With the FreeBuds Pro, Huawei has completely revised wireless in-ear headphones based on Apple’s AirPods Pro in form and function, but not only follow them but also do a lot equally well or better. Huawei has followed the FreeBuds Pro with the FreeBuds 4i – a somewhat simple and therefore cheaper variant that does not have to do without noise suppression using ANC.
We will show you here in the comparison how the FreeBuds 4i fare and the differences from the Pro version are.
Pros and Cons
| Huawei FreeBuds Pro | HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i |
| Comfortable and secure fit | Solid sound performance |
| Smart on-device controls | Decent battery life |
| Better noise cancellation | Effective ANC |
| No water resistance | No wireless charging |
| No Google Assistant | No auto-pause/resume feature |
General
| Huawei FreeBuds Pro | HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i | |
| $ | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE |
| Brand | Huawei | Huawei |
| Type | In-Ear | In-Ear |
| Colors | Silver Frost, Ceramic White, Carbon Black | Ceramic White, Carbon Black, Red |
| Battery life | 8 Hours | 10 Hours |
| Weight | 6.1 g (each) | 5.5 g (each) |
| Connectivity | Wireless, Bluetooth | Wireless, Bluetooth |
Design
| Huawei FreeBuds Pro | HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i | |
| Type | In-Ear | In-Ear |
| Wireless | Yes | Yes |
| Noise Cancelling | Yes | No |
| Dimensions case | 70 x 51 x 24 mm | 61.8 x 48 x 27.5 mm |
| Foldable Design | No | No |
Huawei FreeBuds Pro
The FreeBuds Pro differs significantly from the design of the predecessor FreeBuds 3 and 3i. They are not only smaller or shorter but also more angular in appearance. This is ensured above all by the “chopsticks” that stick out of the ears, which now look more like blocks.
The reflective surface with a chrome character looks great, but fingerprints are magical. In addition, the surface is very smooth and, in some situations, less grippy. Especially when removing it from the charging case, there is only one way to grip the FreeBuds Pro. Somehow very fiddly the topic.
The high processing quality is only tarnished by the uneven placement of the touch sensor surfaces. It should be completely insignificant for everyday use, but it is noticeable for the first impression of headphones that cost around 220 USD.
What is irritating for me is the color of the enclosed silicone attachments of different sizes. The pre-assembled attachments in size M are dark gray to match the product color. The attachments in sizes S and L are white.
However, it seems to be a matter of negligence or to be due to the test sample. Numerous unboxing videos on the Internet show the essays for the FreeBuds Pro in “Silver Frost” in gray.
HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i
The FreeBuds 4i more clearly than is the case with some competitors. Both the charging case and the headphones themselves are made entirely of plastic. The craft leaves an excellent first impression. If there are any gaps at all, then these are small and even.
The plastic makes a high-quality impression, so that even stronger pressure does not elicit a creak from the housing or headphones – not entirely unimportant because the small case should often find the small case in your trouser pocket.
The FreeBuds 4i does not offer official protection against water and dust according to the IP standard. It should be enough for use in sports, in heavy rain and especially when swimming they should be in your pocket.
The piano lacquer finish looks chic and should find a few more followers among women. The models in black and white, on the other hand, are a bit more neutral. The AirPods from Apple were clearly recognizable as models.
There is potential for improvement in the alignment of the headphones in the charging cradle: if you take headphones out of the case, you usually have to turn them 180 ° again to place them in your ear. Because you can only take headphones out of the case with two fingers, this always results in two movements. In everyday life, this isn’t very pleasant now and then.
Features
| Huawei FreeBuds Pro | HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i | |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Music Controls | Yes | Yes |
| Quick Charge | Yes | Yes |
| Speakers | Yes | No |
| Driver | 11 mm | 10 mm |
Huawei FreeBuds Pro
Touch or wipe – the essential feature of headphones is and remains the sound quality. Actively listen to their playback instead of just listening to them, recognizing and name differences We think there is less subjectivity than the perception of their perception music through Headphone. Especially when you listen to music for entertainment and do not have perfect pitch or audiophile standards.
Regardless of this, only when the headphones are properly seated in the ears do they provide a basic level of peace and space in which the sound can unfold. It is not uncommon for silicone attachments that are too small to blame for a loose fit. Often, headphones are not used correctly. The result is a thin, uninspiring sound.
