Huawei FreeBuds Pro 4 Review – Jankari Express

Huawei went a year without releasing an update to its flagship earphones, but the Freebuds Pro 4 arrived in the final weeks of 2024. The announcement was first made in China, followed by an international launch a fortnight later.

They were overshadowed by the global reveal of the Mate X6 ( reviewed here ) and the launch of the Nova 13 series, but we thought they deserved attention so we took a pair to the test. So here’s what we found out.

Table of Contents:

Design and build quality

The buds and case of the Freebuds Pro 4 closely resemble the Freebuds Pro 3 externally. Our model is black, with gold trim around the stem and case, with a graphic element on the stem that advertises the Histen technology.

Green and white variants are also available, both adorned with golden accents. It’s bound to be well received in Asian markets, though we doubt Westerners will agree.

The touch sensor is located on the inside of the stem and is easy to use once you get used to the pinching and swiping gestures. All gestures can be customized through the AI ​​Life app, which we recommend downloading and installing from the Huawei AppGallery as it has the latest version.

User interface

The Buds were promoted in China as the first audio wearable to feature HarmonyOS 5.0; However, that claim is missing from the global version. One reason for this change is that Huawei chooses not to promote Harmony OS too much at this time, and another is that the feature is of little importance in the earphone market.

The app offers various voice control options. Wake Mode has two settings: Voice Mode, which can be turned on or off; Activating this option increases the earbuds’ ability to pick up sound. In addition, there’s Off Mode and Noise Cancelling, which includes four different settings: Dynamic, Cozy, General and Ultra, each tailored to a specific environment.

Detailed control of awareness and noise cancellation is only available in the app, meaning it takes some time to select your preferred option. There are also equalizers with some presets, but you can also create your own.

Freebuds Pro 4 can prioritize sound quality or connection. Higher bitrate sound also comes with shorter battery life. There is an option that uses sound to map your ears and determine if the rubber tips are the right size. However, the feature shows that all three sizes (small, medium, large) are good enough, so not really sure about its usefulness.

Comfort is a key factor with such compact buds. Extended use has not caused any discomfort – you rarely feel the freebuds in your ears. We tested them in the gym and during long runs. The result is that the buds remain in place unless there is a sudden movement.

There was the occasional issue of one bud slipping slightly, but this was mainly due to our resident earbuds reviewer having subpar running form, which caused excessive head movement.

Sound quality

The standout feature of the Freebuds Pro 4 is, without a doubt, the audio performance. Huawei has included a dual-driver configuration with an 11 mm quad-magnet dynamic driver that delivers bass down to 14 Hz and treble levels up to 48 kHz, thanks to planar diaphragm tweeters.

Sound quality and particularly rich bass is immediately apparent when wearing the earbuds. After testing numerous earbuds from various smartphone manufacturers, we find Huawei’s offering to be exceptional; The company is really the best in this case.

We connected the earbuds to Android phones, Huawei devices, desktops using Bluetooth dongles, and laptops with built-in Bluetooth.

Connectivity was seamless and worthy of high-end earbuds. We specifically discussed this topic with a Huawei VP, who confirmed that developers in Shenzhen have put considerable effort into optimizing connectivity and sound quality for faster toggling.

At the launch event, Huawei presented a video showing a user wearing the earbuds in the middle of a concert, yet thanks to cutting-edge noise cancellation, they can also join a meeting.

We tried this, but the result was less impressive than expected. Our assigned reviewer attended a large techno party with thousands of attendees and attempted to make a phone call. The person on the other side could still hear the music, but was able to catch the sound; However, the reviewer had difficulty hearing the quiet voices.

Certainly, this is a unique example, and you can’t really expect miracles if the ambient noise exceeds 110 dB. In more moderate settings, buds perform very well.

charging

During our first impressions, we noticed that the Freebuds Pro 4 felt bulkier compared to the Pro 3. However, it turns out that both the models have the same battery capacity. Each bud is equipped with a 55 mAh cell, while the case provides an additional 510 mAh.

Below is a summary of the charging time as stated by Huawei and the actual time we recorded after multiple charging sessions. To calculate the case and earbuds, simply add the time of the earbuds to the case.

We must admit that we had considerable trouble draining the earbuds’ battery down to zero, as it takes hours of continuous use to fully drain the battery. Once you put the buds back in the case, it resets the whole process, and the truth is, very few people actually manage to drain their earbuds to 0.

We found using a wireless charger for the case to be the most convenient option. It works seamlessly and does not take much time to recharge.

Battery life

We tested the Freebuds Pro 4 extensively to determine the average charging value, and we also collected insights on battery performance in almost all scenarios, noting in particular the two modes that prioritize sound quality or connectivity.

Below are our findings after 30 days of continuous use.

All tests were conducted using Freebuds connected to an Android smartphone rather than a Huawei device with EMUI. The manufacturer noted that their results were based on tests with the Huawei Mate X6, with the audio set at 50%.

While turning down the volume and using a Huawei phone may improve battery life slightly, we decided that it made more sense to conduct tests on non-Huawei smartphones, given the company’s small global market share.

conclusion

Huawei has made a solid upgrade with the Freebuds Pro 4. They output excellent sound with lossless transmission, excellent battery life and excellent noise cancellation for this category.

During the announcement, Huawei set the price at €199, but none of the euro-using countries currently offer these audio devices. The only European nations selling the FreeBuds Pro 4 are Turkey and Russia, and we can only hope the buds will be available in the EU soon.

Huawei Freebuds Pro 4 (left) and Freebuds Pro 3 (right)

Huawei has introduced Freebuds in key Pacific markets including Indonesia, the Philippines, parts of the Middle East and North Africa. If you’re outside these regions, you can still buy the 15-month-old Freebuds Pro 3. However, if you live in those areas, we strongly suggest picking up the Freebuds Pro 4.

pros

• Best sound for Huawei Freebuds.
• Battery life is reliable.
• Fast connectivity.
• Attractive price.
• Plenty of noise cancellation options.

opposition

• Golden trim may not be for everyone.
• Limited availability in major markets.
• Not that big of an improvement over its predecessor.
• The pinching gesture requires user adaptation.