Haylou PurFree BC01 review: Comfort and quality in one package

The Haylou PurFree BC01 are bone conduction headphones which might be surprisingly inexpensive for his or her options and efficiency. They’re primarily supposed for runners, however they are a strong selection for anybody who desires to take heed to music or podcasts whereas exercising with out dropping their means to listen to their environment.The PurFree BC01 have a light-weight and safe neckband design. The waterproof headphones even have an honest battery life, making them supreme for sweaty exercises.In phrases of sound high quality, the headphones are inferior to a number of the dearer bone conduction headphones in the marketplace, however they’re nonetheless greater than ample for most individuals. The bass could possibly be a bit stronger, however the general sound is obvious and balanced.There are a number of sports activities headphones in the marketplace, however most of them are dearer than the PurFree BC01. Has this small Chinese firm managed to create a product that’s simply pretty much as good because the dearer competitors?The PurFree BC01 bone conduction headphones can be found on Amazon for $100, down from their unique value of $120. This is a considerably cheaper price than most different bone conduction headphones on the market, together with the Shokz OpenRun and OpenRun Pro.Today’s finest Haylou PurFree BC01 Bone Conduction Headphones offersHaylou PurFree BC01 evaluate: Design and luxury(Image credit score: Jay Bonggolto / Android Central)If you have used bone conduction headphones up to now, the Haylou PurFree BC01 will look acquainted. They have a neckband design with bodily buttons on either side, and the transducers transmit sound to your ears by means of your cheekbones so you’ll be able to nonetheless hear your environment. The neckband model retains them in place, even throughout strenuous exercises.There are two bodily buttons on the best facet of the headphones, together with the quantity down and up buttons. The latter helps you to flip the headphones on and off, in addition to put them into pairing mode with a protracted press when turning them on.There’s additionally a multi-function button on the left facet of the headphones that you need to use to pause music, or reply calls with a single faucet. A double faucet skips to the following observe whereas a triple faucet returns to the earlier one, and long-pressing the identical button for 5 seconds summons your telephone’s digital assistant.Because the PurFree BC01 headphones solely have a number of bodily buttons, I needed to study a number of methods to regulate completely different capabilities. It takes a little bit of time to study the controls, but it surely’s not too tough. And as soon as I did, I used to be in a position to management music with out having to take my telephone out of my pocket.The PurFree BC01 are extremely light-weight, coming in at simply 28 grams, making them barely noticeable when I’m carrying them. This makes them very snug to put on for lengthy intervals of time, and so they by no means really feel cumbersome or cumbersome. They match snugly however not too tightly on my head, and the drivers relaxation comfortably on my cheekbones. I can shake my head vigorously with out the headphones budging, however I by no means really feel like they’re clamping down on my cranium. I’ve worn these headphones for hours on finish with none discomfort.(Image credit score: Jay Bonggolto / Android Central)Another factor I like in regards to the PurFree BC01 is that they’ve a safe match. I can put on them whereas working or understanding with out worrying about them falling off.While the headphones will not be as waterproof as a few of Shokz’s bone conduction headphones, they nonetheless have an IP67 ranking, which means they’ll stand up to sweat and light-weight rain, however they shouldn’t be submerged in water. I’ve used the PurFree BC01 on runs in mild rain and for common house exercises, and I’ve not skilled any efficiency or dropout points.Next to the quantity up and down buttons is the proprietary magnetic charging, which helps to make sure that the cable stays related. This makes it tremendous simple to attach and disconnect the charging cable. You simply want to carry it near the charging port, and the magnets will do the remaining.One main factor that I do not like in regards to the PurFree BC01 is that the charging cable is absolutely brief, which could be a drawback if you do not have a charging outlet close to your mattress or desk. And since it is a proprietary cable, you’ll be able to’t simply swap it out for an extended one.Swipe to scroll