At a lookSkilled’s Ranking
Professionals
- Nice sound high quality
- Stable ANC
- Dependable controls
- Wi-fi charging case
Cons
- Awkward software program state of affairs
- Small features on predecessor
- No fast charging for buds
Our Verdict
The FreeBuds Professional 3 are one other respectable pair of wi-fi earbuds from Huawei and whereas there’s quite a bit to love about them, together with a cheaper price than big-name rivals, not an entire lot has modified from the earlier era.
The wi-fi earbud practice continues to chug alongside, and Huawei is again with one other flagship pair vying for the eye of your ears.
The FreeBuds Professional 3 arrive at a barely larger value than their predecessors – at £179.99 – and whereas they undercut the likes of Apple and Sony, there’s not an entire lot of innovation right here to tempt anybody who already has the FreeBuds Professional 2.
a brand new groove on the stem makes utilizing the press/contact controls simpler
Design & Construct
- Refined design
- Groove for controls
- New inexperienced color
The design of the FreeBuds Professional 3 is essentially unchanged from the earlier era.
With quick and broad stems, they appear a tad stumpy however I don’t thoughts an excessive amount of. The buds are 5% lighter (5.8g per bud) than the FreeBuds Professional 2 however that’s not noticeable.
Regardless, they’re comfy and safe. I simply used the pre-fitted silicone suggestions however there are different sizes within the field, after all, together with a brand new further small choice.
Chris Martin / Foundry
The case could be very related, with minor tweaks and enhancements. It’s a tad smaller and the hinge is hid, now not slicing via the panel on the again with the Huawei brand which is a chunk of ‘nano glass’. Although it’s implied that the entire case is glass, the remaining is plastic.
The buds are extra uncovered making them simpler to get out and the case now has a speaker built-in. For now this provides you with a sound when charging is full however a ‘discover my case’ characteristic is coming later.
You will get the FreeBuds Professional 3 in 4 colors: Silver Frost, Silver Blue, Ceramic White and Inexperienced. The latter is the brand new livery and the one I’ve examined right here.
An IP54 ranking makes them mud and splash proof and a brand new groove on the stem makes utilizing the press/contact controls simpler. I actually like not fumbling round looking for the appropriate half and the haptic suggestions is properly crisp.
Chris Martin / Foundry
You may pinch as soon as, twice, 3 times or a protracted pinch for varied controls (particularly playback and ANC modes) in addition to swiping up and down to regulate the amount.
The latter works nicely however should be carried out on the identical grooved part which faces ahead slightly than the extra intuitive outer floor of the stem the place the Huawei brand resides.
Sound High quality & Options
- Twin drivers
- Two Hello-Res codecs
- Software program hurdles
Huawei as soon as once more gives a dual-driver audio system right here with 11mm dynamic drivers paired with planar diaphragm drivers.
The mix permits the buds to supply an epically giant frequency vary of 14Hz–48kHz. And as soon as once more they sound nice providing up wealthy, dynamic and spacious audio.
The FreeBuds Professional 3 are actually worthy of their Professional moniker in relation to codecs
Bass is especially sturdy as soon as once more so should you like EDM (digital dance music) then the FreeBuds Professional 3 are an excellent selection. Nonetheless, they’re suited to numerous genres of music in addition to podcasts and the like due to the detailed mid-range and delicately dealt with high-end.
I can’t change it on and off to check the efficiency, however Huawei touts ‘triple adaptive EQ’ which may modify the sound profile primarily based on quantity degree, ear canal form, and sporting standing.
As soon as once more, the buds can detect when they’re in your ears to mechanically pause playback once you take a bud out. It really works as marketed.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Lively noise cancelling (ANC) is now Clever ANC 3.0 which the agency says is 50% higher than the FreeBuds Professional 2. I can’t say I seen that a lot of a leap, however they actually do an excellent job of blocking out undesirable sound, and the notice mode is helpful for once you need to hear what’s happening round you with out taking the earbuds out.
By default, the ANC is on dynamic mode and mechanically chooses primarily based in your environment however handbook collection of cozy, common and extremely is discovered within the AI life app.
Name high quality is as soon as once more dealt with by a quad mic system comprised of three silicon and one bone conduction mic. As per the FreeBuds Professional 2, I’ve discovered the standard to be superb. No matter Pure Voice 2.0 is doing within the background to eliminate noise, together with wind, does a stable job.
