HUAWEI has been the brand in my ears for the last two years between the FreeBuds Pro 2 and the FreeBuds Lipstick, so I found it only natural to take on the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 earbuds, too. I’ve always found Bluetooth, touch controls and general connectivity to be an annoyance in earbuds, but after some time with the FreeBuds Pro 3, it feels like things are heading in the right direction, and this time around, HUAWEI has really impressed me.
More of the Same
The review period started the second I took the earbuds out of their box when I took some time to check them out and see what had really changed. Truthfully, if you handed me the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 and told me they were 2’s, I wouldn’t question it for a second.
The original design for the FreeBuds Pro is a beautiful, compact oval-shaped case with a slight shimmer, and the buds themselves are a metallic colour, with minimal marking aside from the black sensor that sits in your ear to detect whether or not they are indeed in—which works by the way. The FreeBuds Pro 3 pauses what is playing when you take one out and resumes where you left off seamlessly when you pop it back in.
The design between the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 and 2 is almost identical. This time around, there is still a small light indicator that tells you when things are all charged up, but also three small holes at the bottom next to the USB-C charging port that let out little noises when you connect them, etc. I received the Green colourway, but there is also Ceramic White and Silver Frost. My FreeBuds Pro 2 earbuds were blue, but the colours are very similar and still share the same finish. There is no longer a line through the glossy plate with the HUAWEI logo either, making for an extra-clean finish.
Since the style was almost exactly the same as the last iteration, I expected the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 earbuds to be generally similar in performance as well. Though I used the Pro 2 earbuds regularly, there were always issues, whether it be with my smartphone or PC willing to connect to them, the less-that-stellar battery life, or the touch controls that, after some time, barely ever worked for me. Luckily, any issues I ever had with the Pro 2 version have been completely ironed out with the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3.
Stepping Up Performance
The most important improvement I have seen with the FreeBuds Pro 3 earbuds is the extended battery life. With the Pro 2, I was barely getting four hours on one charge. Though the case provides extra charges, meaning you won’t need to find a plug to juice back up, four hours wouldn’t even get me through one flight to Los Angeles from Toronto. I am very happy to report that the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 don’t suffer from the same disappointing battery life, lasting me nearly seven hours before needing to pop them back in the case. HUAWEI claims 6.5 hours, and this proves true in testing.
“Another happy improvement in the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 is that the touch controls have changed, and they actually work!”
The case for the FreeBuds Pro 3 is said to add an additional 31 hours, but I’ve yet to be brave enough to forgo charging it before I travel. I can confidently say you could listen to these earbuds for more than 24 hours before needing to plug in. Putting the FreeBuds Pro 3 buds back into their case got me about 40% battery life back in under ten minutes, so even if they do die on you, it takes no time to get back to listening.
The other major gripe I had with the last iteration of the FreeBuds Pro was the extremely poor responsiveness of the touch controls. They were meant to tap or slide your finger along, but with no clear placement for your fingers, the experience was finicky at best, to the point where I never really bothered. I would constantly be pulling out my phone or using the controls on my computer.
Another happy improvement in the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 is that the touch controls have changed, and they actually work! HUAWEI has opted to switch from the tap-and-slide and moved to more of a button-press experience. When you pinch the bottom of the FreeBuds Pro 3 bud, you will feel feedback, letting you know you’re in the right spot. From there, you can use multiple gestures to skip, pause, play, answer calls, change noise-cancelling settings and more.
There are various press combinations involving pinching, pinching and holding or swiping. In the AI Life app, you can turn off any of these options, like Pinch Once to answer or end a call, but you can’t customize which gesture does what. You can only turn it on or off, which seems like an odd choice to me. I’d rather be able to match the simplest gestures to what I use most and swap things like answering a call (who calls me anymore?) for something that involves more steps. Some allow you to swap between one or two options, but it is not entirely customizable.
Customizable Listening Experience
What is customizable, however, is your listening experience. Thanks to the AI Life app, you can decide what you want to prioritize in your music, movies or calls when listening through the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3. The first thing I always make sure is on is the Noise Cancelling, but there is also Awareness Mode and then the option to turn it off altogether. The FreeBuds Pro 3 earbuds feature various ANC modes too: Dynamic, where it automatically adjusts for you; Cozy for places that aren’t super loud; General; and then Ultra, which is where I always want to be.
“Between ease of use, improved battery life, noticeable customization options and touch controls that actually work, the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 are the earbuds to beat this year.”
HUAWEI’s noise cancellation has always blown me away, and the same remains true for the FreeBuds Pro 3. This was one area I had zero complaints with the Pro 2 earbuds, but with the Pro 3, HUAWEI has implemented Intelligent ANC 3.0, which is said to improve noise cancellation by 50%. I would be happy to sit with the earbuds in playing nothing, just to watch the white noise of the office, plane, or airport disappear. I have not found a pair of earbuds that even come close to the HUAWEI Freebuds Pro 3 in the ANC department.
From there, the app also lets you prioritize what you want to enhance through your earbuds. Using Sound Effects, which are clearly labelled with images, you can choose the default, Bass Boost, Treble Boost, Voices, Symphony and Hi-Fi Live. There is a very clear distinction between each one, especially as you cycle through them. Often, the Bass Boost is the only thing I can notice in my audio devices, so it was nice to see such an obvious change.
Excellent App Support & Connectivity
Finding the app on my phone is the first challenge since it isn’t labelled HUAWEI in any way, and I am constantly needing to search my apps to jog my memory. Once I jump that hurdle, the AI Life app really is the key to unlocking the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 earbud’s power. It is here where you will find any updates for your buds, make all the adjustments above, and more.
The AI Life App even allows you to take a “Tip Fit Test,” which lets you know if you need to switch to a different set of tips. The FreeBuds Pro 3 comes with a few options, but the medium set that is already attached worked perfectly for me. You can also use the app to find a lost bud by playing a sound on each individual bud to locate it.
This is where you will find your battery life for both your buds and case, too, as well as where your earbuds are connected. Something I was very happy with was the Bluetooth connectivity on the FreeBuds Pro 3 earbuds. You can keep them connected to two devices at once, allowing for a perfectly seamless switch between each device. This means I can be listening on my phone on the way to work, but once I am at my desk, hit play on Spotify (assuming I’ve already connected my earbuds there before) and switch the device I’m listening on.
In the past, I would need to turn Bluetooth off on my phone or disconnect before reconnecting elsewhere. This new connectivity experience saves a lot of time and is honestly hassle-free. Even when connecting to a device for the first time, once I put the FreeBuds Pro 3 in pairing mode by opening the case and pressing the small button on the side, I don’t even need to go through my Bluetooth settings, it just pops up on my screen, and I agree to connect.
The Pro 3 earbuds have truly improved in every area they possibly could. Between ease of use, improved battery life, noticeable customization options and touch controls that actually work, the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 are the earbuds to beat this year. Just launching this past November for $255.00 USD, I would gladly pay the premium cost for a flawless pair of earbuds.
- Improved Fit: The HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 3 includes a new XS ear tip size, providing a secure fit and better ANC performance. Four sizes are available, ensuring comfort for a wider range of users.
- Sleek Design: The earbuds feature a minimalist design with a glass case and concealed hinge. It comes in three nature-inspired colors.
