Consumer Electronics, Gadgets & Accessories

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 Review: Elegant in-ear headphones with powerful sound

A year and a half after the FreeBuds Pro 3, which completely impressed in our test at the time, HUAWEI is now following up: With the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4, the Chinese manufacturer raises the bar once again and delivers an elegant, excellent-sounding pair of in-ear headphones. Find out more in our test.

Technical data

The product FreeBuds Pro 4
Bluetooth version 5.2
Bluetooth codecs L2HC, LDAC, AAC and SBC
Maximum operating range 12m (without obstacle)
Battery life
  • with ANC: up to 5 hours
  • without ANC: up to 7 hours
  • 33 hours in total with charging case; (varies depending on volume level and audio content)
Charging time 1.5 hours (for charging case via USB-C or wireless)
Size of charging case (H x W x D) 46.9 mm x 65.9 mm x 24.5 mm
Weight 5.8 g per earbud; 58.6 g charging case & earphones
Most important functions ANC; Transparency mode; Wear detection; Wireless charging; Ultra-Hearing dual speaker
Price 199 Euros

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 review: Elegant design in black and gold

  • Stylish, elegant design
  • excellent workmanship
  • Very comfortable to wear

You can immediately tell that the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 are the manufacturer’s new in-ear flagship. The design with its flat exterior is strongly reminiscent of its predecessor, but the Pro 4 with its black and gold color scheme looks extremely elegant and high-quality, so that they also look classy with a business outfit.

The excellent build quality is also impressive, giving you the feeling that you have a premium device in your hands (and ears). The earbuds have a classic stylus design, which is quite short at 2.5 cm.

They weigh around 5.8 grams each, which ensures a high level of wearing comfort. In fact, the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 fit very comfortably in the ear without pinching.

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4

If you like, you can of course fine-tune the fit by selecting the ear tips: In addition to the pre-installed silicone ear tips in size M, three other sizes are included in the scope of delivery, as well as a total of three sizes of memory foam ear tips, which ensure an even better seal as they adapt to the shape of the ear.

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4

The features of the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4

  • Bluetoth 5.2
  • IP54 certification
  • LDAC; but lossless sound only with HUAWEI smartphones

The previous model already left almost nothing to be desired in terms of features, and this naturally also applies to the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4. Although they only rely on Bluetooth 5.2, they offer a convincing range and stable connection.

Once again, the earbuds are IP54-certified, meaning they are also protected against rain. Thanks to mono mode, it is also possible to use just one of the earbuds and continue listening to music as normal.

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4

There is also a wear detection function that pauses the music when you take the earphones out and continues when you put them back in. However, this didn’t really work reliably during my test – but I would rather blame this on the pre-release firmware, as the FreeBuds Pro 3 didn’t have any problems here.

Of course, the most important high-resolution audio codecs are also included again, including L2HC and LDAC for the playback of corresponding music in 48 kHz, which should please audio fans.

According to HUAWEI, these are also the first earbuds with 2.3 Mbps Lossless SoundTransmission, which means that the FreeBuds Pro 4 transmit music via Bluetooth with virtually no loss. Unfortunately, this only works with the manufacturer’s smartphones such as the HUAWEI Mate X6 with EMUI 15.

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4

There is also head control, which makes it possible to accept or reject calls by nodding or shaking your head, as well as active noise cancellation, which we will come to later.

Operation of the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4

  • Sophisticated operating concept
  • precise operation

The operating concept of the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 is extremely well thought out and works quickly and reliably once you have completed the gesture tutorial. HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4

Unfortunately, the operation hardly works at all in the test. It is not only operated via the touch-sensitive outer sides, but also via the squeezable touch surface on the sides, as well as via swipe gestures. You can adjust the volume with a swipe gesture, while pressing together pauses or resumes playback. Call control is also done by pressing together.

Here, no wishes remain unfulfilled in terms of possibilities. All inputs are implemented quickly and precisely. Outstanding.

HUAWEI AI Life is used as a companion app, in which the earbuds are recognized quickly and reliably. You can make various settings here and are informed about the battery charge status.

You can also switch between the different noise suppression modes and adjust the sound. For the latter, you can choose from various equalizer profiles such as Standard, Bass Amplifier or Hi-Fi Live. Alternatively, you can also influence the sound yourself using the 10-band EQ.

