boosting happiness magic codoon smart heart rate earphone review

I've been using the Codoon Smart Heart Rate Earphones Quiet for over a week now, and I'd like to share my experience without any bias.

I'm a commuter working in Beijing, living in Tongzhou and working near Chaowai SOHO. I rely on Line 1 and Batong Line for my daily commute, which takes nearly 2 hours in the subway every day.

Like most people, I used to get by with the original earphones that came with my phone. Why 'get by'? Well, they were uncomfortable to wear and easily slipped out while running. Moreover, wired earphones are really inconvenient, especially during rush hours in the crowded Beijing subway. My old earphones were once yanked out and trampled because someone’s backpack got caught on the wire.

So, I decided to buy a pair of Bluetooth wireless earphones. I had two main requirements: first, they needed to have noise-canceling capabilities for watching videos on Bilibili or TikTok in the noisy subway; second, they had to stay in my ears while running and have real-time heart rate monitoring as a bonus.

After searching on e-commerce platforms, I found that branded Bluetooth heart rate earphones meeting these criteria were priced at 600-700 yuan and above, with no upper limit. Unbranded ones were over 200 yuan, which I didn't trust. Then I saw Codoon earphones were looking for reviewers, so I signed up with a casual attitude. To my surprise, I was selected the next day! The delivery was super fast.

Upon opening the package, I found the earphones, a manual, a storage pouch (a nice touch, as many earphones at this price point don't include one), a charging cable, and a set of replacement ear tips.

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A photo of the Codoon earphones with the packaging and manual. The replacement ear tips and storage pouch are inside the box.

Now, let me share my one-week usage experience, covering both pros and cons.

Pros:

1. The noise-canceling effect is satisfactory. The Codoon Smart Heart Rate Earphones Quiet use physical noise cancellation. A direct comparison: with my old earphones, I had to turn the volume to the maximum to block out subway noise, which is harmful to the eardrums. With Codoon earphones, I only need to set the volume to about three-fifths or even lower to enjoy peace and quiet.

2. I had previously experienced the frustration of difficult Bluetooth connections, so I was skeptical about the technology. To my surprise, the Codoon earphones connected quickly and stably, likely due to the latest Bluetooth 4.2 protocol. Without the hassle of wires, the convenience and happiness levels have greatly increased, exceeding my expectations.

For instance, as a single person, I often eat while playing on my phone. With wired earphones, the cable would easily get into my food, dirtying my clothes and making me look messy (though, as a single person, why should I care about appearances... ahem). So, I could only use non-video apps for entertainment, which was less enjoyable.

Since using the Codoon earphones, I no longer worry about the cable swinging around. My standard eating posture now is to place my phone in front of my bowl and watch shows while eating, fully immersed in my entertainment. My happiness has greatly increased, and it feels fantastic (am I beyond saving as a single person...?).

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A candid shot from the back, showing how convenient it is to do anything while wearing Codoon earphones. This old man won't show his face.

3. The real-time heart rate monitoring is very accurate and can enhance the running experience when paired with the Codoon app.

One of the highlights of the Codoon Smart Heart Rate Earphones Quiet is the real-time heart rate monitoring. I compared it with a heart rate strap, and the accuracy was impressive, with both devices often showing identical readings. You can set your desired heart rate range in the Codoon app, and the earphones will provide voice alerts if your heart rate is too high or low during running. After running, you can also see your heart rate changes throughout the session in the activity details, which is very useful for runners focusing on heart rate training.

I remember my old watch from a certain brand, which also featured heart rate monitoring but cost over 2000 yuan. The Codoon earphones, priced at 199 yuan during crowdfunding, are a real bargain.

As for the official smart training courses, I haven't started using them yet. I'll share my experience once I do.

Cons:

Strictly speaking, this isn't a flaw of the earphones but rather the transition from wired to wireless, which takes some getting used to. For example, I often hang the earphones around my neck or leave them on my desk and forget that I'm using Codoon Bluetooth earphones. Then, I wonder why my phone isn't making any sound when playing videos or music, sometimes taking a while to realize it. Haha, I feel quite silly.

On the left are the Codoon earphones, and on the right are some wired earphones. Clearly, the left ones cater to the needs of those with OCD.

In summary:The official retail price of the Codoon Smart Heart Rate Earphones Quiet is 299 yuan, with a crowdfunding price of only 199 yuan. The real-time heart rate monitoring is impressive, and the sound quality and noise cancellation exceeded my expectations. Once you get used to Bluetooth wireless, it's hard to go back to wired earphones. The cost-performance ratio is very high, and I highly recommend getting one.