90 minutes. The charging case, on the other hand, takes one hour and 50 minutes via USB-C, there is no wireless charging.
Both the earbuds and the case feature LED indicators that display the level of charge, making it easy to keep track of battery life.
Price and Alternative Options
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| Creative Zen Air DOT Lightweight True Wireless Sweatproof... |
£29.99 | Buy on Amazon | |
| Creative Zen Air Lightweight True Wireless Sweatproof... |
£39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
The Creative Zen Air Dot is priced at just £29.99, making it an incredibly affordable option in the true wireless earbuds market. With its impressive features and decent sound quality, it offers great value for money. However, if you prefer a bass-emphasised tuning or a more secure fit, you may want to consider alternative options.
One alternative to the Creative Zen Air Dot is the Creative Zen Air, which offers a similar design and functionality but with a slightly higher price tag of £34.99. The Zen Air provides a tighter fit and a more pronounced bass response, making it suitable for bass enthusiasts.
Conclusion
There isn’t much to criticise with the Creative Zen Air Dot.
At the £30 price point, you have to have realistic expectations. The low price point and open-fit design mean that these are not the best-sounding earbuds overall, the bass is a bit lacking and the highs can get sharp at higher volumes.
But, they sound good for earbuds at this price.
The small and lightweight build combined with the open-fit design makes these incredibly comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, and I think they will work well for anyone who doesn’t like silicon tips earbuds.
Overall, these are excellent budget earbuds.
Creative Zen Air Dot Review
Summary
Overall, these are excellent budget earbuds that are incredibly comfortable to wear and provide good sound for the price.
Overall
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Overall - 75%75%
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
Last update on 2024-04-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
