HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i review - Premium feel and ANC that doesn't break the bank
HUAWEI, a Chinese technology manufacturer best known for its mobile phone s and smart devices, began its FreeBuds range in 2018. It's now on its fifth iteration, which is arguably the best yet.
HUAWEI claim that their FreeBuds 5i "inherits the sterling sound quality and active noise cancellation (ANC) from the FreeBuds series, while also incorporating a stylish design, multiple ANC and EQ modes". It sounds like a lot to offer for such a low price point, so it's probably fair to be sceptical at first.
The HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i come in three colours, stylishly named Isle Blue, Nebula Back, and Ceramic White. They come in a pebble-design charging case with a texture effect surface that makes the earbuds stand out from the crowd straight away.
The HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i come in three colours, each as striking as the last (HUAWEI)They weigh just 4.9g each, with the charging case adding around 34g. This is really very light, although the shape of the case is something that some people might find cumbersome. They're comfortable to wear over long periods, and come with three different sizes of tips.
The earbuds are 29mm long, which is shorter than the FreeBuds 4i, but still relatively average for an earbud of this design. The charging case is 4.8cm tall and 6.2cm wide, with a depth of 2.6cm. It's light but it does have a bit of bulk to it. They're also splash, water, and dust resistant - boasting an IP54 rating.
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The earbuds pair together with the AI Life app, the Android version of which, at the time of writing, isn't available on the Play Store - you have to download the apk from a website link provided via a QR code in the box.
HUAWEI claim it "harnesses powerful hardware, algorithms, the LDAC™ HD audio codec and multi-EQ effects, to play and transmit HD audio", and the sound quality itself is something you'd expect from a more expensive device.
The FreeBuds 5i feature a 10mm dynamic driver, and are True Wireless (HUAWEI)It doesn't blow you away though, particularly since the EQ customisation options available via the app are lacking - you can choose between "more base", "more treble", and "balanced", but have no more customisation than that.
It's powered by a 10mm dynamic driver, which is slap bang in the middle of what you'd expect to find in a pair of earbuds. It's capable of high volume, although with the "more bass" option turned on in the AI Life app it still feels a little flat at times.
The mids and highs are another story though, coming in crystal clear and crisp even without any EQ. The app also gives you the option to prioritise sound quality over connection quality, meaning that there may be a slight delay between your device and the earbuds.
When listening to music this isn't noticeable, and additionally, it's something that most users will be used to, especially if they drive and routinely connect their device to a Bluetooth sound system - most modern vehicles have Bluetooth systems that run with as much of a two-second delay between the device and the sound.
The earbuds come with three sizes of tip - small, medium, and large (HUAWEI)The battery life is good - the charging case features a 410 mAh battery. This leads to around 6 hours of playback on a single charge of the earbuds (with ANC disabled you can get an extra 90 minutes or so on top of that) and around 18.5 hours of total music playback with the charging case (with ANC disabled you might get as much as 10 hours more on top of that). A USB-A to USB-C charging cable comes in the box, but it's short (25cm) and largely impractical.
The charging case and earbuds lack any kind of fast charging, it takes around 110 minutes to charge the case, and around 60 minutes to fully charge the earbuds from nothing when they're in there.
However you look at it this is a lengthy charging time compared to other units on the market, which is one of the prices paid for the plethora of features and quality of the rest of the device. That said, HUAWEI state that you can get 4 hours of playback on just 15 minutes of charge, which will be a comfort for users in a pinch.
The features are where the device really shines. It's LDAC compatible, which is what they mean when they say the FreeBuds 5i have "Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification". In addition, you get an intuitive and functional dual-device connection, press and swipe controls, and things like "Find My Earbuds". You can even control your camera using the earbuds to take a picture remotely.
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The AI Life app is functional, but at times minimalistic (HUAWEI)The shining jewel of the FreeBuds 5i is, however, the hybrid noise cancelling that makes use of Active Noise Cancelling (ANC). On a device under £100, this is very impressive, and the ANC on these earbuds is nothing short of exceptional, providing depth as high as 42 dB.
Using the AI Life app comes in three modes, which HUAWEI call "Ultra", "General" and "Cozy". In addition, you can use the app to turn the ANC on and off, and also activate their "awareness" mode. The cynic in me was sceptical of the ANC, but it really does knock your socks off.
HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i verdict - 5/5
It's sometimes easy to pick holes in a product and to point at things that could be done better. It's important to remember where you are in the market, however, and the HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i sit firmly at the lower end of the price bracket.
The features you get for under £100 are incredible, and it's clear that concessions have to be made somewhere. Okay, the charging cable is a little short and it takes a bit of time to charge. It's also true that the sound quality at lower frequencies is "good but not exceptional".
You are however looking at a device that looks amazing, sounds good, and features dual Bluetooth connection and incredible ANC, all while being LDAC compatible.
The HUAWEI FreeBuds 5i are scheduled for release on 16 January 2023, and will be available on the Huawei Store for £89.99.
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