Skilled’s Ranking
Professionals
- Nice sound high quality
- Strong ANC
- Dependable controls
- Wi-fi charging case
Cons
- Awkward software program scenario
- Small positive aspects on predecessor
- No fast charging for buds
Our Verdict
The FreeBuds Professional 3 are one other first rate pair of wi-fi earbuds from Huawei and whereas there’s lots to love about them, together with a lower cost than big-name rivals, not an entire lot has modified from the earlier era.
The wi-fi earbud prepare continues to chug alongside, and Huawei is again with one other flagship pair vying for the eye of your ears.
The FreeBuds Professional 3 arrive at a barely larger worth than their predecessors – at £179.99 – and whereas they undercut the likes of Apple and Sony, there’s not an entire lot of innovation right here to tempt anybody who already has the FreeBuds Professional 2.
a brand new groove on the stem makes utilizing the press/contact controls simpler
Design & Construct
- Refined design
- Groove for controls
- New inexperienced color
The design of the FreeBuds Professional 3 is basically unchanged from the earlier era.
With brief and broad stems, they give the impression of being a tad stumpy however I don’t thoughts an excessive amount of. The buds are 5% lighter (5.8g per bud) than the FreeBuds Professional 2 however that’s not noticeable.
Regardless, they’re snug and safe. I simply used the pre-fitted silicone ideas however there are different sizes within the field, in fact, together with a brand new further small choice.
Chris Martin / Foundry
The case may be very related, with minor tweaks and enhancements. It’s a tad smaller and the hinge is hid, not slicing by way of the panel on the again with the Huawei emblem which is a bit of ‘nano glass’. Although it’s implied that the entire case is glass, the remainder is plastic.
The buds are extra uncovered making them simpler to get out and the case now has a speaker built-in. For now this will provide you with a sound when charging is full however a ‘discover my case’ function is coming later.
You will get the FreeBuds Professional 3 in 4 colors: Silver Frost, Silver Blue, Ceramic White and Inexperienced. The latter is the brand new livery and the one I’ve examined right here.
An IP54 score makes them mud and splash proof and a brand new groove on the stem makes utilizing the press/contact controls simpler. I actually like not fumbling round looking for the suitable half and the haptic suggestions is properly crisp.
You possibly can pinch as soon as, twice, thrice or a protracted pinch for numerous controls (particularly playback and ANC modes) in addition to swiping up and down to regulate the amount.
The latter works nicely however should be executed on the identical grooved part which faces ahead fairly than the extra intuitive outer floor of the stem the place the Huawei emblem resides.
Sound High quality & Options
- Twin drivers
- Two Hello-Res codecs
- Software program hurdles
Huawei as soon as once more gives a dual-driver audio system right here with 11mm dynamic drivers paired with planar diaphragm drivers.
The mix permits the buds to supply an epically giant frequency vary of 14Hz–48kHz. And as soon as once more they sound nice providing up wealthy, dynamic and spacious audio.
The FreeBuds Professional 3 are actually worthy of their Professional moniker on the subject of codecs
Bass is especially robust as soon as once more so in case you like EDM (digital dance music) then the FreeBuds Professional 3 are an excellent alternative. Nonetheless, they’re suited to numerous genres of music in addition to podcasts and the like due to the detailed mid-range and delicately dealt with high-end.
I can’t swap it on and off to check the efficiency, however Huawei touts ‘triple adaptive EQ’ which might regulate the sound profile primarily based on quantity degree, ear canal form, and sporting standing.
As soon as once more, the buds can detect when they’re in your ears to routinely pause playback if you take a bud out. It really works as marketed.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Lively noise cancelling (ANC) is now Clever ANC 3.0 which the agency says is 50% higher than the FreeBuds Professional 2. I can’t say I seen that a lot of a leap, however they actually do an excellent job of blocking out undesirable sound, and the attention mode is beneficial for if you need to hear what’s occurring round you with out taking the earbuds out.
By default, the ANC is on dynamic mode and routinely chooses primarily based in your environment however guide choice of cozy, normal and extremely is discovered within the AI life app.
Name high quality is as soon as once more dealt with by a quad mic system comprised of three silicon and one bone conduction mic. As per the FreeBuds Professional 2, I’ve discovered the standard to be excellent. No matter Pure Voice 2.0 is doing within the background to do away with noise, together with wind, does a stable job.