horizontallySpecificationsHaylou PurFree BC01Weight28gChipsetQualcomm QCC3044ConnectivityBluetooth 5.2Battery life8 hoursCharging portMagnetic attractionWater resistanceIP67Noise-cancellationcVc and a couple of micsMaterialTitanium alloyHaylou PurFree BC01 evaluate: Performance and sound high quality(Image credit score: Jay Bonggolto / Android Central)If you have by no means used bone-conduction headphones earlier than, do not be stunned if the PurFree BC01 sound flat and muffled. Compared to even the most cost effective wi-fi earbuds, there is a noticeable lack of readability and element, which is to be anticipated since bone-conduction headphones do not pipe music immediately into your ears.That mentioned, the PurFree BC01 have a balanced sound profile, with a little bit of bass and sufficient element to work properly for a wide range of music genres. They’re not going to blow you away with their quantity or sound high quality, however they’re fairly good for bone-conduction headphones.Unlike many of the competitors, the PurFree BC01 do not increase the bass an excessive amount of, so they do not trigger that bizarre tingling sensation in your cheekbones. Naturally, the PurFree BC01 leak somewhat sound, like all bone-conduction headphones. But they do job of balancing isolation and letting in ambient noise. You will not be capable to fully block out wind or site visitors noise on a run, however you will nonetheless be capable to hear your music clearly.You can even use the PurFree BC01 to take calls, and so they have twin noise-canceling microphones to make your voice sound clear. The name high quality is best in quiet or reasonably loud environments than in very loud ones. It’s simple to take calls, and the quantity is sweet sufficient, however the name high quality is inferior to what you’d get from a conventional pair of headphones.The PurFree BC01 are simple to pair with Bluetooth gadgets. What’s actually cool is that they’ll pair with two Bluetooth gadgets directly. Haylou makes use of Bluetooth 5.2 to verify the connections are steady and quick, and you’ll swap between the 2 paired gadgets simply. I did not expertise any dropout in connection, even past a variety of 30 ft. This is particularly useful in case you’re on the gymnasium and need to depart your telephone in a locker.Thanks to their IP67 ranking, the PurFree BC01 are waterproof and may stand up to quantity of abuse, together with getting used within the bathe or pool (however do not attempt to dive with them).Other than being waterproof and dealing with digital assistants, the PurFree BC01 do not have a companion app or any particular options. But they’re actually good at being waterproof and sweatproof, which is one thing that even costly earbuds typically wrestle with.Haylou PurFree BC01 evaluate: Battery life and charging(Image credit score: Jay Bonggolto / Android Central)The Haylou PurFree BC01 declare to have an 8-hour battery life, however they really last more than that. I received over 9 hours of steady music playback on a single cost. I do not know if it is the Bluetooth 5.2 expertise or another magic, however the battery life is superb. It additionally solely takes an hour to totally cost the headphones, and you’ll rise up to 2 hours of playback with simply 10 minutes of charging.The battery life on the PurFree BC01 is nice, and it is corresponding to Shokz’s bone conduction headphones. I used them for hour-long exercises with the quantity turned as much as an inexpensive degree, and the battery solely went down by 15%.Haylou PurFree BC01 evaluate: Should you purchase it?(Image credit score: Jay Bonggolto / Android Central)If you need a number of the finest bone conduction headphones in the marketplace however do not need to spend as a lot because the Shokz OpenRun Pro, then the PurFree BC01 are an ideal possibility. They have battery life and a helpful quick-charge characteristic.While this sort of headphones sounds respectable for exercises, do not anticipate superb sound high quality. And I do not blame you in case you’re not pleased with a number of the PurFree BC01’s drawbacks, just like the proprietary charging cable and lack of options. If you are a mean listener who simply desires a pair of earbuds or headphones and does not want bone conduction, there are cheaper headsets with extra options obtainable.It’s a bummer Haylou did not use a typical charging cable. Proprietary cables are simple to lose and make the headphones a ache to journey with. Despite their flaws, the PurFree BC01 bone conduction headphones are an ideal selection for health followers, even when they do not sound pretty much as good as the very best wi-fi earbuds.