Huawei FreeBuds 4 review (Wired Charging Case)

The marketplace for wi-fi earbuds made by a serious participant within the telecoms house implies that pricing breakthroughs and efficiency innovation are each widespread feats. Huawei FreeBuds 4 does each. The €139 price-tag is nearer to their reduced-cost i-Collection than their earlier generational upgrades and FreeBuds 4 gives ear matched ANC together with improved audio efficiency.

Dental Gloss

Huawei FreeBuds 4 strongly resemble their predecessor. Our Ceramic White evaluate mannequin even had a complementary color scheme within the FreeBuds 3 vary. The look is basic, although and FreeBuds 4’s premium supplies showcase Huawei’s construct expertise.

The solitary Huawei emblem resides in a printed silver sq. that covers the hinge on the case. The USB-C charging inlet doesn’t have a metallic or faux-metal encompass, simply that stable outer assembly the socket snugly.

The buds themselves lack any branding – a silvered backside on every bud’s stalk are the one particulars on present whereas in use. A consumer will discover tiny letters ‘L’ and ‘R’ on the user-side of the stalk on the backside. The one different markings or disturbance to the all-white buds are additionally useful; sound holes and grilles, sensors and so on..

One factor a consumer might or might not discover is the decreased quantity of the case. At 21.2mm deep and 58mm in diameter, Huawei FreeBuds 4 is barely a palmful and possibly the smallest we now have reviewed but. At 46.2 grams for the lot, it’s additionally the lightest. Every buds weighs a measly 4.1g whereas the case itself is simply 38g.

Competent, Improved Sound

Huawei FreeBuds 4 sound glorious in virtually all use instances. In splendid circumstances, with ANC and in a quiet setting, the consumer will recognize the readability and precision of the din. The slight u-shaped voice give the buds a musical sound that advantages significantly from the open-fit’s further room.

The 14.3mm drivers bluff bass with some lacking basic magic however it’s a easy, rounded low-end. That bass by no means washed out the marginally de-emphasised midrange nor did it boring the intense and sharp high-end.

Wi-fi earbud audio efficiency has come on leaps and bounds lately, principally due to the aforementioned fierce competitors. Huawei FreeBuds 4 holds its personal on this respect towards different premium branded buds at this value and a bit of above.

Matching Expectations

Huawei made a lot of their adaptive ear matching system of their advertising of FreeBuds 4. A fast blast of inaudible ultrasound in your ear canal permits the AI to contour the lively noise cancellation sign to your ears. This ear matching is finished routinely when enabling ANC and it takes lower than a second. AEM is seamless to a degree of not figuring out it was on.

Energetic noise cancellation efficiency is superb for open-fit buds and I usually overlook I used to be sporting such a pair. It have to be famous although that ANC efficiency will fluctuate in accordance with the dimensions of a consumer’s earholes and therefore the diploma wherein the buds can seal them; mine may simply be excellent dimension.

In fact, it received’t match sturdy ANC and an ideal silicon seal. Huawei will possible launch a silicone-tipped AEM ANC 2.0 follow-up and it’s thrilling to suppose the way it will carry out with that pure benefit of a decent seal.

Usability

Having experimented with different form-factors, Huawei appear to have settled on the ‘dental floss’ fashion for his or her FreeBuds vary. Whereas FreeBuds 3i had lots to supply and stood out for his or her ‘robotic pirate chest’ kind, Huawei FreeBuds 4 are simpler to control and possibly extra pocketable. The shopping for public has chosen the floss fashion, generally, for these causes.

The stalks have a symmetric contact system by default which is less complicated to get used to than an uneven setup. Symmetric layouts are likely to have fewer capabilities however Huawei have one way or the other squeezed in most of what you’d count on from the uneven fashion. Customers can swipe up and down to alter quantity in addition to play/pause, skip/rewind, allow/disable ANC and hail your digital assistant.

For individuals who don’t thoughts setting it up themselves, the gadget will be set to an uneven mode however with most of what you want already obtainable by default on each ears, I doubt many will delve into AI Life to take action.

22 hours whole stamina is about par for the course within the premium buds class although this determine takes a major hit with that glorious ANC operating. 14 hours isn’t terrible however meaning operating ANC will virtually halve your stamina.

The buds themselves are good for a stable 4 hours on their very own with ANC disabled. With ANC on, they’ll go for round 2.5 hours – a good commute and also you’ll hear the dreaded ‘cost me’ beep. This run-time can be beginning to appear a bit of quick towards the competitors, together with a few of their very own choices. To offset this, you’ll get round 2.5 hours of non-ANC playback into the buds with a 15-minute nap within the case.

Specs

Worth is Proper, Sounds Good

Huawei’s determination to supply a wired and wi-fi charging forms of Huawei FreeBuds 4 looks as if a good selection. Our wired mannequin is s full €80 cheaper than FreeBuds 3 at launch, missing solely wi-fi charging whereas gaining when it comes to sound high quality, ANC, match and performance. Whereas FreeBuds 4 isn’t big step ahead when it comes to look or really feel, these positive aspects are a worthy improve.

Huawei FreeBuds 4 can be found from twenty first June 2021 with an RRP of €139 (Wired Charging Case)

Evaluation unit supplied by PR