Review: Haylou PurFree (BC01), bone conduction headset

O Haylou PurFree differs from the main headphones on the market, as it transmits sound via bone conduction and not via air, like traditional ones. Yes, you hear by the bone. This is one of the highlights of this product, which is waterproof and has great battery.

The chinese Hayle is another one of the Xiaomi group's ecosystem, but mainly focused on wearable devices such as watches and headphones. we received the Haylou PurFree to test and better understand how hearing via bone conduction works in practice.

There's no way to start without mentioning the impeccable box in which the phone is shipped. It's a separate experience. THE Hayle has been very careful in the packaging and you feel like you are opening a product from Apple . In addition to the headset, it comes with earplugs to seal the ear, manuals and the cable to charge the battery.

Traditional headphones naturally block external noise, some more, like in-ears, others less, like earbuds. This can be good in some situations but bad in others, especially if you play outdoor sports.

The device is aimed at people who do physical activities — the promotional images show this — and, during my use, I understood that it is not just a matter of the company's marketing, the product has several favorable characteristics for this.

How is sound transmitted via bone conduction?

When I heard about headphones that use bone conduction to transmit sound, the first thing I asked myself was: how does this happen?

Basically, when sound vibrations travel through the bones of our head, they transmit sounds directly to the cochlea, which translates them into messages for our brain, and so we “hear”. This is how some ear implants work, as these vibrations bypass the eardrum and damaged or blocked parts of the ear so that people with hearing loss are able to hear sounds.

In addition to use for people with hearing impairments and those who play sports, another application is for military use, you need to communicate with the people on your team but being aware of what is happening around you.

Design and construction

The design is simple and sophisticated. No wonder it yielded to Hayle the prize Red Dot for Best Design, recognized as the “Oscars of International Industrial Design”. Made of titanium alloy to give strength, lightness and durability, there is silicone (very pleasant to touch) in the finish, which is all in black, or very dark gray.

It features a different design from the usual headphones, with a rigid “collar” that connects the two sides of the headphones. Nicknamed "Swan-neck aesthetics", or "Swan-neck aesthetics", in reference to the bow that fits in the ear, it's very secure and you don't have the feeling that the earphone will fall out.

On the lower back (where the battery is), we have two physical buttons, to increase and decrease the volume, and on the left side there is the multifunctional button, which is also physical and allows you to play and pause, in addition to answering calls. It may seem silly, but for those who practice sports, having a tactile feedback is very practical, and not having touch buttons can sometimes be better and faster, and more intuitive too.

to turn on the Haylou PurFree just press the volume up button for 2 seconds and then an LED on the right side will light up. Also on the right side are the two microphones.

See all the functions of the 3 buttons and how to use them.

Multifunctional button:

• Single click: answer call, play and pause
• Double click: play music
• Triple click: back music

Volume plus button:

• Press for 2 seconds: turn on the device
• Press for 5 seconds: pair bluetooth

By pressing the volume + button and the multifunction button for 3 seconds it is possible to connect it to more than one device. It is a very interesting function, you can have your computer and your cell phone connected to the headset and when someone calls you, it is not necessary to take the headset off while you listen to music from the PC to answer, you can continue with the Haylou PurFree in the head. 

It was really cool to use on 2 Androids. I could listen to content on both independently. The second cell phone I connected had high latency, so I couldn't watch videos, series or movies, as there is a big delay between video and audio, but for music, yes! On the first cell phone connected it works without any delay.

Oh, about being able to use it with other accessories: you can use it with a cap, mask, glasses, or all three at the same time, no problem.

Usage and connectivity

Overall, it's comfortable and light, it's only 28 grams, and it doesn't weigh on the ear. When you turn it on, it vibrates and gives you a preview of the battery level letting you know that it is high, medium or low. It's basically: “Welcome to Haylow. Battery high. Pairing.” When pairing is done, the user is also informed. I mean, it's very intuitive.

Listening to music through him is a very different experience and it's even difficult to explain, just listening to understand. Headphones like this usually vibrate a lot, but the Haylou PurFree does not present this annoyance, only during calls in high tones, but listening to music or watching videos, no.

There's a processor here, and it's not just anyone, it's a processor from Qualcomm, yes, the company that probably makes your cell phone chip. O Bluetooth 5.2 it also helps make everything faster, from connecting when you turn it on, to executing commands and playing audio. You know when you're watching a video and the audio is delayed? That doesn't happen here, nor is there any delay between pausing a song and the phone stopping playing, it's all instantaneous.

Another highlight provided by the chip Qualcomm QCC3044 is AptX Audio codec, which is basically a more efficient bitrate technology that ensures you get high quality audio on your headset. However, it is necessary that the cell phone (computer, tablet or the device that sends bluetooth) has the feature as well.

