Because there are so many other options, the price of wireless in-ear headphones has dropped a lot in the last year. So much so that it’s hard to find the most attractive price for them that is also attractive because of their specs.
In the case of the new Freebuds 5i, Huawei seems to have gotten it right by making a “decaffeinated” version of the Freebuds Pro 2, which is the most advanced model in the line, while keeping important features like active noise cancellation and high-quality codec support.
This is what the Freebuds 5i offer for €99, making them fully competitive with the Ear (Stick) from Nothing or the Galaxy Buds 2 from Samsung, to name a few.
Also, Check The best cheap headphones of 2023
Design and qualities
- lighter than before
- They admit pressure controls
- Support IPX4
- No wireless charging
The design of the Freebuds 4i hasn’t changed much since the last generation. They both have egg-shaped cases that make it easy to put and take out the earphones. A flat part makes it more likely that they will stay put on a table.
You can choose from a broader range of finishes. I got the blue ones, but they also come in black and white. Instead of making all the textures the same colour, Huawei sprays some of them with emerald grey to make them stand out.
The case has strong magnets, so it’s not likely that the headphones will fly out if you drop them. Even if we use the mobile app, we can still use the search function.
Concerning the headphones’ dynamic drivers, they are 10 mm and have a frequency response between 20 Hz and 40 KHz, which makes the range better. They are also lighter, coming in at 4.9 grammes instead of the Freebuds 4i’s 5.5 grammes. I’ve tried it myself and can confirm that the head fits perfectly in the ear. You can also switch out the silicone tips for different sizes to better fit each user. In the end, they are comfortable enough to wear for a long time.
We can tell how the headphone case is charging by looking at its single LED light. There is the usual button for syncing with other devices, and the USB C charging port is at the bottom.
At this price point, it seems obvious that wireless charging is not an option. The FreeBuds 5i are better than the ones that came before because they are resistant to water and dust. They have IPX4 certification, while the ones that came before did not.
It is a big step forward that is very important if you use them to practise sports and want to keep sweat or splashes of water from ruining them at the first chance.
Sound quality and features
- Different ANC modes
- Noise cancellation on calls
- Hi-Res Audio LDAC equalizer support
You can use them to listen to music from your favourite streaming service or to talk to someone on a voice or video call, and the sound quality is pretty good in both cases.
Huawei says that these headphones have a DNN algorithm that uses the two microphones to automatically turn on noise cancellation when you pick up a call in a noisy place. It’s not something I really noticed, but it’s likely that the receiver will be able to hear your voice better.
There is a good amount of bass, but it doesn’t get too boomy when the volume is turned up above average. Most of the music you listen to doesn’t have that metallic sound in the middle or high frequencies, so it’s pleasant to listen to.
Don’t forget that the Freebuds 5i can handle LDAC Hi-Res Audio. We can use the equaliser effects in the Android or iOS app, which boosts the bass and treble, or we can leave the settings in their default state.
Depending on what kind of music you like, you may find a better fit. I tried to play Taylor Swift’s “Willow” with the bass turned up, and it let me hear the guitar plucks and vocal twists in all their glory.
Both “As It Was” by Harry Styles and “LLYLM” by Rosala have good bass, even though it is hard and complicated to make the artist’s flamenco voice sound with the Pop rhythm. Both songs, though, have good tones.
When it comes to controlling and managing ANC noise cancellation, which is important to most people who buy headphones in this price range, the fact that we have different user profiles is a big plus.
Huawei has three different modes, called “comfortable,” “general,” and “ultra.” The “ultra” mode is made so that you can block out noise even in places with a lot of noise, like on an aeroplane or in a crowded subway car.
I liked it the most, whether I was on the street or working from home. It’s not extreme cancellation because you can still hear the ringing sound even if someone knocks on your door.
Huawei says that you can get similar noise cancellation at 42 db, but I think it’s more about getting rid of the noise that comes up around you than completely blocking it out. Even when I snapped my fingers, I could still hear them. This is not the case with more advanced ANC modes.
For instance, the Freebuds Pro 2 bring this active noise cancellation up to 47 dB and can be used in the same ways as those listed here. In a technical sense, they also have a flat diaphragm, which makes this section better.
App management and functions
- Headphone autonomy of 5 and a half hours
- Autonomy with case and without ANC: 28 hours
- 2-hour charging case
- No wireless charging support
Also, the section on independence has changed for the better since the last Freebuds. And it’s because the 5i has slightly better data than its predecessor, so it can play music for up to 5 and a half hours straight in normal mode with ANC.
If you choose the Ultra noise cancellation mode, the times get shorter because the headphones have to cancel out more of the decibels around you.
In any case, it is also helped by the Freebuds 5i case, which now lets us get up to 28 hours of use if we use them while they are charging and don’t have the ANC function turned on.
Also, the section on independence has changed for the better since the last Freebuds. And it’s because the 5i has slightly better data than its predecessor, so it can play music for up to 5 and a half hours straight in normal mode with ANC.
If you choose the Ultra noise cancellation mode, the times get shorter because the headphones have to cancel out more of the decibels around you.
In any case, it is also helped by the Freebuds 5i case, which now lets us get up to 28 hours of use if we use them while they are charging and don’t have the ANC function turned on. We checked that the charge level stays high, around 82%, by playing music occasionally and using them on the go for at least an hour. This shows that they work well.
The case doesn’t let you charge your phone wirelessly, but that’s a feature you’d only find on more expensive models. In any case, a typical 33W charger took almost 2 hours to fully charge the case and earbuds.
Huawei only includes the USB-C charging cable and ear tips of different sizes in the box.
Price
We already told you about this at the beginning of the article. Still, the suggested retail price of €99 seems pretty close to what we’ve seen so far, especially since it supports different ANC cancellation modes and has equalisation built in.
You can buy the Freebuds 5i on the Huawei website, where you can also find deals on other products. For example, at the time this review was written, you could buy the Huawei Band 7 with the headphones for €29.99 more.
If you want the best sound quality, don’t buy the new Freebuds 5i. Instead, spend an extra €79 and get the Freebuds Pro 2, which is the second generation.
Check out our special on the best wireless in-ear headphones you can buy for your computer or smartphone.
Verdict
Active noise cancellation (ANC) as standard with different modes of use and support for different codecs like LDAC is expensive, but Huawei’s new Freebuds 5i are able to do it.
We liked how comfortable they are for everyday use and how light they are if you wear them for long periods of time. If we don’t want the phone to look like the cheapest model, we can improve the quality and finish of the case. This will be Huawei’s next challenge.
At this point, there aren’t many competitors in this price range who can offer the same thing. Nothing with its Ear (Stick), which recently raised its price a little to €119, could be a competitor to think about.
There is clearly room for improvement in both the type of ANC used and the sound quality. But adding IPX4 water resistance is a big step forward for all the people who use them for sports, which is a lot of people.
Specifications
- The dynamic driver is made of aluminum alloy 10mm in diameter
- Proximity sensors with two microphones per unit
- ANC (multimode) (multimode)
- Sony LDAC, AAC, and SBC surround sound mode are supported codecs.
- Bluetooth 5.3 Multi-device connectivity at the same time
- IPX4 certification
- Weight of headphones: 4.9 grams
- The case weighs 34 grams.
- Battery life of up to 6 hours
- The case can last up to 28 hours.