Page 4 - Conclusion
How does the Creative Outlier Air V2 compare to its predecessor, and are the changes for the better? After looking closely at these earphones, I can say that the Outlier Air V2 has kept many positives from the Outlier Air, while improving on its shortcomings. Externally, the Creative Outlier Air V2 is solidly built. The hard plastic on the earbuds is durable and strong. The metal carrying case feels nice to touch and is very smooth when being opened or closed. The metallic blue finish is a nice visual addition to the earbuds. The wide variety of codec support, sweatproof IPX5 rating, and long battery life are further examples of the Outlier Air V2 keeping the best qualities from the Outlier Air. Unlike its predecessor though, these earphones use touch controls rather than buttons, which is a major improvement. The metal outside the earbuds is sensitive enough where you do not have to press very hard to utilize the controls, making for a much more comfortable experience. The controls themselves are also very intuitive, which is excellent for user interaction. The tested 11.5 hours battery life is very close to the advertised figure and is impressive in its own right. When it comes to sound quality, the Creative Outlier Air V2 is V-shaped for boosted bass and treble, just like its predecessor. There is a lack of soundstaging, but this is a common problem in the category. The Outlier Air V2 earphones still have the same bulkiness as the Outlier Air, which is to say they protrude out quite a bit. They still fit well in my ears though, so this is a minor criticism. I wish the pairing process could be more intuitive including being able to report the battery of both earbuds. At a retail price of $70 USD, the Creative Outlier Air V2 is a competitively priced pair of earphones with good sound quality, great battery life, and comfortable touch controls.
APH Networks Review Focus Summary:
8/10 means Definitely a very good product with drawbacks that are not likely going to matter to the end user.
7/10 means Great product with many advantages and certain insignificant drawbacks, but should be considered before purchasing.
-- Final APH Networks Numeric Rating is 7.1/10
Please note that the APH Networks Numeric Rating system is based off our proprietary guidelines in the Review Focus, and should not be compared to other publications.
The Creative Outlier Air V2 is a fun sounding pair of earphones with great battery life for day-to-day use.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Hardware
3. Subjective Audio Analysis
4. Conclusion
