Huawei released a number of products at their Spring event that occurred on March 23, 2023. From folding phones like the Huawei Mate X3 to the Huawei Watch Ultimate, a smartwatch for extreme adventures, all were there in the rooster. But what really caught our attention was the Huawei FreeBuds 5, which is the successor to the FreeBuds 4. The earbuds have a design that has never been used by anyone and has gone through several internal upgrades. Read the article to find out more about the product in details.
Design
Most earbud-making companies stick to the same form factor and take the safe route. But Huawei has stepped out of its bounds and has opted for a new form factor that reflects the design of “Rupert’s Tears.” The base of the earbuds has a new curvy design, while the earpiece portion has a similar look to a water droplet shape. Both portions complement each other, and the earbuds have a dimension of 32.4 x 17.6 x 22.8 mm. The case of the Huawei FreeBuds 5 has a design that looks similar to an egg or a pebble and comes with a dimension of 66.6 x 50.1 x 27.3. Made of premium-quality plastic, the overall build of the earbuds and the case is pretty robust, and they weigh 5.4 g and 43 g, respectively. The hinge of the device is smooth while opening, with the magnet working perfectly, and there is also a single-minute LED indicator in the front of the case. The Huawei FreeBuds 5 also boasts IP54 certification, making it water- and dust-resistant.
Audio
For developing the Huawei FreeBuds 5 as a comfortable earbud, the company made it run through several simulation tests to come up with the semi-in or half-in ear-type design, which is highly ergonomic. It is quite unimaginable to implement noise cancellation in such a form factor, but Huawei has crafted it masterfully to integrate a 3.0-level noise reduction feature. The earbuds have more than one level of sound, and the experience is quite immersive. To enhance the audio performance of the earbuds, the control circuit, battery module, and sound unit have been placed separately inside the earbud. The sound unit has a magnetic surge unit that is operated by strong double-ring magnets, and the earbuds have 11 mm drivers. The Huawei FreeBuds 5 has Bass Sound Pressure Turbo Technology, which reduces obstruction of the diaphragm, cooperates in bass enhancement, and increases airflow. With L2HC and LDAC support, the earbuds are capable of providing Hi-Fi sound and also have Ultra-Wideband Real-Time technology, whose smart algorithm can analyze the volume level, wearing status, and canal structure and provide an immersive sound experience accordingly.
Features
The Huawei FreeBuds 5 has a host of features that are not only useful but also surprising at this price. Along with a variety of ANC modes, the Huawei FreeBuds 5 has AI call noise reduction, which makes the speaker’s voice sound clear and picks up the listener’s voice perfectly with the 3-mic system. The Huawei FreeBuds 5 supports both Spatial Audio and Multi-device connection, through which one can not only enjoy a theater-like sound experience but also connect to multiple devices seamlessly. For gaming, the earbuds are also equipped with Low Latency Mode for smooth synchronization. The other two impressive features are Wisdom Broadcast, and Audio Sharing, and the Huawei Smart Life, as a companion app, works perfectly with the Huawei FreeBuds 5.
Battery
Equipped with a 42 mAh battery in each earbud and a 505 mAh battery in the charging case, the Huawei FreeBuds 5 along with its case can provide 30 hours of battery backup on a single charge. With noise reduction on, the Huawei FreeBuds 5 can cater to around 3.5 hours of music listening and 3 hours of voice call time. Turning off the noise reduction can provide 5 hours of music listening and 4 hours of voice call time. The Huawei FreeBuds 5 supports fast wired charging, and a 5-minute quick charge can provide up to 2 hours of music listening time.
Connectivity And Controls
In the department of connectivity, the Huawei FreeBuds 5 has Bluetooth 5.2. The earbuds are equipped with touch controls that are responsive and have different functions. When you slide on the left or right earbud, the volume increases with the slide up and decreases with the slide down. A double tap on any of the earbuds will help you to answer or reject calls, play or pause music, or call for the voice assistant. A long press can be used for rejecting calls or to activate or deactivate the ANC.
Conclusion
Available in three soothing colors that include Frost Silver, Coral Orange, and Ceramic White, the Huawei FreeBuds 5 has a price tag of CNY 899, which roughly converts to $130, €119, and ₹10,734. For the unique design and a host of features that the Huawei FreeBuds 5 is offering, the price seems to be quite competitive, and it has all the qualities to become a worthy successor of the FreeBuds 4.