The FreeBuds Professional 3 are actually worthy of their Professional moniker in relation to codecs. Alongside the fundamental ones you discover on just about any pair of buds, they help LDAC and L2HC 2.0 which means you possibly can hearken to Hello-Res Audio wirelessly.
That is supplied you have got a suitable gadget, with L2HC 2.0 solely accessible on Huawei telephones operating EMUI 13.0 or later. Naked in thoughts that you simply’ll additionally want Hello-Res content material/streaming subscription.
Chris Martin / Foundry
In the event you personal a suitable Huawei gadget, you’ll profit from pop-up pairing making it simpler to get related. Different trendy/good options embrace twin connections so that you will be related to 2 units on the identical time, even Android and iOS, a match take a look at and discover my earphones.
There’s additionally audio sharing so two pairs of buds will be related to the identical factor, listening to the identical audio however that is restricted to pick out Huawei units.
One other software program hurdle is the very fact the AI Life app isn’t accessible on the Google Play Retailer so you have to get it through Huawei’s App Gallery as a substitute. This can be a faff and even then, the app couldn’t discover my FreeBuds Professional 3. I had higher luck on iPhone the place the app is out there and located the headphones.
You should use the buds with out the app, however you’ll want it to entry all of the settings and options.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Battery Life & Charging
- Marginal features
- No fast charging
- Wi-fi charging case
When it comes to battery life, Huawei says you’ll get 6.5 hours from the buds however that is particularly utilizing them at 50% quantity with ANC switched off and the fundamental AAC Bluetooth codec. Together with the charging case, the whole is 31 hours.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Actual-world battery life will range, after all. Listening at 50% quantity with noise cancelling on, whereas travelling on a loud practice for an hour misplaced round 20% battery suggesting a lifespan of 5 hours.
It’s a marginal acquire on the earlier era of FreeBuds Professional however yow will discover longer battery life elsewhere if wanted.
The buds will take round 40 minutes to cost contained in the case with Huawei not mentioning any quick charging. The case will be charged through USB-C or wi-fi charging, although at as much as 2W the latter will take greater than twice as lengthy to get the case full.
In typical style, Huawei undercuts rivals in relation to the value
Value & Availability
In typical style, Huawei undercuts rivals in relation to the value. The FreeBuds Professional 3 are yours for £179.99 inserting them as extra of a mid-range choice.
You should purchase them from the official retailer in addition to Amazon and Very. They aren’t accessible within the US on the time of writing.
In the event you can’t afford buds just like the Apple AirPods Professional 2, Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds then the FreeBuds Professional 3 are an excellent choice for a flagship pair.
For one thing cheaper, Huawei has the superb FreeBuds 5 and you’ll take a look at our chart of the greatest true wi-fi earbuds for extra choices.
Do you have to purchase the Huawei FreeBuds Professional 3?
Huawei has made one other largely wonderful pair of true wi-fi earbuds.
They undercut big-name rivals whereas providing top-notch audio high quality, noise cancelling, on-bud controls and numerous helpful options.
Nonetheless, there are some issues to think about earlier than hitting the purchase button.
A lot of options are restricted to Huawei units, the software program expertise isn’t simple and never an entire has modified when evaluating the buds with the FreeBuds Professional 2 which, now they’re the older era, you may discover for a horny value.
Specs
- 11mm dynamic driver, planar diaphragm driver
- 14Hz – 48kHz
- Bluetooth
- Bone sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope sensor, Infrared sensor
- Simultaneous connection to 2 Bluetooth units supported
- LDAC, L2HC2.0, AAC, SBC
- Pinch and swipe gestures
- Battery life: As much as 6.5 hours music playback on 1 cost (4.5hr with ANC), 31hr playback with charging case
- USB-C
- Wi-fi charging (market dependant)
- Dynamic lively noise cancelling (as much as 47dB)
- Dimensions: 29.1 x 23.7 x 21.8 mm (per earbud)
- Dimensions: 67.9 x 47.5 x 24.5 mm (charging case)
- Weight: About 5.8g (per earbud), About 45.5g (charging case)
- IP54
- Silver Blue,Silver Frost ,Ceramic White, Inexperienced
