Huawei FreeBuds Professional 2 evaluation

Huawei is again with one other pair of flagship true wi-fi earbuds and never solely are they cheaper than key rivals, however they’re additionally co-engineered with Devialet and embrace planar drivers. 

Moreover, they declare to supply high-end options and efficiency for simply £169.99 so let’s discover out if that’s true. 

Design & Construct  

• New Silver Blue color 
• Smaller case 
• Now IP54 rated 

It’s no massive shock that the design is just like the unique FreeBuds Professional and like rivals, the main focus right here is on making the earbuds smaller, lighter and extra comfy.  

The ‘cubic’ design that includes chunky trying sq. formed stems received’t be for everybody. Nor will the selection of colourways: Ceramic White, Silver Frost and a brand new Silver Blue possibility I examined.   

They’re actually not my type of fashion however I’m positive loads of individuals will just like the blingy, reflective chrome impact of the Silver Blue. Do keep in mind that it ends in numerous fingerprints although so if that one thing you need to keep away from, go for the white mannequin. 

The benefit of this stem design is that, as earlier than, the FreeBuds Professional 2 provide each pinch and swipe contact controls which is an actual boon; notably the latter for quantity management which is uncommon on wi-fi earbuds. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Nevertheless, the swipe gesture is situated on the entrance fringe of the stem – not the big space with the Huawei emblem – making it troublesome to make use of. You may not less than do it on both earbud. 

The case can also be smaller – 11% in line with Huawei – making it properly compact. The hinge on the again sports activities the Devialet emblem alongside Huawei’s, although this is able to be nicer on the entrance for my part. 

Extra importantly, it’s a lot simpler to get the earbuds out than the unique Professional mannequin. In most markets the case will provide wi-fi charging, but when not then you may high it up with USB-C. 

One of many principal design upgrades right here is the leap from primary IPX4 water resistance, IP54 which means they’re additionally dustproof now. 

Sound High quality & Options 

• 11mm dynamic driver + planar diaphragm driver 
• Bluetooth 5.2 
• LDAC Hello-Res Audio Wi-fi 

In all probability probably the most attention-grabbing factor in regards to the FreeBuds Professional 2 is that they’ve ‘Twin-Speaker True sound’ by the use of ‘Extremely-hearing Twin Driver’. Advertising and marketing phrases apart, which means that the earbuds have two drivers as a substitute of the normal one. 

It’s not unparalleled, however the second being a planar driver is. Not like a traditional cone-shaped driver, a planar driver is flat and though they’re usually used for higher bass, this extremely excessive frequency micro planar diaphragm ends in “excessive transient response and wealthy treble”, in line with the agency. 

It additionally provides the FreeBuds Professional 2 a large frequency vary of 14Hz – 48kHz when most headphones provide 20Hz-20kHz. And so they’ve been co-engineered with Devialet so the necessary query right here is whether or not these earbuds sound good. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

The easy reply (based mostly on my testing with a Pixel 6, which does have LDAC – extra on that under) is sure, and let’s begin with the unimaginable bass efficiency which whenever you take heed to tracks like James Blake’s Restrict to Your Love, usually sounds distinctly missing on most headphones. The eardrum shaking sub-bass is completed true justice right here partly because of that 14Hz attain. 

The monitor can also be a terrific check of mid-range and top-end, and whereas the bass dominates right here, the high-pitch percussion slices by cleanly and clearly. James’ vocals additionally sound wealthy and dynamic. 

Transfer onto the Foo Fighters as All My Life and issues sound slightly extra muddy compared, however that’s not unusual for rock music. The FreeBuds Professional nonetheless do a terrific job of reproducing all of the completely different devices and there’s a properly energetic response from the drivers together with a spacious soundstage. 

‘Sound results’ within the AI Life app are literally EQ presets with choices for Bass increase, Treble increase or Clear vocals, plus you may create your individual with a 10-band graphic EQ. Nevertheless, I discovered the default possibility created with Devialet was completely good. 

Huawei gives ‘Triple Adaptive EQ’ which goals to tune the sound and alter the amount relying on numerous issues comparable to your ear canal construction. It’ll additionally kick in in the event you alter both earbud. Whether or not this works is tough to say, particularly the latter since transferring an earbud will alter the sound by the use of sheer physics. 

It’s additionally value noting that the earbuds sound good at numerous quantity ranges, too, not simply after they’re someplace within the center. The underside line is that you simply’re getting flagship stage sound high quality at a mid-range worth. 

The identical could be mentioned of the noise cancelling, which this time round is Clever ANC 2.0. This now makes use of three microphones on every earbud – one on the internal aspect and one at both finish of the stem – and is supposedly 15% than the earlier mannequin for depth. 

They’ve a wider frequency vary of 50Hz–3,000kHz and might handle cancelling of as much as 47dB which is a powerful determine on paper. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

I took the FreeBuds Professional 2 on a day journey to London and so they did a terrific job of filtering out the sounds round me from individuals speaking in a espresso store to the sound of a practice transferring at full tempo. As you’d anticipate, there’s additionally an ambient mode for when you want to hear what’s occurring round you. 

Again to full ANC and there are completely different modes however you may’t cycle by these with the earbuds controls. The dynamic possibility robotically adjusts based mostly in your environment, just like Sony’s Adaptive Sound Management minus the placement data, however you may go and choose from cozy, basic and extremely in the event you like. 

