Kiwi Ears Ardor review: Great sound and very long battery for just $99!
The Kiwi Ears Ardor is a wireless headphone with good sound. It has dual drivers, active noise canceling, and a big 1100mah battery. It sounds great and works well. Kiwi Ears is a brand known for making high-quality in-ear monitors. Last time, we covered the Kiwi Ears Aventus. I want to thank Kiwi Ears for sending the Ardor headphones for review. Let’s talk about how it performs.
Unboxing
The Kiwi Ears Ardor comes packed inside a sturdy purple box. On the front, there is a big image of the headphones with a blurred “Ardor” text printed across it. At the top corner, you can spot Kiwi Ears branding, while the bottom corner reads Kiwi Ears Ardor ANC Headphones. The back side of the box also has another image of the headphones, along with the maker’s address, basic information, and certification details.
A small fabric handle is attached to the box, which you can pull to reveal the inner box. Inside, you are greeted with a high-quality carrying case that immediately impressed me. The company has made sure that there is a strong setup to safely carry and protect the headphones. The carrying case itself feels very sturdy and premium, featuring a zip and a handle strap. I was quite impressed by the case’s quality, but whether the headphones could impress me too, that was something I had to find out.
Unzipping the case reveals the user manual, the headphones, a Type-C to C cable for charging, and an aux cable. Overall, the unboxing experience was great, and thanks to the sturdy box and carrying case, the headphones had no chance of getting damaged during shipping.
Pricing
| Kiwi Ears Official | $99.99 Click here to buy |
Kiwi Ears Ardor specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Kiwi Ears Ardor |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Noise Reduction Depth | -32dB ± 3dB |
| Drivers | Dynamic 40mm + 10mm (Coaxial) |
| Audio Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Sensitivity | 100 ± 3dB @ 1KHz 1mW |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz ~ 40KHz |
| Impedance | 32Ω |
| Battery Capacity | 1100mAh |
| Playback Time | 72 hours (ANC on), 140 hours (ANC off) |
| Fast Charging | 10 mins = 8 hours playback |
| Inside the Box | – 1x Kiwi Ears Ardor – 1x Earphone Case – 1x USB-C Cable – 1x AUX 3.5mm Audio Cable – 1x User Manual |
A closer look
The Kiwi Ears Ardor headphones come in a stylish grey colour. They are made with high-quality plastic that does not feel easily breakable, which is very impressive for this price range.
On the back of the ear cups, there is a leather-type name plate with the Kiwi Ears logo, and I really like how it makes the design look even better. The feeling of the leather texture on the outside of the earcups gives the headphones a nice premium touch.
The ear cups and the headband both have soft pads, which help a lot when using the headphones for longer periods. The earcups have a thin layer of foam cushioning, which feels nice but could have been slightly thicker for even better comfort.
Thanks to the lightweight hybrid construction of metal and plastic, the Ardor does not feel heavy on the head. Inside the headband, there is a metal adjustment that adds strength.
Buttons and functions
ANC button
The Kiwi Ears Ardor headphones have a dedicated black-coloured ANC button placed on the left side. The button is tactile and easy to press. After powering on the headphones, pressing the ANC button once will turn on ANC mode, and a female voice prompt will confirm the action. Pressing it a second time will turn ANC off, and pressing it a third time will activate Transparency mode. Pressing it a fourth time will turn Transparency mode off.
This setup gives three levels of sound control. Transparency ON lets you clearly hear the ambient sounds and highs around you, making it great for staying aware of your surroundings. ANC OFF just gives you the basic sound with no external noise control. ANC ON is the strongest mode, cutting down about 35dB of outside noise, which is a lot, especially if you have background sounds like a room fan. The ANC performance is helped by the five on-board microphones built into the headphones. Also, the Ardor can be used for making phone calls, and the microphones pick up voice quite clearly.
MFB and Volume +/- buttons
The Kiwi Ears Ardor has three main buttons on the right earcup: the MFB (Multi-Function Button) and the Volume + and – buttons.
Pressing the MFB button for 3 seconds powers the headphones on or off.