Huawei offers a function for checking correct sitting in the AI Life app. A sequence of tones is played and picked up again by the integrated microphones. If the actual and target are too far apart, the app signals to check the headphones’ fit or try other silicone attachments.
HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i
The FreeBuds 4i uses a 10mm driver that works on the same level as its predecessor FreeBuds 3i. The bottom line is that the reproduction tends to emphasize the treble and the middle. The headphones have a harder time at the low frequencies because neither level nor precision is among the best found in this price range. Especially with complex soundscapes, the bass tends to be drowned out a little, whereas highs and mids show presence.
The FreeBuds 4i even draws the quiet tones in detail without drowning them out in the middle. With Horikawas Bubbles, the reproduction of which headphones normally challenge, the highs and mids can mainly be heard. Only rarely do the depths underscore what is happening.
The FreeBuds 4i is much closer to the direct predecessor 3i than to the Pro model in terms of playback. When making calls, the recording and playback quality is on a decent level. As a rule, you are understood well by the person you are speaking to. Voice distortion only occurs when you are telephoning in very noisy surroundings, and the electronics are trying to filter out interference. Definitely not a bad result and comparable to what can be expected in this price range.
Battery
| Huawei FreeBuds Pro | HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i | |
| Battery Type | Li-Po | Li-Po |
| Battery Capacity | 55 mAh | 55 mAh |
| Battery Life | Up to 8 hours | Up to 10 hours |
| Charging Time | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Charging Cable | USB-C | USB-C |
Huawei FreeBuds Pro
Huawei specifies the battery life of the FreeBuds Pro for up to 7 hours when playing music without ANC. With activated noise suppression, the running time drops to approx. 4 hours.
The consumption with activated ANC also seems to depend on the mode – in dynamic mode, 4.5 hours are possible in quiet surroundings. Because we never let the battery run dry until it dies, the runtime for the last 15% battery capacity can only be estimated. For me, the manufacturer’s information is consistent.
HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i
The biggest plus point of the FreeBuds 4i is the battery life, which the manufacturer specifies as up to 10 hours. With a full battery and deactivated ANC, these values are almost achievable. In the test, the headphones wanted to be charged again after 8.5 hours (sometimes with ANC and over 50% volume). The in-ears are charged via the small charging case, which has a built-in battery with 215 mAh. This allows the 55 mAh rechargeable batteries in the headphones to be recharged about twice.
Thanks to the fast charging technology, 10 minutes of charging time can supply the ear with music for another 4 hours. To do this, the charging case itself must be connected to the mains or have a battery charge of at least 80%.
Connectivity
| Huawei FreeBuds Pro | HUAWEI FreeBuds 4i | |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Device Connection | No | No |
| Connection | Wireless | Wireless |
| Range | 100 m | 100 m |
Conclusion!
With the FreeBuds Pro, Huawei has launched consistently attractive, wireless in-ear headphones with ANC in time for the Christmas business. That doesn’t just mean the pleasing appearance, but also the extensive range of services. In terms of craft, sound quality, and ANC, the RRP of € 179 is completely justified. So far, prices have been fairly stable before Christmas, which should ensure lower prices. With the FreeBuds Pro, Huawei delivers the AirPods Pro for the Android sector.
The lack of apps for iOS devices is a disadvantage. But let’s be honest: If you have an iPad or iPhone, you will be more likely to use the AirPods or AirPods Pro out of habit, so this disadvantage is manageable.
That sounds pretty sober now, but it shouldn’t be. In my opinion, the FreeBuds Pro belongs to the best that is currently available in this category on the market – especially for the price. With the FreeBuds Pro, Huawei offers a great overall package, for which I give an unreserved recommendation.
With the FreeBuds 4i, Huawei presents a worthy successor to the FreeBuds 3i. The strongest argument for the purchase is the promised and quite realistic battery life of up to 10 hours. They don’t come close to the FreeBuds Pro class. But the higher performance has its price. While the FreeBuds 4i is currently available for around 100 USD, the FreeBuds Pro only changes hands from around $ 145.
In terms of price, the FreeBuds 4i offers decent performance for a reasonable price. If you are not afraid of the price increase for the FreeBuds Pro, you should still use them. At 145 USD, the price-performance ratio is even better.
