The Creative SXFI Air Wireless are mediocre over-ear closed-back headphones. Their sound profile lacks low-bass and detail on vocals and lead instruments, which means they aren’t suited for a wide variety of music genres. On the upside, they have a nice head mapping feature that customizes your sound profile inside one of their two companion apps. However, they practically don’t isolate against ambient noise, though they're comfortable enough to wear for a while. They also have an easy-to-use touch-sensitive control scheme.
Our Verdict
The Creative SXFI Air Wireless are mediocre for mixed usage. They have a decent audio reproduction for music, but they won’t be great for any other use. They practically don’t isolate at all against ambient noise, and their design isn’t for sports. They aren’t stable enough for sports and will make you sweat more than usual when working out. Due to their wireless latency, they won’t be great to use wirelessly for watching video content and gaming, but you can nullify this by using them wired with their analog cable.
- Head mapping feature for customized sound signature.
- Comfortable design.
- Poor noise isolation.
- High Bluetooth latency.
- Sound delivery inconsistencies between users and reseats.
The Creative SXFI Air Wireless are alright for neutral sound. Their overall sound profile is decent but lacks sub-bass and detail on vocals and lead instruments. Their treble range is also overemphasized, which will make sibilants overly sharp and piercing. However, they have a unique head mapping feature that makes you a personalized sound profile. They are also quite comfortable to wear for a while.
The Creative SXFI Air Wireless are mediocre for commuting. These headphones are Bluetooth, which is useful for traveling, but you won’t get a great isolation performance out of them. They don’t have an ANC feature and barely block any noise, especially lower-end ones like the rumble of an engine. They also don’t fold or swivel to lay flat, making them less portable. On the upside, they’ll be comfortable for long rides, and their battery life should last you long enough for most flights.
The Creative SXFI Air Wireless are okay for sports and fitness. They aren’t the most stable option, and over-ears can make you sweat more than usual when working out. They're also not very portable as they don’t fold into a more compact format and don’t even swivel to lay flat.
The Creative SXFI Air Wireless are okay for the office. They're comfortable to wear for a while, and their battery should last you a full workday but might need daily charging. While they practically don’t block any ambient chatter, you can drown out some ambient noise with your music. You can also use them while charging or wired if their battery is dead, convenient in an office setting.
Changelog
- Updated Jun 11, 2021: Changed USB Audio results for clarity.
- Updated Mar 27, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Creative SXFI Air are a mediocre pair of headphones. They don’t have the most neutral default sound profile, but they have a unique head mapping feature and a parametric EQ and presets inside their two apps. They're a mix between Bluetooth headphones and a gaming headset.
See our recommendations for the best headphones, the best gaming headsets, and the best over-ear headphones.
The Audeze Mobius are better headphones than the Creative SXFI Air Wireless. The Audeze are better-built, have a slightly bass-heavy sound profile that some users may enjoy, and have a noticeably better performing microphone for online games. The Audeze also have a unique head tracking feature that gives an immersive experience. Both headphones are Bluetooth compatible as well, but the Creative offer passive playback, which you can’t do with the Audeze, unfortunately.
For gaming, the SteelSeries Arctis 3 2019 Edition Wireless are a better option than the Creative SXFI Air Wireless. Their microphone sounds better, and they have a better overall control scheme for gamers. Their sound is also noticeably better. On the other hand, the Creative can be used over USB. Both headphones can be used Bluetooth as well, but the SteelSeries offer more battery life but don’t have an app like the Creative.
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018 are much better headphones than the Creative SXFI Air Wireless. They're much more lightweight and comfortable, have a much better-balanced sound profile, and one of the best ANC features we've tested to date. On the other hand, the Creative have a unique head mapping feature.
The Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless are more versatile headphones than the Creative SXFI Air Wireless. These ANC headphones block a lot of ambient noise, they have a good sound quality, and are more comfortable than the Creative. They're also noticeably better built and offer about twice the battery life. On the other hand, the Creative have a unique head mapping feature.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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