After some proposals in the segment of true wireless headphones, Huawei decided to roll the dice for a pair of headphones with a more advanced sound and design. Yes, we are talking about the FreeBuds Studio, and in the following review (or review, if you prefer), we will tell if it is worth betting on them.
First things first: these headphones invite the wearer to put them on right away: they look sleek and modern, available in black and gold, and they feel sturdy in the hands. The headband is padded, while the adjustable arms are made of stainless steel.
On the left helmet is the button that allows you to choose between active noise cancellation, which blocks ambient sound; the attention mode, which lets in the audio from outside; and voice mode, in which human voices are enhanced for those times when you’re waiting for a prompt.
On the right earpiece is the power button and Bluetooth button to communicate with the cell phone or laptop, for example. The Chinese brand ensures that its headphones incorporate a double antenna that offers 360-degree omnidirectional Bluetooth signal coverage for a more stable connection, even in places with substantial interference.
Detail of the Huawei Freebuds Studio headphones
Other elements that the company highlights are:
- Six-microphone call noise cancellation.
- The 40mm quad-layer polymer diaphragm—for a more comprehensive frequency response range and greater sensitivity.
- The protein leather ear pads to wear the device comfortably for a long time.
- Up to 150 degrees of headband opening to adapt to different head sizes.
Autonomy
Although the FreeBuds Studio only needs a cable to recharge, this could be left at home since they promise an autonomy of up to 20 hours with noise cancellation in operation (without it, 24 hours). In the tests carried out, in which the function was activated and deactivated regularly, the number established on the paper was reached.
And for those times when it can’t be fully charged, with just 10 minutes of fast charging, the pair provides up to 480 minutes of music (with noise cancellation off).
Due to their dimensions, these devices do not include cases that provide additional energy, which makes it possible to charge them on the road, as wireless ones do.
Let’s be clear: the FreeBuds Studio are not headphones for so-called audiophiles. They are a pair designed for those who want to improve their mobile sound experience with supra-aural headphones, which are also comfortable and offer a full day’s autonomy. Users will find precise and clear sound in them, which will make them enjoy their streaming music or videos more immersively.
The comfort they provide is appreciated. Here it is also essential to consider how the materials will withstand constant use and how resistant the ear pads or the soft part of the headband will prove to be (the elements usually suffer with the advance of time).
Like other Huawei equipment, these headphones stand out for their affordable price: around 300 dollars. For reference, the new AirPods Max — Apple’s first over-ear headphones — have been listed at $550. Thus, the FreeBuds Studio is an option that “hears well” in more ways than one.
user experience
The first thing to note about the FreeBuds Studio is that they are very comfortable to wear. Those who wear glasses know that over-ear headphones can become annoying after a couple of hours. The cushions and the pressure exerted by the headband are subtle, not to say that they don’t feel secure when it’s time to walk.
Huawei Freebuds Studio headphones in close-up
The pair configuration can be through Huawei’s AI Life application, or it can also be detected from the phone or computer via Bluetooth. The advantage of doing it from the app is that you have complete control of the hearing aids on the screen, as well as extra functions, such as different modes for noise cancellation and software updates.
When you don’t have the opportunity to use your mobile, the good news is that the FreeBuds Studio are gesture compatible, as they include a receptive area in the right ear cup.
What about playback quality? It can be said that the FreeBuds Studio gives a detailed and well-balanced sound. The voices and instruments of the different songs manage to distinguish themselves precisely.
Its frequency response range contributes to this, which, according to the brand, is from 4 Hz to 48 kHz —the human ear hears an average range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz—to offer audio with rich details.
When viewing streaming content, the user will also find a good experience, especially in those contents where the sound action occurs on several fronts, to put it in some way. Likewise, the dialogues that are delivered stand out for their clarity.
Regarding calls and thanks to its dual connection, I especially like that the FreeBuds Studio can be used on a tablet, for example, and answer an incoming call on the phone that also has them linked naturally. By the way, rings stand out for being straightforward, even when outside noise is intense.