Sound quality isn’t audiophile-level, but still more than good enough for most people.
The meteoric rise of True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds began with Motorola’s 2014 Hint.
Huawei is one of them.
Unboxing the FreeBuds 5i
Box contents for the FreeBuds 5i are quite standard.
Innards are always glossy regardless of color.
The case is oval shaped, with a flat back.
Just initiate the case lid, and it will enter pairing mode.
The FreeBuds 5i can stay connected to two devices at the same time.
The connection quality on the FreeBuds 5i isn’t outstanding, but it does the job well enough.
I was able to wear them while walking around my apartment without major connection issues.
There’s an option to lower latency at the cost of audio quality if needed.
Do the FreeBuds 5i Fit Well in the Ear?
I’m extremely picky when choosing TWS earbuds, since most models tend to hurt my ears.
That isn’t the case with the FreeBuds 5i.
The plastic part fits just right, with the silicone tips providing good sealing.
Three tip sizes are included in the box.
Some makers include even more, but the ones provided by Huawei get the job done.
While walking or doing light exercise, the FreeBuds 5i remain firm in the ear.
The FreeBuds 5i Sound Like They Cost Twice Their Price
Sound quality was a very nice surprise.
The FreeBuds 5i are a completely different story.
They punch above their weight in sound quality, beating some earbuds that cost twice their price.
For further tuning, you’ll need a separate app.
This is the playlistI use to test headphones and earbuds.
I also recommend classical music for audio mode tuning.
The version I use, taken from the Wednesday TV show soundtrack, sounds completely different in each mode.
And mostly great in all of them.
FreeBuds 5i: Battery Life and Charging
This is another topic in which the FreeBuds 5i shine.
That’s a bold statement, and the FreeBuds 5i delivers it and then some.
With ANC on, battery life is expected to take a hit.
Comparably, the charging case is the weakest link in that chain.
While 28 hours is still a solid mark, it means less than four full charges.
Perhaps I’m being too picky, however, since there aren’t many competitors that offer better.
The buds take 50 minutes to fully charge when placed in the case.
There’s no wireless charging for the case.
My sole complaint about the FreeBuds 5i is the battery indicator.
The official rating by Huawei is 42dB, but I’m inclined to say this is a conservative estimate.
And oh how it worked amazingly.
While working at home, the ANC makes it sound like my ceiling fan is silent.
Street sounds coming from the windowand considering that I live right next to a busy avenuealso are almost non-existent.
Overall, this is the best ANC I’ve experienced yet.
After creating an account, you might check the remaining battery for the buds and the charging case.
Selecting the FreeBuds 5i on the main screen takes you to the configs page.
Sound qualitytakes you to the basic EQ options I mentioned before.
This page also has a setting that allows you to choose between connection or sound quality.
InGesturesone can set up multiple, well, gestures.
It includes tweaks for double-tap (in-call or otherwise), tap and hold, and swiping.
The case lacks wireless charging, but that’s not essential for TWS earbuds.
At $99, the FreeBuds 5i are a steal.
They sound and last like they cost much more.
My advice is: go and get some.
They’re totally worth the price.
