Get an earful of these
Huawei FreeBuds 3 From €179 More info: Huawei.com ★★★★★
APPLE’S Airpods have become something of a symbol of cool over the last couple of years. Android users haven’t had anything comparable, though, until recently when smartphone giant Huawei launched the FreeBuds 3.
Looking similar in form to Apple’s wireless earphones, they are thankfully available in both black and white. The FreeBuds are packaged inside their carrycharging case when they arrive. This ingenious little case not only stores the FreeBuds securely, but charges them.
The travel case can be plugged in with its USB cable, but is also wireless-charging compatible, so you can charge it up anywhere you have a compatible Qi charging mat. These days, that may even be in your car.
With one charge, you’ll get four hours of playback. But if you have the charging case fully powered up, you’ll get around 20 hours with recharges. That’s ideal for long flights or if you’re on the road all day.
I’ve always used in-ear silicone buds and I wasn’t sure how I’d find the open-fit style of the FreeBuds. I needn’t have worried, as they’re comfortable and at just 4.5g each, are almost unnoticeable in the ear.
If you’re a Huawei phone user, connecting the FreeBuds will probably happen instantly thanks to ‘Pop-up & Pair’. If you’re using another Android brand, there’s a simple Bluetooth connection process. Huawei also distribute an app for the FreeBuds, that allows you to manually adjust the noise cancellation feature. Inside the buds is the custom Kirin A1 chip that helps eliminate the background noise during calls, and it also seems to enhance your voice.
Inside the headphones is a built-in bone voice sensor. This allows the buds to pick up your voice more effectively through the bone vibrations helping with voice enhancement. I planned on using these buds for calls, but I tried listening to music and was pleasantly surprised. There’s no big bass thump but there is a lovely smooth sound down low, in the mid-range and higher tones.
Also, while the FreeBuds have active noise cancellation, the openfit does mean that sound on a train or for from traffic will leak in.
Overall though, they are breath of fresh air for Android users. The wearing-detection feature really is like magic, with the headphones knowing you have them on.
If you’re a Huawei user, these could be a must-have. However, for any Android user these are a breath of very cool air.
"IT’S MAGIC THAT THE EAR-BUDS KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE THEM ON