Double pressing the MFB enables or disables Siri or voice assistant.
Triple pressing the MFB switches between Gaming and Music modes.
The Volume + and – buttons are used for volume control.
Pressing Volume + once increases the volume, and pressing Volume – once lowers the volume.
Long pressing Volume + skips to the next track.
Long pressing Volume – goes back to the previous track.
All the buttons are tactile, easy to locate by touch, and respond quickly, making the headphones very user-friendly.
Connectivity and Battery
The Kiwi Ears Ardor uses Bluetooth 5.4 for a strong and stable wireless connection. It easily pairs with phones, tablets, and laptops, and you can connect it to two devices at once. Switching between devices is simple — just press play on the device you want to use. There is also a 3.5mm audio jack for wired connection. I also used a Type-C to Type-C cable to connect the headphones to my Pixel phone, and surprisingly, wired mode worked perfectly. I first thought the cable was only for charging, but it also supports audio. In both AUX mode and Type-C wired mode, the ANC features remain fully functional, which is a big plus.
In my experience, the battery life of the Kiwi Ears Ardor is just amazing. After fully charging it once, I didn’t have to charge it again for many days. With ANC turned on, I easily got around 70 hours+ of use, and with ANC off, it feels like the battery never ends. One more thing I really like is the fast charging, just 10 minutes of charging gives about 7 hours+ of playtime, which is super helpful when you are in a hurry. Because the battery is so big, I don’t have to worry about frequent charging, and I feel the battery will stay healthy for a long time. Overall, I am very happy with the battery performance.
Also Read: OneOdio Focus A5 Bluetooth Wireless Headphones Review – 75-Hour Battery Life and Great Sound
Kiwi Ears Ardor performance
The audio quality of the Kiwi Ears Ardor is surprisingly good for headphones priced at just USD 99, with a carrying case included. There’s a well-balanced mix of treble, mids, and bass, and the voice clarity is impressive. I’m particularly impressed by the overall audio performance, when listening to the right songs, I can feel chills, which is quite unexpected from budget headphones.
In terms of noise cancellation, the ANC performance is excellent. With ANC on, sounds like keyboard typing and PC fan noise disappear, making it great for blocking distractions. What really stands out is the Transparency mode. As a parent of two young children, it’s a huge advantage. With my 2.5-year-old and 5-month-old sleeping, I keep Transparency mode on while working, allowing me to hear if they wake up or cry. Even with headphones on, I can catch faint sounds. This feature keeps me aware of my surroundings while enjoying music or calls.
Overall, the sound quality and ANC performance make the Kiwi Ears Ardor an outstanding choice, especially considering its price.
Enos Tech Verdict
The Kiwi Ears Ardor Bluetooth headphones are an exceptional value at just USD 99, offering an impressive combination of performance and affordability. With a dual-driver setup, the sound quality is rich and clear, delivering great treble, mids, and bass for the price. The ANC feature stands out, blocking up to 35dB of external noise—perfect for eliminating distractions like keyboard typing and PC fan noise. The Transparency mode, a personal favourite, allows me to stay aware of my surroundings, especially useful when my kids are nearby. I can work and listen to music while still hearing when my children need me.
The design is sleek, and the build quality exceeds expectations for a budget option. The headphones are lightweight, yet sturdy, and come with a well-made carrying case. The long battery life ensures they last through extended sessions, and the controls are user-friendly. Kiwi Ears has done an outstanding job at balancing quality with cost, offering a product that punches well above its price point.
With its strong performance, comfort, and thoughtful features, the Kiwi Ears Ardor truly earns its place as a Must Have in the world of budget-friendly Bluetooth headphones. This product is an easy recommendation for anyone seeking value without sacrificing quality.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Great sound quality
- Effective ANC
- Transparency mode lets you stay aware of surroundings
- Comfortable and lightweight
- Long battery life and fast charging
- Includes high-quality carrying case
- Can connect to two devices simultaneously
- Tactile and easy-to-use buttons
Cons:
- No companion app for customization