The manufacturer informs that it is possible to connect to two devices at the same time. You can pair it on Android, Windows and iOS devices. That is, if you are listening to music on your computer but your phone rings, you don't need to take the Haylou PurFree off to answer, just accept the call on your cell phone and continue with the headset on your ear. Pretty cool, huh?

To connect to two devices at the same time, just follow the steps below:

1. Press and hold the “+” for 5 seconds, the red and white lights will flash alternately to enter pairing mode.
2. Press the “+” and key “MFB” again for 3 seconds, white light will turn on and enter Open bluetooth settings on device 1 and search for Haylou PurFree (BC01)
3. Press the button "+” from the headset for 2s to flash the red light to turn off the headset
4. Pairing mode again (press and hold the “+” for 5 seconds until the red and white light flash alternately to enter pairing mode)
5. Now on device 2 open the Bluetooth connections and connect to the headset.

to restore the Haylou PurFree, follow the steps:

1. Plug in the charging cable, press and hold the multi-function button for 10s while charging to restore (it will flash the LED and vibrate indicating it has been restored)
2. Take off load, press and hold for 2s to automatically enter pairing mode after boot
3. Update your Bluetooth device list on your device to pair again

In closing, it goes without saying that it doesn't have active noise cancellation, as your ear is literally free to hear anything. For those looking for this resource, there is the Haylou MoriPods ANC, which will soon have a review here on showmetech.

sound and microphone

To talk about sound, we need to remember its main use: in outdoor physical activities.

Whether you're biking or running, high sound quality isn't something you're looking for (or needing). Resistance, ease of use, peace of mind knowing that the headphones won't fall out, being waterproof and listening to the outside environment are very important points, so it's okay if the sound isn't the best, right?

So it is. The sound here is good, it's hard to describe why it's a different experience. It cannot be compared with traditional headphones that are naturally better, but the technology involved has its limitations and the Hayle managed to do a very good job. In addition to the phone not vibrating as much as other competitors (which can annoy the user), the sound quality is sufficient for what it proposes.

There is no strong bass but the mids are present.

The microphones are positioned on the right side, there are two, and the sound is ok. Anyone who's been in contact with me has noticed that it's kind of stuffy. O Haylou PurFree has call noise reduction (cVc) that softens the sounds around you for whoever is on call with you.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that there is sound leakage, so if the volume is halfway up, people close to you can hear. This happens on any phone, with the Haylou PurFree Also.

Battery and autonomy

It is by far one of the biggest highlights of this product. You will be able to use it for a whole week for +/- an hour a day and you will not need to recharge. It's surprising, mainly because every time you plug it in it tells you the battery level and it's always high. It seems like magic that such a small battery, of 165mAh, last so long.

It is informed that they are 8 hours duration and look, depending on the volume you can use it for even longer. Of course, those who make many calls will have a lower autonomy, since the processor will be acting on noise cancellation, you will be using the microphones and a higher data rate is exchanged.

But if you want something that you throw in your backpack to go for a run, go for a walk, without worrying about the battery, the purfree it's definitely for you. Imagine putting on a phone to charge only 4 times a month?

There fast magnetic charging which can quickly recharge the earphones, 10 minutes are able to provide up to 2 hours of music playback. To complete the battery, it is necessary to leave it on charge for about an hour and a half.

Even recently the Hayle launched the GT1 2022 with 20 hours of autonomy (considering case refills)

Price and availability

This all comes at a cost and is not low. The headset has numerous features that make it a premium product, from the award-winning design, to the Qualcomm and long-lasting battery. And like every premium product, Haylou PurFree is priced high. At the AliExpress It is being sold by and shipping is free of charge.

Conclusion

Every choice is a renunciation. O Haylou PurFree It is excellent for practicing outdoor sports, running, cycling, walking, etc., since, in addition to not isolating the sound from the outside environment, so that you pay attention and avoid accidents, with it you are not afraid of having a headset. lightweight and cordless that will fall out of your ear. But in exchange you'll give up sound quality, which, let's face it, is not something you expect to have during physical activities, is it?

Another great benefit is the certainty that you will not have your ear canal clogged with dirt produced by the ear itself or by germs that can be contained in in-ear headphones, a normal thing to happen since we are all the time touching them and passing dirt. from the hand to the phone that we put in the ear.

Haylou Freear Open BC01 Technical Specifications

Model	Haylou Freear BC01
Weight	28g
Connection	Bluetooth 5.2
Bluetooth protocols	A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HFP
communication distance	10 meters (in places without obstacles)
Battery Type	lithium ion polymer
chip	Qualcomm QCC3044
Loading	magnetic type
battery capacity	165mAh
time to load	1 hour and a half
battery life	8 hours
Standby duration	240 hours
Noise cancellation	cVc + 2 MICs
Protection	IP67
Color	Black
Microphones	Yes, two noise-canceling calls
Material	Titanium alloy wrapped in silicone