Delivering negative reviews is never fun…
At its core, the xFryo xS2 are competent, straightforward,low cost earbuds. Truly wireless Bluetooth in-ear headphones with similar pros and cons that I’ve detailed in other headphone reviews, like the TRNDlabs Nova.
Let’s break it down.
In a tube-like case, something that certainly won’t look out of place in a purse, you get two earbuds and a battery to charge them. The earbuds ran for just over 3 hours of music listening per charge, and the case can charge both buds around six times before you need to plug the whole kit in.
This is a very simple setup. Pair one earbud to a phone, pair the second earbud to the first, listen to music or take a phone call. The xS2 are “power button” only controls. One button to answer calls, play or pause music, and that’s it. Volume adjustments require you to return to your phone. If your phone doesn’t have some kind of “volume normalizing” setting, that might be enough of a deal breaker. It’s an unpleasant shock listening to a ballad at a comfortable level, then getting ear blasted on the next track before you can reign that volume in.
Sound quality was better than I was expecting. The xS2 still suffer from some of the BT “hiss” I experience on solutions like the new LG Tones. Activating the signal produces some “presence” or “air” behind audio.
As for music, the tuning feels weighted towards low-mids. They won’t impress like multi-driver solutions that can really rumble a skull, but xFryo should satisfy most folks who want a warmer profile. I do wish highs had a bit more presence in the mix, but overall stereo separation is respectable.
These are “sporty” solutions, not intended for audiophile audio consumption, and the actual connection seems to hinge on standard Bluetooth AAC compression. Far from a deal breaker, these are “convenience” buds, sound-tracking an activity on the go. The actual quality is more than adequate for the intended use.
So, if all of this is “average” to “good”, why might I be leaning towards a negative review?
It’s my assertion that xFryo is incorrectly advertising the capabilities of the xS2. Let’s take a look at the product page on the xFryo site.
Well, that looks like a REALLY cool feature for an athletic individual. Earbuds you can SWIM with. WaterPROOF! WOW!
Except. That isn’t true.
The xS2 are rated IP67. That’s PLENTY good for sweat resistance. The xS2 should be great for aggressive workouts, and you should be able to keep the tunes rocking while you take a shower. IP67 however, is NOT intended for mainline underwater work. All IP67 intends is a higher degree of survivability if a gadget is submerged in up to a meter of water for up to 30 minutes. It’s not a rating sufficient for a gadget swimmers should rely on.
Need more proof? Well, here’s the xFryo safety guidelines from the included instructions.
I have a hard time with a product that conflates “water resistance” and “waterproof” on their product pages, while explicitly warning consumers against using their products while swimming. Hiding that note in tiny fine print on the included instructions.
Combine that with some pricing shenanigans, and I’m not sure how highly I would recommend this as a solution for someone shopping wireless earbuds. The xFryo page lists the xS2 for $125, which is supposedly on a 50% sale, but looking up the product on Amazon, we get similar looking earbuds going for $50.
I feel a LOT more comfortable offering these up as a solution for $50. IP67 is handy if you work out hard, so long as the consumer FULLY understands that these really aren’t a solution for extended underwater activities. For a more fun look at these earbuds, my buddy Josh Vergara got a little racy showing off his shower singing prowess in his review below.
As a brief tangent, you have to be REALLY careful with anything going IN your ear when water is involved. I pierced the tympanic membrane in my right ear by getting water lodged in my ear. Ears do not EVER completely heal when damaged. If you’re looking to use an audio solution around water, please make sure you have a GREAT fit, properly sealing the ear canal. If your earbuds pop out, resist the urge to just jam them back in. You might accidentally force water into the middle ear, and that pressure will be exacerbated by the hardware. Your ears are HIGHLY sensitive instruments, and likely won’t react well to that kind of magnified force.