EarFun launches its Wave Pro X, a feature-rich over-ear headphone model, as a competitive move into the premium segment, incorporating advanced audio technologies and sleek design at an accessible price point.
After months of shifting launch expectations, EarFun’s Wave Pro X is now on sale, with the company using IFA 2026 in Berlin to push the over-ear model as its most serious move yet into the premium headphone segment. Sales began on 3 September in the US at $129.99, while EarFun has set pricing at £119.99 in the UK and €149.99 in Europe. The timing matters because the headphones had already built a profile earlier in the year, and TechRadar has since included them in its IFA best-in-show coverage rather than treating them as a routine budget-audio release.
What makes the Wave Pro X notable is not one headline feature but the density of them at this price. EarFun is pitching Bluetooth 6.0, LE Audio, Auracast broadcast audio, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless, LDAC, USB-C audio, Google Fast Pair and multipoint pairing in a foldable over-ear set that undercuts established flagship brands by a wide margin. TechRadar said the company had delayed the headphones to refine the tuning, suggesting that this was not simply a fast follow-up to its cheaper models but a product it wanted to use as a technical statement.
The centrepiece is a dual-driver layout in each ear cup: a 40mm diamond-like carbon driver paired with a 10mm liquid crystal polymer unit on a shared axis. EarFun says this “Dual-Coaxial Acoustic Architecture” is designed to keep the acoustic centre aligned so bass, midrange and treble arrive more coherently than they can in more loosely arranged multi-driver systems. The company has also paired the hardware with an AI-managed crossover system that switches the frequency load between the two drivers in real time. Early specification reports from Notebookcheck described the same arrangement in January, when the model was still being presented as a coming release rather than a product on shelves.
Noise cancellation is the other major selling point. SoundGuys reported that EarFun says the eight-microphone adaptive ANC system analyses conditions up to 800 times per second, while the company has stressed that the processing remains available not only over Bluetooth but through both USB-C audio and a 3.5mm wired connection. That matters for travellers and office users because wired listening normally means giving up some of the premium features that justify the higher price. EarFun is also using Auracast as part of its sales pitch, positioning the headphones for public or shared Bluetooth broadcasts rather than ordinary one-to-one pairing alone.
There are, however, signs that the product changed during its long run-up to market. Notebookcheck’s January coverage said the Wave Pro X was due in June 2026 and gave battery life of up to 60 hours with ANC on. EarFun’s current official messaging now says the headphones are available from 3 September and last up to 50 hours with ANC enabled or 90 hours with it switched off. The weight has also been reported differently, with Notebookcheck listing 256g while EarFun’s current store page and more recent coverage put it at 259g. Taken together with TechRadar’s note that the launch was delayed for tuning, the discrepancies suggest the specification sheet was still moving late into development.
Independent hands-on coverage has also added some useful caution to the marketing narrative. In a review published on CGMagazine, Ridge Harripersad wrote that the ANC “instantly took me aback” and said pairing with both a phone and a PC was straightforward. But the same review found that the adaptive system could struggle when background noise changed sharply and repeatedly, producing crackling while using a lawn trimmer. The reviewer was also less convinced by voice capture, saying friends on Discord described the microphone as “quite tinny”, even though mobile-call performance was judged better.
On design, EarFun is clearly trying to look more expensive than its sticker price. Red Dot’s 2026 product design entry says the headphones use a fabric-covered headband, protein-leather ear cushions and anodised details, with a foldable hinge and adjustable extension system intended to improve portability and fit. SoundGuys also noted that the ear cups fold inward and that a slim protective case is included. Red Dot’s jury said: “The EarFun Wave Pro X impresses with a modern, sleek design, where contrasting materials are expertly combined to create a striking, premium-quality finish.”
EarFun’s own language is unsurprisingly more ambitious. Rocky Deng, the company’s chief technology officer, said: “The Wave Pro X represents a new benchmark for what wireless headphones can deliver.” The same launch statement says the model is available globally through EarFun’s website and Amazon, and it used the IFA moment to preview the upcoming Air Pro 5 earbuds as part of a broader push upmarket. Whether the Wave Pro X genuinely troubles Sony, Bose or Sennheiser in outright performance will depend on broader testing, but the market proposition is already clear: EarFun is no longer trying only to be cheap. It is trying to make premium features feel routine at mid-market prices.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
