True wireless in-ear headphones with active noise cancellation, 32 hours of battery life and a convincing sound for under 100 euros. Sounds impossible? That is exactly what the Honor Earbuds 2 Lite are supposed to offer. Our test clarifies how coherent the overall package turns out.
Technical data
Bluetooth version | 5.2 |
Maximum operating range | 10m (without obstacle) |
Battery life | Up to 10hrs, 32hrs total with charging case; (varies depending on volume level and audio content) |
Charge Time | around 1.5 hrs. (for charging case + headphones via USB-C) |
Size charging case (W x H x D) | 46 x 61 x 25 mm |
Weight | 41g (Earbuds + charging case); 5.5g per Earbud |
speaker type | 10mm driver (dynamic) |
Bluetooth codecs | SBC, AAC |
Price | € 15.90 * |
Scope of delivery
Honor ships the Earbuds 2 Lite in a compact white cardboard box that is barely larger than the in-ear headphones themselves. When we open it, we are directly greeted by the white charging case. Below that, Honor places a USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable for charging, as well as a couple of additional Eartips in sizes S and L each (size M is already preloaded). A not very useful manual and a warranty card round off the manageable scope of delivery.
Design and workmanship of the Honor Earbuds 2 Lite
In terms of design, the Honor Earbuds 2 Lite, which come in the color Glacier White, are definitely strongly oriented towards the Apple AirPods Pro. Accordingly, they rely on a rather simple style design and a subtle white color scheme without emphasizing any playful designs.
Said styles turn out quite large with a length of around 30 mm. At the bottom of the inner side, the manufacturer places the magnetic contact that holds the Earbuds in the charging case. Beyond that, several microphones are found on the inside and outside, which are used for the ANC function and phone calls, respectively.
The compact charging case with dimensions of 46 x 61 x 25 mm is also rather plain. Above the Honor lettering on the front is an LED indicator that informs about the battery status. The USB-C port for charging the battery is located on the bottom. On the right side we find a small button that triggers pairing via Bluetooth.
Somewhat annoying: Due to the rounded edges of the charging case, it tips over very easily when standing on the floor. A secure standing is almost not possible.
Workmanship
Considering the low price, the workmanship of the Honor Earbuds 2 Lite is quite okay. There is little to complain about on the Earbuds themselves, they are cleanly manufactured and feel quite high-quality.
Only the charging case can be criticized once again, because the snap is a bit too smooth and rickety. Furthermore, the hinge does not really look high-quality. The case should not be transported with an open lid.
Carrying comfort
In terms of wearing comfort, there is nothing to complain about with the Honor Earbuds 2 Lite. They in-ears find a comfortable hold in the ear and sit comfortably without pinching thanks to soft silicone ear tips. In combination with the low weight of only 5.5 grams per Earbud, this ensures high comfort even after hours of use.
However, the Lite-Buds feel relatively loose in the ear, which results in mediocre passive noise suppression on the one hand, and a not quite perfect fit during fast movements on the other. The Earbuds have relatively much room to move during sports, such as jogging, but fortunately they do not fall out or slip. Thanks to IPX4 certification, the Earbuds 2 Lite are also protected against sweat and splashing water.
The automatic wear detection also works practically and reliably. If you remove one of the earbuds, playback is automatically paused and resumed as soon as the Earbud is placed back in the ear canal.
Features and battery life
The Honor Earbuds 2 Lite radio extremely stable thanks to Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity and that too over a distance of around 10 meters even through walls. However, the Bluetooth codecs are not particularly varied. Only AAC and SBC are available, but a high-resolution codec like Qualcomm aptX is unfortunately not supported.
If you press the pairing button on the charging case, the Earbuds are immediately recognized by smartphones and other sources and can be paired right away. After the initial setup, the in-ears reliably connect to the last audio source automatically.
The battery life is also positive. Honor states a maximum runtime of 32 hours in combination with the charging case, which we can almost confirm in our test. The Earbuds with the case lasted just under 30 hours. With active noise cancelling (ANC), the in-ear headphones have a very good runtime of 7 hours; without ANC, we end up with just under 10 hours – very good rates.
Thanks to the quick-charge function, the Earbuds 2 Lite can be charged for four hours in the charging case in about 10 minutes. A full charge of the earbuds takes about an hour, the case is fully charged in one and a half hours.
Operating the Honor Earbuds 2 Lite
The Honor Earbuds 2 Lite are controlled via touch gestures on the touch-sensitive exterior. Various commands are possible via a single tap, double tap or holding the touch surfaces. Our inputs are precisely implemented.
In the default setting, a long press on the outside of both headphones switches between the sound modes Normal, ANC and Transparency. A double tap starts or pauses the music.
For adjustments in terms of operation, the companion app Huawei AI Life is used, which still serves as a command center for all accessories despite the separation between Huawei and Honor. Annoyingly, this is only available for download for Android devices, iOS users are left out in the cold.
Audio quality, ANC and microphone
Honor relies on 10 mm dynamic drivers for the Earbuds 2 Lite, which actually deliver a detailed and clear sound image in the practical test. In terms of bass, the in-ears provide a dynamic, quite decent low-frequency reproduction without the bass coming too much to the fore or distorting.
At the same time, the mids and trebles have a pleasant clarity and reproduce instruments and voices clearly and in detail. Here, the inexpensive Honor Earbuds 2 Lite can easily keep up with partly much more expensive models, although the powerful tuning of models like the Sennheiser CX Plus True Wireless is not reached. Considering the price, however, the Honor in-ears are quite convincing.
ANC function, transparency mode and microphone
The active noise cancellation (ANC) of the Earbuds, on the other hand, is only on a mediocre level. While just low tones are still filtered out quite well, higher tones still come through almost completely. Thus, we definitely have to accept compromises here.
On a positive note, however, switching on ANC does not affect the sound of the earbuds, as is usually the case with many competing products. The sound quality remains on a consistent level across all modes.
In transparency mode, outside noises like voices are clearly amplified. The low price is also noticeable here, because the result is an unnatural, noticeably distorted sound. Other in-ears manage this much better.
The Earbuds 2 Lite’s microphone is similarly acceptable for phone calls. However, the user’s own voice is reproduced tinny and muffled and lacks any dynamics, which naturally affects the user’s intelligibility. Outside noise is also not filtered out very satisfactorily – the Earbuds are thus hardly suitable as a mobile headset replacement.
App connection via Huawei AI Life
As already mentioned, the Earbuds 2 Lite can be customized using the Huawei AI Life app for Android. However, the range of functions is more than manageable.
Besides a battery indicator, it is only possible to adjust the touch controls, switch between the different sound modes or activate or deactivate the wear detection. We search in vain for equalizer or sound settings as well as an adjustment of the ANC’s intensity.
Conclusion on the Honor Earbuds 2 Lite
For the called price of around 100 euros, the buyer of the Honor Earbuds 2 Lite definitely gets a lot. I particularly liked the high wearing comfort and the excellent battery life. The small and lightweight in-ear headphones also have a good sound and convince with a convincing sound across all frequencies.
However, the Earbuds are only conditionally suitable for athletes due to the rather loose fit. Other similarly priced models also offer more for the money in terms of ANC and transparency mode, and the microphone is absolutely unusable.
Thus, users who value a fairly neutral sound and do not have a problem with the comparatively low feature set will be well served by the Honor Earbuds 2 Lite. However, you will look for real unique selling points in vain.
Honor Earbuds 2 Lite
Workmanship
Comfort
Sound quality
Features
Value for money
83/100
Neatly manufactured in-ear headphones with good sound at a fair price. However, ANC, app and microphone cannot quite keep up with the competition.