With the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5, the manufacturer is launching its new in-ear flagship, which is the successor to the excellent fourth generation and comes with some impressive innovations: the Pro 5 are the world’s first true wireless headphones with dual-engine noise suppression. With an RRP of 199 euros, Huawei is clearly positioning itself in the premium segment and is claiming to set a new standard for TWS in-ears. I have tested the FreeBuds Pro 5 intensively in everyday life, during sports, in the home office and on the go and can tell you whether they keep their promise.
Technical data of the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5
| The product | FreeBuds Pro 5 |
| Bluetooth version | 6.0 |
| Bluetooth codecs | L2HC, AAC and SBC |
| Maximum operating range | 12m (without obstacle) |
| Battery life |
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| Charging time | 1.5 hours (for charging case via USB-C or wireless) |
| Size of charging case (H x W x D) | 65.5 mm x 46.7 mm x 22.98 mm |
| Weight | 5.5 g per earbud; 55 g charging case & earphones |
| Key features | Dual-engine AI-ANC; Transparency mode; Wear detection; Wireless charging; IP57 |
| Price | 199 Euro |
HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 test: Elegant design meets excellent workmanship
The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 immediately catches the eye. And that is meant quite literally. The so-called Star Oval design presents a shimmering oval with the iconic HUAWEI SOUND logo on each earbud and gives the headphones an unmistakable, high-quality look. There are four color options to choose from: sand gold, black, white and dark blue – something for every taste. Visually, the earbuds make quite an impression and look even more modern and sophisticated than their direct predecessor.
The charging case is also impressive: it is noticeably more compact than its predecessor (by 5.5 percent according to Huawei), which I can clearly feel in direct comparison. The newly developed, seamless hinge opens and closes with a clean, satisfying click and conveys the feeling of a premium product. In everyday use, the case is small enough to easily slip into a trouser pocket.
The earbuds themselves sit extremely securely in the ear thanks to the ergonomic secure-fit design. I used them during intense exercise, cycling and even at the gym. They never wobbled or fell out at any time. They are also comfortable to wear for long periods of two to three hours. There is no feeling of pressure, as you would expect from ill-fitting in-ears.
High-end features in the FreeBuds Pro 5
Technically, the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 are very extensively equipped. At the heart is a dual-drive acoustic system with an ultra-linear dual-magnet driver for low frequencies and a micro-planar membrane driver for high frequencies. This driver concept is already familiar from previous models, but has been consistently developed further here. The transmission runs via the proprietary L2HC 4.0 audio codec, which, according to Huawei, enables a data rate of up to 2.3 Mbps and supports lossless audio with 48 kHz / 24 bit. For comparison: aptX Lossless offers a maximum of 1.2 Mbps. The FreeBuds Pro 5 therefore clearly surpasses this.
Connectivity is provided by Bluetooth 6.0 and a dual-device connection, which allows the headphones to be paired with a smartphone and a laptop at the same time. The automatic device switching works reliably in practice: If a call comes in on my cell phone while I’m listening to music on my laptop, the FreeBuds Pro 5 switch to the smartphone automatically and without any noticeable delay. After the call, they return to playing music on the laptop just as easily.
The audio sharing function is particularly practical: it allows the audio stream to be shared wirelessly with a second pair of compatible HUAWEI headphones. Useful when watching a movie together on the train, for example, without disturbing anyone. Control and individual sound adjustment is done via the HUAWEI Audio Connect app, which is available for both iOS and Android. Four preset HUAWEI SOUND profiles (Balanced, Voice, Classical and Bass) allow quick adaptation to different music genres and listening habits without having to scroll through long menus.
Less pleasing: Those who do not own a Huawei device and are hoping for full lossless transmission must bear in mind that the L2HC codec and, above all, NearLink E2.0 primarily develop their full potential in the Huawei ecosystem. For Android users outside the Huawei universe, the following applies: The functionality is basically there, but not every function is available to its full extent.
Intuitive touch operation
Operating the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 is intuitive and very smooth after a short familiarization phase. The earbuds respond to touch gestures on the stem: a single tap pauses or plays the music, a double tap changes the track or accepts a call. Pressing and holding the stem switches between ANC modes. This feels good in everyday use. The touch sensors respond precisely and do not trigger any unwanted actions, even if you hold the headphones by the stem when inserting them.
The adaptive awareness mode is particularly successful. It uses high-resolution microphones and AI to allow ambient noise to pass through naturally. Compared to its predecessor, the FreeBuds Pro 4, the voice transmission is much more natural. Conversations sound less muffled or metallic. This is worth its weight in gold in everyday life, for example when placing an order in a café or listening to announcements at the train station.