Battery life of the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4

  • five hours runtime with ANC
  • seven hours of battery life without ANC
  • up to 33 hours of use in total

The FreeBuds Pro 4 are well positioned in terms of battery life. Seven hours of use are possible without active noise cancellation, five hours with active ANC. These are really good values, a minimal increase compared to its predecessor.

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4

The charging case adds a further 33 hours of runtime without ANC and 23 hours with ANC, enough power for long journeys. Charging via cable or wirelessly takes around one and a half hours via USB-C or 150 minutes wirelessly.

Audio quality, ANC and microphones

  • Excellent, detailed sound
  • Lively, warm sound image
  • rich bass, airy treble

I really like the sound of the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4. The manufacturer has equipped the earbuds with Ultra-Hearing Dual speakers, which combine driver units with a total of four magnets and planar magnet drivers.

The result is an incredibly detailed and lively sound that reproduces the entire sound image excellently, from rich bass to airy highs. The sound is both natural and warm, with the individual frequencies pleasantly accentuated and well separated from one another.

Across all genres, this ensures a full and lively sound with an impressive maximum volume, thanks to which the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 undoubtedly secure a place in our ranking of the best in-ear headphones.

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4

In terms of sound, the FreeBuds Pro 4 outperform some of the best in-ear headphones. The standard EQ preset is a little too reduced in the treble for me personally, but you can easily compensate for this by changing the preset or fine-tuning using your own equalizer. However, I particularly like the mids, which are pleasantly clear and detailed, so that spoken content also comes across excellently.

ANC and transparency mode

  • excellent ANC
  • very good transparency mode

The active noise cancellation of the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 is also at an absolute reference level. Within the app, you can choose between different modes such as “Dynamic” or “Ultra”, with the latter mode offering the strongest suppression.

The earbuds not only cope very well with monotonous, low frequencies, which are almost completely suppressed. Medium and high frequencies, such as conversations or typing on the keyboard, are also greatly reduced and are barely perceptible.

Of course, you shouldn’t expect miracles due to the design; in-ears simply don’t reach the level of over-ear headphones with ANC. Nevertheless, HUAWEI is at the forefront here too and hardly has to hide behind top models such as the Sony WF-1000XM5 or Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4. Even though they offer even better isolation.

It’s a similar story with the transparency mode, which amplifies voices and ambient noise and scores with a natural sound. Top.

Microphone quality

  • three microphones
  • good, but not outstanding microphone quality

HUAWEI is also particularly proud of the microphone quality of the FreeBuds Pro 4 and has equipped the earbuds with three noise-canceling microphones, which are supported by an additional bone-sound microphone designed to pick up the voice without being affected by ambient noise.

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4

Up to 100 dB of ambient noise can be suppressed during phone calls and conversations, while even wind with a strength of up to 10 m/s is suppressed. So much for the theory.

Microphone test recording HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4

Microphone test recording Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4

Microphone test recording Sony WF-1000XM5

Although the microphone quality is indeed good, it is by no means outstanding. Although your own voice is reproduced quite clearly and naturally, the whole thing sounds a little watery, while slight background noise (“clacking”) can constantly be heard.

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 Review: Conclusion

After the predecessor model narrowly missed out on our best list, the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4 play their way to the top of the list of the best in-ear headphones with a noticeably improved and excellent overall package.

Because almost everything is right here. The wearing comfort is outstanding and the sound quality is among the best you can currently buy. The active noise suppression and transparency mode are also at reference level, while the microphone quality enables clear conversations.

The battery life has also been improved, although there are competitors that last significantly longer. It is a shame that there are no other high-res codecs besides LDAC and L2HC and that the best possible, latency-free audio quality can only be achieved with the manufacturer’s smartphones. However, this hardly detracts from the excellent overall result.

PRO

  • Elegant, stylish design
  • Excellent sound
  • Strong ANC
CONTRA

  • Top features only with HUAWEI smartphones
  • no aptX
  • Wear detection with problems

HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4

Processing
Wearing comfort
Sound quality
Recording quality
Equipment
Price-performance ratio

92/100

Excellent and elegant in-ear headphones with very good wearing comfort, great sound and strong ANC.

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