At a look
Skilled’s Ranking
Professionals
- Nice sound high quality
- Strong ANC
- Dependable controls
- Wi-fi charging case
Cons
- Awkward software program scenario
- Small positive factors on predecessor
- No fast charging for buds
Our Verdict
The FreeBuds Professional 3 are one other first rate pair of wi-fi earbuds from Huawei and whereas there’s lots to love about them, together with a lower cost 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 greater worth 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 basically unchanged from the earlier era.
With quick and huge stems, they give the impression of being 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 ideas however there are different sizes within the field, after all, together with a brand new further small possibility.
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 emblem 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 offers you a sound when charging is full however a ‘discover my case’ function 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 score 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 correct half and the haptic suggestions is properly crisp.
Chris Martin / Foundry
You’ll be able to pinch as soon as, twice, thrice or an extended pinch for varied controls (particularly playback and ANC modes) in addition to swiping up and down to regulate the amount.
The latter works effectively however have to be accomplished on the identical grooved part which faces ahead quite than the extra intuitive outer floor of the stem the place the Huawei emblem 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 mixture permits the buds to supply an epically massive 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 definitely worthy of their Professional moniker in the case of codecs
Bass is especially robust as soon as once more so in case you like EDM (digital dance music) then the FreeBuds Professional 3 are an incredible alternative. Nevertheless, they’re suited to numerous genres of music in addition to podcasts and the like because of 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 might regulate 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 routinely pause playback whenever you take a bud out. It really works as marketed.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Energetic 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 observed that a lot of a soar, however they definitely do an incredible job of blocking out undesirable sound, and the attention mode is helpful for whenever you wish to hear what’s occurring round you with out taking the earbuds out.
By default, the ANC is on dynamic mode and routinely chooses primarily based in your environment however guide collection of cozy, basic 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 excellent. No matter Pure Voice 2.0 is doing within the background to do away with noise, together with wind, does a strong job.
The FreeBuds Professional 3 are definitely worthy of their Professional moniker in the case of codecs. Alongside the fundamental ones you discover on just about any pair of buds, they help LDAC and L2HC 2.0 that means you’ll be able to hearken to Hello-Res Audio wirelessly.
That is offered you’ve gotten a suitable gadget, with L2HC 2.0 solely obtainable on Huawei telephones working EMUI 13.0 or later. Naked in thoughts that you just’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 linked. Different trendy/sensible options embody twin connections so that you might be linked to 2 gadgets on the identical time, even Android and iOS, a match check and discover my earphones.
There’s additionally audio sharing so two pairs of buds might be linked to the identical factor, listening to the identical audio however that is restricted to pick Huawei gadgets.
One other software program hurdle is the actual fact the AI Life app isn’t obtainable on the Google Play Retailer so it’s essential to get it by way of Huawei’s App Gallery as an alternative. 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 on the market 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 positive factors
- No fast charging
- Wi-fi charging case
By way of 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 entire is 31 hours.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Actual-world battery life will differ, 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 you could find 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 might be charged by way of 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 the case of the worth
Worth & Availability
In typical style, Huawei undercuts rivals in the case of the worth. The FreeBuds Professional 3 are yours for £179.99 inserting them as extra of a mid-range possibility.
You should purchase them from the official retailer in addition to Amazon and Very. They don’t seem to be obtainable 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 incredible possibility for a flagship pair.
For one thing cheaper, Huawei has the wonderful FreeBuds 5 and you’ll try our chart of the greatest true wi-fi earbuds for extra choices.
Must you purchase the Huawei FreeBuds Professional 3?
Huawei has made one other largely glorious pair of true wi-fi earbuds.
They undercut big-name rivals whereas providing top-notch audio high quality, noise cancelling, on-bud controls and a variety of helpful options.
Nevertheless, there are some issues to contemplate earlier than hitting the purchase button.
Quite a lot of options are restricted to Huawei gadgets, 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 would possibly discover for a lovely worth.
Specs
- 11mm dynamic driver, planar diaphragm driver
- 14Hz – 48kHz
- Bluetooth
- Bone sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope sensor, Infrared sensor
- Simultaneous connection to 2 Bluetooth gadgets 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