The adaptive volume control automatically adjusts the level to the ambient volume – quiet in the library, slightly louder on a busy street. This works convincingly in practice and saves manual intervention. If you prefer to keep control yourself, you can of course deactivate the function via the app
Battery life: Slight improvement
In terms of battery life, the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 deliver solid, albeit not record-breaking values. According to Huawei, the earbuds themselves achieve up to 9 hours of playback without ANC, with up to 38 hours of total runtime including the charging case. With active ANC, the runtime of the buds is reduced to around 7 hours. That’s another hour more than the FreeBuds Pro 4 or, in combination with the case, an additional five hours.
In the real test, these figures largely match my experience. With moderate volume and ANC activated, I can comfortably get through a long working day without having to charge in between. The case recharges quickly and has enough reserve power for several full charging cycles. Wireless charging is also supported by the case, which makes everyday life even more convenient.
Audio quality, ANC and microphones
In terms of sound, the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 are at the absolute top of the TWS segment and enhance the already excellent sound of the fourth generation with additional details and an even airier experience that impresses.
The dual-driver system consisting of an ultra-linear bass driver and micro-planar tweeter delivers a precision rarely expected from in-ears. The bass sounds deep and powerful without overpowering the mids; trebles remain controlled and clear, even at higher volumes. Voices come across warm and natural, and in complex pieces of music with many instruments, the FreeBuds Pro 5 show an impressive separation of frequencies, resulting in a high level of detail.
Quiet pieces with few instruments and a lead vocal benefit enormously from the system’s wealth of detail. The resonance of a string or subtle background elements can be clearly heard. The four HUAWEI SOUND profiles (Balanced, Voice, Classical, Bass) enable quick sound adjustment without EQ knowledge. The “Bass” mode is much more powerful for hip-hop or electronic music, while “Classical” emphasizes more transparency and stage width. You can do this, but it wouldn’t be my preferred option.
A small downer: The complete lossless sound experience via L2HC 4.0 requires a compatible device. Without Huawei hardware or a device with NearLink support, you can still enjoy very good sound, but not the maximum possible sound.
ANC and transparency mode
The ANC of the FreeBuds Pro 5 is a real generational leap forward and represents a genuine innovation. The dual-engine ANC architecture, in which low-frequency and high-frequency drivers work together as two independent noise suppression engines, is unique in the world.
The MIMO AI sensing model analyzes ambient noise up to 400,000 times per second and generates counter waves in real time. In practice, this means that monotonous background noises such as the humming of an airplane or the subway are suppressed extremely effectively and even sudden noise peaks such as a honking car, a loud conversation nearby and the like are noticeably attenuated.
A direct comparison with its predecessor, the FreeBuds Pro 4, shows that the Pro 5 cancels out more noise. Especially below 1.5 kHz. Even without foam ear tips, it outperforms the Pro 4 with foam tips. Although the ANC doesn’t quite come close to the very best models such as the Sony WF-1000XM6 or AirPods Pro 3, it comes much closer to them than any previous generation.
Microphone quality
For calls, the FreeBuds Pro 5 rely on three microphones plus a bone conduction microphone. The AI voice filtering reliably separates voice and ambient noise. Calls are transmitted clearly even in environments with a volume of up to 100 dB. The special wind noise suppression system enables intelligible phone calls even in wind speeds of up to 10 m/s. This is very noticeable when making calls outdoors. Even whispered sentences are picked up cleanly and transmitted clearly, which I was able to confirm in several tests.
HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 test: Conclusion
The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5 are an impressive piece of technology that clearly establishes Huawei in the premium TWS league. With the world’s first dual-engine ANC architecture, lossless audio transmission via L2HC 4.0, a revised design and sophisticated connectivity, they offer an overall package that is on a par with the best in-ears on the market and (significantly) surpasses its already excellent predecessors.
There are no real points of criticism. With the exception of the high-resolution audio codecs, which are still only available on Huawei devices due to the lack of aptX or LDAC support. In terms of ANC and sound, the FreeBuds Pro 5 do not quite reach the level of the absolute best competition, but they are getting much closer. And with an RRP of 199 euros, they also cost considerably less than flagships from other manufacturers. Those who are at home in the Huawei ecosystem will get the most out of it. But they are also a clear recommendation as platform-independent premium in-ears with strong ANC and excellent sound.
- Elegant design
- Strong ANC
- Great sound
- Modern features
- Good battery life
- Best sound only in the Huawei ecosystem
- No aptX/LDAC
- ANC not yet quite at top level
HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 5
Workmanship
Wearing comfort
Sound quality
ANC
Features
Value For Money
91/100
The fifth generation of in-ears impresses with major improvements and excellent ANC. The sound and comfort features are also impressive.
