In the ever-growing market of true wireless earbuds, Huawei’s FreeBuds series has made a mark for offering impressive audio quality and premium features at a reasonable price point. Among their additions, the Huawei FreeBuds 4, promise to deliver an excellent listening experience with active noise cancellation and touch controls. In this review, we’ll delve into the design, audio performance, connectivity, noise cancellation, call quality, battery life, and provide a final verdict on Huawei FreeBuds 4 earbuds.

Read Also: Huawei FreeBuds Pro 2 Review

Design

The Huawei FreeBuds 4 sports a sleek and compact design, making them smaller and lighter than their predecessors, the FreeBuds 4i. Available in ceramic white and silver frost, these earbuds offer an impressive level of comfort. Surprisingly, despite the absence of the rubbery squishy tip, the FreeBuds 4 sit securely in the ears, even during physical activities. The design and fit result in a comfortable experience, even for extended periods of use.

Connectivity

Pairing the Huawei FreeBuds 4 with a smartphone is a breeze. Simply flip open the case, and they automatically enter pairing mode. Alternatively, a small button on the case allows easy pairing. While the connection remains mostly stable, some occasional break-up is experienced, especially in crowded areas. Users are advised to keep their devices close to ensure a smooth connection.

Touch Controls

The touch controls on the FreeBuds 4 offer a user-friendly experience. Double-tapping the top end of the bud allows users to play or pause audio tracks. Long-pressing activates or deactivates active noise cancellation. Adjusting the volume is also a simple flick up or down on the buds. Although the touch controls work impressively well, the inability to skip tracks may be a drawback for some users.

Audio Performance

As for the audio, Huawei has upgraded the sound compared to previous buds. You get 14.3-millimeter dynamic drivers which do a stunning job considering the size of these earbuds. They deliver well-balanced sound and a clear stereo effect. Apparently, Huawei has added an adaptive equalizer feature to the Huawei FreeBuds 4 as well, which can assess the shape of your ears and then adjust the output to suit your particular head shape.

ANC (Active Noise Cancellation)

Huawei has improved the active noise cancellation on the FreeBuds 4 with the inclusion of dual microphones. While the ANC effectively dampens external noise, the lack of a proper silicone seal limits its full potential. External sounds can still intrude, affecting the experience when listening to spoken-word content in busy environments.

The hard shell design of the FreeBuds 4 poses challenges for achieving a proper seal needed for effective noise cancellation. Despite the improved ANC, the earbuds may not be ideal for those seeking a complete escape from their surroundings. Users looking for a more robust noise-canceling experience might explore alternatives like the Google Pixel Buds A-Series.

Mic and Call Quality

The dual-mic design of the Huawei FreeBuds 4 ensures clear voice transmission during phone calls, even in noisy surroundings. Call quality remains impressive, making the earbuds suitable for hands-free communication.

Battery Life

The only other disappointment with the Huawei FreeBuds 4 is the battery life, which offers around four hours of use (that’s with ANC turned off, by the way) before you’ll need to remove them from your ears and put them back in the handy little carry case. Four hours is pretty poor compared to a lot of rivals, which tend to offer around five to six hours of use without any kind of noise cancelling. For example, the FreeBuds Pro, which were released last year, offer five hours of use with ANC off. Thankfully, the buds seem to charge pretty quickly once they’re placed in the carry case. You get around four full charges from the case itself before it also needs a bit of a recharge. You can do that via a USB Type-C cable, which is bundled in the box.

Final Thoughts

The Huawei FreeBuds 4 present an appealing option for true wireless earbuds enthusiasts. With impressive audio quality, comfortable design, and useful touch controls, they cater to a wide range of users. However, the active noise cancellation’s limitations due to the hard shell design may be a significant factor for some users. Additionally, the battery life is relatively modest compared to competing earbuds.

For those seeking a balance between performance with $, the Huawei FreeBuds 4 offer a compelling choice. However, individuals looking for noise cancellation might consider alternatives with proper silicone-sealed tips.

FAQs

82%

82%

Budget Friendly Earbud

• Design

  9.5
• Connectivity

  8
• Audio Quality

  8.5
• Active Noise Cancellation ANC

  7.5
• Touch Controls

  8
• Battery Life

  7
• Overall value for Money

  9
• User Ratings (0 Votes)
  0