The FreeBuds Professional 2 are geared up with a few of the newest wi-fi tech so not solely do you get Bluetooth 5.2, the earbuds additionally provide Sony’s LDAC codec which means you may get (when linked to a suitable machine and streaming service/native content material) Hello-Res Audio Wi-fi. 

LDAC goes as much as 990kbps which till the NuraTrue Professional arrived was the quickest information charge you would get. If not you get the traditional SBC, whereas iPhone customers will use AAC. 

When it comes to sensible options, you get fast pairing with chosen Huawei telephones, tablets and laptops and twin machine connection suitable with rather more than simply Huawei gadgets. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

Sensors on the earbuds know after they’re eliminated out of your ears to pause playback and this works very properly certainly. It’ll additionally resume whenever you put them again however the function could be turned off within the app in the event you don’t prefer it. 

Huawei has additionally improved name high quality because the FreeBuds Professional 2 use a brand new four-mic system (a bone conduction microphone and three extra microphones) in addition to Huawei’s-exclusive deep neural community (DNN) noise cancellation algorithm. 

No matter Huawei has carried out, it really works very properly certainly and the wind discount – usually probably the most problematic factor about headphones – is best than the overwhelming majority of earbuds I’ve examined. 

Software program 

• Awkward App Gallery scenario 
• Straightforward to make use of 
• Good options and customisation 

This continues to be draw back for Huawei headphones, though the scenario has improved a bit. You continue to have to obtain the Huawei AI Life app from the App Gallery, however this will now be carried out from contained in the common Play Retailer model. 

Nonetheless, it’s overly difficult and also you as soon as once more find yourself with two variations of the app put in in your cellphone. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

The App Gallery will have the ability to hook up with the FreeBuds Professional 2 and it wouldn’t be so dangerous if it was elective. Effectively, technically it’s however there’s a number of stuff you received’t get except you utilize AI Life such because the match check, gesture customisation, discover misplaced earbuds, numerous settings and software program updates. 

When you’ve obtained over the annoying hurdles, the app is simple sufficient to make use of. Other than one-time issues just like the match check, you’ll need it to do issues like change the ANC mode with choices for dynamic, cozy, basic and extremely. 

There’s additionally data for issues like battery ranges and linked gadgets. 

Battery Life 

• As much as 6.5 hours from earbuds 
• 18 hours whole with ANC on 
• Wi-fi charging case 

One thing that hasn’t modified from the unique FreeBud Professional is the battery life. Huawei nonetheless quotes a complete of 30 hours whenever you embrace the charging case (with ANC off). 

You’ll supposedly rise up to 4 hours of playback from the earbuds with ANC on (6.5 with it off). This tallies up with my expertise as a two hour practice journey knocked them to 50%, even when they did present 90- and 80% for almost all of that point. 

Chris Martin / Foundry

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The case can take you to 18 hours (once more with ANC on) which is affordable however not class-leading. There’s no point out of fast charging the buds, which can take 40 minutes to high up totally. 

Happily, the case – in most markets – has wi-fi charging which isn’t a given at this kind of worth. Wired USB-C can also be obtainable and quicker (with wi-fi at simply 2W) in the event you’re in a rush. 

Worth & Availability  

The FreeBuds Professional 2 can be found now for £169.99; the identical as their predecessors, which means they undercut key rivals such because the AirPods Professional, Sony WF-1000XM4 and Bose QC Earbuds.  

Even Sony’s new LinkBuds S are slightly extra at £179 and the Samsung Galaxy Buds Professional are £219 and till the top of July, you Huawei is providing £30 off the FreeBuds Professional 2 making them simply £139.99. 

Even at full worth, they make for a superb worth proposition and though you may spend much less on earbuds, you’re extraordinarily unlikely to seek out the extent of high quality and featureset on provide right here.

You may’t purchase them within the US formally however within the UK they’re obtainable from the official Huawei retailer in addition to retailers comparable to Amazon, Very and AO 

Take a look at our chart of the finest true wi-fi earbuds for extra choices.

Verdict 

Though I’m not a fan of the brand new Blue Silver color and the awkward swipe gesture of the FreeBuds Professional 2, there’s little else unfavourable I can say about them. 

Software program stays one thing of a bug naked, however it’s not less than simple sufficient to get the App Gallery model of AI Life from the common Play Retailer model, delete the previous one and overlook about it. 

The twin-drivers provide a cultured and dynamic sound and energetic noise cancelling is at a excessive stage, too. The identical is true of name high quality and there are helpful sensible options comparable to put on sensors, wi-fi charging and extra. 

It’s value checking your cellphone helps LDAC with a view to get probably the most out of the earbuds and longer battery life could be discovered elsewhere if that’s tremendous necessary.   

Total, the FreeBuds Professional 2 provide a well-rounded and really practically premium expertise at a really inexpensive worth. 

Specs

• 11mm dynamic driver, planar diaphragm driver
• 14Hz – 48kHz
• Bluetooth 5.2
• Bone senso, Accelerometer, Gyroscope sensor, Infrared sensor
• Simultaneous connection to 2 Bluetooth gadgets supported
• LDAC, AAC, SBC
• Pinch and swipe gestures
• Battery life: As much as 6.5 hours music playback on 1 cost (4 hours with ANC), 30 hr playback with charging case
• USB-C
• Wi-fi charging (market dependant)
• Dynamic energetic 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 6.1 g (per earbud), About 52 g (charging case)
• IP54
• Silver Blue,Silver Frost ,Ceramic White