BARCELONA—Ever since Apple removed the headphone jack with the iPhone 7, an explosion of new wireless earbuds have come to market, offering connectivity for audio and voice commands without the hassle of wires. The first product from Earin, for example, the M-1, launched last year and featured the smallest and lightest wireless earbuds available.
That hasn't changed with the Earin M-2. The earbuds are small and remarkably lightweight. There's no left or right side, both work in either ear and when connected to your phone, the app will detect which one is on which side, letting you switch between ears without a hassle.
I didn't get to put them in my ear, but the fit looked more comfortable than the first generation, with more of an angle to help it stay in your ear canal. When holding them in my palm, I barely felt their weight and they're so small they'd be frighteningly easy to use if they didn't come with a sleek aluminum charging capsule.
The case, which resembles a large tube of lipstick lets you slide out the top to give you access to the magnetic attachment slots into which the earbuds snap. It's all very well designed and satisfying. The case slips into your pocket easily and you can carry it right alongside your phone or in a purse without any issue.
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The Earin M-2 should last for about three hours on one full charge and the case includes three charges. Tweleve hours of use when you're on the go is a decent runtime, but only half of what you'll get with the Apple AirPods, which can do five hours of audio playback and run for a full day with the included charging case.
The main new feature you'll find on the W-2 are microphones on each earbud. To aid with noise cancellation, the microphone is tucked up close against the silicone earbud rather than being exposed on the outside. That makes it so they pick up less outside noise, while still letting your voice come across clearly. It's not active noise cancellation though, only passive so don't expect it to match anything like the Bose QuietControl 30. On the outside you'll find touch controls for pause, play, track navigation, volume, and voice commands.
If there's one sticking point, it's the price. The Earin M-2 cost $249, making them more expensive than Apple's Airpods ($159) and the Bragi Dash. That may be a tough sell because you won't find any fitness tracking features, heart rate sensor, or extra bells or whistles on the M-2. That said, if you want the smallest, lightest wireless earbuds you can get, they seem like a good option. We'll be able to get a better idea of how they stack up when we get a review unit for testing; stay tuned for more details.