Creative Outlier Free Mini Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones with Bluetooth 5.3, IPX5 Sweat and Water Splash Resistance, Multipoint Connectivity, Up to 6 Hours of Battery Life, Built-in Mic

I recently received these bone conduction headphones as a backup to my primary pair and wanted to share my thoughts. While they aren't the best pair I've ever used, they certainly hold their ground in a crowded market. For instance, I appreciate a cheaper pair I already own a bit more, primarily due to better overall value for the price. One aspect that stands out positively is the intuitive control system, which allows me to adjust volume, skip tracks, and take calls effortlessly. This convenience can't be overlooked, as it's crucial for keeping my device tucked away while on the go. I really don't like touch controls and really prefer buttons. However, battery life poses a problem, lasting only up to six hours, which is on the lower end for wireless headphones and can be a bit of a disappointment for those who require extended use. Regardless, these headphones do serve well as a secondary option – they're reliable enough to fall back on when needed. Its odd that its so low since these are connected and are not tws headphones (which I also have multiple pairs that have longer lasting batteries and don't have a hard wire behind your head). Rest assured, if any issues arise or if I come across something else worth mentioning, I will certainly update my review to provide the most accurate information moving forward.

The media could not be loaded. Creative Outlier Free mini bone conduction headset is well-made, fits snuggly and comfortably. Headsets three multifunction button makes it easy to operate and status light provides quick visual status of headset along with voice notifications. Pairing is simple, press and hold on/off button while waiting for status light to blinking red/blue, on your device select Outlier Free mini and pair, voice notification will announce if action was successful along with status light. I’m able to pair with Mac, iOS, Android and Windows 10/11 devices without issue. Sound quality is quite good and contact pads leaves no marks even after multiple hours of use. When paired with Windows 10/11, if I select “Headset (Outlier Free mini Hands-Free)” there’s not audio and “Headphones (Outlier Free mini Stereo)” works without issue. Other OSs like Mac, iOS and Android list single entry of “Outlier Free mini” for headset. When paired with phone, call audio quality is good, need to speak a bit loud to be heard as microphone is on side by ear. Minor annoyance, charging cable length is quite short.

I use these just about daily since getting them. I previously had some in-ear earbuds but they were uncomfortable. I find that these headphones put less pressure on my head than even most pairs of glasses do, so I’m able to wear them for longer periods than other pairs. The sound is pretty good, a little lacking in bass but good with higher frequencies. They also don’t feel like they’re going to fall off if I’m doing something that requires moving around more. Good affordable set of bone conductive headphones!

I own several bone inductor units, including the bigger brother Outlier. So, I wondered how this would be different. First, I found the Mini a bit lighter and more flexible. I have a medium-sized head, so I felt the clamping force a bit loose. This does have an effect on bone induction but also helps in avoiding those “tickling” vibrations. Nevertheless, the over-ear design is well done as they feel very comfortable and secure –even when running and tumbling. I appreciate that they are IPX5, so a little sweat or rain won’t be an issue. They feature Bluetooth 5.3 and multi-point, and they connect easily to all of my devices, including an Android phone, an iOS tablet, and a laptop. There were no hiccups, and I maintained a good connection at decent distances. However, I did have a few inconsistencies when switching seamlessly between devices. Sometimes I had to pause on one device and start on the other one. It’s not a big deal to me but still worth mentioning. The controls are simple, tactile, and responsive. I am glad that volume is included. The battery life is decent, but not the best. They would not last an entire workday. I am also annoyed a bit that Creative is still using a proprietary charging cord which is magnetically attached to the device when charging. Personally, I would've preferred a traditional USB-C port, even if that makes them a tad bigger. I noticed little to no lag when playing games and no sync issues when watching video content. The call quality is good enough and the open design allows for a more natural feel when speaking to someone. One good thing is that I can hear myself, and that helps in ensuring that I am not screaming. When it comes to sound, it helps to know what to expect. Typically, bone induction does not provide anything close to great audio, and the Mini is no exception. The bass is there but it is subtle. The midrange is well-represented, which may be its biggest strength. The treble can be a tad intense in some situations, but overall, it’s not too harsh. In the end, I found them good enough for casually listening to music in the background. But the best use in my case is listening to audiobooks, podcasts, and dialogue-intense content –including non-action movies. I will say that listening to heavy bass content at high volumes may still produce those dreaded tickles on the temple. Of course, the biggest reason (in my opinion of course), is the benefit of being fully aware of my surroundings, and in that these succeed beautifully, I work in an open-floor environment and it’s crucial that I maintain full awareness. Also, I can actually answer the phone without taking the headphones off. One thing to note is that they do produce some sound leakage at higher volumes. Although it is difficult to tell what is being played, it can be annoying to someone. This is not an issue to me since I don’t blast sound regularly. In the end, I think everyone should own an open-style headset as they can be very useful in certain situations. If you want to listen to higher resolution sound, these aren’t it. However, if you casually listen and/or need to be aware, these are a great option –at a good price too.