The FreeBuds Professional 3 are actually worthy of their Professional moniker on the subject of codecs. Alongside the essential ones you discover on just about any pair of buds, they help LDAC and L2HC 2.0 which means you may take heed to Hello-Res Audio wirelessly.
That is supplied you have got a appropriate gadget, with L2HC 2.0 solely out there on Huawei telephones working EMUI 13.0 or later. Naked in thoughts that you just’ll additionally want Hello-Res content material/streaming subscription.
Chris Martin / Foundry
When you personal a appropriate Huawei gadget, you’ll profit from pop-up pairing making it simpler to get linked. Different fashionable/sensible options embrace twin connections so that you may be linked to 2 units on the identical time, even Android and iOS, a match take a look at and discover my earphones.
There’s additionally audio sharing so two pairs of buds may be linked to the identical factor, listening to the identical audio however that is restricted to pick Huawei units.
One other software program hurdle is the very fact the AI Life app isn’t out there on the Google Play Retailer so you need to get it through Huawei’s App Gallery as a substitute. This can be a faff and even then, the app couldn’t discover my FreeBuds Professional 3. I had higher luck on iPhone the place the app is on the market and located the headphones.
You should use the buds with out the app, however you’ll want it to entry all of the settings and options.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Battery Life & Charging
- Marginal positive aspects
- No fast charging
- Wi-fi charging case
By way of battery life, Huawei says you’ll get 6.5 hours from the buds however that is particularly utilizing them at 50% quantity with ANC switched off and the essential AAC Bluetooth codec. Together with the charging case, the whole is 31 hours.
Actual-world battery life will differ, in fact. Listening at 50% quantity with noise cancelling on, whereas travelling on a loud prepare for an hour misplaced round 20% battery suggesting a lifespan of 5 hours.
It’s a marginal achieve on the earlier era of FreeBuds Professional however you’ll find longer battery life elsewhere if wanted.
The buds will take round 40 minutes to cost contained in the case with Huawei not mentioning any quick charging. The case may be charged through USB-C or wi-fi charging, although at as much as 2W the latter will take greater than twice as lengthy to get the case full.
In typical trend, Huawei undercuts rivals on the subject of the value
Value & Availability
In typical trend, Huawei undercuts rivals on the subject of the value. The FreeBuds Professional 3 are yours for £179.99 inserting them as extra of a mid-range choice.
You should purchase them from the official retailer in addition to Amazon and Very. They aren’t out there within the US on the time of writing.
When you can’t afford buds just like the Apple AirPods Professional 2, Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Extremely Earbuds then the FreeBuds Professional 3 are an excellent choice for a flagship pair.
For one thing cheaper, Huawei has the superb FreeBuds 5 and you’ll try our chart of the finest true wi-fi earbuds for extra choices.
Do you have to purchase the Huawei FreeBuds Professional 3?
Huawei has made one other largely wonderful pair of true wi-fi earbuds.
They undercut big-name rivals whereas providing top-notch audio high quality, noise cancelling, on-bud controls and quite a few helpful options.
Nonetheless, there are some issues to contemplate earlier than hitting the purchase button.
Various options are restricted to Huawei units, the software program expertise isn’t easy and never an entire has modified when evaluating the buds with the FreeBuds Professional 2 which, now they’re the older era, you may discover for a horny worth.
Specs
- 11mm dynamic driver, planar diaphragm driver
- 14Hz – 48kHz
- Bluetooth
- Bone sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope sensor, Infrared sensor
- Simultaneous connection to 2 Bluetooth units supported
- LDAC, L2HC2.0, AAC, SBC
- Pinch and swipe gestures
- Battery life: As much as 6.5 hours music playback on 1 cost (4.5hr with ANC), 31hr playback with charging case
- USB-C
- Wi-fi charging (market dependant)
- Dynamic lively noise cancelling (as much as 47dB)
- Dimensions: 29.1 x 23.7 x 21.8 mm (per earbud)
- Dimensions: 67.9 x 47.5 x 24.5 mm (charging case)
- Weight: About 5.8g (per earbud), About 45.5g (charging case)
- IP54
- Silver Blue,Silver Frost ,Ceramic White, Inexperienced