Review: Audiofly AFT2 True Wireless in-ear headphones

I’m an earbud type of guy. Some people love them, some people hate them, but for my money they offer the best listening experience in the lightest form factor.

Aussie based Audiofly make some of the best earbuds around, their recently reviewed in-ear monitors are easily some of the most comfortable I’ve ever worn, so when they asked me to try out their new AFT2 True Wireless buds ahead of their October launch I jumped at the chance.

Design

Enclosed in a stylish brushed metal charging case the new AFT2 ear buds are available in four Australian inspired colours – Granite (black), Sunset (red), Sand (white) and Gum Leaf (green).

The earbuds stored follow the same colour scheme, but take on a more pastel version because of their plastic construction. Each bud rests in a clearly marked “L” & “R” resting space, which is one of the simplest but best user experience design too many manufacturers miss. In fact, I don’t think I’ve tried to put the AFT2s in the wrong ear once. Something I can’t say for literally every other earbud I’ve tested.

Each earbud can has a touch control surface that can be used to play, pause and skip songs. Due to the nature of in-ear tips this can be a loud experience, so be gentle with your taps.

The TF2’s rugged case has a small cylindrical design. It’s about half that of a sunglasses’ case and can be easily slipped into your pocket or bag. Its unique brushed finish and size sets them apart from other similarly sized objects, making them easy to fish out of a backpack that you’re blindly digging in.

Setup & fit

Like the majority of wireless headphones today the AFT2 connect seamlessly to any Bluetooth supported device without additional software. With Bluetooth 5.0 each earbud appears as it’s own Bluetooth device, “AFT2-R” & “AFT2-L”. This can be a little confusing, especially because you only need to connect to one and the mesh between the two then pairs the other.

In the box are two sets of ear tips that can be used to customise the fit. Initially surprised there were only two sizes, I had no issues with the included tips fitting my ear canal. The fit is extremely good and given my previous experience with Audiofly’s products, is exactly what I’ve come to expect.

Taking the AFT2s for a 5km run they sat there perfectly the entire time. Too many times have I stopped to pick up an escaping bud, to the point I’ve just plain given up trying with other brands. Of course your mileage may vary and with time tips need to be replaced, but they’ve earned big points for fit alone.

The buds also sit flush with my ear instead of protruding like antenna. Their small size means they can easily go unnoticed by others around you, which I decidedly prefer over electric toothbrush heads dangling from my ear holes.

Battery life

At one end of the case is a series of lights indicating charge and a very welcomed USB-C port. A full charge takes around 90 minutes, providing you with 35 hours of listen time.

On their own the earbuds have an advertised play time of 10 hours. Pairing them with the charging case extends that an extra 20 hours taking the total to an impressive 25. No small feat given the AFT2s small size.

Using them as headphones for 8 hours of Zoom each workday I can report they’re getting through without a problem. Using them as both headphones and microphone does however eat into the battery at a faster rate. To mitigate, I generally pop them into the charging case while eating lunch. Just to be doubly sure they get me through a full day.

Microphone

Speaking of microphones the AFT2s are adequate, but aren’t going to be setting any clarity records.

However, I’d argue that’s somewhat expected. Without the toothbrush sticks and laser mic capabilities of other more expensive brands the AFT2s do an admirable job. When you consider the microphones are essentially stuffed in your ear holes, they’re doing pretty good.

Sound quality

The million dollar question arrives. How do they sound? The short version, OK.

These aren’t a high end pair of IEMs that have made Audiofly such a force in professional circles, but they aren’t your Instagram knock-off ‘Airpops’ either. Their small 6mm driver has its sound bolstered by the inclusion of Qualcomm’s noise cancelling tech, but instantly leaves the bass at a loss.

Deferring to my trusty ‘Test songs’ playlist (seen below) its easy to point out the likes of Missy Elliot & Kanye aren’t going to be hitting any home runs. In contrast, the delicate nuances of John Lee Hooker’s Annie Mae and the cacophony of Radiohead’s Paranoid Android arrangements are beautifully reproduced.

Pop fans will have no problems bobbing away with a set of AFT2s come post-pandemic. For all the Ariana, Katy & Tay Tay fans you’re going to be right at home with these (and to be fair most) earbud headphones.

That is, if you can hear them. I consistently found myself reaching for the volume button to hear more. I switched back and forth between multiple headsets during the review and the AFT2s always felt that tad softer.

Some of that I can attribute to the noise cancellation being over zealous. I think the majority has to be because of their drivers though, which I can appreciate are doing a big job for such small units.

Regardless, the sound quality is not going to appeal to audiophiles, but then neither does any Bluetooth headset in the first place.

Conclusion

With an RRP of A$199, Audiofly have created the AFT2 earbuds with a clear focus on bang for you buck.

To compete with the big boys, they’ve balanced form, function and price as best they can. A lack of wireless charging is offset by great battery life and the inclusion of a USB-C charging cable. A gorgeous lightweight design and high quality materials means smaller drivers and a lack of depth in those heavy bass lines.

For the humble commuter wanting that solid audio experience the Audiofly AFT2s are a solid contender. You’ll just need to be sure your music interests are aligned.

Audiofly AFT2 True Wireless in-ear headphones
Design
8.5
Features
7.5
Performance
6.5
Pros
Good battery life
Excellent sound at top end
Great size & weight
Competitive on price
Cons
Missing a solid bass line
Volume feels lower due to noise cancellation
Microphone is adequate
7.5